It’s all about jazz guitarists in Colorado these days
There’s an appealing list of guitarists, each known for their individualism, performing in Colorado in the coming days.
Al Di Meola is an unquestioned six-string virtuoso, and he’s been enthralling jazz listeners with his lightning-fast technique since keyboardist Chick Corea introduced him to a wide audience as a member of the fusion group Return To Forever in 1974. Since then, he’s split time between acoustic and electric settings, both of which he successfully utilizes on his newest release, “Opus.” Di Meola will appear at Copper Mountain Resort as part of its annual “Guitar Town” showcase. The guitarist is scheduled to appear at 7 p.m. on Aug. 12, along with other marquee names like Robben Ford and Coco Montoya. The performance is free; details can be found at copperguitartown.com.
No one sounds like Charlie Hunter. The guitarist can produce an amazing range of sounds from his fretboard, and is capable of becoming something like a one-man band. As he’s moved into his 50s, he doesn’t play Colorado as much as he did a decade ago, so it’s excellent news for his fans that he’ll be making a handful of appearances in the state, including a show in Mountain Village (near Telluride) on Aug. 15, at the “Pickin’ In The Park” event in Paonia Aug. 16, and for two nights at Denver’s Dazzle, Aug. 17-18. Hunter’s trio includes vocalist Lucy Woodward and drummer Damon Grant, but they make a collective sound that is much larger than what you might imagine from just three people. It’s frequently exciting music. Find out more at Hunter’s website, charliehunter.com.
If it’s melody and subtlety you’re looking for in a guitarist, then Russell Malone is your man. High-profile artists like Jimmy Smith and Diana Krall have chosen him for his tasteful approach, and he’s grown in stature considerable since his early days as a sideman. Malone will play at the Aspen Art Museum in Aspen on Aug. 18, with two other experts on their chosen instruments: bassist Christian Mcbride and pianist Benny Green. Tickets are $55, and can be found through jazzaspensnowmass.org.
Speaking of the Aspen Art Museum, multiple Grammy-award recipient (and Colorado resident) and vocalist Dianne Reeves performs there on Aug.
17 . ... The above-mentioned Chick Corea appears with his beloved “Akoustic Band,” featuring bassist
John Patitucci and drummer Dave Weckl, at the Paramount Theatre on Aug. 19 . ... New Orleans’ forever-entertaining
Dirty Dozen Brass Band plays Cervantes’ Other Side on Aug. 24 . ... Coming to Denver’s Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club in August:
The Peter Sommer Septet on the 18th and drummer Jeff Hamilton’s trio on the 29th . ... Brazilian guitarist Alessandro Penezzi features clarinetist Dexter Payne at Dazzle on Aug. 15 . ... Copper
Mountain presents its Genuine Jazz & Wine Festival Aug. 17-19, with Everette Harp, Bobby Lyle and more . ... Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers will play the Soiled Dove Underground on Aug. 19.
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.