Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

In between this week’s column and last week’s, there has been additional evidence that added oxygen has been delivered to the city’s jazz scene. On October 13, the Denver Municipal Band produced a workshop from trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and his quintet (Chien Chien-Lu on vibes, Victor Gould on piano, Vincente Archer on bass, and Allan Mednard on drums). This is the core group found on Pelt’s current CD on HighNote titled Griot. The workshop ran from 3:30 to 5 pm at Dazzle and was followed by a 7 pm performance of the quintet at the club downtown.

This weekend on Sunday, October 17, at 6 pm, Dazzle is bringing in another band of note  – soprano saxophonist/flutist Jane Bunnett’s Maqueque Cuban flavored sextet. Maqueque is Joanna Tendai Majoko on vocals, Mary Paz on congas and vocals, Danae Olano on piano, Tailin Marrero on bass and Yissy Garcia on drums. The band has gained international attention and is touring the US into May, followed by a European jaunt from October through November.

If you check out DownBeat magazine’s annual “Critics Poll,” you will find the Canadian-born Bunnett among the top handful of both soprano saxophonists and flute players. And with Maqueque, she has opened up added musical horizons in the company of Cuban women players.

Additionally, the MSU Jam Session at Dazzle on Monday, October 18, at 6:30 pm is hosted by MSU Denver’s Dawn Clement and Shane Endsley. Clement relocated here from the Pacific West to lead MSU’s jazz program and Endsley of Kneebody teaches in that program.

Along with the other sounds around town during the week, there is the Gift of Jazz Tribute to singer Jon Hendricks featuring Leonard E. Barrett Jr. on Saturday at 6 pm.

Jazz Notes 10-14-2021
Norman Provizer