2022 Five Points Jazz Festival Performers
2B3 Trio
Fusion Jazz, Rock, Funk
2B3 is Mike Abbott on electric guitar, Jeff Jenkins on B3 organ and synthesizers, and Mike Marlier on drums. Their musical passions run parallel - not just in jazz, but also in rock, funk, and pop, and fueled their latest album, 2B3 Jimi. "Veteran jazz musicians interpreting one of the most influential rock artists of the past 50-plus years makes for a thrilling experience..” - Jazziz Magazine
Anaerobic
Romantic Jazz
Anaerobic is a vocal-driven romantic jazz ensemble.The band plays music from many decades, up to the present, with an elegant sensibility, breathing life into deep classics and giving new works a jazz verve. Anaerobic formed in 2018 around a vocal and classic acoustic setting, with alto/bari saxes, piano, upright bass, and drums.
Annie Booth Sextet
Straight-ahead Jazz, Original Jazz
The Annie Booth Sextet came together in 2015 as an idea of celebrating a multi-generational group of diverse and expressive improvising musicians who boast deep ties not only with one another within the group but also with the legacy of the great jazz scene in Denver, CO - the hometown of each member. The group is led by award-winning pianist and composer Annie Booth and features Greg Gisbert (trumpet), Anisha Rush (alto saxophone), John Gunther (tenor + soprano saxophones), Patrick McDevitt (bass) and Alejandro Castaño (drums).
Bailey Hinkley Grogan Quartet
Swing, Fusion
Bailey's life has been sculpted by beauty and tragedy. Her music, which resembles the likes of Folk, R&B, and Jazz styles, is a reflection of intense experiences in her young life. Bailey has been training to be a musician since she was 6 years old. Her bright, yet melancholy sound is a reflection of her deep study of the jazz idiom while simultaneously playing homage to her influences in Chick Corea, Emily King, Sheryl Crow, and Jamie Cullum. Her improvisatory style is fearless and bold, while her songwriting and lyrical delivery reflect the raw, emotional heartache and undying beauty found in her life story. Bailey Hinkley Grogan currently resides in Denver, CO and is in the process of receiving her doctorate in musical arts from the University of Miami in Music Studio Jazz Voice.
Blame It On The Bossa Nova
Brazilian/Latin
Blame It on The Bossa Nova is an eclectic group of Denver-based musicians presenting a fresh take on the beautiful bossa nova melodies and harmonies from Brazil and Europe.
Bob Montgomery's Little Big Band
Big Band Jazz, Blues, Latin, Funk, Swing
The Bob Montgomery Little Big Band plays new arrangements by Bob of Jazz Standards, Latin, Funk and Swing favorites. The band members are former students of Bob Montgomery - Anisha Rush, Eric McGregor, Seraphin Sanchez, Pete Olstad, Greg Gisbert, Darren Kramer, Tom Amend, Patrick McDevitt, Alejandro Castano, Alex Heffron.
Brad Goode Quintet
Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Fusion
Called "The lyrical genius of the trumpet" by the Chicago Tribune, Brad Goode is a multi-instrumentalist and composer who performs on trumpet, bass and drums. He is recognized as a unique stylist with a highly creative approach to improvisation. Brad has recorded on over 100 jazz albums, including 18 as a leader, and has toured and recorded with Jack DeJohnette, Curtis Fuller, Eddie Harris and other jazz greats.
Buckner Funken Jazz
Funk, Jazz, Bebop, Blues, Latin, R&B, Originals, Reggae
Buckner Funken Jazz has been around and playing Denver for more than 22 years, opening for Freddie and Henchie to Maceo Parker, Ohio Players and many more. Performers range in age from 40 to 77 and they feel very blessed to keep on playing through the pandemic and keeping safe through the lord's good blessings.
Check Trio
Hybrid DJ/Band, Live Remixes Blending Jazz Standards, Modern Jazz and Hip-Hop
DJ Check One is a music lover, musician and DJ devotee: all the sanctities of a natural-born DJ. DJ Check One mixes, cuts and delivers from an all-embracing, professional music library, persuading any audience. DJ Check One leads a number of highly acclaimed bands and projects. His extensive experience as a producer/percussionist has led him to collaborate and share stages with The Roots, Al Green, KRS-One, DJ Logic and Ozomatli, among others. Inspired by a conversation with drummer/producer ?uestlove (The Roots), he embarked on the conversion of live drumming to mixing and creating rhythm-on-turntable. DJ Check One brings to the Five Points Jazz Festival a hybrid dj-band, mixed with beats, instrumentation and jazz solos: live remixes, blending classic jazz standards with new modern jazz and hip-hop, orchestrated with drums, keys and bass.
Colorado Mambo Orchestra
The Colorado Mambo Orchestra (COMO) is a new Denver-based musical group that performs an expansive repertoire of works—from traditional Cuban to R&B/Soul classics, American Songbook, Brazilian, and beyond—all imbued with their unique high-energy Salsa/Mambo style. Every member of COMO is classically trained and a seasoned performing professional. The size of the group varies from a 5-piece core rhythm section plus violin, to a 14-piece, full-blown Mambo Orchestra. COMO also offers guest artists the opportunity to collaborate and contribute their particular “flavor” to the group. The result is an invariably dynamic and highly engaging experience.
Conjunto Colores
Salsa, Latin Jazz
Conjunto Colores has opened for music legends like Tito Puente, Bob James, Sonora Poncena, Wille Colon, Oscar DE Leon, Hugh Masagela, Jimmy Cliff, Arturo Sandoval and Diane Schuur. The popularity of Salsa-Latin music in Colorado has grown to enormous heights. Latin music can be found almost everywhere in Colorado. The band responsible for making Salsa -Latin Jazz a community here in Colorado is Conjunto "Colorado." Between 1996 and 2006, Conjunto Colores, under the leadership of Francisco Mejias, released five CDs. Conjunto Colore continues to be a force in the Colorado music scene, sharing music and culture with all of the people of Colorado.
Creative Love: Happening!
Jazz, Afro-Latin, Rock, Hip-hop
Creative Love: Happening! was founded in 2013 in Washington, DC to celebrate the 80th birthday of Wayne Shorter. Initially, the repertoire was taken from the Shorter compositions in the Weather Report book. The repertoire hasn't changed much, but the application of the rhythms and sounds of popular music of the last 25 years is a part of CLH's sound. Bebop, R&B, funk, Latin and rock, are all in play!
Denver Jazz Trio
Standards, Jazz Versions of Pop Tunes
DENVER JAZZ TRIO presents a new take on the Jazz Trio with Guitar, Sax and Drums. The Denver Jazz Trio consists of Lou Gott on guitar, Josh Williamson on drums and Casey Barnett on sax.
Dexter Payne Quintet
Brazilian Choro Jazz
Dexter Payne's Quintet has been a northern extension of Brazilian improvised jazz since his first trip to Brasil in 1997, where he met Paulo Moura, recorded with sambista Beth Carvalho, and met and recorded with Thiago de Mello. Their first recording received recognition in the Downbeat Readers Poll. Prior to 2005, his first release in the US, he worked with the finest practitioners of the genre in Colorado (and beyond), Bill Kopper and Raoul Rossetir. While Bijou Barbossa and Francisco Marques came and went, Dave Willey became a major contributor to the group. Upon arriving from Caracas, Grammy-winner Victor Mestas joined the group.
Domi Edson Trio
Classic Jazz
Domi Edson is an emerging force as a jazz bassist, composer and educator. Originally from Seattle and now based in Denver, Domi has performed at venues such as Dazzle, Nocturne, The Royal Room, Frankie's Jazz Club, the Jazz Education Network Conference, and Seattle radio station KNKX. Domi released her debut album “Without the Re” in 2021 introducing herself as a bandleader and composer to the jazz scene. The trio consists of Domi, Spencer Zweifel on piano and Bobby Wiens on drums.
Donna Scott Quintet
Straight Ahead, Contemporary, Post Bop
Donna Scott Quintet (aka Donna Scott and Friends) is a group of friends and fellow musicians who like to swing hard. They’ve played all over Colorado and Donna Scott has toured Europe and the continental US. The band features Coloradans Ron Bland on bass, Tenia Nelson on keys, Alex Tripp on drums, (Kevin Smith sub) and Richard Owens, who attended DU for his artist certificate and played around town.
ElektroHornz
ElectroFunk, NuJazz, Downtempo
DKO ElektroHornz is an Ultra Modern Luxury Entertainment Experience featuring a 21st-Century Electric Horn Section which inspires, entertains and educates people with the best of live and recorded music. Darren Kramer is an Electric Trombone DJ, XO Brass Artist, and Ableton Certified Trainer and has been a professional freelance musician and educator for over three decades and has toured the world as a trombonist with diverse acts such as Rob Thomas/Matchbox Twenty, Tom Jones, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra , and Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies. He founded his own music company in 1994 — DKO The Darren Kramer Organization.
Expeditions Quintet
Straight Ahead Jazz
Clare Church Quintet is a combination of two star trios, one featuring Eric Gunnison and one featuring Ed Stephen, and adds the saxophone and composing/arranging skills of Pete Lewis. All these formidable jazz musicians are consummate improvisors, with years of experience performing with jazz luminaries both national and local. In Clare's long and storied music career, she has appeared in the bands of Joe Henderson, Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Doc Severinsen, Mel Torme, Ron Miles, Art Lande and on the stages of Dazzle, Nocturne, Muse Performance Space, the Longmont Jazz Festival, the Five Points Jazz Festival, the Estes Park Jazz Festival, Gift of Jazz Blind Tiger Series, as well as the Hollywood Bowl, Yoshi's Jazz in Oakland,CA, and the legendary Jazz Showcase in Chicago, to name a few.
Five Points Jazz Heritage Orchestra
Big Band
The Five Points Jazz Heritage Orchestra is a festival tradition. Each year, a Denver-area high school band is selected to present a musical program celebrating the historic jazz heritage of the Five Points Cultural District. The Denver North High School Jazz Ensemble is made up of the more advanced 9th through 12th grade instrumental students in the NHS music program. This group functions as both a traditional ‘big band’ and also as two combos. The group is coming off a nearly two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 protocols, but has worked hard to get back to performance shape, not only getting back to where they were in 2019-20, but exceeding that level to be better than before. The students are excited about being selected to be the Jazz Heritage Orchestra this year at the Five Points Jazz Festival. They’ll be playing great music from the '50s through the early '70s with a throwback nod to a great tune from the late '40s.
Gabriel Santiago Project
Brazilian Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Contemporary Brazilian Music, World Music
Gabriel Santiago is an award-winning composer, arranger, performer and music educator. He draws inspiration from many different artists, and has composed music for a diverse array of ensembles, ranging from symphony orchestra to big band to jazz combos. He has collaborated with a wide variety of artists, including Esperanza Spalding, Chris Potter, and John Clayton. Called by JazzTimes Magazine “a young master at both the acoustic and electric guitars” and his compositions defined as “stunners”, Santiago holds a Doctoral Degree in Music Composition from the University of Texas at Austin, where he won the 2013 Outstanding Dissertation Award and the 2010 Eleanor A. Stribling Award for Excellence in Jazz Studies. Filled with passion and culture, Gabriel’s ever-evolving sound represents a dynamic confluence of his classical, jazz and Brazilian roots.
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Gregory Goodloe Quartet
Smooth Jazz, R&B, Blues
A crossover artist who derives stylistic influence from George Benson and Wes Montgomery, Gregory Goodloe notched his first Billboard No. 1 single two years ago with “Stylin’,” a collaboration with GRAMMY-nominated songwriter-producer-saxophonist Darren Rahn. Among Goodloe’s other frequent collaborators are Billboard chart-topping guitarist Adam Hawley, seminal urban-jazz keyboardist Bob Baldwin and hit-making saxophonist Elan Trotman. Goodloe is at home in R&B, jazz and gospel circles. He has performed with or opened for Howard Hewett, Tank, Ben Tankard, Norman Brown, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Michael McDonald, James Ingram, Roy Ayers, Shirley Caesar, Angela Spivey, John P. Key, The Rance Allen Group and fellow Denver native Larry Dunn of Earth, Wind & Fire fame.
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Harry Drabkin Quartet
Classic Jazz
Saxophonist Harry Drabkin is a Berklee College of Music graduate as well as a faculty alumnus, where he performed in the Recording Band, Faculty Jazz Ensemble and more. His influences come from Miles, Coltrane, Cannonball and Charlie Mariano. He recently retired as Chief of Oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina and returned to Denver where he is active in our local jazz scene. His performance focuses on iconic music that was born in the ‘60s, with selections from the albums of John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and others. The selections include a mix of later bebop, modal jazz and select ballads, epitomizing the best of 20th century jazz.
Hugh Ragin and the Messengers of Peace
Jazz, Bebop, Funky Jazz, Blues
The Messengers of Peace was created during the times of US racial tensions and the burden of the pandemic. Our music is designed to radiate a vibrational sound that promotes peace and brotherhood for all. The band encompasses multiple musical genres: bebop, hard bop, funk, blues and classical to create a social grove. The band collective enjoys a distinctive and unique sound that is inspiring for all.
Jenna McLean Quartet
Solo Vocal Jazz
Jenna McLean is a jazz vocalist originally from Colorado, and is now a Lecturer in Music and Entertainment at the University of Memphis. As an accomplished performer, vocal technician, songwriter and educator, she finds her artistic drive in bringing new twists to the timeless standards of the Great American Songbook as well as pop, funk and soul tunes. With a love of and devotion to jazz, opera, R&B, and folk music, she maintains the belief that all music is good music as long as it speaks to the soul and grooves. Jenna was the 2019 winner of the Downbeat Student Music Awards Graduate Vocal Soloist Category, and a 2019 recipient of the Pathways to Jazz Grant.
Joe Bonner Legacy Jam Session
Joe Bonner was a virtuoso jazz pianist who had an international career, playing with jazz greats like Freddie Hubbard and Roy Haynes's Hip Ensemble, and a three-year stint touring and recording with legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. Bonner settled in Denver in 1976 where he played regularly in between European tours. Tom Tilton pays tribute to his friend each year by hosting a jam session at brother jeff's Cultural Center.
J's Ruckus
Post Bop, Indie-Jazz, Neo-R&B, Hip-hop
J’s Ruckus was created to create a disturbance in the status quo of the various genres of music you enjoy. People are bored with the same cover tunes from the same cover bands. J’s Ruckus performs infectious and up-lifting originals for audiences hungry for a memorable Jazz experience.
Justin Allison and Bob Rebholz
Straight-Ahead Jazz, Brazilian Jazz
Bob Rebholz is truly a "renaissance man" of music. A Grammy nominated woodwind artist, he is an alumnus of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a teaching certificate from the University of Wisconsin. Guitarist/vocalist/composer Justin Allison has played his signature style of jazz, Brazilian and beyond, around the world. Justin has shared the stage and opened shows for a diversity of talent, including Curtis Stigers, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Tuck and Patti, George Benson, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Rosanna Vitro, Al Green and Tito Puente.
Kalimari Desert
Modern Jazz
JJ Mazza is a young Downbeat award-winning drummer in the Denver area. A senior at the Denver School of the Arts, JJ has already put together an impressive resume. JJ’s new project, KALIMARI DESERT, strives to see just how far the jazz trio can go. Their instrumentation of vibraphone, bass, and drums provides just enough sonic information to be inviting, but lends itself well to heavy improvisation and experimentation, which all members of the group (JJ Mazza on drums, Lazlo Torok on vibraphone and Hunter Roberts on bass) run with and excel at. Presenting the original music of Mazza, Torok, and Roberts, JJ is incredibly excited to unveil KALIMARI DESERT.
Lex Quasar and The Sonic Stomp
Modern Blues
The music of Lex Quasar and The Sonic Stomp is a mashup of Blues, R&B, Jazz, Latin and Americana with harmonica, guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion and beatboxing. The group uses loopers as well as electronic effects, and on top of that, vocals. The music is original and covers have a sound of their own. The band is made up of long-time Colorado musicians - Dan Treanor, Kyle Borthick and Ryan Borthick.
Las Luces
Jazz, Ambient, Rock, Electronic, Lo-Fi
Joshua Trinidad is a Mexican-American trumpet player, composer and producer, who takes multiple styles of music, such as jazz, ambient, rock, electronic and lo-fi, as well as elements from hip-hop, and effortlessly reshapes them into a unique soundscape. His remarkable ease in handling the often-contrary conventions of "jazz" ensured a strong interest in both acoustic and electric music. This chameleon-like ability soon established him as a much sought-after musician in the southwest region of the United States as well as in Europe and Central Asia, and ultimately led to his colorful and diverse resume as a sideman. During his time recording and performing in Scandinavia, Joshua Trinidad was introduced to Giacomo Bruzzo, who welcomed him into his prestigious and much-lauded roster, RareNoise Records, in London, England.
Nice Work Jazz Combo
Classic Jazz
Nice Work is an ensemble project featuring Heidi Schmidt, Pete Lewis, Jason Malmberg, Jerry Weiss and Brian Kauffman. Their sound is rooted in a classic jazz style on the cooler and more melodic end of the spectrum, but with their own in-house arrangements that often feature more modern elements. The goal of the ensemble is to help each other bring their own arrangements to life in the local music scene.
Purnell Steen and the Five Points Ambassadors
Hardbop, Swing, Latin, Blues
Purnell Steen and the Five Points Ambassadors have been deeply influenced by both Count Basie and Duke Ellington. As a small ensemble, they were given their sobriquet by Norman Provizer, former Jazz Critic of The Rocky Mountain News. The band has been greatly influenced by Horace Silver and the Cannonball Adderly Quintets. Purnell Steen and the Five Points Ambassadors are dedicated to playing in the musical style that Mr. Steen heard as a child in Denver during the heyday of Five Points.
Rich Chiaraluce Quintet
Straight-Ahead Jazz
Rich Chiaraluce on sax, Greg Gisbert on trumpet, Paul Romaine on drums, Dave Hanson on piano, Ken Walker on bass - these are names that are familiar to anyone with even a tiny interest in what's happening in the Denver jazz scene. In addition to their significant contributions to jazz performance and education in Colorado, they are known and respected nationally, and each has appeared with a long list of the most recognized names in jazz...the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Maria Schneider Orchestra to name just a few.
Ricky Earl Band Featuring Cherise
Soul, Blues, R&B
Ricky Earl, Louisiana Blues Man, the Piper of the Blues, and Blues Man of this Century. Ricky Earl brings a new vibe of blues music to the scene. Ricky’s Chicago-style blues music is a mix of Johnny Taylor, Chuck Berry, Sam Cook and Little Milton all in one. Cherise's influences are Mary J Bridge, Etta James, Tracie Chapman. She hails from Southern California, which had a great influence on her in music, dance and performance growing up there. On stage she shares her strong, powerful voice as she dances her way on stage.
Rico Jones Quartet
Latin Jazz, Be-Bop, Swing, Blues, Soul, Contemporary
The Rico Jones Quartet Features: Rico Jones - sax, Rasmus Sorensen - Piano, Tony Golden - Bass, Garyfallia Kerkezou - drums. Rico Jones is steadily becoming one of the top young saxophonists of his generation. Rico grew up in Denver performing under the guidance of local artists such as Paul Romaine, Greg Gisbert, Eric Gunnison, Art Lande, Brad Goode and Vlad Girshevich. As the years passed, Rico became enthralled by black American musical art forms. Blues and Jazz became a primary mode of expression for Jones and his ensembles. As he grew, his heritage as a Latino with indigenous roots became a focus for his artistic expressions. In April, Rico performed at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre with his band CounterCurrent.
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Rob Mullins
Funk, Blues, Straight-Ahead, Fusion
Rob Mullins has been a Denver favorite since his residencies in the '80s. A Grammy-nominated composer, he recently sold out Dazzle Jazz with Rod Stewart's sax man, Jimmy Roberts. A highly energetic show not to be missed.
Rob Tz Xperience
Jazz/Soul Fusion with R&B and Hip-Hop Influences
The Rob Tz Xperience is led by drummer Rob Thomas (Rob Tz), with Thomas’ brother J-Fiaa on vocals and keyboards and THE DROP’s morning show host DJ Dif’Rent at the turntables. “Bringin’ the vibe on the 1s and 2s,” says Rob Tz. Watch for the interplay between the musicians and the DJ, and “bring your boogie shoes!” Thomas is inspired by the way Kendrick Lamar collaborated with jazz players and producers (Terrace Martin, Thundercat, Flying Lotus) on his project “To Pimp a Butterfly.” “(Lamar) gave us as hip-hoppers and music lovers a whole different approach to hip hop and how it’s received.”
Ron Ivory and Suite ti
Contemporary Jazz, R&B, Standards, Motown, Blues
Suite ti is a 5-to-7-piece musical ensemble created and formed by Ron Ivory, lead vocalist and keyboardist. Suite ti mixes contemporary and smooth jazz, a bit of R&B, standards, blues and more with their own original compositions in a dynamic fashion at every performance. The outstanding local core musicianship encompasses, Robin Garcia on saxophones, flute and second keyboards, Lam McCrary on bass, Henry Hudson III on saxophones and vocals, a selected pool of extraordinary drummers and percussionists with Glenn Brown or Ben Mitchell on guitars. “How Suite ti Is!”
Splifftet
Modern Improvisational with electronic and hip-hop influences
Making their mark on the scene, the Splifftet is defining their sound through innovations in modern improvisational composition and language. Led by drummer Maliq Wynn, the group features saxophonist Chris Ferrari, vibraphonist Alec Streete, pianist Max Moore, and bassist Tony Golden. The Splifftet finds it is important to create a connection with the audience through the unifying power of music.
Stafford Hunter & Continuum
Jazz
Multi-Grammy nominated trombonist and seashells player (and sometimes vocalist), Staffor Hunter, has performed and/or recorded with Clark Terry, McCoy Tyner, Roy Hargrove, Amy Winehouse, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lenny Kravitz, Oliver Lake, Orrin Evans' Captain Black big band, Steve Turre & Sanctified Shells, and a has been a 21 years member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Stafford has released five CDs as a leader to date.
Tenia Nelson Trio (TNT!)
Swing, Bebop, Funk, R&B, Soul
Consisting of pianist Tenia Nelson, bassist Brendan O’Donoghue and drummer Alex Tripp, The Tenia Nelson Trio is just three talented friends who love to play music together. If “The Tenia Nelson Trio” is a mouthful, you can just call them “TNT”—because they’re dynamite!
Terri Jo Jenkins Quintet
Jazz, Blues
The members of the Terri Jo Jenkins Jazz Quintet represent a diversity of background that comes together in a blend of creativity and maturity, presenting original arrangements of jazz and blues standards incorporating mixed genre compositions in their program. Terri Jo enjoys working with an ensemble in which her voice is part of a whole musical picture. Terri Jo has been passionate about singing her whole life, performing in genres from contemporary folk to jazz and blues. Rounding out the quintet are Brian Claxton on drums, Ken Walker on bass, Jeff Jenkins on keyboards, and John Gunther on tenor sax and clarinet.
The Jack Hadley Band
Soul, Blues
“...left-of-center/eclectic blues...a monster blues guitarist/singer with an amazing sum of influences: North Mississippi drone blues-meets Jimi/BB/Albert/Curtis Mayfield/Marley filtered-through Haight Ashbury...”
- Bob Lohr, Producer, San Telmo Media
The Linda Theus-Lee Project
Jazz, Blues, R&B, Funky-Folk
The Linda Theus-Lee Band is comprised of six wonderful musicians who have performed locally and nationally on various stages with many celebrated artists. The musicians working with Linda on her musical project are: John Akal-Drums, Scottie Rich-Bass, Carlos Matute-Keyboards, Lauren Brown-Guitar, Harold Lee-Sax and Dan Freeman-Trombone. Linda Theus-Lee is a soulful and powerful vocalist, percussionist and writer who creates and brings music to her audiences on a journey from a heartfelt place with love, grace, groove, emotion and passion.
The Matt Skellenger Group
Original Jazz, World, Fusion
This one-of-a-kind group from Denver performs the original music of Matt Skellenger. The group’s instrumentation is a unique mixture of acoustic instruments that are centuries old (Tabla, Ghatam, Cajon, Trumpet, Trombone, Drums, Conch Shell), with modern electric instruments and effects (Electric Bass, Pedal Steel Guitar, Effects Pedals). The music blends jazz, world, funk and fusion influences to create a sound unlike anything you have heard. The group consists of: Matt Skellenger-Electric Bass, Adam Bartczak-Trombone, Conch Shell, Dave Miller-Drums, Ghatam, Matt Reid-Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Cornet, Effects, Andy Skellenger-Cajon, Tabla, Udu, and Glenn Taylor-Pedal Steel Guitar.
The Republic
Modern Big Band Jazz
This modern big band features some of Colorado's finest players performing all original compositions and arrangements in a diversity of styles, including swing, Afro-Cuban, and hip-hop. The band has been performing regularly at Colorado venues since its formation in 2012. It's first recording, "Grass Is Greener," was released on Dazzle Recordings to critical acclaim.
Tivoli Club Brass Band
Second Line-Style Brass Band
Denver’s most beloved brass band brings the tradition of the New Orleans Second Line to the Mile High. A Centennial State jambalaya of classic and contemporary hits, micro-brewed with the flavors that make Colorado the greatest state in the union. Featuring a veritable superband of who’s-who in Denver local music, Tivoli Club Brass Band features musicians who’ve been playing this scene since before it existed, with bands like Furious George and the Monster Groove, Judge Roughneck, Sammy Mayfield Blues Revue, Money Plays 8, the Flobots, Til Willis, Bow Shock, Future Joy, FaceMan, Oxycodone, Alpha Schoolmarm Orchestra and dozens more.
Tom Amend Octet
Original Jazz
The Tom Amend Octet provides a unique aesthetic blend that is hard to find in many other working bands in the area. This ensemble combines the creative spontaneity and freedom associated with small group jazz with the unified approach to playing creative arrangements founded in the tradition of the great big bands. Members of the Octet include: Gabriel Mervine, Greg Gisbert, Miles Lujan, Derek Watson, Daryl Gott, Taylor Clay, John Gunther, Serafin Sanchez, David Bernot, Drew Zaremba, Joel Harris, Zach Rich, Scott Flynn, Jack Roben, Alex Heffron, Steve Kovalcheck, Brian Claxton, and Alejandro Castaño, among many others.
Wellington Bullings
Jazz, Soul, R&B
Colorado-based singer/songwriter Wellington Bullings adds a soulful touch to everything she sings. Her music is a fine balance of classic soul and R&B, yet it is firmly rooted in Jazz. With a sultry voice and an unmatched vulnerability, her music is bound to uplift the mind, body, and soul. As a seasoned performer and songwriter, she has been performing on Colorado stages for many years. She released her debut album titled “Because I Want to” in July 2020. The album is a collection of original music written by Wellington. Her new single titled “Flame” was released last fall, along with an impactful music video about celebrating the beauty and resilience that resides in black people.
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Wil Alston Band
Jazz, R&B, Gospel
Wil Alston has quickly established a solid footing in Denver’s jazz scene. Debuting in 2013 at a sellout performance at Lannie’s Clock Tower Cabaret in downtown Denver, Wil brings a velvet smooth baritone voice that delivers classic and contemporary jazz standards with grace and richness. Wil has become known as a respected songwriter that pours his heart and his many experiences into his songs and his performances. Not willing to be boxed into a specific genre, Wil says his music blurs the lines between traditional jazz, gospel, and R&B.
Zach Rich Sextet
Jazz
Zach Rich is a multi-award winning composer based in Denver. He writes for and performs with many ensembles throughout the mid-west and Front Range areas. As a performer and composer, Zach has received awards from organizations such as the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the New York Youth Symphony, The Ravinia Steans Music Institute, and Downbeat Magazine, just to name a few. He has worked professionally with Billy Childs, Rufus Reid, Steve Wilson, and Benny Benack III as well as with several ensembles, including the New York Youth Symphony, Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, and the Texas and Oklahoma all-state jazz bands.