Hopefully you haven’t had quite enough of being outdoors in the sweltering heat this summer, because much of the most fulfilling jazz you’ll hear in August will be presented alfresco.
The celebrated vocalist Gregory Porter takes to the stage as part of the Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series on Saturday, August 8. Porter is as well-versed in performing standards and R&B-flavored numbers as anyone in 2026. His friendly, gentle voice has always reminded me a bit of the late Bill Withers, and if you’re unfamiliar with his work, take a listen to his “Liquid Spirit” and “Take Me to the Alley” albums, both of which picked up “Best Jazz Vocal Album” Grammys in 2014 and 2017, respectively.
Denver electric bassist and bandleader Matt Skellenger’s Group will open for Porter. Skellenger’s excellent 2009 album, “Parentheticals,” has recently been remastered and rereleased. Get tickets at .
Also at the Botanic Gardens, the endlessly joyous Trombone Shorty and his group Orleans Avenue returns on Wednesday, August 12.
The joyous free shows at Denver’s City Park wrap up for this season on Sunday, August 9, with the JAKARTA Band. The City Park Jazz website says they are “without question, the most popular party dance band in the country.” Who’d willingly miss such an event? The music begins at 6 p.m., and details are at .
Telluride surrenders to the music this week with the annual Telluride Jazz Festival. Much of the action takes place in Town Park, with performances from Don Was & the Pan Detroit Ensemble, The Disco Biscuits, Robert Randolph, Theo Croker and Lettuce, who will be celebrating the 100th birthday of trumpeter Miles Davis. And here’s a tip: Many of the headliners will perform separate, late-night shows in Telluride locales like the Sheridan Opera House and The Alibi. Tickets and lodging at .
Back indoors, anyone longing for that mythic organ-based soul jazz will delight in veteran keyboardist Ronnie Foster making a rare appearance at Denver’s Dazzle on August 27. Foster released numerous soaring albums for the Blue Note label in the 1970s (anyone remember the exciting “Two Headed Freap” LP from ’72?), but stopped releasing titles as a leader in 1986. Then in 2022, he rose like a Phoenix from the ashes with the spirited “Reboot” album, returning to the Blue Note fold. The Ronnie Foster Organ Trio plays two all-ages sets at 6:30 p.m.and 9 p.m. Find out more at .
Also at Dazzle in August: pianist-vocalist Camilla Vaitaitis brings her quartet to the stage August 2, the Lao Tizer Band performs August 7, and the Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart Organ Trio plays August 13-14…keyboard pioneer Herbie Hancock appears at Boulder’s Chautauqua Auditorium on August 11-12…the Rebirth Brass Band brings their traveling party to Levitt Pavilion on August 14…the Adam Bodine Quintet plays the Muse Performance Space in Lafayette on August 29…at Denver’s Nocturne, Wil Swindler’s Post Bop Quartet is performing every Saturday in August, and the Julie Koenig Trio plays every Thursday…the 32nd Annual Vail Jazz Festival takes place Labor Day weekend at the Manor Vail Lodge featuring Niki Haris, Sean Jones, Cyrus Chestnut, Terel Stafford, Lewis Nash and Camille Thurman…
Bret Saunders is a freelance writer and radio DJ.
