Five Points Jazz Festival announces band line-up, parade grand marshals, festival honorees
Denver Arts & Venues’ annual Five Points Jazz Festival returns 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19 to 1:30 a.m. Sunday, May 20, celebrating the music, culture and roots of Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood.
The free, family-friendly festival takes place on Welton Street between 26th and 29th streets, and features more than 45 bands playing live music on 10 stages throughout the day. Five Points Jazz Festival will kick off with a parade down Welton Street at 11 a.m. featuring grand marshals, Wende Harston and Jim “Daddio” Walker.
Five Points Jazz Festival offers a culturally diverse lineup providing Denver with an afternoon filled with everything from smooth jazz to bop to swing to funk. Other activities include an art and food marketplace, a musicians’ jam session, film screenings, and a family zone featuring yoga, face painting, a giant slide, jumpy castle and more.
In addition to dozens of bands, annually Five Points Jazz Festival honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the culture and livelihood of Five Points.
2018 Five Points Jazz Festival Tribute Award-Winners
At 11:15 a.m. on Main Stage, Five Points Jazz Festival honors Norman Harris III. With deep family roots in Five Points, Harris led the rejuvenation of Denver’s annual Juneteenth celebration and has been working with the Five Points Jazz Festival since 2013.
Five Points Jazz Festival pays homage to Lu Vason on Main Stage at 4 p.m. Vason’s varied career included everything from hair styling to concert promotion. Inspired by Cheyenne Frontier Days, Vason established the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in 1984, at the time, the only African American touring rodeo in the US. The rodeo continues to tour today. In 2013 he produced the first annual Denver Jazz Fest and in 2015, brought “OperaJazz” to Colorado.
Jeff S. Fard (“brother jeff”) will be recognized on the Plaza Stage at 5 p.m. for his activism in health, violence prevention, mental health intervention, youth development, self-empowerment, community-building and economic development. He founded brother jeff’s Cultural Center in 1994, and is the publisher and editor of FIVE POINTS NEWS.
The Five Points Jazz Festival takes place the third Saturday of May and celebrates the history of Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Once known as the Harlem of the West, Five Points was home to several jazz clubs which played host to many of jazz music’s legends such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and many more.
Welton Street will be closed from 25th to 30th streets starting 6 p.m. May 18, reopening 11:59 p.m. May 19. Festival attendees will be asked to undergo security checks at festival entrances. A list of prohibited items is available online.
Entertainment Schedule:
Main Stage – 29th and Welton streets
11 a.m. – noon – Dinosaurchestra - New Orleans jazz, R&B and funk, from New Orleans
11:15 a.m. - Five Points Jazz Festival Tribute Award presentation - Norman Harris III
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Crescent City Connection - Seven piece bayou boogie woogie band from Fort Collins
1:40-1:55 p.m. – Montbello High School Drumline
2-3 p.m. – William and the Romantics - 22 piece swing era and modern jazz big band
3:30-4:30 p.m. – Hazel Miller Band - Award-winning blues, soul and R&B
4 p.m. - Five Points Jazz Festival Tribute Award presentation - Lu Vason
5-6 p.m. – Maria Ho Quintet with Richie Cole - From Vancouver, BC with Alto Madness saxophonist
6:30-7:30 p.m. – Jakarta - Funk, soul and R&B
Plaza Stage – 2736 Welton St.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Red Hot Rhythm Rocket - Funk, jazz, swing and blues
1-2 p.m. – Robert Johnson and the Mark Diamond Trio - Jazz vocalist with Scott Martin, Mark Diamond and Dru Heller
2:30-3:30 p.m.– Leon and the Revival - Deep soul and horns
4-5 p.m. – Ritmo Jazz Latino - Latin and Salsa
5:30-6:30 p.m. – The King Stan Band - Blues, soul and R&B
Arts & Venues Stage – 26th and Welton streets
noon-1 p.m. – Denver Jazz Heritage Orchestra - Big band made up of youth performers
1:30-2:30 p.m. – Jazz Arts Voices and DSA Vocal Jazz - Collaborative vocal ensembles
3-4 p.m. – Ginga - Boulder-based Brazilian band led by guitarist Bill Kopper, featuring Bijoux Barbosa
4:30-5:30 p.m. – Fluxus - Electro-jazz fusion quintet
5 p.m. - Five Points Jazz Festival Tribute Award presentation - "brother jeff" Fard
6-7 p.m. – Impulse - Modern and post-bop jazz quintet
The Roxy – 2549 Welton St.
12:45-1:45 p.m. – Tina Phillips - Jazz vocalist with trio
2:30-3:30 p.m. – Gregory Goodloe Quintet - Smooth jazz and R&B
4:15-5:15 p.m. – Southside Jazz Project - Jazz, Latin and vocal quartet
6-7 p.m. – Bob Montgomery/Al Hermann/Josh Quinlan Sextet - Bop and swing
Coffee at The Point Indoor Stage – 710 E. 26th Ave.
11 a.m.-noon – The Connor Terrones Jazz Ensemble - Guitar-led jazz fusion
1-2 p.m. – Polarity - Original jazz arrangements
3-4 p.m. – Spencer Zweifel Trio - Jazz trio from Greeley
5-6 p.m. – Miguel Espinoza Flamenco Jazz - Guitar-led ensemble, with Gypsy jazz influences
7-8 p.m. – Dana Landry Quartet - Faculty from University of Northern Colorado
9-10 p.m. – Carmen Sandim Septet - Brazilian jazz
Coffee at The Point Outdoor Stage – 710 E. 26th Ave.
noon-1 p.m. – Unconventional Wisdom - Led by veteran trumpet player, Bud Gordon
2-3 p.m. – Royal Street Ramblers - Modern New Orleans jazz quintet
3-3:20 p.m. – Montbello High School Drumline
4-5 p.m. – Hines Devine Jazz - Trombone and vocal-led jazz quintet
6-7 p.m. – Latitude Experience - Fusion jazz quintet
8-9 p.m. – The Hendersons - Back by popular demand - family, soul and R&B band
Cervantes – 2637 Welton St.
noon-1 p.m. – Joe Anderies Beyond Borders - Flute and saxophone-led edgy jazz
2-3 p.m. – Bucknerfunkenjazz - Funk, jazz and R&B
Blair Caldwell African American Research Library – 2401 Welton St.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Sheryl Renee - Jazz, R&B, soul and gospel singer
12:30 p.m. - screening of "Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday" - film featuring rare TV and movie clips, commentary by musicians, singers and friends who knew her well.
1:30-2:30 p.m. – Yo Momma - All female jazz quartet
2:30 p.m. - screening of "The Count Basie: Swingin' the Blues" - film featuring a tribute to the legacy of William Basie, seldom seen footage and interviews of Basie alumni.
3:30-4:30 p.m. – Quincy Avenue Rhythm Band - youth funk and soul band from Kent School
715 Club --- 715 E. 26th Ave.
1:15-2:15 p.m. – Matt Skellenger Group - World percussion, jazz fusion
3-4 p.m. – Mingus - Charles Mingus tribute band
4:45-5:45 p.m. – M Squared - Progressive jazz rock jam band
6:30-7:30 p.m. – Paul Mullikin Trio with Strings - Jazz string ensemble
8:15-9:15 p.m. – Patrick McDevitt Nation - Bop quartet, featuring Gabriel Mervine and Alejandro Castaño
Goed Zuur – 2018 Welton St.
7-10:30 p.m. – Gumbo le Funque - funk, contemporary jazz
11 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. – Half Pint and the Growlers - Gypsyland swing
The Joe Bonner Legacy Jam Session at Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center – 2836 Welton St.
1-6 p.m. – Featuring Tom Tilton, Vince Wiggins, Carl Jackson and open to all musicians.
For more information and complete schedule please visit: ArtsandVenues.com/FivePointsJazz