Evergreen Jazz Festival | July 24-26

Evergreen Jazz Festival will offer more than 75 hours of live traditional jazz  including Dixieland, ragtime, blues, boogie-woogie, and swing. 

The New Black Eagle Jazz Band from Byfield, Massachusetts will bring its big New Orleans sound to new heights in Evergreen, while the Lost Weekend Western Swing Band will drop in from San Francisco.

Closer to home, the Felonius Smith Trio makes the trip “up the hill” from Denver to deliver its authentic renditions of classic ‘20s and ‘30s Southern street blues. And the totally new group, Nicki Parrott and Friends, will be performing for the first time anywhere. 

Returning favorites include the incomparable Carl Sonny Leyland Trio from California and Colorado greats After Midnight, Queen City Jazz Band with vocal star Wende Harston, Gypsy Swing Revue, Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra, Big Little Ragtime Band, and the Bogalusa Strutters.

In keeping with the spontaneous nature of jazz, Nicki Parrott and Friends and the Bogalusa Strutters have been put together especially for the festival. Music Director Ed Danielson explains.

“Just as in the early days in New Orleans, these musicians never played together before Evergreen,” Danielson said. “The Bogalusa Strutters were such a big hit, they’re back for the third year in a row. And we expect Nicki and her group will be equally popular. They’re all such quality players that it’s really special to bring them together.”

In that same spirit, the festival will feature a true jam session of top members of different bands, literally getting together for the first time on-stage. “We did this last year,” says Production Manager Jeannie Mann, “and it was probably the most popular set of the whole weekend. So we’re excited to do it again and are sure the audience will love it.”

There are also special guest appearances on-tap for the Denver Jazz Club Youth All-Stars and the University of Colorado-Denver Claim Jumpers, giving patrons both a look at the future of traditional jazz and some reassurance that there will be a future.

Several times each day between sets, Dance Showcase segments will provide authentic demonstrations of the great variety of Jazz Age dances, complete with period costumes. Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, Black Bottom and more add another dimension to this weekend celebration of America’s unique art form.

As is tradition with the Evergreen Festival, educational workshops and performance opportunities are planned for student musicians. Workshops will be held Thursday and Friday morning, July 24 and 25, with opportunities for some students to play with the pros in the always-popular “Spotlight On Youth” set Saturday afternoon. 

The Festival’s five small, distinctive venues have become virtual trademarks of the event, offering audiences varied listening environments, all with an up-close-and-personal appeal. Dancing is always encouraged, particularly in the Elks Lodge Ballroom, where Friday and Saturday nights are designated as Dance Nights.

Learn more here.