Months of Great Jazz Ahead at Dave’s Jazz Bistro

SANTA FE, N.M. – Music lovers can look forward to a season of unforgettable performances and fine dining as Dave’s Jazz Bistro unveils its 2025 late-summer and fall concert series. From August through December, the venue will showcase world-class jazz talent, inventive menus, and evenings that promise to be as flavorful as they are musical.

Tawanda Returns – September 13, 2025

On Saturday, September 13, internationally acclaimed vocalist Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim—known simply as Tawanda—returns to the Bistro as part of the New Mexico Jazz Festival.

Tawanda’s luminous alto voice and genre-blending style have earned her national recognition, including a tie for first place in the 2021 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and the 2023 BISTRO Outstanding Achievement Award for Jazz Vocalists. Her debut album Smile was released in 2022, followed by a featured appearance on Ivan Lins’s Grammy-nominated My Heart Speaks in 2023.

Born in New Mexico and now based in Los Angeles, Tawanda weaves her Mozambican and German heritage into a distinctive sound shaped by global rhythms and jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Recently, she toured with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, captivating audiences around the world.

For her fourth appearance at the Bistro, she will perform with the John Rangel Trio, accompanied by a harvest-inspired menu:

• Starter: Sweet corn soup with green chile croutons and crème fraîche
• Main Course Options:
  • Fettuccine with citrus-seasoned Farmers Market vegetables
  • Seared sea bass with lemon caper sauce, celery root whipped potatoes, and stuffed acorn squash with pecan butter
  • Smoked pork tenderloin with Madeira poblano cream sauce, celery root whipped potatoes, and stuffed acorn squash with pecan butter
• Dessert: Pumpkin cheesecake with vanilla bean whipped cream

Native American Jazz Night – August 16, 2025

On Saturday, August 16, Dave’s Jazz Bistro will present a special Native American Night in partnership with the Santa Fe Indian Market. The evening will feature Native jazz artists Delbert Anderson (trumpet) and Milo Jaramillo (bass), joined by Jazz Curator John Rangel (piano) and Rich Malloy (drums), with guest poet and writer Santana Shorty.

The performance will be paired with an authentic Native American menu created by chefs Lois Ellen Frank and Walter Whitewater.

Grace Kelly – November 14, 2025

On Friday, November 14, saxophonist and vocalist Grace Kelly will bring her signature “Joy Party” to Santa Fe. Known for blending jazz, funk, R&B, and pop, Kelly’s electrifying stage presence and exuberant saxophone playing have earned praise from DownBeat Magazine as “charismatic and immensely talented… all the chops in the world.”

Chefs at the Bistro will create a menu inspired by Kelly’s dynamic sound and joyful energy.

A Charlie Brown Christmas – December 20, 2025

The holiday season returns with a favorite tradition on Saturday, December 20, when John Rangel’s Trio presents A Charlie Brown Christmas. This tribute to Vince Guaraldi will include classic holiday tunes, original compositions, and a feast of holiday-inspired dishes prepared by the Bistro’s chefs.

A Year of Music to Remember

As jazz legend Louis Armstrong once said, “What we play is life.” This upcoming season at Dave’s Jazz Bistro promises an extraordinary blend of music, food, and atmosphere—an experience to be savored long after the last note fades.