Jazz event to bring music back to Comstock

In an effort to bring music back to the Comstock, Virginia City will present its first "2000 Jazz Spectacular" on Saturday and Sunday.

"There will be many musicians from the Silver Stope Days, when Merle Koch was alive," organizer Tina Carpenter said. A restaurant at the time, the Stope hosted a number of excellent musicians over the years. "There hasn't been any real music here since he died, over 10 years ago."

Carpenter, a five-year Virginia City resident, put the event together in about six months with the help of numerous local friends and a grant from the Nevada Commission on Tourism.

Sponsored by the Virginia City/Gold Hill Chamber of Commerce, the event kicks off Saturday morning with a parade featuring Dixieland bands and antique cars. Local favorite John Tyson will announce the event, slated for 11:30 a.m.

Following the parade the Gents of Jive, a Dixieland group composed primarily of musicians from the Mapes during the era of the '50s and '60s, will be playing at the Bucket of Blood between noon and 6 p.m. The group features Mapes musicians Mark Ashworth, Bill Montague, Hub House, Denny Hillman, and Joann Grower on the piano.

At the same time, the Delta Saloon on C Street will be jumping to a band called Taste of Dixie, a group comprising musicians from the Reno-Tahoe area, and the Danny Greco Group will be gracing the Red Dog Saloon.

Pipers' Opera House will host concerts at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday featuring Joann Jordan, Kenny Armstrong and Las Vegas favorite Leon Blue. From Las Vegas, Blue has been a musician for 40 years, and his band was voted top blues band for the last three years by Blues Magazine.

Events are free except for the concerts, which cost $15 at the box office or $12.50 in advance. For more information call 847-9114 or 847-7247.

IF YOU GO

What: 2000 Jazz Spectacular

When: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sunday

Where: Virginia City