DSH ENTERTAINMENT, INC. presents A Night of Elegant Jazz with The Abigail Riccards Quintet and Just the Two of Us & Friends on August 22, 2026, at the African American Performing Arts Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The evening will feature live jazz standards, romantic ballads, and contemporary interpretations performed in an intimate concert setting.
DSH ENTERTAINMENT, INC. will host A Night of Elegant Jazz with The Abigail Riccards Quintet and Just the Two of Us & Friends on August 22, 2026, at the New Mexico African American Performing Arts Center in Albuquerque. The evening will feature live jazz standards, romantic ballads, and contemporary interpretations.
Get tickets and sign up for event notifications on the event homepage.
What are the event details?
- Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
- Time: Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show runs from 7–10 p.m.
- Location: New Mexico African American Performing Arts Center, 310 San Pedro Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
- Presented by: DSH ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
- Featured Artist: The Abigail Riccards Quintet
- Tickets: Tickets cost $44.52 per person.
Who is Abigail Riccards?
Abigail Riccards is an American jazz vocalist known for her warm tone, expressive phrasing, and classic jazz performance rooted in the American Songbook tradition.
Over nearly two decades in jazz performance, she has built a respected reputation through live concerts, recordings, and appearances at established jazz venues. Her style blends traditional swing influences with modern interpretation, creating performances that feel polished, intimate, and emotionally grounded.
Riccards has performed alongside respected jazz musicians including Peter Bernstein, Joel Frahm, Matt Wilson, and Jane Monheit. She was also selected as a semifinalist in the 2004 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition, one of the most recognized honors in jazz performance.
Who are Just the Two of Us & Friends?
Just the Two of Us & Friends is a versatile New Mexico-based ensemble that adapts from an intimate, low-key duo to a lively five-piece band. Their multi-lingual repertoire blends Latin jazz, bossa nova, Spanish boleros, swing, and pop classics into an infectious, danceable groove.
The lineup features:
- Debo Orlofsky (Vocals): A genre-spanning singer with a warm, expressive voice tailored for ballads and bossa nova.
- Mike Hua (Piano): An expressive, creative player who brings rich jazz harmonies and spontaneous improvisation to every performance.
- Steve Hill (Guitar): A versatile musician whose multi-genre background creates a warm, luminous, and imaginative guitar tone.
- Maud Beenhouwer (Bass): A New Mexico Music Hall of Fame inductee and local Latin jazz pioneer who provides a steady, lyrical foundation.
- Brian Burton (Drums): An experienced session drummer who acts as the band’s rhythmic engine, dynamically driving and shaping the groove.
What to expect at A Night of Elegant Jazz
In short: Two acclaimed acts perform jazz standards, ballads, and contemporary arrangements in a seated indoor concert setting at the African American Performing Arts Center.
The performance lineup is expected to include:
- Classic jazz standards
- Swing-era favorites
- Romantic ballads
- Contemporary jazz arrangements
About DSH ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
DSH ENTERTAINMENT, INC. is a New Mexico-based entertainment and cultural programming company producing live music, comedy, spoken word, and community-centered events throughout Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
The company presents programming that connects national touring talent with New Mexico audiences while supporting local arts and cultural initiatives. Past and ongoing productions include the Duke City Comedy Jam Series, The Last Poets, and the Duke City Old School Concert Series.
DSH ENTERTAINMENT, INC. also organizes programming tied to community involvement, artist support, and local cultural initiatives connected to live entertainment in New Mexico. Alongside concerts and comedy showcases, the company promotes scholarship opportunities, event partnerships, and programming designed to support performers, students, and creative communities in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Supporters can follow DSH ENTERTAINMENT, INC. for updates on upcoming performances, artist announcements, community events, and future productions across New Mexico. Visitors interested in partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, or additional event information can also connect directly with the organization through the official DSH ENTERTAINMENT, INC. website.
Live Jazz Comes to Albuquerque This August
Visit the New Mexico African American Performing Arts Center on August 22 for a night of jazz standards, ballads, and live ensemble performance in Albuquerque. Bring a date, meet up with friends, or settle in for an evening built around live music and classic jazz vocals.
Buy tickets for Abigail Riccards and Just the Two of Us & Friends. Sign up for event notifications on the event homepage for future updates and ticket release details.
FAQs: A Night of Elegant Jazz
A Night of Elegant Jazz with The Abigail Riccards Quartet and Just the Two of Us & Friends will take place at the African American Performing Arts Center at Expo New Mexico, located at 310 San Pedro Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. The venue regularly hosts concerts, theater productions, comedy shows, and community events throughout the year. Guests attending the August 22, 2026, performance should plan extra time for parking, walking to the venue entrance, and finding seating before the concert begins. The African American Performing Arts Center is one of Albuquerque’s established indoor venues for live entertainment and cultural programming.
Abigail Riccards performs jazz rooted in the American Songbook, incorporating contemporary jazz arrangements and romantic ballads into her performances. Her concerts often include classic jazz standards, swing-era material, and slower vocal arrangements backed by live piano, bass, and drums. Abigail Riccards is known for expressive vocals and clear lyrical interpretation that place strong emphasis on storytelling and performance. Audiences attending this Albuquerque concert can expect a traditional quartet setup focused on vocals and ensemble musicianship throughout the evening.
Just the Two of Us & Friends performs a blend of bossa nova, samba, Latin jazz, Spanish boleros, jazz-inflected pop tunes, and selections from the Great American Songbook. Their performances center on a rich variety of jazz styles featuring guitar and piano arrangements, with lyrics sung in Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Audiences attending this Albuquerque concert can expect a dynamic performance that transitions seamlessly from intimate vocal-led ballads to deep, rhythmic grooves when the full bass and drum section joins in.
Yes. The Night of Elegant Jazz performance is a seated indoor concert that works well for date nights, group outings, and audiences seeking live music in Albuquerque without the pace of a large arena or nightclub setting. The event focuses on live jazz vocals, quartet performance, and a more relaxed concert atmosphere built around listening and conversation. Guests can expect an evening centered on live music and classic jazz arrangements inside the African American Performing Arts Center at Expo New Mexico.
Live jazz concerts often feel more personal because much of the performance develops organically on stage between the musicians. Jazz ensembles frequently improvise, adjust arrangements, and interact with one another throughout the concert rather than following the same performance structure every night. In a quartet setting like this one, audiences can clearly hear the relationship between vocals, piano, bass, and drums during each song. That live interaction gives jazz concerts a different pace and atmosphere compared to heavily produced arena shows or playback-driven performances.
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