There Are No Layoffs For Jazz Events of the Front Range | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

This past week, live music revolved around visiting singers, Claudia Acuña, Roberta Gambarini, and Somi. That lineup drew Denver’s Jazz Master singer Dianne Reeves to Dazzle more than once. This week, the focus shifts to the organ with Larry Goldings (number three on the 2018 DownBeat “Critics Poll” list of organ players), John Medeski (number four on that list) and Brian Charette (number five on the list) bringing their Hammond B-3 sound to town.

On Thursday, Goldings is at Dazzle, 1512 Curtis-Denver, as part of the terrific, longstanding organ trio that also includes guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart – a group of players who have played with a wide range of noted players especially guitarists Pat Metheny and John Scofield. This is an all-star trio that isn’t locked in the “chicken shack” Hammond B-3 style.  The trio that has been together for more than two decades plays on Thursday at 6:30 and 9 p.m. (303-839-5100).

Then, on Friday, it’s Medeski at Cervantes Masterpiece, 2637 Welton-Denver, with his Mad Skillet band that has Will Bernard on guitar, Kirk Joseph on sousaphone and Terence Higgins on drums. Both Joseph and Higgins are part of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band that gives you an idea of the source of the Skillet’s rhythmic heat. Medeski, like all three of the organ players in town, is, of course, also known for his piano skills. You don’t have to go further than to think of Medeski, Martin, and Wood (that’s bassist Chris Wood who has Colorado roots). There is an opening act for Skillet and the music starts at 9 p.m. (303-297-1772).

Moving to Wednesday, it’s organist Charette who is on stage at Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club, 1330 27^th St.-Denver. Charette has strong jazz roots and has also been in the company of performers such as Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon. His trio at Nocturne has area-based players Steve Kovalcheck on guitar and Jim White on drums. The trio hits at 6:30 p.m. and continues to groove through 10:30 p.m. (303-295-3333).

On top of the visitors to town, Denver-based organist/pianist Jeff Jenkins celebrates the release of his disc In Blue at Dazzle on Friday with the Organization that includes guitarist Dave Corbus and Mike Abbott and drummer Mike Marlier.

Jenkins is a solid player and we are reminded that two Hammond B-3 and keyboard players have moved from here onto the national scene – Pat Bianchi and Erik Deutsch. In the 2018 “Critics Poll.” Bianchi was among the top 20 organists listed by critics, while Deutsch was among the top half-dozen rising star organists named by the critics in the poll.

Additionally this week at Dazzle, TY Morris and H.O.W. is a large aggregation that combines jazz influences with R&B and more on Saturday at 7 p.m., the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra is there on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Steel Horse Swing explores Western Swing on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. And there are sounds on stage during the week at Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club, La Cour Art and Jazz Bistro and Caffé Sole in Boulder..

Just a little note: The opening month of the New Year is almost over and it will end on the 31^st at Dazzle when German drummer Jochen Rueckert brings a quartet to Dazzle packed with fine players. There will be Walter Smith III on saxophone, Mike Moreno on guitar and Joe Martin on bass. And that spirit will continue to fill the months to come.

The best weekly jam session of the Front Range takes place at The Muse Performance Space-Lafayette every week, however, they recently moved to Sunday nights, 7 ’til 10p. The session is led by Brad Goode and his student rhythm section, also featuring pros like Pete Lewis, Jonathan Saraga and many others alongside students, one never knows who will show up! All musicians are invited to join and jam.

Comments and submissions: normanprovizer@aol.com