Jazz Appreciation Month-A Jubilee of Live Music | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

On Thursday, one of the modern-day giants of the tenor saxophone, Joe Lovano, wraps up is two-night stand at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln. For this visit to Denver, Lovano, who has issued more discs on the Blue Note label than any other artist, has his Classic Quartet with him. That band has an international cast of younger players with Leo Genovese on piano, Peter Slavov on bass and Lamy Istrefi on drums. It is on stage at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. (303-839-5100). 

The Cleveland-born saxophonist is simply one of the best around and he is always worth hearing no matter which of his several groups he has in tow. For example, if memory serves, the last time I heard Lovano here in Denver he had his US Five band on stage with him. Another group the saxophonist has been touring with is the Chucho Valdes-Joe Lovano Quintet. Chucho, of course, is the founder of Irakere in Cuba and the son of the great pianist Bebo Valdes and the father of pianist Chuchito Valdes. I mention this because Chuchito will appear with his quartet at the Vail Winter Series at Ludwig’s Terrace at the Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail at 6 and 8:30 p.m. on April 13 (vailjazz.org) and at Baur’s, 1512 Curtis, at 8 p.m. on April 15 (303-615-4000).

Speaking of Baur’s, as we move toward June, that spot will become the new home of Dazzle. Over the years, Dazzle has developed a strong national reputation and the move to a more mid-town location will certainly provide an upgraded facility and, hopefully, there will be no downgrading of the music that has made Dazzle a first-class jazz club.

Over at La Cour Bistro and Art Bar, 1643 S. Broadway, there’s an opening reception for an exhibit of paintings by Nijole Rasmussen and photographs by KUVO’s Susan Gatschet called “Jazz and Abstract” on Friday from 6 until 10 p.m. (303-777-5000). There will also be vocal sounds from Wendy Fopeano.      

Returning to Dazzle, there’s another event of particular interest this week with the reunion of the band Images, a group from here that enjoyed some crossover success. The reunion combines members from two editions of the group. They are: saxophonists Joe Anderies and Bob Rebholz; pianist Lee Bartley; bassist Rich Sallee; drummer Mike Marlier; and guitarist Randy Chávez. The group plays on Saturday at 7 and 9 p.m. and on Sunday at 5:30 and 8 p.m.

Also at Dazzle, percussionist Nate Werth (of Snarky Puppy and Ghost-Note) joins forces with percussion ensembles from the Denver School of the Arts and the University of Wyoming on Wednesday at 7 p.m. On Monday, Dazzle has the latest combination of the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with a high school group and added guests from Ecuador at 7 p.m.

Additionally, Dazzle has pianist Annie Booth’s trio plus saxophonist Steve Tresler doing music from “The Snow Line Project” on Friday at 7 and 9 p.m. The night before, Booth and company perform live from KUVO at 7 p.m.     

Of course, before April, a.k.a. Jazz Appreciation Month, ends, the super-sized UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival takes place with evening concerts in the Union Colony Civic Center. The evening concerts will feature a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master for each of the three evening event. On April 20, it’s singer Sheila Jordan followed on April 21 by saxophonist Jimmy Heath with the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. For the last night, April 22, it’s saxophonist Dave Liebman. For tickets, call 800-315-2787).

Comments and suggestions: normanprovizer@aol.com