Jazz News

Jazz in downtown Denver – old and new!
Bassist Mark Diamond and friends have been holding it down on Thursday nights at the farm-to-table restaurant Terra, on 14th, across from the Convention Center.

CBS 4 reported on plans for the old El Chapultepec building at 20th and Market, just a block from Coors Field. Freddy Rodriguez and the Jazz Connection were hired to play opening day and draw in passers-by on their way to or from opening day. A group called the 87 Foundation, led by Stephen Brackett of The Flobots, is working to keep music in the spot and boost live entertainment in the ballpark neighborhood, and the new owners also own the Giggling Grizzly next door.

A totally new venue on Market Street is called Orchid Denver, with live music beginning around the end of April with acts like Ramakhandra, Convergence, Medianoche Honrado and others.

And Dazzle continues the hard work with city inspectors to get their new location open on 14th, as part of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

(SOURCE: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/foundation-hopes-bring-music-back-old-el-chapultepec-denver/)

The Library of Congress and the National Recording Preservation Board announced 25 new selections to the National Recording Registry. Included are the important songs that showcase America’s audio legacy, and a few tunes you might recognize: John Handy’s 1922 recording of “St. Louis Blues,” Fletcher Henderson’s original from 1925 “Sugar Foot Stomp,” Koko Taylor’s 1965 blues breakout “Wang Dang Doodle,” and the entire “Black Codes (from the Underground)” album by Wynton Marsalis from 1985.

(SOURCE: https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/recording-registry/complete-national-recording-registry-listing/)

The Jazz Education Network has posted an amazing free resource for educators, titled “JAZZSLAM,” or “Jazz Supports Language Arts and Math.” Educator/keyboardist Mari Mennel-Bell wrote the fourth grade and fifth grade curriculum as a one-hour presentation with live band, a two-session class, or a three-session option. The links at www.JazzEdNet.org include the one hour YouTube video and free downloads of quizzes and hands-on activities, and presentation activity ideas.

On the video, her bandmates help tell the story of jazz to illustrate migration patterns, teach time and meter, and impart geography. During Jazz Appreciation Month, this might be a good time to plan how to include jazz in next April’s lesson plans.

(SOURCE: https://members.jazzednet.org/jazzslam/?_ga=2.179411108.1815567238.1681491673-2053574516.1681491673&_gl=1*88qv7e*_ga*MjA1MzU3NDUxNi4xNjgxNDkxNjcz*_ga_LX15ZGQD95*MTY4MTQ5MTY3Mi4xLjAuMTY4MTQ5MTY3Mi4wLjAuMA..)