JAZZ: Denver jazzier than you might think

By Norman Provizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 21, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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If you're a jazz fan visiting Denver for the Democratic National Convention, consider yourself lucky.

The Mile High City might not come to mind when you think of the music. But there's much more to the jazz scene here than most fans imagine.

In the early days, Denver was the launching point of George Morrison's group that featured Jelly Roll Morton, Andy Kirk and Jimmie Lunceford and was the birthplace of Paul Whiteman, the King of Jazz. Before his big band conquered the world, Glenn Miller came from Colorado, and Paul Quinichette called Denver home before he became known as the Vice President of the tenor saxophone during his time with Count Basie in the early 1950s.

More recently, Denver has been home base for Grammy-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves and a host of other well-known musicians who settled here and added much to the scene.

The bottom line is that you can hear substantial jazz sounds every night of the week, 52 weeks a year.

With all that in mind, take your pick from a number of strong events this week:

* Tonight finds the superb veteran pianist Stanley Cowell winding up a two-night visit to Dazzle, 930 Lincoln St., with a strong trio that has young stars Nasheet Waits on drums and Tarus Mateen on bass ($25, 303-839-5100).

* On Saturday, the soaring alto saxophonist Richie Cole is at Dazzle with percussionist Janine Santana ($20). Both Cowell and Cole perform at 7 and 9 p.m.

* Also on Saturday, the large-scale, five-day After Five Denver Jazz and Blues Festival sets off some cool fire in the city's historic Five Points area. Saturday's show begins at 1 p.m. and features A Tribute to Grover Washington Jr. with Pieces of a Dream, Maysa and Walter Beasley on the main stage in addition to Warren Hill and saxophonist Gerald Albright, another player who has made Colorado home.

There is also music on a second stage and a third venue for blues.

Come Sunday at 2 p.m., the festival offers The Gospel According to Jazz featuring saxophonist Kirk Whalum and keyboardist George Duke, Eric Darius and a half-dozen other acts.

On Monday, the Five Points festival presents the serious-fun sounds of Hugh Masekela, Jonathan Butler, Marion Meadows and Nelson Rangell, the Denver Divas and others starting at 5 p.m. On Tuesday, also at 5 p.m., the festival swings in an exciting Latin-jazz direction with trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and percussionist Poncho Sanchez. Pianist Bobby Lyle, Dotsero, Kevin Toney, Jackiem Joyner, Purnell Steen and Hazel Miller are also on the bill.

The event wraps up Wednesday with the Blackbirds, singer Jeffrey Osborne and six additional groups. The festival takes place around 26th and Welton streets with tickets ranging from $59 to $119 for each day (denverjazzfestival2008.com or 303-296-2701).

* Wednesday also offers an exciting evening of song at Dazzle when singer Rene Marie brings fellow vocalists Carla Cook and Allan Harris to the club to join her in a show called Two Skirts and a Shirt. Marie, who now calls Denver home, is the kind of singer who takes your breath away with her sound and musical conception. The singer is a must-hear and her sets at Dazzle will include her exquisite suite Voice of My Beautiful Country. Sets are at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday ($30).

* Dazzle also offers the outstanding 9th + Lincoln Orchestra at 7 p.m. Sunday ($10). The musician-filled Mile High Cutting Session will benefit KUVO and New Orleans radio station WWOZ at 8 p.m. Monday. On Tuesday, singer Roxanne Brown's Tribute to Billie Holiday is at 6 p.m. ($10), followed by the Festival of Democracy Soiree at 8 p.m. ($7).

ON A FINAL NOTE: One of the major musical events during the convention is Sunday's giant concert to benefit the city of New Orleans at the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson. A limited number of tickets are available for this event, which offers notable Crescent City musicians, Louisiana cuisine, drink and celebrity hosts such as pundit James Carville. The monster affair, put together by the Friends of New Orleans, begins at 8 p.m. ($500, livenation.com)

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