Noce's Upcoming Shows
Tue, Oct 20
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!
Wed, Oct 21
Every Wednesday 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. Half off select bottles of wine. Some of the top jazz musicians in the region are featured each week.
Thu, Oct 22
The ever-popular Gina Gedler stops in for a rare, intimate performance at Noce, playing hit songs from every era along with pianist Ben Hagen.
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Fri, Oct 23
Sat, Oct 24
The IJCO is a big band made up of the very best jazz musicians from all over the state, dedicated to playing original music by Iowa composers. 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. Their "Fertile Soil Suite" earned Mike Conrad a SONIC Award from the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers and their 2026 release "Our Harvest" showcases dynamic pieces by Bob Washut, Jon Ailabouni, Chris Merz, Dan Padley, and Jon Snell.
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Mike Conrad is a composer and improviser currently serving as Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Iowa. His compositions have earned him four ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards, a SONIC Award from ISJAC, the 2023 Sammy Nestico Award, and many other accolades. His wide-ranging creative projects include the All Angles Orchestra (New Angle), collaborations with Berlin-based “Stegreif” (Escape Valse, Free Eroica), the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra (Our Harvest, Fertile Soil Suite), and two jazz trio albums of original music (Reconnect and Pretzel Letters). He is in high demand as a jazz pianist and as a clinician and guest director for jazz ensembles all over the country.