Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

If you want to set up your jazz-listening tent at one spot for the coming week, the place to do it is at Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club. Starting on Thursday with saxophonist Andrew Vogt’s quartet offering a tribute to baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and alto saxophonist Art Pepper. And it was the alto saxophonist Pepper you might recall who, with his wife Laurie Pepper, produced the enormously compelling book Straight Life: The Story of Art Pepper in 1979. In addition to its sophisticated food menu, the club on 27th St. also offers the most sophisticated menu of sounds for the week.

Following saxophonist Vogt, Nocturne has two mighty trumpet players on stage on Friday when Greg Gisbert and Gabriel Mervine hitch their trumpet wagons together at 6:30 and 9 pm. Then, on Saturday, it’s the GoodRattle Bop Quintet, with trumpeter Mervine and saxophonist Wil Swindler on the front line, also at 6:30 and 9 pm.

The sounds keep going on Sunday at 6:30 and 9 pm. with pianist Vlad Girshevich and his trio honoring Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett. With his son Aleks on drums and the great Eddie Gomez on bass, Vlad has also recorded the disc Algorithmic Society.

The week in music at Nocturne winds up on Wednesday with guitarist Matt Fuller tipping his hat to the great Chet Atkins.

Of course, the sounds are not confined to Nocturne. The up-and-coming trumpeter Mervine is also featured with the Alicia Straka Band live streaming from Dazzle on Thursday at 7 pm. Straka sings and plays the accordion.

Over at The Muse Performance Space in Lafayette, This House Has Lions is on stage on Saturday at 7 pm. The Lions include bassist Jason Malmberg and guitarist Matt Fuller. On Friday, the stage at the Muse holds the Spencer Zweifel Quintet at 7 pm.

The Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts has a number of activities going on, including a “Digging Deeper “ series led by pianist Dawn Clement, CCJA Sunday Series that features guitarist John Scofield this Sunday, a summer institute filled with classes, a jazz boot camp and a Jazz in the Sangres Camp. Check out the website.

Jazz Notes 4-8-2021
Norman Provizer