Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

The 27th edition of the extended Vail Jazz Festival season gets going in the Jazz Tent at Vail Square. On stage, the Vail Jazz All-Stars play at 6 pm, followed at 7 pm by the Vail Jazz Alumni Sextet and the Vail Jazz Party House Band at 8 pm. The Party regulars in the house band are bassist John Clayton; alto saxophonist Dick Oatts (filling the gap left by the death of the other Clayton, alto saxophonist Jeff, in 2020); trombonist Wycliffe Gordon; pianist Bill Cunliffe; trumpeter Terell Stafford; and drummer Lewis Nash.

On Friday of the Labor Day weekend, the Vail Jazz Party returns to its daytime spot in the Jazz Tent at noon with saxophonist Joel Frahm’s quartet that has pianist John Chin on piano; organ man Bobby Floyd’s quintet with Dick Oatts; and trombonist Gordon’s Nu Funk Machine band.

At night on Friday, things shift to the Party’s evening venue at the Vail Marriot at 7 pm, with the trio led by pianist Emmet Cohen and others; bassist Omer Avital as part of a quintet; and drummer Jeff Hamilton’s Trio. At 10:30 p.m., the action continues with a sextet that includes Ken Peplowski’s clarinet.At noon at 11:30 am on Saturday, it’s back in the Jazz Tent with the Vail Jazz All-Stars; bassist Clayton in a quartet; clarinetist Peplowski in a quartet; the Vail Jazz Alumni Sextet with David Wong on bass. At night at 7:45 pm, there’s the music of Louis Armstrong and New Orleans, which is currently experiencing another weather disaster, with trumpeter Byron Stripling and Gordon. Singer Niki Haris is also on the bill. Things keep rolling on with Haris’ Gospel Prayer Meetin’ on Sunday at 10:30 am and Jeff Hamilton’s Trio on Sunday at 3:10 pm along with a host of others.

The Party wraps up on Monday with several large aggregations of players that hit the Jazz Tent from 11:30 am until 5:40 pm.

If you are in Denver for Labor Day weekend, Dazzle has the trio of Joey Porter (keys), Adam Deitch (drums and the band Lettuce), and Garrett Sayers (bass) at 7 and 10 pm.

Jazz Notes 9-2-2021
Norman Provizer