Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

As the country continues to struggle with Covid-19 at the same time that people are waiting for the call to get their two-shot vaccine injections, you can catch live sounds (that are also streamed) on a pretty regular basis at Dazzle at Baur’s and the Muse Performance Space in Lafayette.

At Dazzle on Friday, for example, there’s a “Tribute to Bill Frisell,” the great guitarist who grew up in Denver and was exposed to jazz through his study here with guitarist Dale Bruning. The tribute titled “Tales from the Far Side” draws from Frisell’s 1996 Quartet disc that has music connected to the work of cartoonist Gary Larson. On stage the “Tales” are told by guitarist and Metro State instructor Dave Devine, trumpeter Gabriel Mervine, violinist Adrienne Short and trombonist Adam Bartczak (who is involved with the Friday night sessions at the club).

The Quartet album, by the way, features trumpeter Ron Miles who is at Metro State and whose latest release is Rainbow Sign on Blue Note. On Friday, Ron’s spot is filled by Mervine, a more-than-solid horn man Mervine.

Then on Saturday, trombonist/shell man and DU instructor Stafford Hunter is at Dazzle with his vocal series. This time around the singer is Ruby Pucitto. Since settling in Denver, the trombonist has established a high profile on the Denver scene. The singing continues on Sunday at Dazzle with the soulful sound of Michelle Sarah who has Dan Africano on bass, Eric Luba on bass, Eric Imbrosciano on drums, and Caton Sollenberger on guitar.

The live shows at Dazzle are at 7 pm and so are the live streamed ones at the Muse Performance Space in Lafayette. The Muse lineup has trumpeter Josh Reed and his Ensemble on Thursday, The Democracy (with a frontline of trombonist Bartczak and saxophonist Sam Williams) on Saturday, and drummer Dru Heller’s group on Sunday paying tribute to the great drummer Paul Motian (who died in 2011).

Jazz Notes 1-28-2021
Norman Provizer