Free concerts in City Park; tribute to Herbie Hancock; and more
Lots of music — including a couple of free performances at Denver’s City Park — is scheduled for these early days of July.
City Park Jazz is part of an established Denver tradition of outdoor concerts that dates back to that location for at least a century. The live summer jazz shows kicked off in the mid-1980s, and the local “Gypsy Swing” unit La Pompe Jazz will play sprightly standards and clever originals in the tradition of guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli on July 8. This style of music feels timeless, finding its way from generation to generation with very little media exposure. People from all walks of life are delighted by the musical inventions that can be traced back to small European venues in the ’30s. Drummer Jill Frederickson will join the group to ensure maximum danceability. The music begins at 6 p.m.
The following Sunday, organist Pat Bianchi, part of a family of Denver- based performers, will bring his trio to City Park for another free show. Bianchi, who has shared the stage with veteran stars like Pat Martino and Lou Donaldson, plays in a swinging, forceful style that recalls the masters of his chosen instrument. His music should resonate joyfully with the hometown crowd, and information can be found at cityparkjazz.org.
On July 13 at Boulder’s Fox Theatre, there’s a Herbie Hancock tribute planned to take place after evening’s Dead & Company Folsom Field show. The lineup is diverse and a hundred percent local: saxophonist Dominic Lalli, from electronic act Big Gigantic; the rhythm section from the jazz-leaning jam band
The Motet (drummer
Dave Watts, bassist Garrett Sayers and keyboardist Joey Porter); and guitarist Dan Schwindt will take a deep dive into piano and synthesizer pioneer Hancock’s incredible compositional legacy. Tickets range from $16-21 and can be obtained through foxtheatre.com.
The 2018 Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival takes place at Keystone’s River Run Village July 14-15. Smooth jazz fans will enjoy saxophonists Will Donato and Tony Exum Jr., and the Colorado-based band Dotsero will close out the weekend. All of the musical performances are free for this weekend, with the wine seminars being paid, ticked events. Tickets can be found at keystonefestivals.com.
And more: This year’s Winter Park Jazz Festival will be held at Hideaway Park July 21-22, featuring national acts like Boney James and Shelia E . ... Vocalist and multiple Grammy nominee Nnenna
Freelon appears at Denthat ver’s Dazzle on July 11 . ... Speaking of Dazzle, drummer Dan Weiss’ Starebaby project was nothing short of inspired during a June 17 appearance at the club. Weiss is a cerebral bandleader who knows that drummers can lead successful groups without incorporating multiple drum solos when playing live, and the group’s two keyboardists, Craig Taborn and Matt Mitchell, are among the most engaging innovators in jazz at the moment. ... Rest in peace, New Orleans pianist and original Henry Butler, who passed away due to complications from cancer on July 2. Colorado jazz listeners will remember his Boulder and Denver residencies after Hurricane Katrina.