Summer May Be Near Its End but the Music Continues To Be Abundant | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

Labor Day has come and gone, but the music keeps rolling on. During this musical week, for example, you can catch Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, guitarist Russell Malone and pianist Sullivan Fortner at Dazzle, while the teenage piano phenomenon Joey Alexander is at Chautauqua in Boulder, Trombone Shorty is at Red Rocks and Soulive is at Orphelia’s Electric Soapbox. 

Let’s start with Jacob Fred (a trio made up Brian Haas, Chris Combs and Josh Raymer). The band’s 27^th disc, The Battle for Earth, was recorded at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln and the group returns to the scene of that sonic recording on Friday performing the sounds of Battle. The group plays at 7 and 9 p.m. (303-839-5100). Interestingly enough, there is also a Jacob Fred after party at Dazzle at 10:30 p.m. with guitarist Combs leading a trio that has Raymer on drums and Hunter Roberts on bass. 

As soon as Jacob Fred finishes at Dazzle, guitarist Russell Malone fills the stage there. Malone, from Georgia, was 12 when he saw George Benson (who was just recently at the Denver Botanic Gardens) and knew what direction he wanted his life to take. The guitarist spent time with organ master Jimmy Smith, the big band led by Harry Connick Jr. and great players from Kenny Barron to the Wynton and Branford Marsalis. For this stop at Dazzle, Malone has a first-rate, area-based rhythm section made up of Eric Gunnison, Ken Walker and Paul Romaine. On Saturday, Malone plays at 7 and 9 p.m., while, on Sunday, he is on stage at 6 and 8 p.m.

Moving past the weekend, New Orleans pianist Sullivan Fortner is at Dazzle on Wednesday at 7 p.m. with his trio that has Ameen Saleem on bass and Jeremy ‘Bean’ Clemons on drums. That trio is also at Dazzle on September 15 at 6:30 and 8 p.m.  Like so many superb musicians coming out of the Crescent City, Fortner studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and has worked with players from vibraphonist Stefon Harris to trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Fortner is clearly among the group of outstanding young pianists on the scene.

Joey Alexander from Indonesia, of course, is the youngest member of that group of pianists. On Friday, Alexander is at Chautauqua, 900 Baseline Rd. in Boulder, with special guests for a show that also has the Greg Harris Vibe Quintet on the bill. The music kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (303-440-7666). Alexander gained enormous attention with his disc My Favorite Things and he has become a favorite with many fans.

On Monday, Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) brings his New Orleans crew Orleans Avenue to Red Rocks (720-865-2494), while, on Saturday Soulive (Alan Evans, Neal Evans and Eric Krasno) with the Shady Horns groove at Orphelia’s Electric Soapbox, 1215 20^th St., with the doors opening at 9 p.m. (303-993-8023). Earlier that day, Soulive is on the bill with Ludacris and Galactic at Mile High Spirits, 2920 Larimer, for a day of sounds that starts at 3 p.m. Additionally on Friday, crossover saxophonist Euge Groove (Steven Eugene Grove) is at the Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1^st Ave., at 7 and 9 p.m. (303-830-9214).

Some other activities include: the Minor Key Trio with pianist Jon Wirtz and singer Sarah Wirtz at Dazzle on Thursday at 7 p.m.; drummer Julian Archer and his quartet at Dazzle at 7 p.m. on Monday; and the full-blown, 19-piece Adam Bartczak Republic group at Dazzle on Tuesday at 7 p.m. You can also find late-night sessions at 11:15 p.m. at Nocturne, 1330 27^th St., on Friday with guitarist Paul Musso and on Saturday with trumpeter Bob Montgomery (303-295-3333).

One of KUVO’s ”30 Under 30″ featured artists from their 30th Anniversary year-2015, pianist Walter Gorra continues his residency at Nocturne, 27th and Larimer in the hot RiNo District of Denver, on Friday. He will be accompanied by Gonzalo Teppa-bass, Manuel López-drums and Greg Tanner Harris-vibes. They will be performing Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and mainstream jazz every Friday through the end of October.

Comments and submissions: Normanprovizer@aol.com