Welcome to Desert City Jazz!

Desert City Jazz is a full-size, 16-piece jazz ensemble (5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, bass, drums) comprised of many of the best jazz musicians in the Phoenix area’s LGBTQ and Friends community. Our director is LaShaun Tweedie.

Come hear us at our next performance! Join our email list to stay informed about when and where the band will be playing next. And like us on Facebook!

Interesting in joining the band? Great! We may need subs or replacement musicians at any time throughout the year, so please let us know of your interest.

Join Desert City Jazz for “The History of the Big Band” on March 16, 2:00

Join Desert City Jazz as we celebrate the history and the evolution of the big band, from the earliest days of the swing era to the present. You’ll enjoy classic tunes from the greatest bands of the past 100 years. It will be a live music appreciation class held in the comfortable, classy Nash jazz club in downtown Phoenix.

You’ll hear classic big band charts from the most famous big band leaders, such as Fletcher Henderson, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Count Basie. We’ll take you through each decade, including exciting contemporary tunes from Stan Kenton, Bob Mintzer, the Army Jazz Ambassadors, Gordon Goodwin, and others.

Don’t miss this multi-faceted, swinging concert. Tickets are available now!

New Video “Trains”

Trains

From our 2024 show “Desert City Jams”, here’s “Trains”.

This chart, composed by Mike Mainieri, represents an apex of a certain era of jazz-rock fusion and hit gold following its 1986 release by the band Steps Ahead. Our rendition, arranged by Eric Miyashiro, features Armando Salas (Saxophone), Andy Rich (Trumpet), and Jeff Pellaton (Drums). Enjoy!

Enjoy more of our videos on the Videos page.