August Ends With A Blast of Great Live Music | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

The big name floating through the jazz scene this week is guitarist/vocalist George Benson, who stops by the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York, on Wednesday. Because the Pittsburg native has so clearly ventured into the world of pop-instrumental music, it’s all too easy to forget what a strong guitar player he actually is. When Benson broke out on the national scene in 1964 with his recording debut titled The New Boss Guitar, the borrowing of the title from Wes Montgomery’s ninth album (Boss Guitar) released 1963 (by Riverside) seemed reasonably appropriate. Montgomery, after all, had encourage Benson, who joined the organ trio led by Brother Jack McDuff in 1962, early on in George’s career. And remember, Benson, whose first disc came on the Prestige/Original Jazz Classics label, was viewed has the coming new guitar voice in jazz.

All that, of course, was before ‘White Rabbit,” not to mention “This Masquerade,” “On Broadway” and “Give Me the Night.” Benson performs at the Gardens at 6:30 p.m. The summer concert series at the Gardens is produced by Swallow Hill Music; and like so many of the concerts in the series, it is officially sold out (303-777-1003).

On the subject of guitar players, Benson has described the Brazilian player Diego Figueiredo as “one of the greatest I’ve ever seen in my whole life. The world needs to listen to his music.” And it just so happens that Figueiredo will be at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, on September 1, before heading up to Vail for the Labor Day Jazz Party that runs September 2-5 with the Clayton brothers, Diego and a host of others (vailjazz.org). Additionally on the guitar front, one of the best on the scene today, Russell Malone, will also be at Dazzle come September 10-11.

Along with playing guitar, Benson, of course, sings. Among the other singers on tap this week, there’s the Seattle based Eugenie Jones, who is at Baur’s Listening Lounge, 1512 Curtis, on Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. (303-615-4000). Jones who has moved from marketing to singing has been described as “a Renaissance woman” of song who covers a lot of musical bases. Her current CD is titled Come Out Swinging and that’s exactly what she should be doing at Baur’s over the weekend. Other vocalists around during the week at Dazzle are: Mandy Harvey on Saturday at 7 and 9 p.m.; Julie Monley with flautist Dorothy Pino’s quintet on Monday at 7 p.m.; Lenny Kaye singing the music of Johnny Mercer on Tuesday at 7 p.m.; and Jesse Garland offering “An Evening of Twisted Standards” on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

 On Thursday, Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band brings its blend of R&B. soul, blues and more to Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m., while saxophonist John Gunther, violinist Sandra Wong and pianist Victor Mestas explore the world of World Music at Dazzle on Sunday at 7 p.m. Last and not least, the long time pianist with the Brubeck Brothers, Chuck Lamb, has a trio at Caffe Sole, 637R S. Broadway in Boulder, Friday at 7 p.m. (303-499-2985); the What’s Cookin’ Big Band is at Jazz at Jack’s, 500 16^th St.,  on Sunday starting at 5 p.m.; and the H2 Big Band has a prime spot doing a tribute to Count Basie at the Vail Jazz at Vail Square series in Lionshead on Thursday at 6 p.m.

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