bar centro closed during Summerfest
2024-07-05 20:00 - 22:30, 2024-07-06 20:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago) | bar centro, 804 E. Center St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53212

LUCAS LABEAU QUINTET
2024-07-11 20:00 - 22:30
Lucas Labeau – piano
DOORS AT 7

ALVIN COBB JR. TRIO
2024-07-12 20:00 - 22:30
A native of Atlanta, Alvin Cobb, Jr., is a drummer, composer-songwriter, producer, and photographer currently based in Chicago. Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune once wrote, “Here was a drummer who can make his instrument sing, the lyricism of his work sustaining listener interest…Cobb has emerged as a distinctly charismatic player.” Graduating from Florida State University (B.A.) and Northwestern University (M.M.) with degrees in Music Performance, Alvin has gone on to work with countless artists, including Chance the Rapper, Nola Adé, Marcus Printup, Sherman Irby, Victor Goines, Dee Alexander, Patricia Barber, and Sarah Marie Young. He is the leader of the Alvin Cobb, Jr. Trio, consisting of bassist/vocalist Katie Ernst and pianist Julius Tucker. This trio formed during the pandemic to independently produce livestream concerts that would help raise funds for various charity organizations. Since their start in late 2020, the trio has performed at multiple festivals, held a residency at Chicago’s Andy’s Jazz Club, toured original live film scores, and placed 3rd in the 2022 Chicago Reader, “Best of Chicago” Poll for Best Jazz Ensemble. Heavily inspired by straight-ahead jazz trio playing, their music also incorporates cinematic textures, folk melodies, free improvisation, and modern Black music elements from Hip-Hop and R&B. Alvin’s debut album featuring this trio performing his new original compositions was released in May 2024.

HEIRLOOM
2024-07-13 20:00 - 22:30

Jazzy Joan Presents Jazz Where it is and Where it's Going: Current Day Jazz Artists from Armenia
2024-07-18 19:00 - 23:30
“Jazz Artists from Armenia & the Diaspora” will be a beautiful night of recordings from current day artists, with special guests Michael Kamalian and Vahan Kamalian providing live, musical interludes as they “jam” with the recordings on dumbeg and oud. They will also play traditional Armenian music. Is there a connection between traditional folk music and current-day jazz? You bet!
NO COVER
DOORS AT 6:30

JEANNE MARIE FARINELLI QUARTET
2024-07-19 20:00 - 22:30
Jeanne Marie Farinelli is a saxophonist and educator in the Milwaukee area. In her music, Jeanne Marie fuses modern and traditional sounds to create a unique and soulful approach to improvised music.
“Modern Soul” is a celebration of the traditions and modern sounds of jazz. In this special showcase the Jeanne Marie Farinelli Quartet will be performing the classic 1960 Soul Station album by Hank Mobley. During the second set they will be exploring modern compositions by artists such as Ben Wendel, Brandee Younger, and Jonathan Greenstein.
Jeanne Marie Farinelli (saxophone) will be joined by some of the area’s top musicians with Lucas Labeau on piano, John Christensen on bass, and Hannah Johnson on drums.

MJI NIGHT at bar centro - Paul Silbergleit Trio
2024-07-20 20:00 - 22:30
doors at 7

PETER ROLLER - an evening of acoustic music
2024-07-25 20:00 - 22:30
Guitarist – Roller is a performer of many Roots guitar styles, a kid from suburban NJ who wound up as the main accompanist for one of the last of the early Southern bluesmen. As a working musician, he is currently performing in settings that range from acoustic and electric blues to French chanson to Soul-Jazz organ trio to Jamaican rock steady to bluegrass and country rock.

Teacher – A retired college professor devoted to teaching guitar students to play a variety of styles including: bottleneck and lap slide/Dobro, acoustic fingerstyle, blues and roots-rock electric guitar.

Composer – A composer of music with influences from ragtime blues, Hawaiian slack key and steel guitar, bossa nova, R&B, and the American fingerstyle guitar tradition. Roller currently has original Soundtrack pieces in the European shows: Monty Don’s American Gardens & Hiking in the Alps Foothills.

Author/Scholar – With a PhD in Ethnomusicology focused on ethnic and popular musics of North America: published the only book documenting U.S. amateur garage bands in generations from the late 50s through the 90s; presenter on music topics at festivals, colleges, bookstores, cultural centers and in documentaries.

ANNE DAVIS & friends
2024-07-26 20:00 - 22:30
Soulful and spirited, Anne Davis sings the songs that have stood the test of time. A night of spectacular jazz in the intimate setting of bar centro.
Ann Davis – vocals, Mike Kubicki – piano, Jim Paolo – bass, Devin Drobka – drums.
DOORS AT 7

SAM NUEFELD QUINTET
2024-07-27 20:00 - 22:30
Sam Neufeld has played trumpet for 20+ years with artists or groups such as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Leslie Odom Jr., and Brian Lynch. He has performed at: Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Monterey Jazz Festival, Millennium Park, International Jazz Festival Bern, and more.
Join Sam, pianist Lucas Labeau and friends for en evening of exciting jazz music.

JAZZ JAM - every 1st Thursday - no cover + drink specials
2024-08-01 20:30 - 23:30, 2024-09-05 20:30 - 23:30
doors at 7 / no cover

BADLAND
2024-08-02 20:00 - 22:30
Ben Dameron’s BADLAND has one foot in the past and another in the future. Powerful guitar tones punctuate a distinct modern jazz aesthetic – from epic soundscapes to haunting arias.
DOORS AT 7

CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS? 7PM SHOW
2024-08-03 19:00 - 21:30
A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong; writing for All About Jazz, music critic David Rickert stated that the collaborations were “a match made in heaven” and remarked, “Their work together is a highlight of the 1950s, a busy time for classic vocal jazz records, and both were in fine form on these dates, Fitzgerald’s sweetly melodic voice contrasting nicely with Armstrong’s coarse rasp.”
bar centro welcomes Faith Hatch and Ricardo Jimenez and their quartet as they share the songs recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
–Faith Hatch; a multi-genre vocalist, pianist, and guitarist based in Milwaukee. Her act features songs reimagined based in soul, R&B, and jazz. Faith earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from UW Stevens Point in 2019 and was awarded Vocal Jazz Soloist of 2020 by Downbeat Magazine.
-Ricardo Jimenez; Ricardo Jimenez is a Chicago-based, internationally renowned trumpet player, vocalist and educator. Having performed and taught in eight countries across five continents, Mr. Jimenez wields a diverse and colorful musical palette and educational perspective. Ricardo received his Bachelors in Music from Lawrence University, specializing in trumpet performance.
Faith Hatch & Ricardo Jimenez – vocals
Steve Peplin – guitar
George Ballesteros – bass
Yanni Chudnow – drums
Ricardo Jimenez – trumpet

CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS? 9PM SHOW
2024-08-03 21:00 - 22:30

Shuga Blu
2024-08-08 20:00 - 22:30
Shuga Blu is the new baby of Milwaukee musician, Keshena Armon. We pride ourselves on performing feel good music for our audience of all ages. They perform classic to current gems in the R&B, Soul, Pop and Rock genres!

MJI PRESENTS: ORDINARY POEMS ALBUM RELEASE SHOW
2024-08-09 20:00 - 22:30
THE BAND:
Jamie Briewick – trumpet
Andrew Tim – guitar

GARRETT WAITE
2024-08-10 20:00 - 22:30

Jazzy Joan Presents Jazz Where it is and Where it's Going: Jazz Goes Rock
2024-08-15 19:00 - 23:30
It’s true what Duke Ellington said, “there are only two kinds of music, good and bad.” That includes rock music and many jazz artists can’t help but take their own spin on rock classics!
Jazzy Joan welcomes you to her next monthly recorded jazz show on Thursday, August 15 for a night of recorded music featuring contemporary jazz artists playing rock hits by Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, U2 and more! Their music reminds us that jazz has no bounds. Come to the show and I guarantee you’ll be humming (and maybe singing) along! Jazzy Joan introduces her recorded jazz show at 7:00, so get there early!
NO COVER
DOORS AT 6:30

John Christensen's Soft Rock album release
2024-08-16 20:00 - 22:30
Come celebrate the release of SOFT ROCK.
The tunes, written as odes and anthems to simple and grand things alike are built to inspire.
John Christensen – Bass
Tony Barba – Tenor Saxophone
Jason Kutz – Piano
Ben Dameron – Guitar
Neil Hemphill – Drums

BIG STYLE BRASS BAND
2024-08-17 19:30 - 21:00
Big Style Brass Band is a ten-piece group performing music rooted in the New Orleans tradition. BSBB hails from Milwaukee, WI and is well known throughout the state’s burgeoning New Orleans brass band scene. They balance traditional with modern New Orleans and pop covers you are sure to recognize!
NO COVER

Leo Sidran
2024-08-22 08:00 - 17:00
“There is nothing superficial about this singer who, like no other, combines carefree character and a finessed manner.” – Telerama, Paris
Multi-instrumentalist, journalist, composer, and producer Leo Sidran is celebrating a quarter century of songwriting, record making, and performing around the world. Surrounded by music and musicians since his childhood, Leo began writing songs professionally when he was still a teenager living in Madison, when the Steve Miller Band recorded his songs.
Named the “Discreet genius of pop jazz” by Spanish critic Fernando Neira, Sidran’s sound reflects both the rich heritage to which he belongs and a curiosity for new ideas. He has been compared to jazz-folk singer-songwriters of previous generations, from Bob Dorough, Mose Allison, and Nat King Cole to Michael Franks, Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) or his own father, Ben. In Jazz Times, Christopher Louden wrote: “Vocally, he suggests a blend of his father Ben with a touch of Donald Fagen. His relaxed and fluid style is reminiscent of Bob Dorough.”
In France’s Jazz Magazine, Noadya Arnoux wrote, “Leo Sidran makes pop music swing in the style of Mose Allison et Nat King Cole.”
What’s Trending (2023), Leo’s most recent solo album, was a deeply personal exploration of how music can make life more bearable in difficult times. The album was celebrated as “an irresistible series of timeless songs” (Jazz Magazine, France).
His compositions also contain an element of journalism. “Sidran navigates the pitfalls of everyday life with elegance and swing, inviting us to smile and reflect, and impressively proving that he has long become a consummate chronicler of his surroundings,” writes the German magazine West Coast Soul.
In fact, much of his life in the last decade has been spent sharing the work of other artists on his acclaimed radio and podcast show, The Third Story, where he interviews musicians, producers, composers, and other creators about their personal stories and professional journeys.
In addition to his solo career, Leo is a producer of both Grammy and Oscar winning music. He continues to tour and record with his father, Ben (Leo has produced all of his dad’s albums for the past 20 years.)
He will be joined by some of Wisconsin’s finest musicians musicians, players with whom he shares a long history:
Tim Whalen: piano
John Christensen: bass
Jamie Ryan: drums

CLAUDIA JOHNSON TRIO
2024-08-23 20:00 - 22:30
Claudia Johnson’s music is an eclectic mix of rock, pop and contemporary singer songwriter styles and represents various musical influences. With Paul Westfahl on drums and Chris Newlin on guitar, both incredible writers and performers in their own right, the three celebrate an organic and intimate approach to the music.
DOORS AT 7

Alex Wilson
2024-08-24 20:00 - 22:30
Alex Wilson grew up in a family of talented musicians.
Alex’s grandmother, Rosa Saviano was a renowned professional jazz singer in Chicago in the 1940′s and 50′s. Tom Wilson, Alex’s father, is a multi-faceted musician who has had the distinct pleasure of accompanying nearly every blues performer to pass through the Milwaukee/Chicago music scene in the last forty years. Marc Wilson, Alex’s uncle, is one of the most sought after drummers in the country. He’s played with B.B.King, Big Walter Horton, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Rodgers, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Susan Tedeschi, Anson Funderburgh and Sam Meyers to name but a few.
Alex picked up the guitar at five years old and never put it down. Immersed in the Milwaukee blues scene, Alex was surrounded, and influenced by such local luminaries as Stokes, Lee Gates, Jim Liban and Milwaukee Slim.
Alex formed his own garage band at thirteen. By seventeen he began to dig deep into the blues, learning the songs and styles of masters such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix and Magic Sam.
At seventeen Alex began playing professionally and by twenty-one he had joined Milwaukee’s Blue Rubies and was performing regionally while still playing part-time with his own band. Playing up to 25 gigs a month, Wilson honed and sharpened his skills as a singer/songwriter, guitar player and over all entertainer.
In ’05 and ’06 Alex began to focus solely on his own project, booking shows, finding his own sound and the right players from the mid-west music scene to take his show on the road.
Alex is running with one of the toughest bands on the scene today. It’s no surprise that they won the 2007 WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) Award for blues group/artist of the year. After playing a series of shows for the Chinese New Year in Beijing with Grammy nominated blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite, Alex returned to the states to find himself a triple nominee for the WAMI Awards in 2008 and winner of the award for guitarist of the year…and then winning again in 2009 and 2011 for Blues Artist. In 2010 he was the recipient of the peoples choice award and was chosen to represent his local blues society in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2011 and 2013, along with 130 other bands from all over the world. Alex and his band ended up finishing in the top 8 in the IBC finals at The Orpheum Theater.
A versatile musician, Alex effortlessly switches between genres. He plays everything from sweet Beale Street blues to West coast swing. From hard Texas grinders to stone cold Chicago grooves with a feeling that’s said to be timeless. Alex’s style and tasty originals matched with his undeniable stage presence and unmistakable guitar style will drive you to the dance floor.
His debut CD, Tell Me Why, has been released on “Rathskeller Records”.
To say that Alex Wilson is one to look out for down the road is an understatement. Taking the world by storm, this musician is a force to be reckoned with.

Stella & Me
2024-08-29 20:00 - 21:30
Tania Taylor and (Sandy) Stella
Folk and rock plus some originals from the 60s to today.
Uke, Guitar, Flute and Homegrown Harmonies

Natural Satellite
2024-08-30 20:00 - 22:30
The WAMI-nominated duo layers finger-style cello with catchy melodies, harmonies, and improvised saxophone to create a sound comparable to groups such as Morphine and Portis Head. Jason’s saxophone weaves in and out of verses harmonizing beautifully with Karli’s angelic voice. Their lyrics focus on self-love, reflection, and growth, leaving listeners feeling uplifted. When watching Natural Satellite perform, you can feel the chemistry between the two and the unique musical bond they share.

Green River Trio
2024-08-31 20:00 - 21:30
Instrumental, acoustic, Latin-inspired, good vibes
Dena Aronson – Congas / percussion tree
Michael Fischer – Drum Set
Eren Tanyeri – Acoustic Guitar

Troubadours of Rhythm
2024-09-06 20:00 - 22:30
Jon Mroz – string bass
Aidan White – guitar & banjo
S.A. Anderson – piano
Kyle Samuelson – cornet & trombone
Jon Lovas – clarinet
Debuting in 2023, the Troubadours of Rhythm are a captivating journey through time, skillfully led by string bassist Jon Mroz. Drawing inspiration from the electrifying ambiance of the late 1920s and early 1930s south side Chicago (and north side Milwaukee!), the Troubadours are a musical time machine, transporting listeners and dancers to an era of exuberance and innovation.
From stomps to rags; from blues to swing, Mroz and his musical comrades have traveled the country to cleverly revive the syncopated rhythms, timeless melodies and improvisational spirit that defined the golden age of jazz on the cusp of swing. This eclectic five-piece combo features guitar, banjo, upright string bass, acoustic piano, cornet, clarinet, trombone, washboard with vocal shouts and harmonies.
Embark on a sonic journey with the Troubadours as they pay homage to the timeless magic of early jazz & blues, ensuring that its infectious excitement resonates with audiences, both nostalgic and new.
