CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF LIVE JAZZ
E X P L O R E
Our Heritage
January, 1975: A 10-member Board of Directors consisting of Monk Montgomery (founder), Jay Cameron, Frank Gagliardi, Ken Joy, John Lindner, Sari Phillips, Tom Severns, Dan Skea, Judy Tarte and John Unrue is formed.
The “Jazz Ambassadors at Large” is assembled to spread the word, the music and the dream. Members are Joe Williams, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Marlena Shaw, James Moody, B.B. King and Carl Fontana.
“A Place in the Sun” by Monk Montgomery
Las Vegas Jazz Society:
The Early Times
Compiled and contributed by Judy Tarte
Jazz bassist Monk Montgomery introduced the Fender Precision Bass to the genre in 1951 and was the elder brother of jazz guitarist, Wes, and vibraphonist/pianist Buddy). Upon his arrival to Las Vegas in 1966 he found the jazz scene sadly lacking, even though the town was full of fine musicians who were looking to play this kind of music. His dream was to provide more outlets for them to be able to play their music and to also draw nationally renowned jazz musicians to major venues on and off the “Strip.”
ADVISORY BOARD
GARY ANDERSON PETE BARBUTTI DENNIS BONO LORRAINE HUNT-BONO DAVID LOEB
CHARLES MCNEAL THOM PASTOR ULI GEISSENDOERFER
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2025-2026 Board of Directors
Judy Tarte, President
Chris Blando, Treasurer
Cheryl Waites, Secretary
Tom Hall, Events Committee
Diane Ecker, Membership Coordinator
Evelyn Chavers, Volunteer Coordinator
Adam Schroeder, Education Committee
Rita Pardue, Jazz Outreach Committee
Ryan Baker, Jazz Outreach Committee
Tristan Selzer, Jazz Outreach Committee
Access the Events Calendar
SUPPORT LIVE JAZZ!
NOTES FROM THE BOARD
Click on the above title to learn about things discussed at Board meetings
CONTACT: info@lvjs.org
Email Addresses
We encourage everyone to use the LVJS emails to correspond with us:
membership@lvjs.org – for membership questions or
events@lvjs.org – Our Artists use this to submit gigs for placement on the calendar. If you know of an artist performing somewhere but don’t see it on our calendar, ask that artist if it’s okay if you send the info to us (just this once)
jazznotes@lvjs.org – Artists, submit your gigs for inclusion in this bimonthly publication
treas@lvjs.org – Treasurer
info@lvjs.org – If none of the above apply to a question, concern or comment you may have, try this address
admin@lvjs.org – Used to correspond with the administrator of this website (things you would like to see here, questions about how to purchase tickets?)
SEE
Images from events
FEATURED ARTISTS
"And That's That"
OUR MISSION
SPONSOR
and co-sponsor live jazz performances
PROMOTE
Support the up-and-coming young musicians in our community and schools
PROVIDE
Opportunities for those who appreciate jazz to share their common interests in this uniquely American, constantly evolving art form
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
If you have suggestions or comments that would help make the LVJS bigger and better, send those to info@lvjs.org.
What performers would you like to hear and where? Is there information that could be added to the website?
Anything you can think of, we want to hear about it.
The Las Vegas Jazz Society is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation EIN 88-0281671
KEEP THIS UNIQUE AMERICAN ART FORM ALIVE
