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. 

Noce is proud to present “Voix de Ville,” an original cabaret produced by Max Wellman, featuring original music alongside new arrangements from the 1920s to the 2020s. A modernized creation inspired by the vaudeville shows that ushered in the Jazz Age, “Voix de Ville” includes an elite jazz orchestra under the direction of Jason Danielson alongside drag & ballet professionals. This initial run will feature performances by Wellman along with Napoleon Douglas, dancers Amelia & Logan Hillman, drag queens Tyona Diamond & Domita Sanchez, & more. 

Saxophonist, Recording Artist, Educator and Author Dr. Damani Phillips is a native of Pontiac, MI, where he began playing at the age of 10. He currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of African-American Studies at the University of Iowa, where he teaches applied jazz saxophone, directs jazz combos and teaches courses in African-American music, African-American culture, jazz education and improvisation. He has earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from DePaul University (Chicago) and The University of Kentucky in classical saxophone; and a second Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Wayne State University (Detroit). Phillips completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009; becoming one of the first African-Americans in the country to do so. He was named a Yamaha performing artist in 2014. An active performer, pedagogue and composer, Phillips has taught and performed throughout the United States, Europe and South America. He previously served on the full time faculty of Grinnell College, the adjunct faculty of Oakland University (Rochester, MI) and Macomb Community College (Macomb, MI), and is actively sought as a guest artist, clinician, lecturer, panelist and adjudicator throughout the country. As a lecturer, Phillips has presented on a variety of topics on jazz and Black music’s association with American culture at venues such as The African-American Museum of Iowa, the Deutschebank Kunsthalle of (Berlin) and well over a dozen colleges/universities within the United States. As a performer, Phillips has shared the stage with artists/groups such as Lewis Nash, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, Bobby McFerrin, Marcus Belgrave, Terrell Stafford, Maceo Parker, Pat Bianchi, Bobby Floyd, The Temptations, Red Holloway, Hank Jones and many others. As a recording artist, Phillips released his debut CD "Yaktown Nights" in 2003, “The String Theory” in November of 2010 and “The Reckoning” (featuring New York standouts Pat Bianchi - organ, Greg Gisbert – tpt and Lewis Nash - dr) in 2012. His 2015 recording project "Duality" is a double album featuring a unique synergy between straight-ahead jazz and hip hop music. Phillips’ brand new live recording “Live in Iowa” was released in January of 2018. Phillips is also an active academic scholar, with scholarly presentations at colleges, universities, professional/civic conferences and scholarly forums both domestically and abroad to his credit. His research focuses on addressing cultural concerns in the pedagogy of Black music within academia. He published his first book titled “What is This Thing Called Soul: Conversations on Jazz and Black Culture” in 2017, which delves into the difficult topic of the decline of Black cultural influence/representation in jazz as typically taught in academic spheres. 

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. 

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. 

Noce is proud to present “Voix de Ville,” an original cabaret produced by Max Wellman, featuring original music alongside new arrangements from the 1920s to the 2020s. A modernized creation inspired by the vaudeville shows that ushered in the Jazz Age, “Voix de Ville” includes an elite jazz orchestra under the direction of Jason Danielson alongside drag & ballet professionals. This initial run will feature performances by Wellman along with Napoleon Douglas, dancers Amelia & Logan Hillman, drag queens Tyona Diamond & Domita Sanchez, & more. 

Noce presents a co-production with Napoleon Douglas & an elite jazz combo highlighting the music of the late, great Nat King Cole. --- 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 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. 

The Des Moines Big Band was founded in 1959 and has been a driving force in the Iowa jazz scene (yes, there IS one!) ever since. Well known for hundreds of miles around, it has become a regular stop for touring artists such as Bobby Shew, Frank Perowsky, Dick Oatts, John Fedchock, Paul McKee, Richie Cole, John Mosca and Clark Terry to mention just a few. Our mission is to present large-ensemble jazz without compromise. We regularly commission new compositions from nationally-recognized composers while still keeping the classics in the rotation. Our members are committed to high standards of performance, and we make sure that the band cooks! We’re also committed to student musicians. We’ve worked hard to give student musicians a venue where they can hear high quality performances in an appreciative, smoke-free, family-friendly atmosphere. We also invite high-school and college bands to share the stage with us most weeks. We play because we love jazz and we're on a mission to keep it alive and vibrant. Please join us in celebrating a truly original American art form! 

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. 

Noce is proud to present “Voix de Ville,” an original cabaret produced by Max Wellman, featuring original music alongside new arrangements from the 1920s to the 2020s. A modernized creation inspired by the vaudeville shows that ushered in the Jazz Age, “Voix de Ville” includes an elite jazz orchestra under the direction of Jason Danielson alongside drag & ballet professionals. This initial run will feature performances by Wellman along with Napoleon Douglas, dancers Amelia & Logan Hillman, drag queens Tyona Diamond & Domita Sanchez, & more. 

Another great female icon is being celebrated in the Female Icon Series! Along with Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and Linda Ronstadt, Gina is adding Miss Peggy Lee to the celebration of female singers! This is going to be a stellar show! Peggy Lee was a minimalist and so powerful in her delivery. She was also one of the first women to actually write over 270 songs in her era. It’s sure to be a night of wonderful tunes; some of which will include: Fever, Black Coffee, Blues in the night, He’s a tramp, Alright, Okay, You win, Is that all there is? and many more with Gina Gedler and a fabulous 8 piece band. 

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. 

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. 

Noce is proud to present “Voix de Ville,” an original cabaret produced by Max Wellman, featuring original music alongside new arrangements from the 1920s to the 2020s. A modernized creation inspired by the vaudeville shows that ushered in the Jazz Age, “Voix de Ville” includes an elite jazz orchestra under the direction of Jason Danielson alongside drag & ballet professionals. This initial run will feature performances by Wellman along with Napoleon Douglas, dancers Amelia & Logan Hillman, drag queens Tyona Diamond & Domita Sanchez, & more. 

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. 

Noce is proud to present “Voix de Ville,” an original cabaret produced by Max Wellman, featuring original music alongside new arrangements from the 1920s to the 2020s. A modernized creation inspired by the vaudeville shows that ushered in the Jazz Age, “Voix de Ville” includes an elite jazz orchestra under the direction of Jason Danielson alongside drag & ballet professionals. This initial run will feature performances by Wellman along with Napoleon Douglas, dancers Amelia & Logan Hillman, drag queens Tyona Diamond & Domita Sanchez, & more. 

Noce is proud to present a new show featuring Napoleon Douglas highlighting one of the giants of the art form, the late Sammy Davis Jr., featuring a band full of the area's best jazz musicians. --- 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 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. 

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. 

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! 

A special Halloween program from this elite jazz orchestra! --- Paul Lichty is a trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator currently living in Des Moines, IA. He currently leads the Paul Lichty Jazz Orchestra (PLJO), an 18-piece big band that performs his compositions and arrangements exclusively, featuring many of the finest jazz musicians from across the state of Iowa. Paul’s compositions consist of many clever twists and turns on numerous different styles of music and is heavily biographical in nature, providing a unique yet engaging approach to big band composition. Formed in 2017, PLJO recorded its debut album, “Dark Soul” in 2019. This record, completely crowdfunded with financial support from over 60 donors, includes seven original compositions and one arrangement of Paul’s. It is available for listening on Spotify, Youtube, and Apple Music, as well as at Paul's website at paullichtymusic.com. Equally adept at writing for a variety of instrumental ensembles and skill levels, Paul’s music has been performed across the United States, Cuba, Israel, and South Africa. Paul was commissioned twice by Chris Merz to write arrangements for UNI’s annual Sinfonian Dimensions in Jazz concerts for guest artists Kurt Rosenwinkel and Ben Wendel. He has also contributed music for Michael Conrad’s new project, the Iowa Jazz Composer’s Orchestra (iowajazzcomposersorchestra.com). Other commissions include works for Heath Alan, Jeff Kane (NOLA Jazz Band), Bob Washut (UNI Jazz Panthers), Lucas Petersen (Purdue University and Winterset High School), Dr. John Wiles (UNI Varsity Men’s Glee Club), Brad Jensen (Hudson High School), and Clayton Ryan (The Singing Mountain). During his time as a student at UNI, his works were recorded on five UNI Jazz Band One albums. Currently, you can hear Paul's music performed by BYOBrass (where he serves as music director), the Nate Sparks Big Band, the Des Moines Big Band, as well as his own ensembles that he teaches as a middle school band director in Carlisle, IA. As a tenor and bass trombonist, Paul maintains an active performance schedule. Currently a trombonist for BYOBrass, the Nate Sparks Big Band, and the 515 Brass Collective, he has also performed numerous times with the NOLA Jazz Band, the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra, the Max Wellman Big Band, and the Des Moines Big Band, as well as a multitude of other ensembles in almost every genre. Prior to moving to Des Moines, Paul worked as a cruise ship musician and arranger onboard the Crystal Symphony. 

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. 

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. 

The IJCO is a big band made up of the very best jazz musicians from all over the state. With members from Des Moines, Cedar Falls, Iowa City, the Quad Cities, and everywhere in between, it’s truly special when this powerful group gets together to play. --- Mike Conrad is a composer, improviser, and teacher from Iowa. He has been recognized for his arranging and composing with four ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards and seven DownBeat Awards, as well as awards and commissions from the Contemporary Music Academy in Beijing, the Bundesjazzorchester of Germany, the West Point Army Jazz Knights, and many other organizations. Conrad’s music has been performed all over the world, including a 2017 concert by the Metropole Orkest in the Netherlands, a 2014 Carnegie Hall octet premiere, and a string quartet performance at the US Presidential Inauguration in 2013. Some recent career highlights include winning the SONIC Award from the International Society of Arrangers and Composers for his piece “Flyover,” collaborating on an hour-long recomposition of Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony with the incredibly creative Stegreif Orchester of Berlin, and releasing recordings with both the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra and the Mike Conrad Trio. Equally accomplished on both trombone and piano, Conrad truly loves collaborating with other musicians, and always brings his creativity and expressiveness to everything he does. In addition to his own projects as a leader, Conrad regularly performs regionally with several groups such as Chris Merz’s Quartet, the Bob Washut ‘Emeritet,’ and the Max Wellman Big Band, and has also collaborated with musicians like Louis Hayes, Alexa Tarantino, and Alex Sipiagin. Conrad is in high demand as a clinician and guest director for jazz bands, with recent experiences including a residency at the University of New Hampshire, and directing the 2023 4A Iowa All-State Jazz Band. Dr. Conrad earned degrees from the University Northern Iowa (BM and BME), the Eastman School of Music (MM), and the University of Northern Colorado (DA). He is currently serving as Associate Professor of Jazz Studies & Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa, where he directs Jazz Band Two and teaches courses/lessons in Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz Methods, Jazz Theory, Jazz Piano, Jazz Composition, and Jazz Arranging. 

Enjoy the music of this up-and-coming jazz pianist and his trio. Carson Parker is lighting up the state's music scene, and Noce is proud to host him for this special performance. --- Born and raised in Des Moines, IA, Carson Parker discovered his passion for piano at the early age of 6, setting the stage for a lifelong musical journey. His genre-defying sound effortlessly blends jazz, blues, and funk engaging audiences with every performance. His music has been shaped by a combination of tradition and innovation, drawing inspiration from legendary jazz pianists including Cedar Walton, Oscar Peterson, and Duke Ellington. Carson has performed at prestigious venues across Iowa such as Hancher Auditorium, Noce Jazz Club, and the Iowa City Jazz Festival. Including collaborations with musicians including Benny Green, Sean Jones, Benny Benack III, Max Wellman, and Jerome Gillespie. In 2023, Carson distinguished himself as the sole pianist selected for the esteemed National Jazz Band of America. Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in jazz performance and marketing at the University of Iowa, he continues to captivate audiences across Iowa with his own ensemble, and as a sideman, showcasing his passion for music. Carson will be joined by some of Iowa City’s finest musicians including bassist Blake Shaw, and drummer Christopher Jensen 

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. 

Opening night for the Des Moines Big Band season features a night of swing dancing (or just listening!), including dancers from Heartland Swing. --- The Des Moines Big Band was founded in 1959 and has been a driving force in the Iowa jazz scene (yes, there IS one!) ever since. Well known for hundreds of miles around, it has become a regular stop for touring artists such as Bobby Shew, Frank Perowsky, Dick Oatts, John Fedchock, Paul McKee, Richie Cole, John Mosca and Clark Terry to mention just a few. Our mission is to present large-ensemble jazz without compromise. We regularly commission new compositions from nationally-recognized composers while still keeping the classics in the rotation. Our members are committed to high standards of performance, and we make sure that the band cooks! We’re also committed to student musicians. We’ve worked hard to give student musicians a venue where they can hear high quality performances in an appreciative, smoke-free, family-friendly atmosphere. We also invite high-school and college bands to share the stage with us most weeks. We play because we love jazz and we're on a mission to keep it alive and vibrant. Please join us in celebrating a truly original American art form! 

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. 

A Wisconsinite and former student of piano master Fred Hersch, Iverson formed The Bad Plus with bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King in 2000, recording their debut album after only playing three shows together. The innovative trio known for their freewheeling originals and masterful deconstruction of rock and pop tunes recorded a dozen albums with Iverson before he set out on his own as a bandleader and freelancer in 2017. The pianist has lent his estimable talents to projects with Billy Hart, Dewey Redman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Charlie Haden, and Albert “Tootie” Heath, among others, and released eleven albums as a leader, culminating in his sophomore Blue Note session Technically Acceptable, recorded with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Kush Abadey. For this week of shows, Iverson is joined by the veteran powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gerald Cleaver. In addition to his work as an artist, Iverson has established a reputation as one of the most learned and articulate jazz scholars on the scene, writing the celebrated jazz blog Do The Math. 

It will be a night of laughs, fun, and many hit tunes by the Devine Miss M. along with a hoppin’ 7 piece band and sassy back up girls, covering tunes like From A Distance, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, I Put A Spell On You, Wind Beneath My Wings and, of course, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show. Join renowned singer/actress/entertainer extraordinaire Gina Gedler for a night of great music. 

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. 

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. 

‘Nowhere With Love’ is produced by Max Wellman. On the heels of their very successful run of Sinatra-themed concerts, Max & the big band embark on the renowned original music of Harry Connick, Jr., focusing mainly on the acclaimed albums from the early ‘90s such as ‘Blue Light, Red Light,’ ‘Come By Me,’ ‘To See You,’ the soundtrack from ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ & more. These songs were the first that Wellman heard as a child, convincing him from an early age to pursue jazz & the Great American Songbook. -- 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. 

Featuring Helio Alves, Mauricio Zottarelli and special guest Aviana Gedler. --- Gabriel Espinosa was born in Merida, Mexico. He received a BA in Music from Central College and an Arranging Degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston. He later received his Masters in Music from the University of North Texas. He began his teaching career at Central College in 1996 and in 2004 he joined the music faculty at Grinnell College. Prior to going solo in 2009 Espinosa recorded three albums with his Iowa based band Ashanti. Since then, he has recorded five albums under the music label Zoho Music based in New York City. Musicians featured include Antonio Sanchez, Anat Cohen, Hendrik Meurkens, Misha Tsiganov, Helio Alves, Tierney Sutton and Kim Nazarian to name a few. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 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. 

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.