The Des Moines Big Band, a storied ensemble that goes back to the 1950s, has played with some of the greatest names in jazz, from legends like Clark Terry to some of the more local household names such as Scott Smith. Led by renowned trumpeter/arranger Dave Rezek, this organization is in residence at Noce on Wednesday nights. --- The band often invites high school & college groups in to play during the set break. The first Wednesday of every month, though, the band plays their own full night highlighting the work of a different iconic jazz artist or composer. 

Every Thursday night, Noce hosts an all night happy hour. Doors at 6, music 7-10pm, no cover all night! $5 green tea shots, $6 well drinks, $7 house wine, $8 specialty cocktails. Some of the top jazz musicians in the region are featured each week. 

Joyann Parker's "Classic Ladies of Country" is a captivating musical journey that pays homage to the timeless and iconic female voices that have shaped the country music genre. With her powerful and versatile vocals, Parker masterfully channels the spirit and emotion of legendary artists such as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Parton, among others. In this mesmerizing tribute, Joyann Parker brings a fresh and authentic perspective to the beloved hits of these trailblazing women. Her rich, soulful voice effortlessly navigates the delicate nuances and heart-wrenching stories that define country music's golden era. With each song, Parker's delivery is infused with a deep respect for the original recordings while adding her own unique interpretation and modern flair. Backed by a talented ensemble of musicians who skillfully blend traditional country instrumentation with contemporary arrangements, the "Classic Ladies of Country" performance is a dynamic and engaging experience. The music seamlessly weaves between heartrending ballads and toe-tapping honky-tonk tunes, evoking a range of emotions that resonates with both longtime country music enthusiasts and new listeners alike. Joyann Parker's stage presence is magnetic and heartfelt, drawing audiences into the narratives of love, heartache, resilience, and empowerment that have made these songs enduring classics. Her genuine connection to the material and her ability to effortlessly switch between different vocal styles pay homage to the multifaceted talents of the legendary ladies she honors. "Classic Ladies of Country" is more than just a musical tribute; it's a celebration of the indelible impact that female artists have had on country music. Joyann Parker's heartfelt renditions remind us why these songs have stood the test of time and continue to inspire generations of music lovers. Whether you're a devoted country music fan or simply appreciate exceptional vocal artistry, this performance promises an unforgettable and soul-stirring experience that honors the legacy of the classic ladies of country. Songs include classics such as: Stand By Your Man - Tammy Wynette I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton You't Aint Woman Enough (To Take My Man) - Loretta Lynn The End of the World - Skeeter Davis and so many more! 

"A singing, songwriting, guitar-playing, self-producing, self-aware powerhouse, but the driving force is unquestionably her voice — a formidable instrument she wields with soul and taste." (Bliss Bowen/Pasadena Weekly) "Joyann Parker knows her way around a song. She climbs inside it, dwells in it, lives with every note and phrase, delivering performances that seize our emotions and capture the ragged despair and heightened joy of life." (Henry L. Carrigan, Jr./Living Blues Magazine) With roots in the church and a solid foundation of musical education, Joyann Parker found her authentic voice later in life and created her own blend of roots music that combines soul, R&B, gospel, jazz and traditional blues styles. Parker has been a steadily rising star on the Midwest music scene and now brings her full range of talent as an accomplished singer, pianist, guitarist and songwriter to national and international stages. Joyann's rootsy, genre-blending sequel, "Out of the Dark," was released on February 12, 2021 and debuted at #11 on the Billboard Blues Chart and #1 on the NACC Radio chart. 

Join Max Wellman each Saturday night after 9pm for a night full of standards featuring a rotating cast of musicians & other singers. Similar to Wellman's Last Call series, but just a little bit earlier in the evening. Shows will go until 11 or midnight, depending on the evening. There is no cover. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Son Peruchos, based in Des Moines, Iowa, is a fusion of Andean and South American folk music utilizing traditional instruments such as the zampona, quena and charango. This musical group also integrates their traditional Andean sound with more modern Latin and Caribbean rhythms such as cumbia, bachata and rock en español. --- Come to listen, or come to dance! 

Noce is proud to present Nate Sparks along with his big band in an ongoing residency as the premier pianist & composer continues to establish one of the top-level big bands in the region. Nate Sparks is a composer/arranger/performer who grew up in Runnells, Iowa. Nate began playing the piano at age 7, trumpet at 11, and pursued jazz throughout his middle school and high school years. His acceptance into several national high school honor bands and music festivals led him to a post-secondary study of jazz at the Juilliard School, where he also began his career as a writer. ​ Since then he has been commissioned to write music for Lucky Chops, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band, the MSM Afro-Cuban Orchestra, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, among many others. In 2018 he made arranging contributions to a Grammy Nominated album, West Side Story Reimagined, by Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band. While he regularly takes commissions for freelance work, his main outlet as a writer is with his own band, the Nate Sparks Big Band, a New York/Des Moines-based 18-piece jazz orchestra. Playing exclusively his own compositions, arrangements, and transcriptions, the Nate Sparks Big Band performed regularly at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola in New York City in 2016-2019, and now takes root in Des Moines Iowa where he currently Resides. In May of 2017, Nate graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor's degree in performance, and now in addition to writing and performing, actively pursues a career as a jazz educator. Since then, Nate has been a faculty member of the Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop, the Sitka Jazz and the Simpson College Jazz Workshop. In 2020, he founded and continues to direct the Des Moines Youth Jazz Orchestra, an elite high school ensemble in Central Iowa. He has also been a guest clinician for the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra (New York, NY), The University of Scranton (Scranton, PA), Drake University (Des Moines, IA), Delaware Valley High School (Milford, PA), and Southeast Polk High School (Des Moines, IA). Nate also teaches private lessons in Jazz Piano, Piano Fundamentals, Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Composition and Arranging, and Trumpet. 

Join Max Wellman each Saturday night after 9pm for a night full of standards featuring a rotating cast of musicians & other singers. Similar to Wellman's Last Call series, but just a little bit earlier in the evening. Shows will go until 11 or midnight, depending on the evening. There is no cover. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Vocalist Max Wellman brings back his wildly popular Home for the Holidays show to Noce, featuring the great work of music director & trumpeter Dave Rezek. This show has sold out runs at The Des Moines Playhouse, the Des Moines Social Club, The Turner Jazz Center, & more. Designed after the classic holiday variety shows of yore, you'll hear all of your favorite songs (It's the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, The Christmas Song, Sleigh Ride) brought to you by stellar jazz musicians in a beautiful room. –––––––––– Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners.Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Hear the classic score from composer Vince Guaraldi, brought to you by one of the great piano trios in the region. --- Tanner Taylor studied under Jack Oatts and Manhattan School of Music’s Garry Dial. Taylor is an in-demand pianist throughout the Midwest, actively performing in the Omaha, Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Kansas City music scenes. Taylor has performed with jazz notables such as Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Lew Tabackin, David “Fathead” Newman, Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon, Wes “Warm Daddy” Anderson, Dick Oatts, Eric Alexander, Bobby Shew, Steve Smith, Jaleel Shaw, Delfeayo Marsalis, Barbara Morrison, Connie Evingson,and Randy Brecker. as well as performing on "A Praire Home Companion" with Garrison Keilor. Taylor was inducted into the Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame in October, 2022. 

Vocalist, Lauren Vilmain is a graduate of Drake University where she majored in vocal performance with a minor in musical theatre. In her studies she fell in love with both the thrill of live performance and the beauty of self-expression. While being classically trained, Lauren also dove into musical theater repertoire. After her studies she found a challenging and deep love for American Jazz music. Her repertoire ranges widely from Nina Simone, Melody Gardot and Madeleine Peyroux to blues artists like Lizz Wright, Tracy Chapman, and Eva Cassidy. She performs locally with NOLA Jazz Band as well as her Quintet and is proud to regular the Noce Jazz Club in Downtown Des Moines. Lauren is privileged to work with some of the best musicians in the state and to collaborate with them for her personal projects. 

Join the Des Moines Big Band for a monthlong series of favorite holiday classics put through a Big Band filter. From Duke Ellington's "Sugar Rum Cherry" spin on the Sugarplum Fairy and a Zydeco groove "Joy to the World" to Carols of yore, this holiday tradition is a favorite at Noce year after year. –––––––––– The Des Moines Big Band, a storied ensemble that goes back to the 1950s, has played with some of the greatest names in jazz, from legends like Clark Terry to some of the more local household names such as Scott Smith. Led by renowned trumpeter/arranger Dave Rezek, this organization is in residence at Noce on Wednesday nights. 

Join renowned singer and actress Gina Gedler and her combo of musicians for an evening of some of her favorite warm and toasty Holiday songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Karen Carpenter, Eartha Kitt, Diana Krall, and many more! --- A Note From Gina: Hi! I'm Gina Gedler and I am a regular to the Des Moines entertainment scene and have been performing for many years. I was born in Newton, Iowa and my family moved to Arizona shortly after I was born. Ever since I was a little girl, I always loved to sing and act up! (My mom and dad always said that I entered this world screaming! Come to think of it, that may have been my first singing debut!) Because I had no opportunity for lessons; I grew up listening to records, watching old movies, teaching myself the different styles of music, and the ins and outs of singing and acting. In Arizona I became very involved, during my academic years, in Theater and Music. I returned to Des Moines, Iowa during the spring break of my Junior year of High School. That was tough! But I immediately became involved in the music and theater department to meet new people. And that I did! After meeting the love of my life Mike, in my senior year of High School, we married a year after graduating High School and within our first 5 years of marriage we were blessed with our wonderful son, Brandon! In Des Moines I have been heavily involved in music scene and performing in theater as well. With hard work I have had the privilege and honor of appearing in numerous musicals on stage and many various professional acts and music performances throughout the state and outside of the state as well. For years, I have been enjoying singing in Des Moines as well as outside of the metro area, with my combo of musicians and big bands, for company and personal parties/celebrations, and in various restaurant and lounge venues. I am a current resident performer at the unique and swanky NOCE Jazz and Cabaret Club since its inception in 2015. I am also the lead vocalist with the Ballyhoo Foxtrot Combo and the Soya Vista Jazz Orchestra as well as a guest lead vocalist for several other local bands. I am a singer as well as an entertainer. I pride myself on truly enjoying and delivering what I am singing. I am very versatile with my music styling and offerings. I think a combination of those things is what helps make me unique. One minute I could be singing a standard, or something soft and jazzy, and then break into an upbeat number from the 70's! You just never know what will happen. I love the excitement and emotion that comes from performing all kinds music. Helping people smile, laugh, and feel through music, is what I LOVE! It makes my heart feel good! 

Join vocalist Max Wellman & an elite 6 piece band led by composer/pianist Nate Sparks, along with Gina Gedler, Napoleon Douglas, & more special guests as Noce brings back this special production for a second year. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​ Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Join vocalist Max Wellman & an elite 6 piece band led by composer/pianist Nate Sparks, along with Gina Gedler, Napoleon Douglas, & more special guests as Noce brings back this special production for a second year. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​ Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Join Max Wellman each Saturday night after 9pm for a night full of standards featuring a rotating cast of musicians & other singers. Similar to Wellman's Last Call series, but just a little bit earlier in the evening. Shows will go until 11 or midnight, depending on the evening. There is no cover. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Vocalist Max Wellman brings back his wildly popular Home for the Holidays show to Noce, featuring the great work of music director & trumpeter Dave Rezek. This show has sold out runs at The Des Moines Playhouse, the Des Moines Social Club, The Turner Jazz Center, & more. Designed after the classic holiday variety shows of yore, you'll hear all of your favorite songs (It's the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, The Christmas Song, Sleigh Ride) brought to you by stellar jazz musicians in a beautiful room. –––––––––– Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners.Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Hear the classic score from composer Vince Guaraldi, brought to you by one of the great piano trios in the region. --- Tanner Taylor studied under Jack Oatts and Manhattan School of Music’s Garry Dial. Taylor is an in-demand pianist throughout the Midwest, actively performing in the Omaha, Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Kansas City music scenes. Taylor has performed with jazz notables such as Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Lew Tabackin, David “Fathead” Newman, Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon, Wes “Warm Daddy” Anderson, Dick Oatts, Eric Alexander, Bobby Shew, Steve Smith, Jaleel Shaw, Delfeayo Marsalis, Barbara Morrison, Connie Evingson,and Randy Brecker. as well as performing on "A Praire Home Companion" with Garrison Keilor. Taylor was inducted into the Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame in October, 2022. 

Hear the classic score from composer Vince Guaraldi, brought to you by one of the great piano trios in the region. --- Tanner Taylor studied under Jack Oatts and Manhattan School of Music’s Garry Dial. Taylor is an in-demand pianist throughout the Midwest, actively performing in the Omaha, Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Kansas City music scenes. Taylor has performed with jazz notables such as Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Lew Tabackin, David “Fathead” Newman, Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon, Wes “Warm Daddy” Anderson, Dick Oatts, Eric Alexander, Bobby Shew, Steve Smith, Jaleel Shaw, Delfeayo Marsalis, Barbara Morrison, Connie Evingson,and Randy Brecker. as well as performing on "A Praire Home Companion" with Garrison Keilor. Taylor was inducted into the Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame in October, 2022. 

Join the Des Moines Big Band for a monthlong series of favorite holiday classics put through a Big Band filter. From Duke Ellington's "Sugar Rum Cherry" spin on the Sugarplum Fairy and a Zydeco groove "Joy to the World" to Carols of yore, this holiday tradition is a favorite at Noce year after year. –––––––––– The Des Moines Big Band, a storied ensemble that goes back to the 1950s, has played with some of the greatest names in jazz, from legends like Clark Terry to some of the more local household names such as Scott Smith. Led by renowned trumpeter/arranger Dave Rezek, this organization is in residence at Noce on Wednesday nights. 

Vocalist, Lauren Vilmain is a graduate of Drake University where she majored in vocal performance with a minor in musical theatre. In her studies she fell in love with both the thrill of live performance and the beauty of self-expression. While being classically trained, Lauren also dove into musical theater repertoire. After her studies she found a challenging and deep love for American Jazz music. Her repertoire ranges widely from Nina Simone, Melody Gardot and Madeleine Peyroux to blues artists like Lizz Wright, Tracy Chapman, and Eva Cassidy. She performs locally with NOLA Jazz Band as well as her Quintet and is proud to regular the Noce Jazz Club in Downtown Des Moines. Lauren is privileged to work with some of the best musicians in the state and to collaborate with them for her personal projects. 

Join renowned singer and actress Gina Gedler and her combo of musicians for an evening of some of her favorite warm and toasty Holiday songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Karen Carpenter, Eartha Kitt, Diana Krall, and many more! --- A Note From Gina: Hi! I'm Gina Gedler and I am a regular to the Des Moines entertainment scene and have been performing for many years. I was born in Newton, Iowa and my family moved to Arizona shortly after I was born. Ever since I was a little girl, I always loved to sing and act up! (My mom and dad always said that I entered this world screaming! Come to think of it, that may have been my first singing debut!) Because I had no opportunity for lessons; I grew up listening to records, watching old movies, teaching myself the different styles of music, and the ins and outs of singing and acting. In Arizona I became very involved, during my academic years, in Theater and Music. I returned to Des Moines, Iowa during the spring break of my Junior year of High School. That was tough! But I immediately became involved in the music and theater department to meet new people. And that I did! After meeting the love of my life Mike, in my senior year of High School, we married a year after graduating High School and within our first 5 years of marriage we were blessed with our wonderful son, Brandon! In Des Moines I have been heavily involved in music scene and performing in theater as well. With hard work I have had the privilege and honor of appearing in numerous musicals on stage and many various professional acts and music performances throughout the state and outside of the state as well. For years, I have been enjoying singing in Des Moines as well as outside of the metro area, with my combo of musicians and big bands, for company and personal parties/celebrations, and in various restaurant and lounge venues. I am a current resident performer at the unique and swanky NOCE Jazz and Cabaret Club since its inception in 2015. I am also the lead vocalist with the Ballyhoo Foxtrot Combo and the Soya Vista Jazz Orchestra as well as a guest lead vocalist for several other local bands. I am a singer as well as an entertainer. I pride myself on truly enjoying and delivering what I am singing. I am very versatile with my music styling and offerings. I think a combination of those things is what helps make me unique. One minute I could be singing a standard, or something soft and jazzy, and then break into an upbeat number from the 70's! You just never know what will happen. I love the excitement and emotion that comes from performing all kinds music. Helping people smile, laugh, and feel through music, is what I LOVE! It makes my heart feel good! 

In only a few short years The NOLA Jazz Bands “gutsy and heartfelt” blues and jazz stylings has earned them a nationwide fan base. This 5 generation, 8 member group led by clarinetist Jeff Kane has played with some of the biggest movers and shakers in the New Orleans, Hot Jazz, and NYC Traditional Jazz scenes including: Bria Skonberg, Marla Dixon and Shotgun Jazz Band, Paul Mehling and Hot Club of San Francisco, Davina & the Vagabonds, and many others. Band members have also played in Europe and at well-known clubs in New Orleans and New York including the Spotted Cat, Bamboula’s, Iridium, and Smalls Jazz Club. 

Join Max Wellman each Saturday night after 9pm for a night full of standards featuring a rotating cast of musicians & other singers. Similar to Wellman's Last Call series, but just a little bit earlier in the evening. Shows will go until 11 or midnight, depending on the evening. There is no cover. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Join vocalist Max Wellman & an elite 6 piece band led by composer/pianist Nate Sparks, along with Gina Gedler, Napoleon Douglas, & more special guests as Noce brings back this special production for a second year. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​ Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Vocalist Max Wellman brings back his wildly popular Home for the Holidays show to Noce, featuring the great work of music director & trumpeter Dave Rezek. This show has sold out runs at The Des Moines Playhouse, the Des Moines Social Club, The Turner Jazz Center, & more. Designed after the classic holiday variety shows of yore, you'll hear all of your favorite songs (It's the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, The Christmas Song, Sleigh Ride) brought to you by stellar jazz musicians in a beautiful room. –––––––––– Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners.Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Hear the classic score from composer Vince Guaraldi, brought to you by one of the great piano trios in the region. --- Tanner Taylor studied under Jack Oatts and Manhattan School of Music’s Garry Dial. Taylor is an in-demand pianist throughout the Midwest, actively performing in the Omaha, Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Kansas City music scenes. Taylor has performed with jazz notables such as Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Lew Tabackin, David “Fathead” Newman, Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon, Wes “Warm Daddy” Anderson, Dick Oatts, Eric Alexander, Bobby Shew, Steve Smith, Jaleel Shaw, Delfeayo Marsalis, Barbara Morrison, Connie Evingson,and Randy Brecker. as well as performing on "A Praire Home Companion" with Garrison Keilor. Taylor was inducted into the Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame in October, 2022. 

Join the Des Moines Big Band for a monthlong series of favorite holiday classics put through a Big Band filter. From Duke Ellington's "Sugar Rum Cherry" spin on the Sugarplum Fairy and a Zydeco groove "Joy to the World" to Carols of yore, this holiday tradition is a favorite at Noce year after year. –––––––––– The Des Moines Big Band, a storied ensemble that goes back to the 1950s, has played with some of the greatest names in jazz, from legends like Clark Terry to some of the more local household names such as Scott Smith. Led by renowned trumpeter/arranger Dave Rezek, this organization is in residence at Noce on Wednesday nights. 

Few musicians embody the spontaneous energy of jazz quite like Matt Wilson, who was recently named 2018 Musician of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. The New York-based drummer combines buoyant zeal, idiosyncratic style, infectious humor, joyous swing and an indomitable spirit of surprise, making him one of the most in-demand players and educators on the modern jazz scene. He leads many distinctive ensembles: the Matt Wilson Quartet, Arts & Crafts, Honey and Salt, Big Happy Family, Topsy Turvy and the Christmas Tree-O. With his two most recent recordings, Wilson has achieved the very rare feat of receiving two consecutive 5-star (masterpiece) reviews from DownBeat magazine. His latest album, Honey and Salt (Music Inspired by the Poetry of Carl Sandburg), was chosen as the 2018 Record of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and also received 5-star reviews from three separate All About Jazz writers, Irish Times and Diariofolk. The recording, his thirteenth as a leader for Palmetto, has also been recognized on over thirty “Best Of “ lists, including The Top Ten Recordings of 2017 lists by NPR, JazzTimes, Boston Globe, DownBeat, Jazziz, Cadence, Irish Times, Just Jazz, Stem Tempest and numerous other publications. Wilson’s impressive discography numbers more than 400 CDs, including releases by his co-led trios Sifter and Trio M. He has performed with such luminaries as Dewey Redman, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Potter, Paul Bley, Elvis Costello, Lee Konitz, Geri Allen, Andrew Hill, Jane Ira Bloom, Charlie Haden, Carla Bley, Marshall Allen, Joanne Brackeen, John Zorn, Cecil McBee, Paquito D’ Rivera, Ray Anderson, Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Candido, Buster Williams, Sheila Jordan, Gary Peacock, Kenny Barron, John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Hubert Laws, George Cables, Denny Zeitlin and many others. Matt has been featured on the covers of DownBeat, JazzTimes, Modern Drummer, JazzEd, JazzTimes Educational Supplement, Jazziz, The New York City Jazz Record, Hot House and Coda magazines. He was voted Drummer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2003 and 2011 and he topped the “Rising Star Drummer” category in DownBeat’s Critics Poll for five consecutive years, among numerous other accolades, including a 2011 Grammy nomination. In demand as an educator, he’s led workshops and master classes around the world and is on faculty at the New School, SUNY Purchase, San Francisco Conservatory, Sarah Lawrence College and Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen, Holland. “Any time you get a chance to hear Matt Wilson play drums—whether he’s a leader or sideman—take it, and be sure to sit front and center. He exemplifies the idea of the artist’s instrument and music being an extension of who they are as a human being. You can hear Wilson smiling behind the drum kit.” DownBeat Magazine “There are a few more emphatically dazzling drummers working today, but almost nobody in Wilson’s peer group with a broader sense of jazz history, or a more natural sense of time, or a stronger signature as a bandleader, or more goodwill among his fellow players.” Jazz Times “The drummer Matt Wilson is an ambassador of good feeling!”  New York Times “Drummer Matt Wilson is one of the friendliest guys in jazz, and his music, even at its most complex, reflects that. It's unpretentious and full of easygoing swing.” National Public Radio “As a body of work, Wilson’s Palmetto discs are among the most exciting in recent jazz. Conscious of history, exploratory, funny and mournful by turns, they keep the listener guessing and, better still, thirsty for more.”  Penguin Guide to Jazz 

Hear the classic score from composer Vince Guaraldi, brought to you by one of the great piano trios in the region. --- Tanner Taylor studied under Jack Oatts and Manhattan School of Music’s Garry Dial. Taylor is an in-demand pianist throughout the Midwest, actively performing in the Omaha, Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Kansas City music scenes. Taylor has performed with jazz notables such as Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Lew Tabackin, David “Fathead” Newman, Steve Turre, Wycliffe Gordon, Wes “Warm Daddy” Anderson, Dick Oatts, Eric Alexander, Bobby Shew, Steve Smith, Jaleel Shaw, Delfeayo Marsalis, Barbara Morrison, Connie Evingson,and Randy Brecker. as well as performing on "A Praire Home Companion" with Garrison Keilor. Taylor was inducted into the Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame in October, 2022. 

An elite big band led by the great composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Nate Sparks, featuring new arrangements of some of your holiday favorites! -- Nate Sparks is a composer/arranger/performer who grew up in Runnells, Iowa. Nate began playing the piano at age 7, trumpet at 11, and pursued jazz throughout his middle school and high school years. His acceptance into several national high school honor bands and music festivals led him to a post-secondary study of jazz at the Juilliard School, where he also began his career as a writer. ​ Since then he has been commissioned to write music for Lucky Chops, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band, the MSM Afro-Cuban Orchestra, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, among many others. In 2018 he made arranging contributions to a Grammy Nominated album, West Side Story Reimagined, by Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band. While he regularly takes commissions for freelance work, his main outlet as a writer is with his own band, the Nate Sparks Big Band, a New York/Des Moines-based 18-piece jazz orchestra. Playing exclusively his own compositions, arrangements, and transcriptions, the Nate Sparks Big Band performed regularly at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola in New York City in 2016-2019, and now takes root in Des Moines Iowa where he currently Resides. In May of 2017, Nate graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor's degree in performance, and now in addition to writing and performing, actively pursues a career as a jazz educator. Since then, Nate has been a faculty member of the Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop, the Sitka Jazz and the Simpson College Jazz Workshop. In 2020, he founded and continues to direct the Des Moines Youth Jazz Orchestra, an elite high school ensemble in Central Iowa. He has also been a guest clinician for the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra (New York, NY), The University of Scranton (Scranton, PA), Drake University (Des Moines, IA), Delaware Valley High School (Milford, PA), and Southeast Polk High School (Des Moines, IA). Nate also teaches private lessons in Jazz Piano, Piano Fundamentals, Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Composition and Arranging, and Trumpet. 

Join Max Wellman each Saturday night after 9pm for a night full of standards featuring a rotating cast of musicians & other singers. Similar to Wellman's Last Call series, but just a little bit earlier in the evening. Shows will go until 11 or midnight, depending on the evening. There is no cover. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

An elite big band led by the great composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Nate Sparks, featuring new arrangements of some of your holiday favorites! -- Nate Sparks is a composer/arranger/performer who grew up in Runnells, Iowa. Nate began playing the piano at age 7, trumpet at 11, and pursued jazz throughout his middle school and high school years. His acceptance into several national high school honor bands and music festivals led him to a post-secondary study of jazz at the Juilliard School, where he also began his career as a writer. ​ Since then he has been commissioned to write music for Lucky Chops, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band, the MSM Afro-Cuban Orchestra, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, among many others. In 2018 he made arranging contributions to a Grammy Nominated album, West Side Story Reimagined, by Bobby Sanabria and the Multiverse Big Band. While he regularly takes commissions for freelance work, his main outlet as a writer is with his own band, the Nate Sparks Big Band, a New York/Des Moines-based 18-piece jazz orchestra. Playing exclusively his own compositions, arrangements, and transcriptions, the Nate Sparks Big Band performed regularly at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola in New York City in 2016-2019, and now takes root in Des Moines Iowa where he currently Resides. In May of 2017, Nate graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor's degree in performance, and now in addition to writing and performing, actively pursues a career as a jazz educator. Since then, Nate has been a faculty member of the Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop, the Sitka Jazz and the Simpson College Jazz Workshop. In 2020, he founded and continues to direct the Des Moines Youth Jazz Orchestra, an elite high school ensemble in Central Iowa. He has also been a guest clinician for the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra (New York, NY), The University of Scranton (Scranton, PA), Drake University (Des Moines, IA), Delaware Valley High School (Milford, PA), and Southeast Polk High School (Des Moines, IA). Nate also teaches private lessons in Jazz Piano, Piano Fundamentals, Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Composition and Arranging, and Trumpet. 

In only a few short years The NOLA Jazz Bands “gutsy and heartfelt” blues and jazz stylings has earned them a nationwide fan base. This 5 generation, 8 member group led by clarinetist Jeff Kane has played with some of the biggest movers and shakers in the New Orleans, Hot Jazz, and NYC Traditional Jazz scenes including: Bria Skonberg, Marla Dixon and Shotgun Jazz Band, Paul Mehling and Hot Club of San Francisco, Davina & the Vagabonds, and many others. Band members have also played in Europe and at well-known clubs in New Orleans and New York including the Spotted Cat, Bamboula’s, Iridium, and Smalls Jazz Club. 

Join us at Noce for one night only hosting these two rising stars (& Des Moines natives) along with an elite band. --- Hannah Marks is a bassist, composer, and educator living in New York City. Marks’ debut album, Outsider, Outlier, is an explosive rendering of her search for belonging and empowerment. A nod to her love for punk, noise and free improvisation, Outsider, Outlier released on Out Of Your Head Records on October 20, 2023. She has performed at festivals like the Detroit Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, 80-35 Music Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival and Indy Jazz Festival. In addition to her experimental rock project Outsider, Outlier, Marks also leads a jazz group, Hannah Marks Quartet. As a side-woman, Marks has been described as having “a fresh, modern, and original approach to playing the bass” by Marcus Printup. Marks has played bass for Geoffrey Keezer, Nasheet Waits, Terri Lyne Carrington, Anna Webber, Miles Okazaki, Ingrid Jensen, Kalia Vandever, Matt Wilson, Ted Nash, Morgan Guerin, Marcus Printup, and Sasha Berliner. Marks’ discography includes playing on Geoffrey Keezer’s Grammy award winning composition “Refuge”, Kristen Lee Sergeant’s Falling with saxophonist Ted Nash, and Heartland Trio’s debut album Year One. Marks is passionate about jazz education, serving on faculty at Jazz House Kids and the Spence School during the academic year, and at Interlochen Arts Camp and the Stanford Jazz Workshop during the summer. She has also presented masterclasses at universities across the country (Brown University, Indiana University, and University of Denver) and adjudicated at the Reno Jazz Festival. --- Runner-up in the 2024 Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal competition, Aviana Gedler is a vocalist, violist, pianist, songwriter, arranger, bassist, and drummer with an unwavering passion for music and artistry that started from a very young age. After studying jazz music in high school from local Des Moines legend Susie Miget, she went on to earn her Associate of Applied Arts degree at the School for Music Vocations in Creston, Iowa, under the direction of Tobi Crawford and Grammy-nominated Dr. Jeremy Fox. There, she studied arranging, theory, ear training, and both classical and jazz piano along with all of her other instruments. She took jazz voice lessons under Four Freshman members Tommy Boynton and Ryan Howe and went on to win the Downbeat Magazine award for Best Jazz Vocal Soloist in the Community College division two years in a row, as well as the award for Best Studio Engineered Recording for her own self-produced song in 2022. Aviana currently studies at the New Englanld Conservatory of Music. She continues to write and perform her own music and continuously looks for any opportunity to collaborate with those around her. 

Andrew is thrilled to present an encore performance of his new show celebrating Tony Bennett! Here, he will lead his ten-piece orchestra through all-new custom-commissioned arrangements of Bennett’s biggest hits. Then, Walesch will take the audience on a journey through the career of one of the greatest artists of our time. Andrew has loved Tony Bennett since he was a kid. He spent countless hours studying Tony’s phrasing, discography, and overall musical approach. When he was sixteen, he started traveling far and wide to see Tony as many times as possible. (He saw Bennett in concert sixteen times.) All this would culminate one fateful afternoon in 2017, when Walesch encountered Bennett while walking on 57th Street in Manhattan. This chance meeting turned into a forty-five-minute-long conversation over dinner. Here, Bennett took Andrew on a chronological journey through his career, in his own words. Ever since then, this concept has been in the works. “Although they are my idols, I don’t attempt to imitate the great pop and jazz artists of the 50s and ’60s,” says Andrew, “but I go for broke when we do our shows – vocally and musically – which is what they all did best and why they were in a class of their own.” Andrew possesses admirable vocal and piano chops and a keen sensibility to find and interpret a great lyric. Also, these skills have led to some great opportunities. To that end, he has appeared on the nationally syndicated NPR broadcast Mountain Stage. Recently, Walesch performed at the 33rd Annual Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. Walesch now resides in Phoenix, where he is the Artistic Director of the Music Theater at the Musical Instrument Museum. 

Join Max Wellman each Saturday night after 9pm for a night full of standards featuring a rotating cast of musicians & other singers. Similar to Wellman's Last Call series, but just a little bit earlier in the evening. Shows will go until 11 or midnight, depending on the evening. There is no cover. --- Vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers throughout the region. With a sound evoking the likes of Sinatra and Connick, Wellman’s recordings & performances promise that the Great American Songbook is alive & well for a new generation of listeners. ​Wellman co-founded Noce, a state-of-the-art jazz club in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. Additionally, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs throughout the country, from Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center to Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago to Dazzle in Denver & many in between. 

Join Max, Andrew, & Napoelon in a new show highlighting the music of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., & more along with an elite jazz orchestra. --- Vocalist Max Wellman continues to entice music lovers throughout the region, with a sound evoking Sinatra and Connick. Wellman’s recordings & performances proclaim that the Great American Songbook is alive and well for a new generation of listeners. Noce is a state-of-the-art jazz club (co-founded by Wellman) in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. In addition to performing at Noce, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs around the country, including Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago, and Dazzle in Denver. --- Napoleon M Douglas is an International Actor, Teaching Artist, and Entrepreneur whose performance experience includes Stage Theatre, Film, Commercial, Voice Over, Instrumental Music, Dance, and Vocal Music among others. Theatre (selected): International - Simba in The Festival of the Lion King (HKDL); National - Louie in Mr. Holland’s Opus (World Premiere & Dance Captain - Ogunquit Playhouse); Joe Alves & Carl Gottlieb Cover in BRUCE (World Premiere - Seattle Repertory); Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls (2018 Ostrander Winner - Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Arvada Center), NoMax in Five Guys Named Moe (Westchester Broadway), as well as leading and supporting roles in Hairspray!, Sister Act, Superior Donuts, A Christmas Carol, Miss Saigon, Romeo & Juliet, and White Christmas. TV/Film (Selected): Hulu’s WuTang: An American Saga (Co-Star), and Oscar Micheaux (Cannes Short Selection, Urban Film BET Short Premiere Selection - 2018). Educationally, Napoleon has worked as a Choreographer, Director, Music Director, Studio Voice Instructor, and Teaching Artist for theatres and companies across the U.S. including The Summer Conservatory at Memphis Playhouse on the Square, The Academy at Midtown Arts Center, and The Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Institutionally, He serves as a Board Member and Artist-in-Residence for City Voices - a community-centered nonprofit that provides free, high quality, individualized music instruction to underserved students in the Des Moines Metro area and Board Member of Sing For Your Seniors (www.singforyourseniors.org). Napoleon is a former member of the renowned Isiserettes Drill and Drum Corps who performed for both Inauguration Parades for President Barack Obama, and for President Joe Biden. Drake University (B.A. Theatre Arts, ’14). SNHU (M.B.A. Entrepreneurship, ’18). Phi Gamma Delta. Actors Equity Association. 

Join Noce for our signature New Year's Eve (& birthday) celebration! Named after the epic poem that marked the beginning of the Jazz Age, The Wild Party is a night full of delicious libations & elite music, this time brought to you by a jazz orchestra fronted by Max Wellman, Andrew Walesch, & Napoleon Douglas, among other special guests. In addition to the wonderful entertainment up front, Big Grove Brewery's Chef de Cuisine Dale Rinderman will prepare & serve a four-course plated meal Backstage at 9. This meal is included with each ticket purchased. Drinks will be purchased separately. Heather & Nick Leo will DJ Backstage during the evening's meal. Doors will open at 8:00 with programming throughout the evening, a plated dinner at 9:00, & a full show on the main stage leading up to a toast at midnight & more music to follow that. --- Vocalist Max Wellman continues to entice music lovers throughout the region, with a sound evoking Sinatra and Connick. Wellman’s recordings & performances proclaim that the Great American Songbook is alive and well for a new generation of listeners. Noce is a state-of-the-art jazz club (co-founded by Wellman) in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. In addition to performing at Noce, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs around the country, including Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago, and Dazzle in Denver. --- Dale Rinderman is a local Chef in Des Moines, and he is currently the Chef de Cuisine at Big Grove Brewery. He has worked at a lot of places over the last 18 yrs of being in the industry, from bar & grills, to sandwich shops, to scratch kitchens, and even a few bars too where he was a beverage director of his own program for almost 5 years. Dale is always a very community focused Chef, collaborating with many local businesses on a regular basis. At Big Grove, he’s backed by a super talented team which he’s excited to bring over to help execute a truly unique and delicious menu for the New Years. --- Napoleon M Douglas is an International Actor, Teaching Artist, and Entrepreneur whose performance experience includes Stage Theatre, Film, Commercial, Voice Over, Instrumental Music, Dance, and Vocal Music among others. Theatre (selected): International - Simba in The Festival of the Lion King (HKDL); National - Louie in Mr. Holland’s Opus (World Premiere & Dance Captain - Ogunquit Playhouse); Joe Alves & Carl Gottlieb Cover in BRUCE (World Premiere - Seattle Repertory); Jimmy Early in Dreamgirls (2018 Ostrander Winner - Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Arvada Center), NoMax in Five Guys Named Moe (Westchester Broadway), as well as leading and supporting roles in Hairspray!, Sister Act, Superior Donuts, A Christmas Carol, Miss Saigon, Romeo & Juliet, and White Christmas. 

In the latest innovative revue at Noce, Max Wellman and his big band highlight the works of Frank Sinatra, his contemporaries, and those that followed. Fly Me to The Moon features songs made famous by Harry Connick Jr, Michael Bublé, Dean Martin, and more. Wellman includes newly commissioned arrangements from some of today’s great Big Band arrangers; this new format will allow for an ever-changing, dynamic set list each time the band takes the stage. –––––––––– Vocalist Max Wellman continues to entice music lovers throughout the region, with a sound evoking Sinatra and Connick. Wellman’s recordings & performances proclaim that the Great American Songbook is alive and well for a new generation of listeners. Noce is a state-of-the-art jazz club (co-founded by Wellman) in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. In addition to performing at Noce, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs around the country, including Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago, and Dazzle in Denver. 

In the latest innovative revue at Noce, Max Wellman and his big band highlight the works of Frank Sinatra, his contemporaries, and those that followed. Fly Me to The Moon features songs made famous by Harry Connick Jr, Michael Bublé, Dean Martin, and more. Wellman includes newly commissioned arrangements from some of today’s great Big Band arrangers; this new format will allow for an ever-changing, dynamic set list each time the band takes the stage. –––––––––– Vocalist Max Wellman continues to entice music lovers throughout the region, with a sound evoking Sinatra and Connick. Wellman’s recordings & performances proclaim that the Great American Songbook is alive and well for a new generation of listeners. Noce is a state-of-the-art jazz club (co-founded by Wellman) in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. In addition to performing at Noce, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs around the country, including Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago, and Dazzle in Denver. 

In the latest innovative revue at Noce, Max Wellman and his big band highlight the works of Frank Sinatra, his contemporaries, and those that followed. Fly Me to The Moon features songs made famous by Harry Connick Jr, Michael Bublé, Dean Martin, and more. Wellman includes newly commissioned arrangements from some of today’s great Big Band arrangers; this new format will allow for an ever-changing, dynamic set list each time the band takes the stage. –––––––––– Vocalist Max Wellman continues to entice music lovers throughout the region, with a sound evoking Sinatra and Connick. Wellman’s recordings & performances proclaim that the Great American Songbook is alive and well for a new generation of listeners. Noce is a state-of-the-art jazz club (co-founded by Wellman) in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. In addition to performing at Noce, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs around the country, including Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago, and Dazzle in Denver. 

In the latest innovative revue at Noce, Max Wellman and his big band highlight the works of Frank Sinatra, his contemporaries, and those that followed. Fly Me to The Moon features songs made famous by Harry Connick Jr, Michael Bublé, Dean Martin, and more. Wellman includes newly commissioned arrangements from some of today’s great Big Band arrangers; this new format will allow for an ever-changing, dynamic set list each time the band takes the stage. –––––––––– Vocalist Max Wellman continues to entice music lovers throughout the region, with a sound evoking Sinatra and Connick. Wellman’s recordings & performances proclaim that the Great American Songbook is alive and well for a new generation of listeners. Noce is a state-of-the-art jazz club (co-founded by Wellman) in the Western Gateway neighborhood of downtown Des Moines. In addition to performing at Noce, Wellman has appeared at some of the great clubs around the country, including Dizzy's Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago, and Dazzle in Denver.