Susan Gatschet-Reese
Susan Gatschet-Reese
Singer Hazel Miller performs at City Park Jazz, an annual series of free outdoor concerts.
Legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath (far right) performs at Dazzle with Mark Patterson (trombone) and Greg Gisbert (trumpet) of the Denver-based band Convergence.
But in that time period something amazing took place. A publicly sponsored jazz station hit the airwaves. Tagged as “The Jazz Oasis in the City,” KUVO made its first broadcast. The year was 1977 and jazz lovers in Colorado’s Front Range were rescued. Boulder opened its very own Blue Note, where legendary pianist Bill Evans appeared a few short years before his passing. Denver native and current resident Dianne Reeves hit the top of the jazz charts, and equally impressive jazz musicians were coming to Denver and staying. The machine was set in motion once again. In Denver these days there is a venue for everyone and a jazz style for every ear.
“Outside of say, New York and Boston, there is no one city that offers this much talent and access to this terrific music than Denver.”
LISTENING ROOMS Dazzle Jazz
930 Lincoln Street, 303.839.5100 DazzleJazz.com The crown jewel of Denver jazz clubs is Dazzle Jazz, named one of the Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the World by Downbeat Magazine.
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It can hold its own against the likes of the Village Vanguard in a New York minute, but has evolved over its 15-year gig as a stage for international, iconic jazz performers including Jimmy Heath, Eddie Gomez, Ravi Coltrane, Bennie Golson, Monty Alexander, Esperanza Spaulding, The Bad Plus, Roberta Gambarini and so many more. Dazzle Jazz has a retro vibe, where the spacious bar and roomy booths invite you to linger, or perhaps take in some great tunes in the smaller Dizzy Room, named for Dizzy Gillespie. Friday lunch is a local favorite, when area talent stop by to offer up a midday fix of “cool.” There are evening shows and late-night jams. Sunday Urban Brunch is a local favorite, where you can chill to the sounds of the Paris Takes Quartet featuring Julie Monley on vocals, while sipping a mimosa.
El Chapultepec (The Pec)
1962 Market Street, 303.295.9124 ThePecLoDo.com This historic venue offers jazz seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. The jazz is local and hopping. The crowds are elbow to elbow at times, a unique setting that beats with the hearts of Ella, Count Basie, Frank
Sinatra and many more. For lore, legend and jazz, this is a don’tmiss for jazz lovers. The linoleum floors and shiny naugahyde bar stools add to the echoes of finger snapping in a room once so dense with smoke it was hard to make out the band members. Jack Kerouac and his school of poets frequented this regal dive, smoking weed in the parking lot, and then sliding into one of the booths for free food and drink, a perk from the owner. And, yes, we are saying “dive” like it’s a good thing.
Nocturne
1330 27th Street, 303.295.3333 NocturneJazz.com Due to open on January 15, this amazing new venue is a GatsbyMeets-Harlem jazz club, a modern take on the ‘40s jazz supper club. Replete with a Grand Staircase leading to mezzanine seating for dining and listening, owners Scott and Nicole Mattson have done their homework. From the cuisine to the acoustics, they have sought wisdom from the best. On the stage level the vibe will definitely resonate “speakeasy,” with a fabulous Art Deco bar that welcomes you as you step through velvet curtains into this magical time warp.