The Las Vegas Jazz Society staff, 1977. Photo by E.V. McGuire

Las Vegas Jazz Society

Celebrating 50 Years Of Keeping Jazz Alive

BY JUDY TARTE AND DEBBIE HALL / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE LAS VEGAS JAZZ SOCIETY

Las Vegas is not commonly known for celebrating its historical heritage, so marking 50 years with the Las Vegas Jazz Society (the Society) is especially noteworthy.

The Society has been a fundamental part of the city’s cultural community, committed to promoting an appreciation for jazz music through concerts, education and community outreach. Over the years, the Society has hosted legendary performers, supported local talent and nurtured a deep love for jazz across generations.

“What I believe is especially significant is that the Las Vegas Jazz Society is an all-volunteer organization. Even though we’ve gone through numerous personnel changes and differences in approach, goals and directions, the Society has essentially stayed true to its original goals: providing opportunities to individuals who love jazz to get together, support their beloved music in all its various forms and educate younger generations on the history and uniqueness of this American art form,” said President Judy Tarte, one of the founders.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Las Vegas offered incredible opportunities for musicians through the abundance of jobs in showrooms and lounges. Musicians settled in Southern Nevada because it was a place where they could get off the road, start a family and have steady employment. The appeal of this stability kept them in town, where they and their families could enjoy new homes, cars and boats—essentially living the good life. Some musicians, however, grew bored playing the same shows daily.

“I remember a drummer who was in one of these show bands and also pursuing a degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He’d take his books to work and study while on the bandstand,” Tarte said.

This era in Las Vegas is detailed in the book “Midnight Muse – The Book: Las Vegas – Where Hip Meets Hot,” created by Ann Parenti, who also produced a two-CD set and documentary with a slightly different name: “Midnight Muse – Milestones in Music – Las Vegas.” The film can still be found on Amazon Prime.

How the Society Started

When jazz bassist Monk Montgomery, who introduced the Fender Precision Bass to jazz in 1951, came to town in 1966, he noted the boredom among top players. Monk, the elder brother of jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery and vibraphonist/pianist Buddy Montgomery, found that many musicians wanted more outlets to play jazz. It became his mission to establish jazz in the hotels for professionals and provide opportunities for jazz lovers and players to gather at jam sessions and smaller clubs. He succeeded, calling on many of jazz’s top players to make a home for their music in Las Vegas.

“Monk’s charisma played no small part in rallying people to his cause. He would convince you that you could do things you thought you didn’t have the time or expertise to do. You knew what he was doing—but you’d do it anyway because it was Monk, and he was so devoted to the cause. I’m still doing that, 50 years later,” Tarte said, laughing.

With help from jazz fans, notable Las Vegas residents and fellow musicians, Monk founded the Las Vegas Jazz Society. It was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 88-0281671) on April 22, 1975.

The 10-member board of directors included Monk, Jay Cameron, Frank Gagliardi, Ken Joy, John Lindner, Sari Phillips, Tom Severns, Dan Skea, Tarte and John Unrue.

Under Monk’s leadership, the organization thrived. His motto was “Think Jazz,” which was essentially his life. He petitioned for May to be designated Jazz Month in Nevada. He wrote a column titled “Think Jazz” for the Society’s newsletter and hosted a late-night radio broadcast that played jazz recordings and featured interviews with jazz celebrities. Additionally, he chaired all the Society’s meetings and hosted parties and jam sessions in his home.

After Monk’s death in 1982, the Society went through a period of confusion.

“Many pertinent documents were lost. I remember going through boxes in Monk’s closet trying to find significant paperwork from the National Arts Council and then going to the NAC with Monk’s wife Amelia to address various issues that needed to be resolved,” Tarte recalled.

Personnel changed, leadership changed hands and a new headquarters needed to be established. The Society came under the umbrella of the Allied Arts Council, housed in the former Press Club building on Las Vegas Boulevard. The Society eventually formed a long-standing alliance with the Winchester Dondero Cultural Center under the guidance of devoted supporters such as Patrick Gaffey and Dan Skea.

“Over time, many venues, clubs, musicians and supporters have come and gone, but here we are 50 years later, having become a grassroots community support group of volunteers encouraging all who will listen to “Think Jazz” and support live music, still carrying on our original mission,” Tarte said.

Present Day

Jazz Appreciation Month is held every April in the United States and Canada in honor of jazz as an early American art form. The honorary month was created in 2001 by John Edward Hasse, curator of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The Reno Jazz Festival and the Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz and R&B Festival were held in April.

The Society celebrated its 50th anniversary April 25–27. Festivities began at the Nevada State Museum with a reception and the opening of a special exhibit honoring the musicians who accompanied legendary performers and helped establish Las Vegas as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” The Winchester Dondero Cultural Center and Park co-sponsored a festival featuring performances, workshops and classes conducted by more than 100 of the area’s top jazz musicians.

Performers included:

• Jazz Arts Community Ensemble
• LVA small group
• Jose “Pepe” Jimenez with Groove Culture
• Sax Summit featuring Charles McNeal, Wayne DeSilva, Mat Schumer
• Bruz Brothers with Tom Hall
• Uli Geissendoerfer with Julian Tanaka
• Joe Lano
• JoBelle Yonely with Strings
• Gary Fowler
• Arcade Bops
• Festival All-Star Big Band with LV Divas: Toscha Comeaux, Naomi Mauro, Michelle Johnson
• Las Vegas Boneheads
• Piano Summit featuring Bill Zappia, Micah Smith, Tristan Selzler, Chris Cadenhead

For further information on jazz performances in Southern Nevada throughout the year, visit lvjs.org. Follow the Las Vegas Jazz Society on Facebook (@LVJazzSociety), Instagram (@lasvegas_jazzsociety) and YouTube (@LasVegasJazzSociety1975).

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

Advisory Board

• Gary Anderson
• Pete Barbutti
• Dennis Bono
• Lorraine Hunt-Bono
• David Loeb
• Charles Mcneal
• Thom Pastor
• Uli Geissendoerfer

Judy Tarte, President of the Las Vegas Jazz Society

Raised in Michigan, Judy Tarte moved with her family to Las Vegas in 1969 due to her then-husband’s job appointment as a faculty member at Nevada Southern University (later becoming UNLV). She retired from the Clark County School District in 1998 after 22 years as a teacher and facilitator in the Gifted and Talented program.

Tarte served in many capacities, including:

• Past president, Nevada Association for Gifted and Talented
• Member, Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Past president, UNLV Women’s Club
• Steering committee, Friends of the Library
• Task force for Clark County School District academically talented program guidelines and curriculum
• Coordinator and committee member, Czech National Academy of Sciences at the International Psychological Conference in Prague, Czechoslovakia
• Music Division director, Allied Arts Council
• Committee member, Jazz Month panel
• Auditions panel member, CLASS ACT partnership program
• Executive coordinator, Jazz Month

Tarte obtained her Master of Education at UNLV, taught History of Rock Music and Art of the Western World at the College of Southern Nevada (including classes at the prison in Jean, Nevada) and owned a catering business, Tarte, the Happy Cooker.

She served on the original board of directors of the Las Vegas Jazz Society when it was formed under Monk Montgomery’s leadership. She later served as committee chair for advertising and sales, executive coordinator, and eventually president. Tarte also served as executive coordinator of the Western Regional Federation for Jazz Conference, a coalition of jazz societies and individuals dedicated to furthering the cause of jazz west of the Mississippi River.

Tarte’s roots are in music. She began piano lessons at age 5 and loved visiting record stores in Detroit with her father, a vocal music and choir teacher and avid jazz fan. She obtained a degree in voice and piano from Alma College in Michigan.

After moving to Las Vegas in 1969, Tarte continued her informal musical education by listening to big bands and hearing road stories from musicians at Musicians’ Local 369. Living 15 years with jazz saxophonist Joe Romano and her friendship with landlord jazz horn player Carl Saunders has also offered Tarte unique opportunities and insights into the world of jazz musicians and their music.