The accomplished artists in our 2026-27 Starrlight Jazz Club are known for lending their skills to award-winning projects and for pioneering their unique takes on the jazz genre.
Experience the exhilaration of live jazz performed in the intimate ambiance it deserves with cabaret-style seating.
Matthew Whitaker Trio
saturday, sept. 12, 7:30 pm
signature sound: His music echoes the traditions of jazz as well as black gospel, r&B and soul
Coming off of a 2026 Grammy® win for best instrumental arrangement of “Super Mario Praise Break,” Matthew Whitaker is just getting started. Come see his debut performance in Northwest Arkansas and enjoy “effortlessly blended various genres whether through a soulful piano piece or an energetic organ arrangement,” says The Record.
A recipient of three ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Awards, Whitaker began his musical career at the age of three and since graduated from The Julliard School. He has already composed for television and film, released four studio albums and collaborated on projects with Jon Batiste, Christian McBride, Regina Carter, Anderson Paak, just to name a few.
Watch as Grammy Award winner Matthew Whitaker pays tribute to one of his biggest inspirations with a soulful Stevie Wonder medley at the piano.
Simon Moullier Trio with Alex Claffey and Steve Pruitt
Friday, Oct. 2, 7:30 pm
Live from Chris' Jazz Cafe: Simon 2023: Moullier, vibraphone; Luca Alemanno, bass; Jongkuk Kim, drums
Don’t Miss This: His in-person energy on stage and the dexterity he flourishes is as captivating as his musical virtuosity.
Grammy-winning vibraphonist, composer and arranger Simon Moullier is known for his entirely new approach and sound on his instrument, distinguishing himself as one of the leading voices of his generation.
"His music is fresh. Never heard anyone play vibes like that before,” says Herbie Hancock, who mentored Moullier along with Quincy Jones, Wayne Shorter and Darren Barrett at the Thelonious Monk Institute. Moullier will be joined onstage with Alex Claffy on double bass and Steven Pruitt on.
Huntertones
Friday, Jan. 15, 7:30 pm
3 guys, 5 instruments, 16 songs: Huntertones' tribute to the King of Pop. Recorded Live October 29th, 2017
What to expect: This horn-driven band is young, energetic and innovative in their approach to making Jazz fun and accessible while fearlessly mashing up genres to create their own sound.
Huntertones return to Walton Arts Center stage for their third appearance. This dynamic, horn-driven band blends jazz, funk and soul with a sharp, contemporary edge. Their signature three-horn frontline, bold arrangements and an irresistible sense of groove, have earned them a reputation for high-energy performances that feel both deeply musical and wildly fun. Their collaborative spirit shines on work with Lake Street Dive, SuperBlue, O.A.R. among others, and this show highlights their unmistakable blend of creativity, connection and improvisation. Jon Batiste says the Huntertones play “Honest, genuine, skillfully executed music without limitations that is uplifting and cannot be quantified.”
Noah Preminger Quartet
Saturday, Feb. 20, 7:30 pm
Known For: His voice on the saxophone as well as his gift for composition set him apart from the herds of players with impressive technique, but little to say. Each note from Noah’s horn has a purpose and story to tell, always serving the greater good of the song and his bandmates
Noah Preminger, saxophone; Julian Shore, piano; Phil Donkin, bass; Leif Berger, drums. Live at Like A Jazz Machine Jazz Festival, Dudelange, Luxembourg. (2025)
The New York Times declares that Brooklyn-based saxophonist Noah Preminger, “(He) designs a different kind of sound for each note, an individual destiny and story.” A master of standards and ballads, Preminger has recorded more than 12 critically acclaimed albums and performed all over the world with Fred Hersch, Joe Lovano, John and Bucky Pizzarelli and Roscoe Mitchell.
The quartet, which will play both from Preminger’s albums and a selection from the Great American Songbook, is rounded out by Julian Shore on piano, Kim Cass on bass and Terreon Gully on drums. The Boston Globe calls the performance, “Impressive, challenging, and beautiful”.
Edward Simon Trio
Friday, April 23, 7:30 pm
Signature sound: His trio performances and recordings are considered among the most enduring and thoughtful legacy of the iconic jazz trio format harkening to the work of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett.
Edward Simon, a native of Venezuela, is among the strongest pianists of his generation. With his trio, he continues to explore the commonalities jazz can have with the folkloric sounds of Latin America. His trio performances and recordings are considered among the most enduring and thoughtful legacy of the iconic jazz trio harkening to the work of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett.
His 2016 album Latin American Songbook, with the four-and-a-half star DownBeat review praising its “grand and sophisticated” sound, won Simon an NAACP image award for outstanding jazz album. The New York Times has praised Simon’s “light, warm touch” as a pianist, while Jazz Journal International singled out “his deep emotional statements” as a composer and improviser.
Edward Simon's original composition, "Locura", was performed by the SFJAZZ Collective in Miner Auditorium on October 26th, 2014.
RESERVE YOUR SEATS NOW AND SAVE!
All-in subscriptions are $285 for cabaret seating and $170 for tiered seating. Single tickets for these shows go on sale later this summer.