Jazz Celebrating David Amram, and more
There’s a lot of jazz music and even some jazzrelated discussion lined up in the Denver area in the remaining days of September and the beginning of October, featuring veterans and some younger artists who are deserving of your attention.
Multiinstrumentalist and composer David Amram has been releasing individualistic music for over six decades, and he’s collaborated with Charles Mingus as well as Denver favorite Jack Kerouac. There’s a threeday celebration of his life, taking place Sept. 2426. The documentary film “David Amram: The First 80 Years” will screen at the SIE FilmCenter on the first night, followed by a chamber music performance with members of the Colorado Symphony and Amram supplying anecdotes about his unparalleled career, at a private residence (tickets are available, however) on the 25th and an evening showcasing the improvising side of his career at Dazzle on the 26th.
The third night will feature Amram in concert with Coloradobased trumpeter Hugh Ragin, who turned in one of the most moving performances I’ve experienced this year when he appeared along side saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell at Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival. Both of the live performances promise to be one of a kind in their own right. Tickets for the chamber music event can be found through Masmusic.org; reservations for the jazz night are at dazzledenver.com.
The Spirit of Jazz & Democracy is in the process of holding concerts and discussions around the country, and there’s a tour stop at Regis University on Sept. 24. Noted pianist Larry Willis joins drummer Paul F. Murphy and others for a con cert of “total improvisation,” the press materials say. In addition to the concert, there will be a workshop and discussion, “Jazz & Democracy & How.” The events are free, but it’s best to make reservations through spiritjazzdemocracy.com.
Two of the most engaging names in jazz guitar are scheduled to perform in the area in the days to come. John Scof ield has a distinctive sound and an unceasing sense of adventure; he’s bringing his current project, Combo ’66, to Dazzle for two nights, Oct. 6 and 7. Sometimes Scofield dabbles in rock and fusion, but the lineup of Combo ’66 seems more straightahead: Drummer Bill Stewart, keyboardist Gerald Clayton and bassist Vicente Archer are accomplished jazz guys through and through. Guitarist Julian Lage, who is in his early 30s, has released some highly skilled and accomplished music. A former child prodigy, Lage has collaborated with a wideranging list of artists from David Grisman to John Zorn. He’ll bring his trio to Denver’s Swallow Hill on Sept. 29 and the Fox Theatre in Boulder on the 30th.
And more: Keyboardist Lao Tizer plays a show at Denver’s Levitt Pavillion on Sept. 23 . ... Kendra Shank teams up with Art Lande on Sept. 23 . ... The Katie Thiroux Trio appears at Denver’s Nocturne Sept. 25.
Bret Saunders (bret saunders @kbco.com) can be heard from 5 to 10 a.m. week days at KBCO 97.3 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @Bretonthe radio.