2019 Resolution–More & Greater Jazz All Year Long! | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

In the mid-1960s, saxophonist Ernie Watts joined the big band led by drummer Buddy Rich. After a move to the West Coast, the saxophonist, who grew up in Delaware, could be found in the ranks of the large ensembles led by Gerald Wilson and Oliver Nelson and the smaller ensemble led by guitarist Pat Metheny. Watts then connected with Charlie Haden and spent decades as part of the bassist’s Quartet West group.

On Thursday and Friday, Watts comes to town for a CD-release celebration at Dazzle for That’s Right, a disc co-led by trumpeter Brad Goode who landed in Boulder in 2004 to teach at the University of Colorado after he established his reputation as a strong player on the Chicago scene. Back in late 1992, when I was writing for Jazziz magazine, I did a piece on trumpeters called “Bold and Brassy.” One of the players discussed in that article was Goode and an album he recorded in 1988, when he was 24, called Shock of the New. 

The comment back then said that on the album, “Goode (who might be called Little Red for his resemblance to Red Rodney) offers a spitfire style in the company of Windy City regulars such as pianist Jodie Christian.” And he remains a spitfire to this very day early in 2019.

The quintet that has an area-based rhythm section performs at Dazzle, 1512 Curtis, on Thursday at 6:30 and 9 p.m. and on Friday at 7 p.m.  (303-839-5100).

The next night at Dazzle, the focus shifts to the blues and one of the finest practitioners of the modern blues – Otis Taylor, an international artists who also lives in Colorado. Taylor’s “trance blues” is not only hard to resist, but it contains a jazz element at its very core. Taylor, for example, frequently has trumpeter Ron Miles on his recordings and even has a disc (Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs) supported by pianist Jason Moran and Moran’s trio. On Saturday, Taylor is on stage at 6:30 and 9 p.m.

Over at Nocturne, 1330 27^th St., Thursdays during he month offer up: “Mingus and Mariano” (bassist Charles and alto saxophonist Charlie) with a quintet led by pianist Ron LeGault and saxophonist Harry Drabkin; singer Kathryn Radakovich doing Nina Simone’s music on Friday; Drew’s Blues and Boogoloos on Saturday; Tom Amend’s Organ Trio on Tuesday; and pianist Annie Booth exploring the Beatles on Wednesday (303-295-3333). The music kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

At la Cour, 1643 S. Broadway, there’s music regularly on tap, including pianist Rekha Ohal and clarinetist Dexter Payne on Sunday, pianist Ron Jolly and bassist Ron Bland on Tuesday and guitarist Liam Broderick on Wednesday. The music is at 7 p.m. (303-777-5000).

Not a bad start to the New Year and things are going to keep going in style during the rest of January and the months to follow.

Comments & submissions: normanprovizer@aol.com