Let It Jazz, Let It Jazz, Let It Jazz!!! | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

On Thursday, the musical week gets started with tenor saxophonist Houston Person finishing up his two-night stand at Dazzle, 1512 Curtis, supported by pianist Jeff Jenkins, bassist Ken Walker and drummer Paul Romaine. And if you listen to his current High Note CD, Rain or Shine recorded in June 2017, you know that he still delivers his signature, blues-filled sound with both warmth and authority. There’s a reason why Person comes back to town with some frequency. His sets on Thursday are at 6 and 8:30 p.m. (303-839-5100).

Also on Thursday, you can get your salsa on with the 13-piece Spanish Harlem Orchestra led by Oscar Hernández comes to the Newman Center, 2344 E. Iliff on the University of Denver campus, a 7:30 p.m. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes.     

In addition to the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Houston Person, another visitor this week is guitarist Fareed Haque. Haque, too, is also no stranger to Denver. This time around he is back with his Funk Brothers Band, the group he brought with him the last time he was here which was at Nocturne. On Tuesday, Haque and company pull into Dazzle for sets at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Though the members of the Funk Brothers with Haque aren’t listed, in the past, the Brothers have included players such as Tony Monaco, Stanton Moore and Franklin Collier.     

Haque, early on, cultivated his international perspectives (after all he is the son of international parents with his father a Pakistani and his mother Chilean) and his playing at Chicago jam session sled by tenor saxophonist Von Freeman. With a classical and jazz background, Haque connected with multi-instrumentalist Howard Levy and through him established a musical relationship with Paquito D’Rivera.

In 2001, Hague started the band Garaj Mahal and in 2009 he was named the top player by Guitar magazine. He was also a member of the Zawinul Syndicate (led of course by keyboardist Joe Zawinul). Additionally, the guitarist recorded several CDs on Blue Note; and, on a local note, during that time in the mid-to-late ‘90s, Haque also was on three Blue Note recordings by the Denver-raised tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson. Before hitting Denver, Haque is playing in Rollnsville (Stage Stop) on Friday, in Winter Park (Ulls Tavern) n Saturday and in Vail (Shakedown Bar) on Sunday.

Returning to Nocturne, 1330 27^th St., the music there for the week has a number of tasty choices. Saxophonist Wil Swindler and a quartet play on Friday and trumpeter Gabriel Mervine and a quintet with saxophonist Peter Sommer are on stage on Saturday. On Tuesday, there’s the Double Guitar Quartet (with Tim Wendel and Khabu Doug Young), On Wednesday, it’s the Industrial Strength Trio with saxophonist John Gunther. All of the music starts at 7 p.m. and runs through 10:30 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, there’s also late night music from a duo or trio starting at 11 p.m. (303-295-3333).    

You can also find jazz at La Cour art bar, 1643 Broadway, on a regular basis, including now drummer Clare Church and Expeditions on Friday at 7 p.m. (303-777-5000). Up in Boulder, there’s jazz regularly on tap at Caffe Sole, 637R S. Broadway. On Friday, the sounds at the Caffe at 7 p.m. are from saxophonist Lynn Baker and a quartet (303-499-2985).   

Additionally, the vocal-group known as the Quirktet (with MaryLynn Gillaspie) is at the Mercury Café, 2199 California, on Friday at 7 p.m. (303-294-9240), while the Newman Center celebrates the Winter Solstice with Windham Hill new-agers Will Ackerman, Barbara Higbie and Alex de Grassi on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

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