The DVC Night Jazz band plays April 7, at Yoshi’s Jazz club in Oakland with composer and tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer.

For the past six years, the band has been hired for a yearly booking at Yoshi’s, but it has never performed with Mintzer.

Mintzer is well known in the jazz world as the leader of the Grammy award-winning band, “Bob Mintzer Big Band,” and as a member of the Yellowjackets, a well- known fusion band.  He is also a professor of jazz studies at the University of Southern California.

During the performance, Mintzer will direct the band as well as play solos. The performance consists of eight or nine of his compositions.

The event is hosted by DVC and organized by Rory Snyder, director of jazz studies. The band charges an entrance fee to pay guest artists and some musicians.   

Snyder said it will rehearse with Mintzer from 5 to 7:15 p.m. and then play the concert at 8 p.m.

“So it’s one rehearsal with Bob Mintzer,” he said. “But because the band is so strong and because he is such a great player, it’ll work out perfectly.”

The Night Jazz band is made up of professional musicians, music teachers and students, with an age range that spans from mid-teens to 55.

The two performances will be at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets are $16 for the first show and $10 for the second.