By Organ Mountain News on May 21, 2026

Mayor’s Jazz Fest returns to downtown Las Cruces with Lao Tizer Band concert

The City of Las Cruces will kick off its 2026 Music in the Park series with the free Mayor’s Jazz Fest concert featuring the Lao Tizer Band on May 24 downtown.

Lao Tizer and the Lao Tizer Band will headline the 2026 Mayor’s Jazz Fest on May 24 at Plaza de Las Cruces. (Courtesy photo / City of Las Cruces)

Free May 24 concert at Plaza de Las Cruces will launch the city’s 2026 Music in the Park series

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - The City of Las Cruces Parks & Recreation Department will host the 2026 Mayor’s Jazz Fest Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Main St.

This year’s concert will feature the Lao Tizer Band, which recently earned a nomination for “Jazz Group of the Year.” The group is returning to Las Cruces while supporting its new album and video release, “Amplify.”

According to the city, the project includes five original vocal tracks and four original instrumentals recorded live at EastWest Studios in Hollywood using a seven-camera video production.

Joining keyboardist and bandleader, and former “Best New Jazz Artist” nominee, Lao Tizer, are special guest performers including platinum-selling American Idol vocalist Elliott Yamin, renowned drummer Joel Rosenblatt (Spyro Gyra, Michel Camilo), GRAMMY Award-winning percussionist Munyungo Jackson (Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis), and Rolling Stone’s 2022 “Bassist of the Year” nominee Anthony Crawford (Jeff Lorber, Erykah Badu).

City officials said the concert will feature a mix of jazz styles and musical influences.

The free event traditionally launches the Parks & Recreation Department’s annual Music in the Park series, which will continue Sundays through Aug. 30 with performances by local, regional and national artists.

The city said additional artists and locations for the series will be announced later.

For more information, contact Parks & Recreation Community Events at 575-541-2101 or TTY 711.

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