Noce's Upcoming Shows
Sat, Oct 31
Paul's amazing big band will be back in costumes for the third year in a row performing Halloween night at Noce! Paul has put together a program of scary movie soundtracks, spooky original compositions, and new arrangements of the music of Mother Monster herself. It will be the spookiest, grooviest, and silliest music event in Des Moines on Halloween night.
Paul Lichty:
Paul Lichty has become one of Des Moines’ most prolific freelance musicians and composers since moving there in 2020. Now the bandleader of the Paul Lichty Jazz Orchestra (PLJO), trombonist/music director for BYOBrass and "The Domita Show" and jazz chair of the Iowa Pride Ensembles, Paul balances these duties while also working as a band director at Winterset Junior High School. Paul has developed a unique and personal approach at composing and arranging for ensembles of all sizes and skill levels. PLJO’s first album, “Dark Soul”, was released in 2021 and can be found on all streaming platforms, BandCamp, as well as Paul’s website (paullichtymusic.com). BYOBrass' second album, "Breathe", was released in 2025 and features several of his newest arrangements and compositions. In 2024, Paul was recipient of the CJC Des Moines Hall of Fame "Next Generation" award which recognizes an up-and-coming musician who has made an impact on the music scene in Des Moines.
Paul's full bio, as well as social media/streaming links, event info, and videos of past performances, can be found at paullichtymusic.com.
Sat, Oct 31
Vocalist/pianist Max Wellman along with local jazz musicians play standards from the end of Saturday night's primetime show (9:30 or 10:30) until 11:30 or midnight.
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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.
Tue, Nov 03
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.
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The band often invites high school & college groups in to play during the set break. The first Tuesday of every month, though, the band plays their own full night highlighting the work of a different iconic jazz artist or composer.
Thu, Nov 05
StrumDrum is made up of Blake Shaw on hybrid guitar and Christopher Jensen on drums. Hailing from Iowa City, both are active throughout Iowa as musicians and educators with many projects to their names and as sidemen. Playing hybrid guitar requires Blake to play bass lines and guitar parts at the same time; while singing! Christopher uses all four of his limbs to play drums, cymbals, and percussion as well. Together you’ll hear them play a mixture of jazz, blues, pop tunes mixed in with unique style and passion through instrumental landscapes. Both musicians have kind spirits that resonate through the music, creating exciting, thoughtful, and beautiful sounds. Get ready to groove!
Fri, Nov 06
Curtis Taylor is an award-winning trumpeter, performer, composer, recording artist, and educator. Growing up in Bedford, Ohio, he began playing the trumpet at an early age. Inspired by concerts
he attended while in middle and high school, Taylor committed to a career in Jazz, honing his craft under the tutelage of his mentors at Michigan State and Rutgers University. Taylor‘s artistry has graced many stages worldwide. From iconic venues like the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Apollo Theater & Dizzy’s Club in New York City, to international festivals like The North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands and the San Javier Jazz Festival in Spain. He has also performed and recorded with numerous acclaimed artists, such as Billy Childs, James Carter, John Clayton, Patrice Rushen, Rodney Whitaker, Ed Motta, and Cyrus Chestnut. Notably, his work on Gregory Porter's Grammy Award-winning album "Liquid Spirit" earned him high praise.
As a leader, he has recorded three albums, and his current release TAYLOR MADE has earned rave reviews from various publications, including features in JAZZIZ and DOWNBEAT, two of the top music magazines in the world. His composition “Kham’s Dilemma” earned First Place in the Jazz category of the Unsigned Only International Music Competition.
Taylor is also an active clinician and educator and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of Iowa.