Summer in the mountains, and the jazz is swingin’
Summer jazz festivals in the Colorado mountains are tradition. This year’s festivities kick off in Estes Park in early June and wind around at altitude all the way to Labor Day Weekend in Vail. Estes Park Jazz Fest Weekend,
Performance Park, June 2-3: Every year brings a new lineup of local and national acts over the course of two afternoons in Estes Park. This time around, headliners include the brilliant trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, who just released the uplifting “Jubilation!” album with saxophonist Jim Snidero. Pelt will bring his band to the Performance Park stage on June 3. Get details and ticket information at visitestespark.com.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Festival, Benedict
Music Tent, June 22-23: This has been a destination gathering for multiple years, and there’s a strong emphasis on vocalists. See and hear high-profile performers Lizz Wright, Leslie Odom Jr., Lyle Lovett and more under the big tent, with the most idyllic surroundings imaginable. If that sounds appealing, check out jazzaspensnowmass.org for details.
36th Annual Winter Park Jazz Festival,
Hideaway Park, July 21-22: A hugely popular festival for fans of smooth jazz and R&B, this year features performances from Fantasia, Shelia E, Keith Sweat and Boney James. It’s probably a good idea to secure tickets and lodging sooner than later at playwinterpark.com.
Crested Butte Music Festival, Crested Butte
Center For The Arts, July 25 and 29: “Gypsy Jazz” pays tribute to guitarist Django Reinhardt and his European contemporaries, and its popularity has grown significantly with the Crested Butte audi- ence in recent years. Two nights in July will feature numerous artists playing in Reinhardt’s exotic style. The first evening presents the music blended with a Latin and South American influence, and the second remembers string heroes Stephane Grappelli and Les Paul. Information on tickets and lodging can be found though crestedbuttemusicfestical.org.
Evergreen Jazz Festival, numerous venues, July
27-29: Known for its commitment to lively, traditional jazz styles, the Evergreen Jazz Festival returns with superb musicians like pianist Carl Sonny Leyland and New York group The Brain Cloud, who will light up friendly small venues like the Evergreen Lake House and Elks Lodge. Kudos to the local jazz devotees who make this festival such a success every year. Get your tickets at evergreenjazz.org.
Telluride Jazz Festival,
various locations, Aug. 3-5: If I had to pick a single favorite Colorado jazz fest, Telluride would be my choice. The town is welcoming to visiting music fans, and the indoor and outdoor venues are perfect for taking in the subtleties and joys of jazz. This year’s lineup includes the wonderful New Orleans soul singer Irma Thomas, saxophonist Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and the multifaceted pianist Bruce Hornsby with his band The Noisemakers. The list goes much deeper, and can be found at telluridejazz.org.
Vail Jazz Party, Vail Square and Vail Marriott, Aug. 30-Sept. 3: The ideal way to wrap up the season, the Vail Jazz Party is the festival best dedicated to the more straightahead variations of the music. The artists already lined up are superb: Rene Marie, Jeff Hamilton, Benny Green, John and Jeff Clayton, Lewis Nash, Terell Stafford and many others in different configurations, paying swinging tribute to the artists who came before them. Get tickets and lodging at vailjazz.org.
Bret Saunders (bret saunders @kbco.com) can be heard from 5 to 10 a.m. weekdays at KBCO 97.3 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @Bretontheradio.