We Begin the Home Stretch of Summer with Music Choices Galore|Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

Each year the Telluride Jazz Festival names the main, outdoor stage for the festival’s guest of honor. This year, it’s the Jon Cleary Stage that holds the artists performing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the afternoon and evening hours. Cleary is a New Orleans singer/pianist who is playing with his Absolute Monster Gentlemen band and in a duo setting with guitarist John Scofield. In addition to Cleary, there’s also bassist Marcus Miller, trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and his BBQ Swingers, the Rebirth Brass Band, Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton, Jeff Coffin and the Mu’tet, Galactic and others.

Along with the sounds on the festival’s grounds, there is music at smaller venues later in the evening, workshops with artists and a variety of other musical activities around town. Telluride has been on the festival calendar since 1977 (telluridejazz.org). 

Of course, if you are not traveling to Telluride, there’s no reason to suffer from musical withdrawal. On Thursday, Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, has an event called Quincy Jones Presents Alfredo Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a Cuban pianist who first connected with Quincy Jones at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2006. Three years later, the classically trained player left his island home for the US where he reconnected with the Q in Los Angeles. Rodriguez made his recording debut in the U.S. in 2011 and has just released his newest disc, Tocororo (the name of the Cuban national bird) on Mack Avenue.

The number of outstanding jazz pianists coming out of Cuba is truly amazing and the potent Rodriguez has certainly joined that group. The sets by his group, with drummer Henry Cole (who has worked with Miguel Zenon, David Sanchez and the 90 Miles quartet as well as Rodriguez) on drums, are at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. (303-839-5100).

On Friday, before he heads to Telluride, bassist Marcus Miller makes a stop at the Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1^st Ave. in Denver, with sets at 7 and 10 p.m. (303-830-9214).  Miller is heard on discs in almost every genre as a player and/or a producer, including, of course, Miles Davis’ 1986 album Tutu, as well as discs from saxophonists David Sanborn and Dave Koz. And both of those saxophonists also just happen to be at the Soiled Dove during this current musical week. Sanborn, who influenced a generation of alto saxophonists, and the popular Koz are in the midst of a tour called appropriately Side by Side.  The two are on stage at the Dove on Wednesday at 7 and 10 p.m. and on August 10 as well.

On Thursday, the Fareed Haque/Tony Monaco Trio with drummer Greg Fundis pulls into Nocturne, 1330 27^th St., for sounds that start at 7:30 p.m. Guitarist Haque and Hammond B-3 man Monaco are not strangers to Colorado and capture their own version of the organ-trio sound (303-295-3333). Thursday also finds the 13-year old piano wunderkind Joey Alexander at the Jazz at Vail Square series in the Lionshead area of Vail at 6 p.m. The young, Indonesian player made it to the top spot in this year’s DownBeat “Critics Poll” as the rising star on piano. That’s something way out of the ordinary. 

Saxophonist Jim Stranahan brings his Little Big Band back to Dazzle on Friday with special guest Gene Rush on piano on Friday at 7 and 9 p.m. Rush, who is a noted teacher, spent much of the 1970s as the head of the University of Denver’s jazz program. On Saturday, singer Roxanne Brown offers up a tribute to Billie Holiday at Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m. Brown played Holiday in a Denver production of the play Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grille. Come Sunday, guitarists Mike Abbott and Steve Kovalcheck join forces in a tribute to Wes Montgomery with a quartet at Dazzle at 7 p.m.; while, on Tuesday, saxophonist Pete Lewis and drummer Claire Church bring their group Expedition to Dazzle at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, the Center for Musical Arts Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo performs at Dazzle starting at 7 p.m. 

Also, on Sunday, Chris Daniels and the Kings wrap up this year’s City Park Jazz series at 6 p.m. in City Park. And don’t forget that on August 13, KUVO’s big event at Balistreri Vineyards features the sounds of pianist Monty Alexander and his Harlem-Kingston Express band.

Comments and submissions: Normanprovizer@aol.com