September 11 is a special date in American history. To commemorate the tragic events of eight years ago, Metro State College presents a free, outdoor concert on Friday evening featuring the U.S. Air Force Academy Band’s the Falconaires directed by Scott Crump with special guest Chie Imaizumi. The event is called Sharing the Freedom: A Concert of Remembrance and Hope after a composition written by Imaizumi under a commission from the Falconiares. Together, the big band and Imaizumi premiered the work at the 2008 Monterey Jazz Festival; and, on Friday, it provides the theme for the event commemorating 9/11 – an event, I should add, that I’ve been involved in as a faculty member at Metro State.

Representing the Air Force Academy, the Falconaires is one of the two premier big bands fielded by the Air Force. It’s a swinging, 18-piece aggregation filled by full-time musicians led by musical director Master Sergeant Crump. The last time I heard the band was at the Telluride Jazz Celebration and it can roar. For this concert, the talented composer Imaizumi joins the Falconaires for half of the evening, conducting four of her pieces arranged for a full-size big band. And by the way, Ricky Sweum, one of the band’s tenor saxophonists, has new CD out (titled Pulling Your Own Strings) that was a KUVO’s disc of the month.

The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. with the Metro State One O’Clock Jazz Combo warming things up before the concert kicks in at 7 p.m. Denver’s Mayor John Hickenlooper is also on the program. After all, how many cities can say they have a mayor who once owned a jazz club?

The free event on 9^th Street Historic Park on the Auraria campus also has free parking for the evening in Lots H and L. Additionally, the outdoor location is right near the Auraria the light-rail stop. You can bring dinner, a blanket or a chair. Limited seating is also available. You can get directions and find other information at www.mscd.edu.

Along with the outdoor concert at Auraria, Friday also offers a lot of other music including pianist Monty Alexander with his Harlem-Kingston Express band at the outdoor City Hall venue, 1144 Broadway, Chet Baker-influenced trumpeter/singer Nate Birkey at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, powerhouse drummer Jeff Hamilton at the Peak View Jazz series at the Greeley Country Club, 4700 10^th St., and popular smooth-jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows at the Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1^st Ave.

The Jamaican-born Alexander is a highly-regarded player who moved to the U.S. as teenager from his island home. His Harlem-Kingston group (one of several that he leads) covers the island sound from Harry Belafonte to Bob Marley and hits City Hall at 8 p.m. ($30/$40 day of show, www.coclubs.com).

Instead of the islands, trumpeter/singer Birkey is from Denver and has moved on and has his own group in New York that includes pianist Jim Ridl who also spent time in these parts. For his date at Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m., Birkey, whose latest CD is titled Almost Home, is joined by Jeff Jenkins on piano, Ken Walker on bass and Paul Romaine on drums ($12, 303-839-5100).

Tonight at Dazzle, drummer Hamilton’s trio (with Tamir Hendelman on piano and Christoph Luty on bass) winds up its two-night stand at the club on Lincoln with sets at 7 and 9 p.m. ($20). The drummer, who has worked with Ray Brown and pianist Alexander among others, then goes to Greeley on Friday as part of the Peak View Jazz series with sets at 8 and 10 p.m. ($15/$10 members/$5 students and dinner available for $25, 970-353-2267). Hamilton’s latest CD with his trio is Symbiosis just released by Capri Records. Also on Friday, crossover saxophonist Meadows is at the Soiled Dove at 9 p.m. ($35/$40 day of show, 303-830-9214).

Then on Saturday, London-born pianist Ralph Sharon, who now lives here, celebrates his 86^th birthday at Dazzle with his trio at 6 and 8 p.m. ($12). Sharon first hooked up with singer Tony Bennett in 1957 and stayed with him for more than four decades. Interestingly enough, one of pianist Alexander’s recent discs, The Good Life, focuses on the music associated with Bennett. And on Sunday, pedal-steel player Glenn Taylor brings his orchestra to Dazzle at 7 p.m. ($10).

Looking ahead: On Sept. 18, KUVO hosts percussionist Bobby Sanabria and his band Ascension at a Signature Event titled Steppin’ Into Latin Music in the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Performing Arts Complex at 8:30 p.m. (303-480-9272). Starting at 9 a.m. on Sept. 18, Sanabria holds a workshop in St. Cajetan’s on the Auraria campus.  Also on Sept. 17 and 18, bassist Eddie Gomez comes to Dazzle to join 92-year-old pianist Ted Alexander who has been a longtime keyboard icon on the area scene.

Normanprovizer@aol.com