City Park Pavilion

Emma Mayes & The Hip, The Hip standing for "Highly Important People", is a soul/funk/jazz fusion band from Denver. It is conglomerate of musicians that bring together their ideas into complex arrangements mixed with lush vocal harmonies, catchy horn lines, and danceable melodies. They compare their sound similar to the likes of Erykah Badu, Hiatus Kaiyote, & Jill Scott while being more big band sound oriented. With the poetic stylings of Emma Mayes' lyric writing combined with the jazz influenced…

Joe Smith and the Spicy Pickles Jazz Band is a Denver-based band dedicated to revitalizing swing music and dance. This small group style swing band packs a punch of power, personality, and wit into each show, intriguing generations new and old with the beloved charm of big band swing from the late ’30s and early ’40s. The Pickles bring it all – high energy, quality musicianship, and a true big band sound and look that celebrates the unique American spirit…

Hazel Miller Band has toured North America, Europe, Far East, Middle East and Central America. Always led by Hazel and her powerful voice, this audience favorite has appeared in countless festivals, concerts and fundraisers to the delight of her loyal fans. Hazel is always backed by some of the finest musicians and vocalists in the world. The band performs original, Jazz, Blues, R&B and Top 40 music. Book the HMB to headline your event, or as opener for world class…

Taking their name from a small mountain town in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, DOTSERO means “Something Unique” according to Ute Native American legend to some. It means DOT-ZERO on the earliest geographical railroad maps to others, but to jazz fans worldwide DOTSERO means Contemporary Jazz at its best, full of life energy and spontaneity that few artists in the genre have been able to match. A no nonsense sax and guitar driven thrill ride of energy and excitement. As…

Lead by respected jazz musician Rod Buckner, BFJ has earned a reputation for blazing club, theater and festival shows that bring old-school funk and be-bop crashing together. The smiling faces in the crowd usually also like to party to the sounds of Maceo, Karl Denson, Soulive, Miles Davis, Parliament, Stevie Wonder, Charlie Parker, The Funky Meters, Eddie Harris and anything that GROOVES. A celebration of community!

A guitar, trumpet, and drum trio collectively led by three engaging and unique artists from the Bay Area and Colorado; Scott Amendola, Shane Endsley, and Dave Devine. Invisible Bird was formed in 2017 and is releasing it's debut album, Flutter to Fuzz, in the Spring of 2018. The group broadly employs the use of electronics to branch out from the raw acoustic trio sound. Trumpet and guitar take turns covering bass lines and all three players create swirling digital textures…

A Celebration of Community! Conjunto Colores is one of the few bands that specializes in “Salsa Dura” (Hard Salsa) which emphasizes strong percussion and horns over vocals. The band performs regularly at top salsa clubs in the US and abroad. Conjunto Colores frequently performs at La Rumba, D-Note, Blue Ice, Mercury Café, Oskar Blues, and Shine club in Boulder to name a few. Some of the festivals Conjunto Colores performs in are: Taste of Colorado, Cherry Creek Jazz Festival, Rhythm…

On Sunday, July 21, City Park Jazz features three brass bands starting at 5pm and ending at 8pm. Badda Boom Brass Band (5:00PM - 5:50PM) - A New Orleans style brass band who blend the street music tradition of the Crescent City with hip hop, funk, rock, pop and world music for a truly unique sound! Founded in 2015 in Denver, Colorado, they are the house band for the Thin Man Tavern and bring the party wherever they go with…

Freddy Rodriguez Sr. is Denver jazz. An inductee to the Denver Jazz Hall of Fame, Freddy has been performing jazz in Denver for most of his life and is one of the few living Denver jazz musicians who performed during the 5-points jazz renaissance. Well known for his continued 35-year-stint at Denver’s famed El Chapultepec, Freddy also leads his group for a monthly 2nd Friday lunch jam session at Dazzle Jazz Club. Freddy has performed with many of the titans…

Collectively, the members of ‘the heavy heavies’ have been performing for over 150 years. Their reputation in the Colorado music community is incomparable and their talent inspiring. A go-to band for weekend main stages, festivals and large formal events, this seasoned group of pros make it look easy. Jazz, R&B and huge crowd pleasers consistently keep this band on the stage for multiple encores.

A celebration of Community! Ron Miles was a songwriter and cornet player based in Denver, Colorado. Ron was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1963 and moved to Denver with his family in 1974. He recorded as a leader for the Prolific, Capri, Gramavision, and Sterling Circle labels. He was one of the finest improvisers and composers of his generation and has been called one of the greatest melodists by clarinetist Ben Goldberg. In addition to leading his own bands, Ron…

A celebration of community! Mariachi Sol De Mi Tierra was formed with the idea to show people something fresh and unique. On Aug 6, 1999, four young music enthusiasts, Oscar Vaca, Jesus Ramirez, Raul Romero, and Vicente Romero, gave complete trust and hope to the leader of the group, Juventino Romero. With a lot of determination, practice and hard work, they decided to plan an exciting musical adventure. Throughout the years, more musicians joined, which lead to the eight musicians…

A Celebration of Community! Colorado-based music icon Hazel Miller and The Collective has a reputation for "Bringing it" whether the event is a club setting, concert, festival, or non-profit fundraiser. Hazel has toured North America, Europe, Far East, Middle East, and Central America. Her powerful voice stands out and her beautiful spirit shines through to the delight of her loyal fans. One of the tightest and most versatile bands on the scene. With Hazel Miller and The Collective, you get…

A Celebration of Community! Having toured internationally, sharing stages with both African and American luminaries including Kojo Antwi, Amakye Dede and Victor Wooten, Ghana born drummer and composer, Paa Kow, (pronounced Pah-Ko), blends rhythm and artistry from his home with jazz and African roots creating his own Afro-Fusion sound. Dubbed "Ghana's most artistic drummer" (Modern Ghana), the Denver-based musician plays a custom, hand-carved, traditionally inspired Ghanaian drum set that is the only one of its kind in the world, guaranteeing…

A Celebration of Community! Founded in 2012 with the mission to perform the best music with the best musicians, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra does just that and more. Exciting world-renowned guest artists and many of the best local musicians perform anything from rollicking big band classics to modern large and small ensemble jazz to sold-out crowds across Colorado. Venues like the Arvada Center, the PACE Center in Parker, the Rialto Theater in Loveland, the Lone Tree Arts Center, and…

A Celebration of Community! Eufórquestra (pronounced yoo-FOHR-keh-struh, think euphoria+orchestra) is energy and rhythm personified. An ever-evolving sound that has been influenced by music from all over the world with an emphasis on funk, pocket and groove. For over a decade the band has been igniting dance floors across the country, blending the roots of funk, soul, afrobeat, reggae and dub to create a sound that “explodes, dances and melts in your ear with sheer bliss" (Chris M. Slawecki; AllAboutJazz.com). In…

A Celebration of Community! For the third year running, City Park Jazz revisits the runaway popularity of the resurgence of Second-Line-influenced Brass Bands! This incredibly popular series-in-our-series features an extended evening — festivities get started an hour earlier than usual, at 5 pm, and will feature a mega-brass-jam at the end of the night! No-Hands Brass Band - Irrepressibly exuberant and brilliantly versatile, No Hands Brass Band updates the full-throated brass band sound with dazzling virtuosity and artistic sensitivity. Equally…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community Sarah Mount and the Rushmores Led by a local saxophonist who hails from the Mile High City, Sarah Mount, and the Rushmores has been delivering improv-driven hard funk and neo-soul to the Denver area for the last five years. Featuring the core line-up and accompanying guest artists every show with an array of both original music and cover songs, this band has become a Denver darling, thanks in large part to a…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community Stafford Hunter and Jazz Explorations Multi-Grammy nominated trombonist & sea shells player (and sometimes vocalist) is a Philadelphia native (but born in Atlantic City, NJ). He became a professional musician at the age of 16. And, was an award winner of the "Al Grey Award for Musical Excellence". It acknowledged Stafford as "the Most Promising Jazz Trombone Talent." Besides music, Stafford appeared as a model in the December 1992 issue of L'Uomo…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community Dotsero To music fans worldwide, DOTSERO translates to "A no nonsense thrill ride of energy and excitement" a band full of life, energy, and spontaneity that few artists in the genre have been able to match. As much fun to watch as they are to listen to. Colorado's own DOTSERO band Taking their name from a small mountain town in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, DOTSERO means “Something Unique.” Formed in 1984,…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community Ritmo Jazz Latino Ritmo Jazz Latino is comprised of 5 gifted musicians who specialize in the infectious rhythms of Latin Music. The members of Ritmo Jazz Latino have decades of musical experience bringing traditional Latin Jazz to the forefront of this ensemble. Adding new arrangements to Standards as well as mixing in a blend of original compositions, the sounds of Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and South America come to life in…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community Wellington Bullings Wellington Bullings adds a soulful touch to everything she sings. Her music is a balance of classic soul, R&B, and Jazz. With a rich sultry voice and soulful presence, it's easy to see why she is making a name for herself in the world of Neo Soul and beyond.
 Recently, Wellington released a single titled ‘flame,’ that explores themes of black excellence and offers a positive narrative to the black…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community Chris Daniels and the Kings with Freddi Gowdy Chris Daniels & The Kings (now with Freddi Gowdy) are celebrating their 38th year with live performances over the summer, playing songs from BLUES WITH HORNS - our 15th Kings album and our second with Freddi Gowdy of the Freddi Henchi Band. In December 2019, Freddi joined Chris as an inductee into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame!! Die-hard fans from Italy to Holland…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community 4th Annual Brass Band Extravaganza feat. Guerrilla Fanfare and Bourbon Brass Band Guerilla Fanfare: The Guerrilla Fanfare Brass Band (or simply Guerrilla Fanfare or GuFa) brings the high energy funk of New Orleans-style Brass Band to the Northern Colorado area. Our mission is always to get everyone up and grooving to our relentlessly fiery and funky sound. GuFa is composed of some of the finest and rowdiest horn players and percussionists in…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community Otis Taylor Otis Taylor grew up in Denver, but like the old blues song said, he was born in Chicago in 1948. According to Taylor, his parents were both jazz fans. “My dad worked for the railroad and knew a lot of jazz people. He was a socialist and real bebopper.” His mother loved everything from Etta James to Pat Boone. The first instrument Taylor learned to play was the banjo, but…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community The Burroughs From humble beginnings covering soul standards in their unlikely hometown of Greeley, Colorado, The Burroughs have traversed a decade of growth and reinvention to become a band that defies odds and transcends categorization. Since 2013, the 9-piece act has lit up stages around the country with its trademark brand of “sweaty soul music,” an invitation for audiences to dance, celebrate, and connect under a unifying and infectious groove. Bandleader and…

City Park Jazz – A Celebration of Community LAPOMPE For nearly a decade, LAPOMPE has been entertaining and delighting audiences in Colorado with its eclectic combination of gypsy swing, blues, and soulful originals. Drawing from the music of Django Reinhardt and the "hot club" style of early 20th-century jazz, their music is a fresh collection of classics and original compositions. Presenting complex and virtuosic arrangements with a rustic and acoustic instrumentation including acoustic guitars, upright bass, and violin, they have…

A Celebration of Community Roka Hueka (Row-Kah-Way-Kah) is Denver’s premier Latin Ska band. Born in 2014, its members originate from Mexico , Colombia and the US. Roka Hueka’s music draws on influences such as Cumbia, Funk, Reggae, Soul, Punk and traditional Ska. Celebrating 10 years, Roka Hueka is currently traveling to different cities inside the US with “Diez y Pa’Delante Tour” (Ten and Going Forward Tour). Roka Hueka has been named one of the Top Ten Latino bands in Colorado…

A Celebration of Community Multi-Grammy nominated trombonist & sea shells player (and sometimes vocalist) is a Philadelphia native (but born in Atlantic City, NJ). He became a professional musician at the age of 16. And, was an award winner of the "Al Grey Award for Musical Excellence". It acknowledged Stafford as "the Most Promising Jazz Trombone Talent". Graduate of the New School Jazz & Contemporary Music Program (NYC). Of which, he was the first trombonist to actually graduate from the…

A Celebration of Community Mistura Fina was founded by percussionist Frank Ayala in 2000. Based in Denver, Colorado, the group regularly performs at festivals, nightclubs, special events, and other venues. Its critically acclaimed recording, "A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That," represents Mistura Fina's various musical influences. Mistura Fina, loosely translated from Portuguese, means "a fine mixture." In the music of Mistura Fina, you will hear a fine mixture of South American musical styles. Ayala explains,…

A Celebration of Community ZIMBIRA is a 10-piece genre-defying band playing music steeped in the traditional music of Southern Africa with traditional and modern instrumentation. Audiences are immediately set into motion with they hear the intoxicating, rhythmic and melodic sounds galvanized by Zivanai Masango the band's leader and innovator. The songs and grooves are unique, captivating, and most of all, uplifting. The shows are fun for any age or background. All are welcome! The sounds is a powerful blend of…

A Celebration of Community Hazel Miller and the Collective is a highly popular and in-demand band in Colorado and beyond who has played City Park Jazz many times. They are a perennial favorite of the City Park Jazz community! Ms. Miller, an accomplished performer who has been playing in Colorado for almost four decades, was honored on the floor of the Colorado State Senate in March 2023, and was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame on June 10th,…

A Celebration of Community JoFoKe & Same Cloth is a dynamic, genre-bending ensemble based in Denver, led by the creative force of JoFoKe, a talented Black woman vocalist and songwriter. Known for their innovative approach to music-making, JoFoKe & Same Cloth fuse various genres and musical traditions to craft deeply meaningful art that resonates with audiences. JoFoKe & Same Cloth have established themselves as a fixture in Denver's vibrant music scene, holding a monthly Last Saturday residency at Dazzle Denver,…

A Celebration of Community International Blues Challenge Semi-Finalist- Memphis 2012 “...the area’s best harmonica-led band.” ~ The Denver Post "best blues band in Denver" Westword Magazine Music Showcase 2011,2012, 2013, 2014,2015,2016 Colorado Blues Society International Blues Challenge Winner & Representative in Memphis IBC 2012 Al Chesis - a Hohner Harmonica endorsee since 1992 FREE

A Celebration of Community Get ready for Denver’s insanely talented and popular professional big band! FREE

A Celebration of Community Jazziz magazine writes that Nelson Rangell is “an artist of depth, a master of song, and an improviser non pareil.” The Times of London notes his "undoubted virtuosity" and "extraordinary facility on a range of instruments”. Saxophone Journal writes “He commands the alto saxophone with such authority there can be no denying that Nelson Rangell is a true artist,” and Flute Talk Magazine states “Nelson Rangell creates the impression that anything is possible when he improvises.”…

A Celebration of Community The JAKARTA Band is without question the most popular party dance band in the Country. Simply put…these guys are THE BEST…talented, fun and hard working. JAKARTA continues to bring crowds to their feet for hip-shaking boogie and the talent of the band members is unparalleled. JAKARTA is a step above the other bands and is considered the Premier Party Dance Band from Denver. They are guaranteed to bring people on the dance floor. FREE