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.
Formed in 2015, the band performs to sell-out crowds in venues such as the Nash jazz club, Tempe Center for the Arts, the Rhythm Room, and the Clarendon Hotel sky deck.
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The jazz ensemble began as a sub-group of Desert Overture Wind Symphony. It performed at several Desert Overture concerts starting in December 2014, and received very positive feedback at every turn. In the summer of 2015, the DOLCE Board of Directors voted to establish the band as its own entity.
The Board launched a director search, and from several fine candidates, they selected Michael Collier, a trumpeter and veteran of numerous area big bands and pit orchestras. Collier led the band from November 2015 to November 2019.
LaShaun Tweedie became Desert City Jazz’s Artistic Director in December 2019 and served through April 2025. LaShaun introduced themed concerts and expanded the band’s repertoire while growing the band to greater heights of artistic excellence.
Mary Petrich, Artistic Director
Mary Petrich became Desert City Jazz’s Artistic Director in April 2025.
She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from Indiana University and a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from Arizona State University. She enjoys a vibrant career as a performer and teacher. Her deep love for creativity and improvisation has led her to explore traditional and non-traditional approaches, resulting in a very personalized style of playing and teaching music.
Her education focus includes improvisation for all players and saxophone study in both jazz and classical repertoire. She is director of the Nash Women’s Jazz Initiative and founder of “Nash Jazz DivAZ,” a project that supports jazz education for girls. Mary is also a member of the music faculty at Phoenix College, teaching improvisation and leading jazz combos. She also teaches the Nash Summer Camp, and the Walker West Academy in Minneapolis.
As a performer, Mary has been pursuing her own vision as part of large and small groups including the Phoenix Symphony, the Jazz Women All-Stars, the Temptations, AZ Festival Orchestra, and the Phoenix Chorale. She is also a founding member of the Phoenix Jazz Women Collective and leads her own group, “OpenHand Quartet.”
Desert City Jazz operates under the umbrella of Desert Overture Live Cultural Entertainment, Inc. (DOLCE), a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that operates exclusively for charitable purposes. DOLCE is the parent organization for Desert Overture Wind Symphony, Phoenix’s Premier LGBT and Ally Wind Symphony, and Desert City Jazz. Learn more about DOLCE and Desert Overture here.
Its mission statement: DOLCE is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT+) and Ally music organization whose mission is to entertain, enrich, educate, and support the community and our members through our passion for music. As cultural ambassadors of the LGBT+ community, we build bridges of acceptance and understanding in the community at large; provide a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for our members and audience; and foster a greater appreciation for quality music.
Photo credits:
Tempe Center for the Arts: Matt Sawyer
Glendale Glitters: Maxx Santos