SCOTTSDALE, AZ (March 8, 2026) – For Doc Jones, jazz has always been more than music — it is a bridge between cultures, communities, and generations. This month, that bridge comes full circle as Doc Jones and 504 Magazine look forward to the return of New Orleans’ own Trombone Shorty to Arizona, scheduled to perform March 20, 2026, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.
The celebration of the spirit of New Orleans continues April 11 at Talking Stick Resort, when the Yrēfy Scottsdale Jazz Festival brings the New Orleans All-Star lineup featuring Kermit Ruffins, Donald Harrison, Herlin Riley, and Nayo Jones.
Fifteen years ago, Jones made a life-changing move to New Orleans with his daughter, internationally acclaimed vocalist Nayo Jones. Immersed in the birthplace of jazz, Jones launched 504 Magazine, a publication dedicated to celebrating the music, culture, and spirit of the Crescent City.
The magazine quickly became a platform highlighting some of the most respected musicians in New Orleans. Among the first artists to appear on the cover of 504 Magazine were Trombone Shorty, Kermit Ruffins, Donald Harrison, and Nayo Jones — artists who continue to carry the legacy of New Orleans music around the world.
Trombone Shorty’s journey into music began at an early age. By the time he was just seven years old, he was already absorbing the sounds and traditions of New Orleans jazz. Like many young musicians growing up in the city, he looked up to musicians who were already shaping the modern New Orleans sound. Among those he admired were James Andrews (Shorty’s older brother), Kermit Ruffins, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, and Herlin Riley, artists whose influence helped inspire the next generation of New Orleans musicians.
During his time living in New Orleans, Jones also formed lasting relationships with many of the city’s most respected artists. One of those early connections came through Travis “Trumpet Black” Hill, Trombone Shorty’s cousin, who introduced Jones to Shorty during the first year he began publishing 504 Magazine.
Although Trumpet Black passed away in 2015, his spirit and musical legacy remain an important part of the New Orleans music community. Jones continues to honor his memory and the role he played in helping build connections between New Orleans artists and audiences beyond the city.
Since returning to Arizona, Doc Jones has spent the past 15 years bringing the flavor and spirit of New Orleans to the Southwest through concerts, cultural exchanges, and the annual Yrēfy Scottsdale Jazz Festival. Through these efforts, he has helped create a cultural bridge between the traditions of New Orleans and the growing jazz community in Arizona.
This month, Arizona audiences will experience the electrifying energy of Trombone Shorty when he performs in Scottsdale on March 20th.
The celebration continues on April 11 at Talking Stick Resort, when the Yrēfy Scottsdale Jazz Festival will present the New Orleans All-Star “Fab Four.” The lineup features four extraordinary artists who embody the spirit of New Orleans music:
Kermit Ruffins
Donald Harrison
Herlin Riley
Nayo Jones
Together, they will bring the authentic sound and soul of New Orleans to the Arizona desert in a performance that promises to be one of the highlights of this year’s jazz season.
Doc Jones invites everyone attending the March 20th Trombone Shorty concert this month to continue the celebration by joining Doc at the Yrēfy Scottsdale Jazz Festival, where the traditions and spirit of New Orleans jazz will once again take center stage in Scottsdale.
For Jones, the mission has remained the same for more than a decade — to keep the music alive while building cultural bridges through the power of jazz.For the past 15 years, that spirit has traveled ‘from the streets of New Orleans to the heart of Arizona’. And this spring, the music continues.
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