A pair of distinctive pianists are scheduled to perform in the Denver area this week.
Eliane Elias relocated to the U.S. from Brazil in the early ’80s, touring and recording as a member of the then-hot jazz-fusion unit Steps Ahead. Ever since, she has managed to cultivate two personas in the music business, gaining respect as a vocalist as well as an accomplished pianist.
Her approach to the keyboard and singing style are rooted in Brazilian and North American traditions, and she has met with considerable commercial success while maintaining a respectable critical reputation. Elias’ latest effort, “Made In Brazil,” brings several standards from her homeland into the 21st century. She will be performing her own takes on bossa nova and samba numbers for two nights at Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets are $35-$40, and Dazzle Jazz is at 930 Lincoln St. Find out more at .
George Cables has appeared as the tasteful sideman of choice for numerous legends stretching back to the ’70s, including saxophonists Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and Art Pepper. As much as he has added to countless recording dates as a supporting player, his own trio recordings really put his sunny virtuosity on display.
Cables’ own deep discography is filled with high points. “Cables’ Vision,” from 1980, is a classically lovely, straight-ahead outing that emerged from a point in the music’s history when jazz was supposedly dead. His recent outings are just as strong and saturated with fresh harmonic ideas: “My Muse,” from 2012, is a deeply felt tribute to Cables’ late wife, featuring sympathetic accompaniment from bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Victor Lewis. This long-term trio performs at Mount Vernon Country Club in Golden on Thursday.
For a buffet dinner before the 8 p.m. show and for admission, the cost is $49.95. For those who just want to take in the concert, tickets are $25. The address is 24933 Clubhouse Circle. Get details at .
Tenor saxophonist Chris Potter and his trio appear at Dazzle Friday and Saturday. Smooth guitarist Nick Colionne brings his band to the Soiled Dove Underground on Friday. Flautist Holly Hoffman brings top names John Clayton, Mike Wofford and Jeff Hamilton to Nocturne Modern Jazz & Supper Club on Nov. 28. Denver’s Dotsero takes to their own stage at Jazz@Jack’s that same night. Heavy-hitting piano trio The Bad Plus will be joined by saxophonist Joshua Redman at the Boulder Theater on Dec. 2.
Finally, the world lost the brilliant New Orleans spirit Allen Toussaint last week. He was 77. He’ll be remembered more for his compositions of hit songs and contributions to R&B, but the pianist’s “The Bright Mississippi,” from 2009, was the wondrous traditional jazz album he literally waited his entire life to make. I pulled it off of the shelf, and it sounds as deep and committed as any record he ever put his name to, and that’s saying a lot.
Bret Saunders can be heard from 6 to 11 a.m. weekday mornings at KBCO 97.3 FM and . bretsaunders@kbco.com.
