Jazz Notes 11-19-2009     Norman Provizer           

This weekend, singer Rene Marie once again dons her acting hat for three encore performances of the enormously powerful one-woman play Slut Energy Theory. Written by Marie and directed by donnie betts, the play (which includes some singing) is a serious and strong exploration of sexual abuse and the human condition. It runs on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Crossroads Theatre, 2590 Washington St. in Five Points ($20, www.denvercrossroads.com). There is also a matinee performance on Sunday at 3 p.m. That performance is free and is limited to those who have experienced domestic and sexual abuse.

In a different vein, “alto madness” saxophonist Richie Cole hits the stage at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, tonight as part of percussionist Janine Santana’s Latin jazz group that also has Brad Goode on trumpet, Ken Walker on bass, Jeff Jenkins on piano and Paul Romaine on drums. I’ve heard Cole with Santana’s band and the whole aggregation produces a lot of heat. Then, on Friday, Cole, who had a long musical relationship with singer Eddie Jefferson, returns to Dazzle with Santana, Walker, Romaine and pianist Andy Weyl. Cole’s horn is full of fire and on both evening, he and Santana play at 7 and 9 p.m. ($15, 303-839-5100).    

Friday also finds guitarist Frank Potenza (a protégé of the great Joe Pass) in town at the Broadway Music School, 1940 S. Broadway, for a solo concert at 7:30 p.m. Potenza teaches at the University of Southern California and his latest CD on Capri Records is Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue. Additionally, he is holding a workshop at the school during the day on Saturday ($36 for the concert and workshop or $20 for each event, 303-777-0833).

Potenza has worked with pianist Gene Harris (who has his own connection to Denver) and is on Harris’ live recording Alley Cats on Concord. Saturday evening, the guitarist brings a quartet to Dazzle that features the fine flautist Holly Hoffman along with Jenkins on Hammond B-3 organ and Todd Reid on drums. The quartet swings at 7 and 9 p.m. ($15).

Come Sunday, the sounds at Dazzle continue with the duo of pianist/drummer Art Lande and saxophonist Peter Sommer. Lande is one of the national musical treasures you can find in Colorado and he is set to explore new composition in the duo format at 7 p.m. ($10).

The weekend also finds singer Spider Saloff visiting town. Earlier this month, the world celebrated the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. On Friday, the singer returns to the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, to celebrate a different Berlin. Her show Berlin in Swing Time: A Fresh Look at Irving Berlin is on stage in Lakewood at 7:30 p.m. ($22, 303-987-7845). On Saturday, she travels up to Boulder to play at the Boulder Outlook Hotel starting at 7:30 p.m. (303-443-3322).

Beyond the weekend, the sounds continue at Dazzle on Monday with Chased (named for the band that was led by trumpeter Bill Chase) at 7 p.m. ($15) and trumpeter Ron Miles with a quartet on Wednesday at also at 7 p.m. ($15/$5 of which goes to the Denver Rescue Mission)/? To call Miles, who teaches at Metro State, a local player is like calling the Empire State Building a local New York structure. The trumpeter is simply one of the best musicians around this or any other town. For his pre-Thanksgiving Day performance, Miles has guitarist Dave Devine, bassist Greg Garrison and drummer Colin Stranahan on hand. Stranahan, who grew up in Denver, is, of course, a young player who has received considerable attention and is definitely someone to watch.

Opening for Miles is the Jeffrey Isom Quartet with Isom on trumpet, Carmen Sandim on piano, Jean-Luc Davis on bass and Josh Moore on drums.

Normanprovizer@aol.com