Jazz vibraphonist Chuck Redd returns to Tucson's Century Room this weekend for a pair of concerts and a jam session.
It marks his fourth Tucson appearance since spring 2024 and his first here since he made national headlines in late December when he canceled a Christmas Eve concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., after the iconic venue was rebranded to add President Donald Trump's name.
Redd is not doing interviews, but Arthur Vint, the Century Room artistic director and general manager, said Redd has "never wanted to be overtly political in his public life."
"He always just wants to focus on the music and let the music speak for itself," Vint said. "And you know, I would say that jazz is a music of freedom and democracy. It's always supported the idea that we have more in common. ... Jazz is very representative of America so I think in that sense, the music does speak for itself."
Jazz vibraphonist Chuck Redd returns to Tucson's Century Room jazz club this weekend for a trio of performances including joining the Century Jazz Orchestra for a concert on Monday, Jan. 5.
Redd will be part of the Century Room's "Classic Album Series" on Saturday, joining Tucsonans Vint on drums, Matt Mitchell on guitar, Angelo Versace on piano and Scott Black on bass.
The ensemble will perform songs off "Bags Meets Wes," the 1962 album by jazz vibraphonist Milton "Bags" Jackson and jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery.
Redd will be playing the Century Room's months-old vibraphone, a vintage 1963 Musser Century model donated to the club by Vint's nonprofit Sonoran Arts and Music Initiative. Vint said a Century Room regular provided a donation that helped his nonprofit buy the $5,000 black and gold Musser M 75, nicknamed the "century vibe."
Redd will be one of the first to play the instrument, which the club has had since August.
Jazz vibraphonist/drummer Chuck Redd returns to Tucson's Century Room for his fourth appearance in two years. Reed made national headlines in late December when he pulled out of a Christmas Eve show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Vint founded the nonprofit over the summer as a way to raise money to offset the costs of programming the weekly Sunday night jazz jam and Monday Century Jazz Orchestra programs.
Sundays and Mondays are normally slower nights at the club, "but they were really important for the community because they allow musicians of all ages and levels to come sit in on Sunday nights, and then the Jazz Orchestra on Monday" that focuses on classic Big Band repertoire from the 1930s-'60s.
"It's an intergenerational band made up of educators and professionals and students, and we perform every Monday," Vint said. "To my knowledge, we're the only regular Monday night jazz Big Band outside of New York City."
Redd will be part of Sunday's jam session at the Century Room, 311 E. Congress St. in Hotel Congress, before sitting in Monday with the Century Jazz Orchestra.
There will be two performances of "Chuck Meets Matt / Bags Meets Wes" — 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. — on Saturday. The Century Jazz Orchestra also performs two shows on Monday, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets for either event is $25 and $35 through hotelcongress.com/venues/centuryroom.
