Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes: Sept. 11th

For some time now, Brian Blade has been a clear giant of modern-day jazz drumming. Not too long ago, the Louisiana- born drummer turned 44 and that reminded me that I have known him for almost three decades. I was teaching at a university in Shreveport, Louisiana and writing about music for one the city’s daily newspapers. That’s when I heard the then 15-year-old Blade play. It was, to say the least, a revelation. You never what will happen in the music business, not to mention life, but after hearing him on a number of occasions I had no question in my mind that he was player with a brilliant career before him.

The next time I had a similar feeling was after moving to Denver and hearing Rudy Royston play. And since Royston, a native Texan who grew up here, moved to the East Coast in 2006, he, too, has made quite a name for himself, playing with a number of groups, including those led by guitarist Bill Frisell and trumpeter Dave Douglas. He also has put together his own band, called for 303 for his hometown that released its inaugural disc on the Greenleaf label.

On Thursday and Friday, 303 is playing in the area code for which it is named when drummer Royston and company hit Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, for two nights. The group is an impressive one with trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis on trumpet, Jon Irabagon on saxophone, Sam Harris on piano, Nir Felder on guitar and Mimi Jones and Yasushi Nakamure on bass.

To give you some idea of the group’s potency, all you have to do is take a glance at this year’s DownBeat “Critics Poll.” Royston captured the number one spot on the rising-star drummer list, while bassist Jones (who has also worked with the band led by Royston’s sister-in-law, saxophonist Tia Fuller) came in second in the rising-star electric bass category. For his part, Irabagon garnered a substantial number of votes in both the overall alto and tenor saxophone categories without the rising-star label.

Royston’s 303 septet is on stage at 7 and 9 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday ($18/$12 students at 9 p.m. on Thursday, $24 for both sets on Friday, 303-839-5100). It’s an imposing band.

Right after Royston’s appearance at Dazzle, interestingly enough, guitarist Bill Frisell is in town for “A Tribute to Jim Hall” with guitarist Dale Bruning who was friend of Hall. Trumpeter Ron Miles is also on hand, as is trombonist Mark Patterson (who, like Frisell, studied with Bruning), bassist Mark Simon and drummer Paul Romaine. Hall was a guitar master and, with these players, the tribute should be masterful as well. It occurs on Saturday at 7 and 9 p.m. ($28 at 7 p.m., $26 at 9 p.m.) and Sunday at 6 and 8 p.m. ($28 at 6 p.m., $26 at 8 p.m.). Before September ends, Royston hooks up with Frisell in New York at Jazz at Lincoln Center as part of the guitarist’s Big Sur group. And since I mentioned Blade earlier, the drummer and Frisell are part of the Ron Miles Trio that has a new CD coming out in October.

Dazzle this week also has bassist Matt Smiley with a sextet doing the “Music of Don Cherry.” Two of Cherry’s extended suites are on the program that takes place on Monday at 7 p.m. ($8/$5 students). On Tuesday, Dazzle has The Aberrant Society of Poetic Sound (a vibes, saxophone, bass and drums quartet) at 7 p.m. ($10). The Aberrant Society is followed on Wednesday by singer Cindy Williams, who studied with Sheila Jordan, on the Dazzle stage at 7 p.m. ($10).

On the crossover side, the Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1^st Ave., has singer Spencer Day on Thursday ay 8 p.m. ($15-$20, 303-830-9214), followed by saxophonist Kim Waters on Friday at 7 and 10 p.m. ($30-$40). It’s also worth mentioning a different kind of crossover. The musical Pippin came to Broadway in October 1972. A revised version of the play returned some 40 years later and won the Tony as best musical revival in 2013. That revival is now at the Buell Theater in the Denver Performing Arts Complex through September 20 (303-893-4100). The new version adds in a circus element, involving the Canadian troupe Les 7 doigts de la main (literally the seven fingers of the hand). The music is more pleasant than memorable, but the acrobatics add a most engaging, crossover element to the quest tale that represents a never-ending story.

Also keep in mind that the Ravi Coltrane Quartet and the Mark Turner Quartet will be at Dazzle on September 26 and 27, respectively. Saxophonist/flautist Jane Bunnett is at Mount Vernon Country Club on September 19 with the all female ensemble Maqueque which is a very hot Cuban group. Also on the 19^th and 20^th, Soulive is at the Ogden Theater. Lastly, Summit Jazz 2014 runs September 26-28 at the Radisson Southwest in Aurora with Jim Cullum and a host of other groups and players.