It’s another good week for music in the neighborhood. Over the next seven days, you can catch Latin percussionist Poncho Sanchez with singer Lila Downs at the Botanic Gardens on Monday, guitarist Larry Carlton at the Boulder Theater tonight, smooth-jazz saxophonist Paul Taylor at the Soiled Dove Underground on Saturday, the uppity blues women Saffire at Swallow Hill also on Saturday, pianist Billy Wallace with trumpeter Randy Sandke at Dazzle on Sunday and Mexican-born jazz singer Magos Herrera at Dazzle on Friday.
Sanchez is considered by many critics to be the top percussionist around these days. That’s why he earned the top spot in the recent Down Beat “Critics Poll.” Born in Texas and raised in Los Angeles, Sanchez joined the Cal Tjader Quintet in 1975. He stayed until the early 1980s when he formed his own soulful, Latin-jazz octet following the tradition of the bands led Tjader and Mongo Santamaria. His new CD, Psychedelic Blues, is due out in September and will be his 24th disc on the Concord Picante label. Together with Latin, award-winning singer Downs, Sanchez performs outdoor at the Botanic Gardens, 1005 York, Monday night at 7 p.m. ($50/$45 members, 888-440-9568).
While Sanchez was spending part of the 1970s working with vibraphonist Tjader, guitarist Carlton became the de facto fifth member of the Crusaders band during that decade, recording 13 discs with the popular group. In 1976, Carlton replaced Lee Ritenour in the all-star Fourplay quartet; and he has maintained his strong jazz sentiments, even though he is widely known for his more pop-oriented session work. Carlton plays in Boulder at the Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St.,at 8 p.m. this evening ($34/$42.50 includes a CD and a meet-and-greet with Carlton).
On Saturday, saxophonist Taylor, who is originally from Denver, is at the Soiled Dove, 7401 E. 1st Ave. at 7 and 9 p.m. and Saffire (made up Gaye Adegbalola, Andra Faye and Ann Ralston) sings up a storm at Swallow Hill at 8 p.m. Denver has more than a passing connection to the crossover side of jazz and Taylor is among the most popular players in the genre ($40, 303-830-9214). As for Saffire, this is the farewell tour from the singers who began recording on Alligator Records in 1990 and have a string of raucous releases on that blues label ($21-$24, 303-777-1003). The group’s final show is in Virginia on Nov. 7.
Come Sunday, you can get upbeat with pianist Wallace who is celebrating his 80th birthday with a strong band that features trumpeter Sandke. Along with Sandke, the West Coast birthday group has Noel Jewkes on saxophone, Michael Barnett on bass and Mel Brown on drums. The quintet is on stage at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, on Sunday at 5 and 7 p.m. ($20, 303-839-5100). Wallace has worked with drummer Max Roach and spent time in Denver before moving to Seattle. Now, the talented and mature pianist is back in town – much to the city’s benefit. As for Sandke, the Chicago-born player is a highly-regarded mainstream trumpeter who has successfully ventured into more modern aspects of the music. In fact, early on, he even performed in a rock group with his classmate at Indiana University, tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker.
Also at Dazzle, there’s singer Herrera who was born in Mexico and lives in New York. On her debut disc on Sunnyside Records, Distancia, the singer is backed by bassist Ricky Rodriguez and drummer Al Kautz who are with singer for her Friday night Dazzle date at 7 and 9 p.m. ($15). Pianist Jeff Jenkins rounds out the band. Additionally, tonight finds the talented, young drummer Colin Stranahan at Dazzle with his band at 10:30 p.m. ($5).
Finally, on Sunday, the Queen City Jazz Band is at the Mercury Café, 2199 California, starting at 8 p.m. Queen City is one of five groups alternating on Sundays at the Mercury through October ($8, 303-294-9258).
Normanprovizer@aol.com
