100 South Mill Avenue

Hi, JAMN Fans:
Last week’s Dennis Rowland show was nothing less than inspired! We packed the room with our JAMN faithful and Dennis and his incredible band did the rest. What a performance! It’s always gratifying when our artists receive extended standing ovations. Thanks, Dennis!
We begin March with our good friends, Armand Boatmand & the Bebop Revolution. This will also be an SRO show so arrive a little early. Remember, doors open at 5 p.m. (not before). We will be doing some experimental programming in March and April. At the end of each month we will feature an instrument “summit” with the best and the brightest soloists in the Valley. On March 31, we’ll bring together three of our finest jazz guitarists, and in April, we’ll have our inaugural Great Sax Summit. We hope these events will be a periodic mainstay of our series.
If you are a JAMN fan and have been attending our shows regularly, we want to sincerely thank you for supporting live jazz in the Mill Avenue District. We believe our concept has caught on because we see more new smiling faces each Monday night. But every so often, we need to remind people that none of this would have happened without Michael Monti and Eddie Goitia. They shared our vision, gave us a venue and allowed us the time to develop our audience. So, when you’re looking for a place to take friends and share a fine meal, consider Monti’s. Not only is the food better than ever, these people quietly do a lot more for our community than run one the best steak houses in the West.
Here’s our schedule for March & April…
March 10 — Nancy Gee & The John Shea Trio
Nancy has packed the house for us several times in the past few months and gave truly inspiring performances. Nan has been singing for jazz crowds in Phoenix for nearly 25 years and is known as one of the Valley’s Four Divas of Jazz. She has been voted Female Vocalist of the Year by the Arizona Jazz Society, Jazz in AZ and the Phoenix Federation of Musicians. Nancy produced and marketed her first recording, Velvet, in 1990 and CDs Nancy In The Key of Gee in 1996, followed by Dedications in 2003. The combination of her soulful, velvety voice, sparkling personality and an ability to capture and move audiences is why she remains one of the Valley’s top headliner jazz vocalists. Nancy routinely sells out concerts at the Kerr Cultural Center and we are always honored to have her at the Back Door.
March 17 — Chris Benavidez and the Giant Steps Jazz Band
Chris Benavidez was a saxophone prodigy even in grade school. Throughout high school, he accumulated a trunk full of awards and ended up at Northern Arizona University, where he continued to gain recognition as one of the hottest young jazz talents in the state. In college, he worked regularly with top jazz professionals such as Joel DiBartolo (the Tonight Show Band), Zirque Bonner (bassist for Stanley Clarke) and Joe Palmer (saxophonist for the Woody Herman Band). Chris is also a founding member of the Giant Steps Jazz Band, which consists of Dan Luster on trumpet, drummer Ron James and bassist Ted Sistrunck. Please come out and help us welcome Chris and the Giant Steps Jazz Band to their first engagement at Monti’s Back Door.
March 24 — The Alice Tatum Quintet
Alice Tatum has been a fixture in the Phoenix music scene for 30 years. To see and hear her with some of the Valley’s best musicians was unforgettable. As a performer, Alice has played along side such greats as; Michael McDonald, Tom Scott, The Righteous Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Alice Cooper and Nancy Wilson.  She has also worked with producer giant Don Costa as well as entertainers Flip Wilson, Paul Anka and the late Merv Griffin.  As a recording artist her discography is expansive.  She has national commercials, TV, and film as well as her own three CD Projects. Alice has made her home in Scottsdale and has committed not only her talents but her personal time to many valley charities such as the Arthritis Foundation, Arizona Foundation for Women, Make a Wish Foundation and others. Alice will be at the Back Door with her quintet, which also includes drummer, Todd Chuba.
March 31 — Jazz Guitar Summit
Now we’re really getting creative. This show will be a special event featuring the top jazz guitar talents in the Valley. Join us when Bill Moio, Jeff Libman and Chris Champion put on our first Guitar Summit at Monti’s Back Door. Also featured are Dom Moio on drums and bassist Mario Mendivil. What’s next, The Joy of Sax?
April 7 — Delphine Cortez & the Joel Robin Trio
As one of the four Phoenix Divas, Delphine embodies the influences of Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and her idol, Nancy Wilson. Critics have said Delphine takes possession of each song so firmly that one doesn’t think of comparing her style to anyone else’s. Her voice evokes warmth, passion and remarkable range. Accompanying Delphine will be the Joel Robin Trio.
April 14 — Judy Roberts and the Greg Fishman Quartet
The Chicago Tribune  has awarded Judy the title “Chicago’s Favorite Jazz Woman.” Yet, she is also recognized as a worldwide jazz star thanks to the success of her international recordings and concert performances. From the Midwest to Phoenix to Singapore, Judy is best known for her fun-loving approach to an eclectic and extensive repertoire, her hard-swinging piano playing, her ability to combine lush and sensitive vocals with rapid-fire scat singing, and for her unique ability to communicate with her audience in a relaxed and intimate style.
Greg Fishman grew up in Morton Grove, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. Began playing clarinet at the age of 12, picked up the tenor saxophone at 13 and began working professionally around Chicago at 15. He was named first Tenor Sax for jazz at the 1985 Illinois Music Educators Association’s conference and started playing flute at 19. Greg has performed with The Woody Herman Big Band, The Louie Bellson Big Band, Slide Hampton, Jackie Cain & Roy Kral, Lou Levy, Marian McPartland, Conte Candoli, Ira Sullivan, Clark Terry, Ralph Burns, and Don Menza.  Accompanying Judy and Greg will be Dom Moio on drums and Bob Lashier on bass.
April 21 — The Blaise Lantana Quartet
KJZZ’s Music Director, Blaise Lantana and her trio will return to the Back Door for a second show celebrating the Valley’s Jazz Station — KJZZ-FM.  Blaise brought the house down when she last appeared at the Back Door in December, and it is our pleasure to welcome her back. Join us for what is sure to be another great show from not only a remarkable and versatile jazz stylist, but also the first lady in Arizona jazz radio.
April 28 — Tenor Sax Summit with Jerry Donato, Greg Fishman & Byron Ruth
Now here’s a jazz concept you don’t see every day…three of the best sax players around on one bill with a killer band behind them. This is the second show in our “Summit Series” and we hope they will be regular fixtures. Accompanying Jerry, Greg and Byron will be drummer Dom Moio, bassist Dwight Kilian and two-time Emmy Award winner, Nick Manson on keyboards. If you love Great Sax (and who doesn’t), this is one show you won’t want to miss.
As always we need to thank all who have helped make our JAMN Jazz Series at Monti’s Back Door a continuing success…KJZZ,  Monti’s La Casa Vieja, Downtown Tempe Community, Jazz in AZ, the Arizona Republic, the Tempe Town News and EV Tribune.
Our shows are every Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cover is $7, and dinner and drinks are available on our special Supper Club menu.  Monti’s Back Door is in the rear of  Monti’s La Casa Vieja, 100 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. For further information on dates, call 480.345.2392.

Best Regards,
Stu Siefer, Roy Hoyt and Woody Wilson
JAMN Productions