Shows - LowDown

Velvet Nights Series: Marcus Anderson

Sat, Oct 24

LowDown presents Velvet Nights, a smooth jazz series showcasing renowned national artists on the fourth weekend of the month from May through November. Experience world-class talent up close in an intimate, speakeasy setting. Hosted by internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Michael Fields Jr., Velvet Nights offers an unforgettable night of soulful sound and grooves. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Ages 21+ ABOUT MARCUS ANDERSON: Two-time Grammy and Stellar Award–nominated saxophonist Marcus Anderson is a musical force whose electrifying blend of soul, jazz, R&B, pop, rock, and funk has captivated audiences worldwide. With 18 studio albums, five Billboard #1 hits, and countless chart-toppers on both Billboard’s Smooth Jazz and SiriusXM’s Watercolors, Anderson has firmly established himself as one of the most dynamic and versatile musicians of his generation. A native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Anderson’s career reached stratospheric heights when he toured with the late, legendary Prince and the New Power Generation. His collaboration with Prince included standout performances on Hit N Run Phase 2, where his artistry shines on tracks like “Revelation” and “Look at Me Look at You.” Over the years, he’s graced stages with icons including Stevie Wonder, CeeLo Green, Judith Hill, Sheila E., Brian Culbertson, Lalah Hathaway, Eric Benét, Jennifer Holliday, Bobby Caldwell, Anthony Hamilton, and Miguel—earning his reputation as the “golden child shining among stars.” Whether performing for dignitaries like President Barack Obama, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Secretary Hillary Clinton, or igniting crowds at world-renowned festivals such as the Essence Music Festival, Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, Seabreeze Jazz Fest, NAPA Valley Getaway, the Dave Koz Cruise, and the Jazz Legacy Foundation, Anderson’s shows are nothing short of unforgettable! With his band, The Creatives, he delivers high-spirited, magnetic performances that transcend genres and defy expectations, making him a festival favorite and a household name among jazz lovers. His television appearances on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Jimmy Fallon, and Arsenio Hall have further solidified his place in the spotlight. Beyond his musical achievements, Anderson is a visionary entrepreneur. For over a decade, he’s been the proud founder of AND Coffee, a premium coffee brand that inspired the creation of the Jazz AND Coffee Escape Festival—the first of its kind. Launched in 2019, this immersive music and coffee experience draws fans from all over. Always pushing creative boundaries, Anderson became the first jazz artist in history to create his own comic book and animated series, The Creatives, expanding his artistry into the worlds of storytelling and animation. His deep commitment to community shines through the Marcus Anderson Foundation (MAF), which fosters a harmonious society through live music, education, and leadership development. Guided by his father’s words, “Work smarter, not harder,” Marcus Anderson continues to redefine what it means to be an artist, entrepreneur, and cultural innovator—leaving audiences inspired, energized, and always wanting more. Taste The Music!

An Evening With Bedouine (Duo)

Sat, Nov 07

Experience a duo performance from Bedouine, showcasing music from her most recent album Neon Summer Skin, as well as delving into the archives.

Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Ages 21+

ABOUT BEDOUINE

As a child, if you’re lucky, summer afternoons stretch out like a yawn, pool waves are as warm and engulfing as a blanket, the safety of your mother’s arms feels endless. On her new album, Neon Summer Skin, Bedouine, the project of Azniv Korkejian, explores this feeling of safety long before one can fully understand the concept. Written with vivid, honest and intimate imagery after visiting her family in Saudi Arabia, it tells the story of family and upbringing, and mourns the end of her childhood. There is a singular resonance and newfound heft in this music previously unheard in Bedouine’s discography.

Bedouine is known for making gentle, lilting folk songs that build fingerpicked guitar melodies into tsunamis of emotion. Her masterful songwriting and timeless melodies have earned her praise from publications like Pitchfork, who said her music “boasts a surreal calm and lived in glow,” and Rolling Stone, who lauded her “humble folk-pop brilliance,” plus an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and tours with the likes of Fleet Foxes and Father John Misty.

As personal as her songs have been, they’ve often built upon universal experiences. The writing here, however, is full of specific memories: a neon swimsuit, beads of water dripping down tangled hair, the blood of a lamb, often sacrificed at Syrian weddings, oozing across the pavement. “It was the first time I had the inclination to write a record about one main subject which gave me a clarity and motivation I hadn't quite had before.”

Read Bedouine's full bio at bedouinemusic.com

Chris Combs Presents 1959: Miles, Mingus, and Ornette

Fri, Nov 13

For one night only, some of Oklahoma and Colorado's finest musicians are coming together to take on three of jazz's most important works, all of which were released in 1959. The Chris Combs Quintet will perform reimaginings of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, Charles Mingus' Mingus Ah Um, and Ornette Coleman's The Shape of Jazz to Come. The night will also feature new quintet compositions from Combs that will be performed for the first time.

Chris Combs - guitar, fretless guitar

Mike Cameron - saxophone

Bishop Marsh - trumpet

Hunter Roberts - bass

Josh Raymer - drums

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

6:30 p.m. show — All Ages

9 p.m. show — Ages 21+

ABOUT THE CHRIS COMBS QUINTET

Chris Combs is a guitarist and composer from Tulsa, OK, who, along with long-time collaborator Josh Raymer, has carved out a unique voice in the landscape of modern jazz and instrumental music. The rhythm section will be completed by one of Denver's finest bassists, Hunter Roberts, known for his work with Adam Deitch, Butterfly Quartet, and many more. With the addition of Mike Cameron on tenor sax and Bishop Marsh on trumpet, the group will dig into classic compositions and improvisational forms - creating new, fresh takes on these monumental pieces.

Jackie Venson

Sun, Nov 15

Doors open at 6 p.m. | Show starts at 7 p.m.

Ages 21+

ABOUT JACKIE VENSON:

Heralded as one of “Austin’s rising stars” by Rolling Stone and “an Austin legend in the making” by Forbes, Jackie Venson has established herself as one of the most commanding performers to come out of Texas. An Austin native, Venson has shared the stage with icons like Gary Clark Jr and Melissa Etheridge and even performed with Alanis Morissette and Lainey Wilson at the 2023 CMT Awards and in 2024, Venson was selected to perform as part of Rolling Stone’s Future of Music showcase.

Venson’s breakthrough album Joy received critical acclaim upon its release in 2019, and while the pandemic stood in the way of touring plans for the next year, Venson nonetheless found new levels of fame with her livestreaming presence throughout 2020, which led to her landing the #9 position on Pollstar’s Top 50 Livestreamers list for the year and a booking on the legendary Austin City Limits Television Season 46.

Acclaimed by greats as diverse as Vernon Reid and Michael McKean, Venson continues to evolve as an artist, whether it’s on Texas blues-focused albums like Love Transcends, the eclectic electro-funk and rock of Ghost in The Machine or the mesmerizing soul and R&B of The Love Anthology. With her passionate commitment to exploring diverse sounds and styles, Venson’s artistry is only going to continue to grow.

LowDown's Upcoming Shows