Photo by Jens Thekkeveettil on Unsplash. Illustrative stock photo; not a photograph of the event, performers or venue.

Traverse City’s October music calendar includes an early-evening collaboration between college musicians and a local jazz series. Northwestern Michigan College lists its Jazz Big Band with the Jeff Haas Trio at The Alluvion on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 6 p.m.

NMC names Josh Wagner as director and describes admission as an honor cover at the door. The Alluvion’s Thursday Jazz 4 All information explains the format as a suggested sliding-scale donation, with no advance ticket required and all ages welcome.

A college ensemble in a community venue

This is the Jazz Big Band date on NMC’s published 2026–27 concert schedule. It is a distinct listing from the college’s earlier October Jazz Lab Band appearance and from The Alluvion’s separately advertised resident big-band series.

Keeping the ensemble and date together matters when sharing the plan. Send friends the October 22 college-calendar entry as well as the venue’s series page, so everyone is looking at the same performance rather than a different Thursday or another band.

The college listing does not publish a set list, individual soloists or an ending time. The confirmed attraction is the scheduled collaboration. Leave space in your evening if you are planning another commitment afterward, and ask the organizer about timing if you need a firm departure.

How the honor cover works

The venue describes Thursday Jazz 4 All as a come-as-you-are event where visitors may pay what they like at the door. That differs from a concert with a fixed advance admission price. Consider what you would like to contribute before arriving, while following the organizer’s current instructions.

The series page lists doors and bar opening at 5:30 p.m., followed by music at 6. It also describes tables, drinks and snacks. Purchases are separate from the honor-cover contribution unless the organizer states otherwise.

The regular series features pianist Jeff Haas and describes live watercolor work by Lisa Flahive alongside the music. Weekly guests vary. Because the October 22 college listing is brief, use the venue’s date-specific information to confirm any additional performers or activities important to your visit.

Make an early Thursday plan

The Alluvion is at 414 East Eighth Street on the second floor of the Commongrounds building. The venue’s directions page supplies parking and arrival information. Check it before setting out rather than assuming a spot immediately outside will be available.

For a group outing, an agreed meeting time before the music begins can make the visit easier. If food is part of the plan, decide whether to use the series’ advertised snack offering or arrange a separate meal. An event at 6 p.m. leaves several ways to organize the evening.

Contact the venue ahead of time if you need a particular access arrangement. All-ages admission describes who may attend; it does not answer every question about room layout, seating needs or the comfort of an individual family member.

The date also offers a way to hear NMC musicians outside a campus concert hall. Readers interested in following the college’s ensembles can use its concert calendar to compare later performances, checking each entry’s venue and admission details separately.

Before October 22, review both the college schedule and the Thursday-series page for updates. The useful essentials are clear: an NMC Jazz Big Band appearance, a 6-p.m. start and a contribution-based entry format for a local night of live jazz.

Sources and event updates

NMC concert calendar

Thursday Jazz 4 All

Directions