Nocturne

Our new summer menu has a delicious array of memorable dishes for your three course meal. Take our crispy skin branzino for example: Corn soubise, a pop of flavor from Thai chili caviar, and summer succotash of bok choy and sorrel, all coming together to make this beautiful entrée. Try it during your next visit for Dinner and a Show.

We’re wrapping up a few of our month-long residencies this week. Witness some stellar performances before they wrap up their run at Nocturne. https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf
🎵Wednesday, July 24: Eric Gunnison Trio’s Wednesday night residency is filled with original works alongside a number of rearranged and repurposed compositions.
🎵Thursday, July 25: Northern Colorado guitarist Ryan Fourt returns with his trio for a special one-time performance. Ryan’s career in music has spanned more than 20 years and includes several recordings both as a leader and a sideman.
🎵Friday, July 26: Celebrate the return of Briana Harris with her exceptional chamber jazz style and a talented ensemble of improvisational musicians. After performing with legends and managing her own band, Briana’s show is a highlight you can’t afford to miss.
🎵Saturday, July 27: Join us for the last Saturday performance by the dynamic bandleader, composer, pianist and educator Ben Markley and his quintet of all-star musicians from Northern Colorado.
🎵Sunday, July 28: We end the weekend with the Tom Amend Trio and their original works! Their incredible virtuosity, musical sensitivity and cohesion comes from playing thousands of hours together.
📸: featuring Ryan Fourt

Briana Harris, a saxophonist, singer and composer, brings her dynamic sound back to Nocturne on Friday, July, 26. Known for her work with The Burroughs and her solo album "When We’re Found," Briana’s performances promise an evening of eclectic jazz and soulful storytelling. Reserve your seat now! https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf

Swing by for some top-notch jazz on our stage this weekend. From Daruma to Ben Markley to Tom Amend, it’s sure to be a weekend of excellent music. Join us for Dinner and a Show: https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf
🎵Friday, July 19: Fresh from a U.S. tour and in the wake of their debut single release on Monk Music, Daruma returns to our stage for a homecoming performance! Their music has been featured on TV and radio nationwide, and it is such a treat to have them play at Nocturne once again.
🎵Saturday, July 20: Join us to hear the work of dynamic bandleader, composer, pianist and educator Ben Markley with his quintet of all-star musicians from Northern Colorado. With a number of iconic hard bop records in addition to Markley's own compositions, it’s a show you don’t want to miss out.
🎵Sunday, July 21: We end the weekend again with original works by the Tom Amend Trio! Their incredible virtuosity, musical sensitivity and cohesion comes from playing thousands of hours together.

Our Baumkuchen is coming off the menu tomorrow! Try the layers of stout and chocolate ganache with orange marmalade and mint streusel with tonight’s Dinner and a Show. (Don’t worry, it’s replacement will be equally delicious!).

We’re back with a full lineup of music from some of Denver’s best jazz musicians. From original works to iconic hard bop, we can’t wait to show you what our stage has in store for your next Dinner and a Show experience. https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf
🎵Wednesday, July 10: The Eric Gunnison Trio returns for a Wednesday night residency, performing original works alongside a number of older rearranged/repurposed compositions.
🎵Thursday, July 11: Guitarist Ryan Fourt and Saxophonist Daryl Gott will perform Thursday, July 11 and again on July 18. These two first performed together back in 2022 at a routine restaurant gig but immediately knew there was something special between them. Hear how this team works together to make magic happen!
🎵Friday, July 12: Join us for the Three Tenors performance by Peter Lewis, Rich Chiaraluce and Chuck Schneider! From Coleman Hawkins to Lester Young to John Coltrane to Joshua Redman, the tenor saxophone has always been at the forefront of American music, and this band celebrates the rich legacy of the instrument.
🎵Saturday, July 13: Join us every Saturday in July to hear the work of dynamic bandleader, composer, pianist and educator Ben Markley with his quintet of all-star musicians from Northern Colorado. The quintet will pay tribute to a number of iconic hard bop records in addition to featuring Markley's own compositions.
🎵Sunday, July 14: We end the weekend with original works by the Tom Amend Trio! Their incredible virtuosity, musical sensitivity and cohesion comes from playing thousands of hours together. These shows are not to be missed!
📸: featuring Tom Amend

Meet our Sous Chef, Joshua Noe and his latest addition to our menu. Josh joined our team at the end of 2022 as a line cook and has been in this leadership role since January. We love his energy and passion for the entire Nocturne culinary team. His citrus poached shrimp features a refreshing mango salsa, spicy plum sauce and maple fried lotus fruit. Pair it with a glass of Bernard Fouquet or ask our team for their cocktail recommendations!

Summer is in full swing with a stellar lineup at Nocturne! While it’s a short week, our doors are wide open starting Friday! Experience a Dinner and a Show by reserving your table today. https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf
🛑Wednesday, July 3: Closed
🛑Thursday, July 4: Closed
🎵Friday, July 5: The Jenna McLean Quintet returns to the stage. As an accomplished modern jazz vocalist with a penchant for timeless standards with improvisational prowess, Jenna performs with some of her favorite Denver musicians: Shawn Williams (trumpet), Tom Amend (piano), Domi Edson (bass) and Brian Claxton (drums). The band will perform Jenna’s original music as well as their versions of treasured tunes.
🎵Saturday, July 6: We’re welcoming back the Gabriel Mervine quartet for an inimitable book of original modern music. For this special performance, Mervine is joined by a lineup of Denver greats: Paul Romaine (drums), Eric Gunnison (piano), and Mark Simon (bass).
🎵Sunday, July 7: The Tom Amend trio joins us for a July residency, playing with Dru Heller (drums) and Matt Smiley (bass). We’re excited to share this mix of incredible virtuosity, musical sensitivity and cohesion that comes from playing thousands of hours together as a trio.
📸: featuring Jenna McLean

We’re taking a stroll through the summer garden with this spirit-free sipper. The Garden Phoenix is carefully crafted with Seedlip Drinks 108 and 42, verjus and a blend of sweet honey coconut water and orange flower water.

The stage is set and dinner is served. Our menu is full of choices so there’s always something for everyone. Allergies? Aversions? Just let us know and we’re ready to modify to make your evening all about you. Reserve your table for this weekend: https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf.

Cheers to Wine Spectator for recognizing our love of great wine and warm hospitality with the 2024 Award of Excellence. This list celebrates some of the world’s finest restaurants and we are honored to be included for the second year running! Learn more about us and the other winners at https://bit.ly/3QPUvme.

A local favorite, Gabriel Mervine and his quartet have their last June performance tomorrow Thursday, June 27! We're opening just a bit late due to a private event earlier in the evening. So please join us for one special set, with music starting at 8:00pm.

Reserve your table for Dinner and a Show to enjoy this all-star group presenting a book of original modern music. https://bit.ly/3sx2adW

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Tonight, we have a special performance from the Micah Miller Quintet, and ahead of the show we asked Micah about the inspiration behind his sound. Read more below. And psst — there’s still time to get tickets for this evening!

Q: Can you tell us about your early years in Wyoming and how you first got into jazz?

A: I grew up in a family with a deep appreciation for a wide range of music. My brother and I took piano lessons and sang in musicals, then I started playing trumpet in elementary school after my brother showed me a video of Maynard Ferguson that absolutely hooked me. After a while, I stopped trying to play high and loud in high school, and that’s when I developed a love for this music and decided to make a career out of it.

Q: Were there any mentors, teachers, or non-musical influences that had a significant impact on your musical journey?

A: Absolutely! I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by so many wonderful people who’ve inspired me to be a better player, composer and person. I’m playing with a few of them tonight! As far as non-musical influences go, I often draw inspiration from poetry, literature, visual art and film.

Q: What can the audience expect from your upcoming performance at Nocturne?

A: This show will cover lots of original music, primarily from an album that we recorded last year titled “Why Not Here?” We’ll also play some newer originals from myself and other members of the band that show where we’re at now, as well as a few well-loved standards in the jazz canon.

Q: How do you feel your music has evolved since the release of "Why Not Here?"

A: Even though it’s been less than a year since the album came out, I feel that my musical voice has changed to some degree, both as a player and composer. I’ve developed my ability to express the things that I want to through my music, and the things I want to express have changed as well. I’m excited to revisit some of these older compositions and see the new life that they take on. It’s part of what I love about this music as a living art form; so much of a piece can change depending on where and when it’s played and by whom.

Looking for an excuse to treat your partner to a fancy night out? Thrillist rounded-up a list of some of Denver’s best date night options, and we’re grateful to be included! Book your Dinner and a Show experience at Nocturne and check out the article for other fun ideas for your next night on the town.

The Most Romantic Things to Do for Couples in Denver Right Now From low-key to over-the-top, these are the most fun and romantic things for couples to do in Denver.

"Nocturne is our favorite place to be!" "Another wonderful evening..." "Service is top notch" - our team loves reading your reviews after you've given us the opportunity to host you. Reserve your table to see us again soon. https://bit.ly/3sx2adW.

Live music, great food and impeccable vibes are just behind our teal door in RiNo, River North Art District! Book your table for a Dinner and a Show this week. https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf
🎵Wednesday, June 19: A swingin’ night with the inimitable David Mesquitic Trio awaits, as they honor the tradition of iconic piano trios from band leaders such as Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and Jeff Hamilton, while still remaining fresh and modern.
🎵Thursday, June 20: Listen to the Gabriel Mervine quartet every Thursday in June, where a lineup of Denver greats like Paul Romaine (drums), Eric Gunnison (piano) and Mark Simon (bass) come together to share a book of modern music.
🎵Friday, June 21: It’s going to be another beautiful Friday night as the exciting and gritty sounds of the Taylor Clay Quintet pay homage to Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis — the iconic Tenor Titans. It’s a show you don’t want to miss.
🎵Saturday, June 22: For our Wil Swindler fans out there, he’s returning to the stage with his quintet! As a composer, saxophonist and winner of the 2008 Gil Evans Fellowship, we’re truly grateful to have him join us this evening.
🎵Sunday, June 23: It’s another weekend with the Dawn Clement Music Trio, showcasing contemporary jazz like you’ve never seen before. Inspired by the likes of ECM Records' finest and pianists Jaki Byard and Blossom Dearie, this performance is an intimate dialogue in melody and rhythm.
📸: featuring Dawn Clement

Our team is eager to welcome you in at Nocturne. Cool cocktails, hot jazz, and summer menu treats await! Join us tomorrow night as we bring back the jazz guitar legacies of Wes Montgomery, Grant Green and George Benson to the RiNo, River North Art District.

June is here, and we’re excited to share this week’s lineup! Experience a Dinner and a Show by reserving your table today. https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf
🎵Wednesday, June 12: We’re delighted to welcome the ever-swinging and deeply musical Jack Dunlevie Trio to our stage for a special June performance.
🎵Thursday, June 13: Gabriel Mervine returns with his all-star quartet, a lineup of Denver greats: Paul Romaine (drums), Eric Gunnison (piano) and Mark Simon (bass). Join us as we listen to a stunning array of modern music.
🎵Friday, June 14: On Friday nights in June, we’re hosting the exciting and gritty Taylor Clay Quintet as they pay homage to Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis — the iconic Tenor Titans. Known for their be-bop anthems and crowd-stirring solos, Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis have influenced generations of musicians of all genres.
🎵Saturday, June 15: For our mid-month performance, Nocturne welcomes the Steve Kovalcheck Band back for two shows that honor the great jazz guitar legacy of Wes Montgomery, Grant Green and George Benson.
🎵Sunday, June 16: The Dawn Clement Music Trio hails from the vibrant Denver music scene, embodying the essence of contemporary jazz. Listen toDawn on piano and vocals, accompanied by Patrick McDevitt's dynamic bass rhythms and the spirited percussive stylings of Dru Heller.
📸: featuring Taylor Clay

With notes of Ripe apple, peach, and rhubarb, the crisp and refreshing Weingut Aigner Gästehaus Gruner Veltliner from Kemstral Austria is the perfect pairing for our house made cavatelli. Wild mushroom, farm fresh vegetables, and the salty-sweet shavings of 16-month aged Gruyère. There’s just one word for this pairing: divine.

Sound bites that look so perfect, you can’t wait to dig in! Our Vada Pav burger has a peanut chutney and coconut chile aioli that enhances the flavors of the vada potato hidden between the buns. Sound bites are the perfect addition to your bar reservation at Nocturne. https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf

From light and refreshing to rich and boozy, we have several new seasonal cocktails inspired from our team of bartenders. Here we have On Blueberry Hill, featuring hoja santa infused rum, Salers Apertif, Lunazul, falernum, white wine bitters and our signature homemade blueberry soda. This drink gets better as time passes, just like your evening with us.

We’re excited to announce that we’ve received a grant from Live Music Society for a program that’s been in the works for quite some time! We can’t wait to offer Second Sunday Community Matinees, providing more affordable options to the community and fostering an all ages environment to encourage music education. More details are to come, including when you can find these shows on our schedule. Stay tuned!

Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club — Live Music Society Denver, CO

We have a short week at Nocturne but we packed it with some fantastic musicians! Reserve your table by visiting https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf.
🎵Thursday, May 30: The Dred Scott Trio shares a retrospective show, in celebration of Scott’s 60th birthday! Enjoy the sounds of remembering iconic players such as Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett. Also be prepared for original works while Scott is joined on stage by Mike Marlier (drums) and Patrick McDevitt (bass).
🛑Friday, May 31: Closed for a private event.
🎵Saturday, June 1: To kick off the month of June, we’re hosting the masterful, genuine and original vocalist Jenna McLean! Her improvisational prowess, swing and simplicity feels familiar yet contemporary. Join us in welcoming her back to the stage as she’s joined by Shawn Williams (trumpet), Tom Amend (piano), Domi Edson (bass) and Brian Claxton (drums).
📸: featuring Jenna McLean

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Join us for an unforgettable week of jazz! Our upcoming Dinner and a Show lineup features a wide range of musicians ready to share their latest projects. Reserve your table at https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf.
🎵Wednesday, May 22: The Legacy of the Tenor Saxophone with the Peter Sommer Quartet plays every Wednesday in May! Peter Sommer, Ben Markley (piano), Matt Smiley (bass), Dru Heller and Alejandro Castano (drums) relive the legacy of the hard bop era with classics from the Blue Note and Prestige catalogs, as well as other gems off the beaten path.
🎵Thursday, May 23: The Mestas/Abbott Quartet joins us, featuring Wendy Fopeano! This special performance is a one-time experience of music from Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico. You don’t want to miss it!
🎵Friday, May 24: The second-to-last performance of original works by the Adam Ohlson Quartet is here! Adam Ohlson (pianist) will be joined on stage by Dominic Sbrega (bass), Joey Glassman (drums) and Jonathan Powell (trumpet).
🎵Saturday, May 25: Join us for the last May performance of the Derek Banach Quintet, highlighting work from influential artists such as Clifford Brown, Art Farmer and Lee Morgan.
🎵Sunday, May 26: The Seth Lewis Quintet returns with a sublime straight experience led by the world-class bassist himself.
Featured artist: Peter Sommer

Main courses that look so perfect, you can’t wait to dig in! Our house-made cavatelli features wild mushrooms, spring farm fresh vegetables and shaved 16-month-aged Gruyère. Choose it as your main course during your next Dinner and a Show. https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf

This Sunday, Nocturne will be transformed into a world of vibrant colors and infectious rhythms with the contemporary Afro-Caribbean and Latin jazz sounds of Moderno! Join us for an electrifying performance that blends the rich traditions of Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico and more with the improvisational spirit of jazz. Don't miss the chance to experience the magic of Moderno live on our stage by booking your Dinner and a Show experience today.

End your evening on a sweet note with our Baumkuchen Almond Layered Cake. With stout and chocolate ganache, orange marmalade and mint streusel, these flavors pop alongside a tart strawberry, rhubarb and lemon balm. As one of our new favorite additions to the menu, we can’t wait for you to try it.

Nocturne is the place to be for jazz lovers and this week’s lineup is impressive. We’re showcasing some of the best talent in town. Don't miss out — reserve your seats now at https://bit.ly/3VR7Qjf.
🎵Wednesday, May 15: This month we have the Legacy of the Tenor Saxophone with the Peter Sommer Quartet every Wednesday! Peter Sommer is joined by Ben Markley (piano), Matt Smiley (bass), Dru Heller and Alejandro Castano (drums), reliving the legacy of the hard bop era. We’re ready for this evening of swing, grace, power and soul!
🎵Thursday, May 16: Calling all fans of the David Mesquitic Trio! This evening we’re listening to the album release of their new swinging hits. This all-star line-up includes Daniel Dufor (drums) and Ryan Hagler (bass).
🎵Friday, May 17: Fridays with the Adam Ohlson Quartet are back, filling Nocturne with original works. Adam Ohlson (pianist) will be joined on stage by Dominic Sbrega (bass), Joey Glassman (drums) and Jonathan Powell (trumpet).
🎵Saturday, May 18: The Derek Banach Quintet returns to the stage, highlighting work from influential artists among the jazz scene. Join Derek Banach during his sets, and listen to the melodic tunes played by David Bernot Music (saxophone), Dave Hanson (piano), Patrick McDevitt (bass) and Todd Ried (drums).
🎵Sunday, May 19: We’re excited to welcome back the contemporary Afro-Caribbean and Latin jazz sounds of Moderno! This special show will feature original works and select pieces from contemporary masters like Miguel Senon and John Benitez.
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We recently spoke with Daruma, a local contemporary jazz band focusing on reinterpreting the jazz sound as they cross progressive rock, film music and neo-soul — featuring some of Denver’s finest young talent. We’re thrilled to have them perform tomorrow evening at Nocturne, bringing their unique work to our Dinner and a Show in . Read below to learn more about their background, inspiration and where Daruma plans to go in the future.



Q: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the formation of Daruma? What brought each of you together to form this ensemble?

A: Shane and I have known each other since high school, but we hadn't talked in almost a decade. Last October, Shane called me up and said, "Want to start a band? I think we can put something really cool together with some musicians in Denver and take it on the road." And we started scouting out people who were playing we liked at jam sessions around town and went from there. At the beginning, we were really hustling hard to make recordings and book shows because we were applying to a grant that was due in a few weeks. We pulled together some original music from each member of the band, rehearsed hard and went into the studio with a live audience in early November to make some demos. These helped us book most of our summer tour in the following weeks.



Q: How did your individual musical backgrounds contribute to the creation of Daruma's unique sound?

A: Daruma is fundamentally a democratic ensemble— we feature the unique compositional and instrumental voices of our members, and we work to bring out the best in each other both as musicians and as people. Everyone in the band has strong musical instincts, and that helps make the music feel very natural. Shane has an intuitive feel for rhythm and melody, and that helps because the drums are really part of the fluid counterpoint of the band's sound. He spent time in Trinidad playing with the Siparia Deltones steel pan orchestra, and that makes his approach to the drums melodic. Max's very personal sense of harmony and his touch on the piano lend the music nuance, where Hunter and Shane have a great rhythmic hookup that drives everything forward. Zach and Gabriel are both composers with big, warm sounds on their instruments that can make the songs float over you like a warm blanket, and the next moment they turn around and it's burly and fat and kicks you in the pants. Everyone in the band is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition but has an eye toward the future and other styles. We want to express an experience of jazz that's young, current and plugged in and everyone's background and interests contributes to that.



Q: What does a typical rehearsal session look like for you?

A: Rehearsals usually start out with a lot of chatter and joking around! We're all friends and we get into this social thing that then helps us with our musical rapport. We'll run through music and tweak things that aren't working, or someone will suggest something we haven't tried before, and we experiment. It's like a mad scientist lab, but we're all cooking at the same time! Someone will usually bring in some new music and we'll learn it together and talk about what's working (or not working) and go from there. It's an open and collaborative process.



Q: What are your hopes and aspirations for the future of Daruma?

A: We're working very hard to get this band on the national stage. In only six months, we've booked a seven-city tour, sold out our debut show at Dazzle Denver, recorded new music, won a grant from the NEA and we've already started booking our fall tour. Our aspiration is to be free and expressive in our sound, and to get younger audiences excited about jazz— especially people who wouldn't necessarily consider themselves jazz fans today. Contemporary jazz is so modern and expressive and a lot of people don't realize that simply because they haven't heard the stuff that excites them yet. We've had people come to our shows and say, "Wow, I had no idea that jazz could sound like that!" That's the impression we want to make. We want to reach the biggest audience we can with that feeling.



Q: Can you share any anecdotes or stories from your experiences as musicians that have left a lasting impression on you?

A: We've all done so much different stuff as musicians— Shane has played a lot with the Siparia Deltones down in Trinidad and Tobago, I've [Gabriel] spent time in Sri Lanka working in Sinhalese dance music, Zach has written all this really complex jazz-classical crossover music, Max has played with everyone in Denver and Hunter has played at such a high level in such a wide range of styles from honky-tonk to jazz fusion to reggae to symphonic music. It's hard to say what the most memorable experiences for each of us have been, but it's been a big adventure building up this band and getting it working as an emerging national touring act.