Last Week of Summer Jazz Concerts | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

As we begin to move towards the Fall, the music keeps on coming. During this week, for example, you can catch David Amram, along with singers Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kendra Shank and Katie Thiroux (who is also a strong bassist). Amram not only keeps the beat going on multiple instruments, he is also a living symbol of the Beat Generation. And on Wednesday, he’s at Dazzle, 1512 Curtis, in a concert sponsored by MAS Eclectic at 7:30 p.m. (303-839-5100). Joining Amram, there will be the superb trumpeter and Denver resident Hugh Ragin (who is also a member of the new Art Ensemble of Chicago), bassist Artie Moore and drummer Tony Black.

In addition to Amram’s visit to Dazzle where he will pull a daisy or two, there is a screening of the film “David Amram: The First 80 Years” at the Sie Film Center, 2510 E. Colfax, on Monday (303-595-3456) and a house concert fundraiser for MAS at a private residents with members of the Colorado Symphony performing Amram’s chamber music on Tuesday (masmusic.org). Amram is no stranger to Denver and he is here for Neal Cassady’s birthday celebration. His visits are like a piece of history coming home.

On the singing front, the visits kick off with the NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater at Macky Auditorium on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Like many people I first heard Bridgewater with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra way back when and she clearly remains one of the truly top shelf vocalists on the scene. In Boulder, she will have her Memphis Soulphany group in hand, reminding you that her current CD is Memphis…Yes, I’m Ready.

The night before Bridgewater performs, singer Kendra Shank is at Caffé Sole in Boulder, 637R S. Broadway, with pianist Art Lande and his quartet at 7 p.m. (303-499-2985).  Then the night after Bridgewater sings, Shank is at Dazzle at 6 p.m. with Lande and guitarist Tim Wendel. Since she moved to New York in 1997, Shank has established a solid reputation on the big-league vocal front, including a 17-year residency at the City’s famed 55 Bar. Lande is also a major-league player who has long called Colorado home. 

Then on Tuesday, singer/bassist Katie Thiroux hits Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club, 1330 27^th St. on Tuesday starting at 7 p.m. (303-295-3333). Thiroux has made a considerable impression in a relatively short period on the scene. He debut album came out in 2015 and her current disc is Off Beat on the impressive and Colorado-based independent label Capri Records. She’s become a regular at jazz festivals and jazz clubs across the country and has playing talent to more than match her singing. She will be at Nocturne not long after an appearance at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

On the local, singing front, Linda Theus-Lee is at La Cour Jazz and Art Bistro, 1643 S. Broadway, on Thursday, Marylynn Gillaspie is there on Saturday and Lenny Kaye is on stage at La Cour on Tuesday. All the shows start at 7 p.m. (303-777-5000). And on the blues side, Saturday finds Lionel Young with the International Blues Challenge Victory Band in Boulder at Caffe Sole at 7 p.m.

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