Many of Colorado’s mountain communities are again preparing for some of the most enticing jazz celebrations anywhere. Promoters like Dick Gibson and Sunnie Sutton lured the best players to the higher altitudes in the 1960s, and the tradition continues.
The Estes Park Jazz Fest returns May 14-15, with local heroes Dotsero and Eric Gunnison as well as headlining vocalist and Count Basie alumnus Marlena Shaw. All performances are free; get more information at estesparkcvb.com.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass sports a strong lineup for its esteemed June Festival (June 23-26), including Ramsey Lewis, Isaac “Chef” Hayes, Park Hill resident (and three-time Grammy recipient) Dianne Reeves and the otherworldly vocalist Bobby McFerrin. Tickets are available at jazzaspen.org. That same weekend, the 21st annual “Genuine Jazz Festival” is presented in Breckenridge, with genuinely smooth fare like Paul Taylor and Brian Culbertson. Go to genuinejazz.com.
The Evergreen Jazz Festival (July 22-24) offers an all-traditional lineup; you’re more likely to see an out-of-town tuba player gasping for air than at any other Colorado celebration this summer. Scheduled performers include the Queen City Jazz Band and James Dapogny’sChicago Jazz Band. Details at evergreenjazz.org.
The organizers of the Telluride Jazz Celebration seem committed to outdoing themselves every year. For the weekend of Aug. 5-7, they’ve booked bass innovator Ron Carter as their guest of honor. Also slated are guitarist John Scofield (who will likely feature tunes from his upcoming Ray Charles tribute disc), Dave Holland and Bobby Watson. Telluridejazz.com has the details.
The Vail Labor Day Weekend Jazz Party (Sept. 2-5) is another prestige event, this year attracting Kurt Elling, Stefon Harris and Russell Malone. Find out more at vailjazz.org.
Also of note: the Winter Park Jazz Festival (no longer associated with JVC, which brought in a package tour of smooth jazz stars every year) will return July 30-31 with a lineup yet to be named.
Keith Jarrett, one of the most celebrated and documented pianists in all of jazz, turns 60 today. Beyond classification, he’s just as likely to issue a set of Dmitri Shostakovich interpretations as he is a tribute to his onetime employer, Miles Davis. There is no typical Jarrett CD, but the listener can always expect sincerity and technically accomplished playing in every release.
Jarrett’s new “Radiance” (ECM) is a convenient summation of the stylistic paths he has followed during his first four decades as a professional musician. Taken from a pair of Japanese solo concerts, Jarrett maintains in his liner notes that all of the music was completely improvised. Shifting effortlessly from moments of abstract impressionism to warm, almost folk-like melodies, it’s easy to become engaged in his virtuosity and creativity. He even throws in a few trademark ecstatic groans here and there.
With a discography as intimidating as Jarrett’s, it’s difficult to know where to begin to sample his considerable virtues. “Radiance,” consciously or not, satisfyingly displays what makes him such a special and wide-ranging artist. Now how about a concert performance in Colorado, Keith?
Set list
Trombonist Alex Heitlinger (who records for the local Synergy label) brings his sextet to Dazzle tonight … Joe Bonner plays solo piano Wednesday and Thursday at Randolf’s in the Warwick Hotel … hear David Corbus Friday and Saturday at Sambuca Jazz Café … congratulations to CU students Gonzalo Teppa (bass) and Kurtis Adams (saxophone), recipients of Downbeat Magazine’s 2005 Student Music Awards.
Bret Saunders’ column on jazz appears every other Sunday in A&E. Saunders is host of the “KBCO Morning Show,” 5:30-10 a.m. weekdays at 97.3-FM. His e-mail address is bret_saunders@hotmail.com.
