Phyllis A. Greer Performance Studio

Quemando

Sunday, February 10 at 4pm Quemando Salsa Band

The Quemando Salsa band is a homegrown Latin/Salsa powerhouse born right in Boulder, Colorado in 2005. Since it’s inception, Quemando has headlined the Denver Jazz Festival, and played shows with the legendary OSCAR DE LEON. This energetic salsa band performs repertoire from the most legendary Latin artists, such as Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz, Hector Lavoe, Eddie Palmieri, just to name a few. Quemando is currently working on it’s first original album, which will prove to be the next unique, cutting edge sound which is a mix of Salsa, Latin, Jazz, Funk, and a small touch of R and B.
Because of the energy and incredible musicianship of the band, Quemando has built up crowds anywhere from 200 people, to 1000 or more for some of the outdoor summer shows. The scene is truly world class, comprised of the hottest Latin and Salsa dancers showing off their moves, and dressed in their high end “ Havana Nights “ style outfits.
The instrumentation of this modern salsa band is Cuban style drum kit, timbales, congas, bongos, guiro, maraca’s, shakers, bass guitar, piano, trombone, bass trombone, tenor saxophone, flute, alto saxophone, trumpet, flugelhorn, 5 back up vocalists, and 2 lead vocalists.
The personnel include lead vocalist Enrique Aguilar from, Mazatlan Mexico; Colombian lead vocalist Sandra Vidal, Armando Santoyo on bass guitar, from Havana Cuba, Howard Hernandez on the Timbales from Guantanemo, Cuba, , Victor Nieves from Puerto Rico, Jonny George on the Cuban drum kit, Ben Jansen on piano, Eric Schneider on trumpet and flugelhorn, Kurt Moorehead on Tenor Sax and flute, Rick Demey on Alto sax and flute, Chad Schneider on trombone.

Bass - Paul McDaniel
Piano - Ben Jensen
Lead male vocals - Enrique Aguilar
Lead female vocals - Sandra Vidal
Cuban style drum kit and vocals - Jonny George
Congas - Victor Nieves
Tenor sax, flute - Kurt Moorehead
Alto sax, flute - Rick Demey,
Trombone, Band leader - Chad Schneider
Trumpet - Eric Schneider

Dave Rajewski, Music Director and Lead Trumpet

Tuesday, 2/5 at 8pm, Legacy Jazz Orchestra

The Legacy Jazz Orchestra presents an evening of Swing Era music featuring the compositions and arrangements of the most influential writers and practicioners of big band music. Many legendary jazz figures rose to prominence during the 1930's and 40's and the LJO seeks to pay tribute to those whose contributions led a period of unprecedented success for jazz music. Ellington's brilliant compositions and orchestrations, the Basie band's sensational rhythm section and the precise yet swinging ensemble work of Jimmie Lunceford's Orchestra are some of the achievements that make swing era jazz timeless.

The Legacy Jazz Orchestra is a Denver based, 17 piece jazz ensemble committed to the enduring music of jazz icons: Thad Jones, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Holman, Gerald Wilson and anything else that goes spang-a-lang in the night. The band is comprised of the front range's leading jazz performers and educators including faculty members from the following institutions: University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, University of Wyoming, University of Colorado-Denver and Metropolitan State College. The LJO features excellent soloists and affords these musicians ample creative space within the context of a big band composition. The unique combination of extended solos along with the informed execution of ensemble passages is a faithful homage to the tradition of the Count Basie and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestras.

El Jebel Shriner's Big Band

Wednesday, 2/6 at 7pm El Jebel Shriners Big Band

The 16 piece El Jebel Shriners Big Band is an all volunteer big band started playing together in 1994. The group consists of 5 saxes, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, piano, bass, and drums. 2 vocalists are also part of the ensemble. The band is part of the El Jebel Shrine however, not all members are Shriners. Members are: Director Marv Feldman, retired band director and director of Colorado Civil War Band; Ron Malpiede, Tenor Sax and Chiropractor; Dick Hays, Alto Sax, and Retired high school band director; Gary Buss, Alto Sax, elementary school music teacher and professional musician for the Denver Performing Arts Center; Beth Johnson, Tenor Sax, middle school band director; Mike Trevathan, Baritone Sax and Owner of Rocky Mountain Volvo Service; John Sells, Trombone, Author and Retired Insurance Salesman; Steve Munsinger, Trombone and Jefferson County Judge; John Ray, Trombone, Vocals and Computer Engineer; William Reed, Trombone and Band director in North Denver; Larry Morris, Trombone and Retired from Kolacny Music; Norm O’Kelly, Trumpet, Retired; Larry Rudnicki ,Trumpet, Contractor; Pete Stoll, Trumpet and Computer consultant, Jerry Glaze, Trumpet and Barber; Tom Soto, Trumpet and owner of internet and telephone service contractor; Charlie Schaffer, Piano and owner of Schaffer Piano Tuning; Bob Ryerson, Bass, Retired; Ron Sullivan, Percussion and Computer engineer; Kathy Jones, Vocals and owner of Jones-Starr Construction.

When Purnell and the band played in our studio during February 2012, the Denver Post was on hand to record. Enjoy!

Manuel Lopez Trio

Friday, 2/8 at 3pm Manuel Lopez Trio, with Manuel on drums, Maria D. Lopez (vocals), Peter Ellingson (piano) and Eduardo Bijoux Barbosa (bass). 

Born and raised in Colorado, Manuel grew up with a great passion for music. Having a natural taste for Latin music he began playing congas in his early teen years. Not too long after he picked up a pair of drum sticks and began playing the drums. Since then his experiences performing and meeting great musicians has led him to form the Latin Jazz trio. "No one was playing the music I wanted to play" he states. "Which is why I put this group together."

After many performances Manuel began to be influenced more and more by Michel Camilo, Avishai Cohen, Chick Corea, Hilario Duran, and other small groups. He loved the virtuosity, energy, and most of all the interaction in a small group. In 2008 the trio was called to back up Grammy award winning Latin Jazz flutist Dave Valentine at Dazzle in Denver, since then the trio has been the format of choice. In 2012 Maria D. Lopez, Manuel's wife, joined the trio to add her unique voice to the groups' sound. Performing romantic boleros to other Cuban repertoire, and her own original repertoire. Currently the group continues to draw from their knowledge and love for this music to push the repertoire to a higher level. Manuel comments on this, "we have some great Michel and Chick tunes, and we've also started playing some of Pete's tunes. Maria adds another dimension, her voice and talents are at home in the group."

Saturday, 2/9 at 4pm Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine, with Fred Fuller on bass, Todd Reid on drums, Max Wagner on sax, HUgh Ragin on trumpet and Myra Warren on vocals. 

Denver has always had a thriving jazz community, and between the 1920s and 1950s, the Five Points neighborhood was the heart of the scene. Known as the "Harlem of the West," at its peak Five Points had over fifty bars and clubs, and played host to all the greats: pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington, singers Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, saxophonist Charlie Parker, and trumpeter Miles Davis, just to name a few. The Five Points sound emerged, a brand of jazz characterized by red-hot swing and boundless joie de vivre.

Thankfully the Five Points sound is still alive today, and the main keeper of the flame is pianist Purnell Steen and his group Le Jazz Machine (PSALM). Now in his early seventies, Steen is a consummate performer who has a legion of devoted fans in his native Denver. Steen is also part of a musical dynasty, with relatives including vocalist Dianne Reeves, pianist George Duke, saxophonist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and bassist Charlie Burrell. Imagine Count Basie's swing combined with Duke Ellington's "Love you madly" charm, topped off with a healthy dollop Wild West spirit, and that's Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine.

For their performance in the Phyllis A Greer Performance Studio, Purnell and the band are presenting a Tribute to African American Composers, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Dizzy Gillespie. TUNE IN!

Here's how it sounded the last time the band was here at the studio:

Mike Abbott

Tuesday, 2/5 at noon Mike Abbott Trio, with Paul Romaine on drums and Jeff Jenkins on piano

Mike Abbott has been performing, recording, and touring with bands all over the world for over 20 years. He has performed and/or recorded with with The Rolling Stone’s horn section, Randy Brecker, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Chie Imaizumi, Sammy Davis Jr., Burt Bacharach, Paul Schaffer, Joey Calderazzo, and Marc Copeland. After earning his Music Degree in 1988 at the University of Miami in Florida, he moved to New York City and started playing clubs, touring in the US and Europe, and recording. In 2003, Mike and his family moved to Denver where he is teaching extensively, and performing/recording with some of Denver’s finest bands as well as national acts.

Janine Santana and Richie Cole

Tuesday, 2/5 at 3pm Janine Santana with Richie Cole (alto sax) and Jose Madera (percussion) and featuring Gabe Mervine on trumpet, Eric Gunnison on piano, Mark Diamond on bass, Prasanna Bishop on tenor sax and MaryLynn Gillaspie on vocals

Of Puerto Rican descent, via Brooklyn, NY and Trenton, NJ, conguera Janine Santana
has lived with a deep love for Afro-Cuban/ Caribbean traditions and Jazz for as long as she can remember. She has been a professional performing artist in a variety of genres for the past 30 years. An accurate, exciting and groove-driven conga player, she has been in demand and followed on the Latin dance/festival circuit as well as a side player on recordings. Santana is also a radio host, actor, artist, designer and writer.  

Janine is joined by fellow Trentonite Richie Cole - creator of Alto Madness. Richie started playing alto saxophone when he was 10 years old in his home town of Trenton, New Jersey. Influenced by Sonny Rollins and Charlie Parker, Cole’s talent and dedication won him a full scholarship from Downbeat Magazine to the Berklee School of Music in Boston. His professional career began in 1969 when he joined the Buddy Rich Big Band. After stints with the Lionel Hampton Big Band and the Doc Severinsen Big Band, Cole formed his own quintet and toured worldwide, doing a great deal to popularize bebop and his own “Alto Madness” style in the 70’s and early 80’s.

Cole has performed and recorded with the great vocalese artist Eddie Jefferson, the Manhattan Transfer, Bobby Enriquez, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Stitt, Art Pepper, Tom Waits, Boots Randolph, and Nancy Wilson, to name just a few of his musical collaborations. Notably, Cole has performed at the Village Vanguard and Carnegie Hall as well as gave a command performance for the Queen of England.

Marguerite Juenemann

Tuesday, 2/5 at 10am The Marguerite Juenemann Vocal Ensemble, featuring Kipp Lockwood, Kim Mallek, Ellen Bossert-Ross, and Doug Roche on piano

A multi-instrumentalist in high school, Marguerite Juenemann was a singer/musician/arranger in three other groups and a session artist on three albums before forming Rare Silk as a vocal trio in 1978. In 1980 the group played a series of dates with Benny Goodman; they also traveled worldwide on their own and eventually became a mixed quartet. Marguerite has since been an educator, working at Naropa in Boulder, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Lamont School of Music and the University of Maine; and has performed as a solo vocalist.

Community, Culture and MUSIC

TUNE IN as we present a diverse selection of music during our Winter 2013 Membership Drive!

Thursday, 1/31 at 2:00pm David Amram 

A pioneer player of jazz French horn, David Amram is also a virtuoso on piano, numerous flutes and whistles, percussion, and dozens of folkloric instruments from 25 countries, as well as an inventive, funny improvisational lyricist. He has collaborated with Leonard Bernstein, (who chose him as The New York Philharmonic's first composer-in-residence in 1966), Dizzy Gillespie, Langston Hughes, Dustin Hoffman, Willie Nelson, Thelonious Monk, Odetta, Elia Kazan, Arthur Miller, Charles Mingus, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Depp and Tito Puente.

Kris has been working with pianos since 1992.  During the summer of 1993 he worked as an apprentice tuner at the Aspen Music Festival.  Western Iowa Tech awarded him a degree in piano technology in 1994. Kris has been a member of the Piano Technicians Guild since 1993, and in 1998 passed the Guild's comprehensive series of exams to achieve the status of Registered Piano Technician (RPT).

Kris works independently, serving clients throughout the greater Denver area and, in concert with Becky Jakobsen, in their Denver repair facility. Together they continue the tradition of quality craftsmanship that every piano deserves. Kris may be contacted at: (303) 215-9736 or denverpianotuning.com.

 "Nothing is more satisfying than giving an old instrument a new musical life."