Four-man group to jazz up Max’s place

If you like jazz and need your flugelhorn fix, or just want some pizza, then head on over to Max’s Place today, where the Art Deco Jazz Quartet will be giving a free concert from 8:30 to 10:15 p.m.\n“They always bring in a really nice crowd; they’re great musicians, and nice guys,” said Monica Tallent, a server at Max’s. “We really enjoy having them here.”\nReturning to Bloomington after a year-long absence, the quartet – with Michael Moynihan on tenor sax, David Miller on the trumpet and flugelhorn, Steve Johnson playing bass and Dave Scalia on drums – will be joined by guest artist Michael Eaton on saxophone. \nEaton has been performing on a cruise ship in the Pacific and has come to Bloomington for a night of jazz honoring Keith Jarrett, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington and more. \nMiller has been playing with Johnson for more than 47 years now, but has only been with the band since 2006.\nSince its opening in 2004, Max’s Place has been known not just for serving food, but for providing a variety of music. With its brick-oven pizza and a selection of local beers, it is a popular place for people to sit down for a night of performances by talented artists like the Art Deco Jazz Quartet. \nMax’s Place owner Travers Marks said the band is a popular act for his audience.\n“One day (Eaton) just stopped by, he’d heard about our Tuesday jazz nights,” Marks said.\nEaton will be performing at two other venues in the coming week as well. He will appear from 8 to 11 p.m. Wednesday at the Cinemat with several improvisational groups and finish the week with the Art Deco Quartet again from 9:15 to 11:15 p.m. Saturday at Café Django. There is a $3 cover charge for each performance. Eaton will be moving to New York City after his tour of Bloomington.