Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

This Saturday afternoon at 4 pm. Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art continues with its “Staged: Three Deuces” events that are linked to the “Bathing the Room with Blues” art exhibit from Jason Moran. The third concert in this series that is part of pianist Moran’s exhibit occurs on Saturday afternoon at the museum with the Metropolitan State University Denver’s Jazz Combo. The combo is made up Gavin Esscholz on trumpet, Jessica Diaz on vibes, Tucker Smidt on guitar, Tyler Treadway on piano, William Kuepper on bass, and Elijah Grace on drums. The combo plays at 2 and 4 pm.

The first group to perform in this series consisted of cornetist Ron Miles, pianist Moran and Otis Taylor on banjo. Both the internationally known Taylor and Miles reside here in metro Denver. The second Three Deuces show showcased a trio made up of Derrick Hodge on bass, Adam Deitch on drums, and Annastezhaa Mitchell-Curtis on harp. Hodge and Mitchell-Curtis both reside here.

Later on Saturday, the Gift of Jazz offers a tribute to trombonist Curtis Fuller, who passed away on May 8, 2021, in his hometown of Detroit. Trombonist Paul McKee is part of the sextet on stage at Dazzle at Baur’s at 6 p.m. along with David Froman on trumpet and Keith Oxman on tenor saxophone. Fuller, who was an original member of the Jazztet, and Oxman recorded together on the Colorado-based Capri label. On November 18, Oxman also appears with a quartet at the Denver Press Club at 6:30 p.m.

Then on Monday and Tuesday, things in town shift to guitarist Django Reinhardt in the form of the Django Festival All-Stars. The band plays at Dazzle on Monday at 7 pm. There are workshops with the band members on Tuesday, November 16, in the afternoon and two more performances at 6:30 and 9 pm. Then on Wednesday, the Zaremba Fellowship Orchestra hits Dazzle at 6:30 pm. The Zaremba big band (named for saxophonist Drew Zaremba) has a number of fine, area-based players, including trombonist McKee, trumpeter Gabriel Mervine, and a rhythm section made up of pianist Dana Landry, bassist Eric Applegate, guitarist Steve Kovalcheck, and drummer Jim White.

And when we get to next week, stay tuned to this column for a discussion of some strong vocal gymnastics as singer Veronica Swift kicks off the jazz season at the Newman Center on Thursday, November 19, 7:30 pm and singer Kim Dawson at Dazzle on Wednesday, November 18 and 19, at does a duo with organ man Wil Blades also on that same evening.

Jazz Notes 11-11-2021
Norman Provizer