Tom Amend and friends featured at first Hot Notes in Riverton

Jazz is the theme of the first Hot Notes Cool Nights concert in Riverton City Park Monday, July 8 which features the Tom Amend Quartet.

Presented by Central Wyoming College, the summer concerts in the park are scheduled every Monday through August 5 at 7 p.m., alternating between the city parks in Lander and Riverton. All the concerts are free and open to everyone. There will be food available for purchase.

Amend is a Riverton pianist, composer and arranger who is currently majoring in jazz studies at the University of Northern Colorado. He recently toured with the International Blues Challenge finalists Taylor Scott and Another Kind of Magick. He has also appeared on AKM’s final album “Old Yellowstone Road” as well as Taylor Scott’s “Soul Satisfaction.”

Amend was commissioned to compose a piece for the 2013 Wyoming All State Jazz Band that was premiered at the 2013 Kinser Jazz Festival. Amend’s quartet includes alto saxophone player Jared Atol of Long Beach, Calif., percussionist Kevin Matthews and bassist Hunter Donnelly Renner, both of Denver.

The Fremont County Orchestra is the guest of the next Lander concert on July 15.