How’s this for a musical trifecta: the intriguing guitarist Charlie Hunter; the swinging Vanguard Jazz Orchestra; and the imposing saxophone/drums/bass trio known as Fly. Over the next few days, each of these groups will be rolling through town, offering jazz fans an engaging mix of the music’s forms performed by top-shelf players.

Born in Rhode Island, Hunter who is on stage at Dazzle tonight and Friday with trumpeter Ron Miles, drummer Rudy Royston and keyboardist Erik Deutsch, grew up in California where he attended the same high school as saxophonist Joshua Redman and pianist Benny Green. In 1993, Hunter, who would expand the number of strings on his guitar to eight, formed his own trio. Before long, he began recording a series of CDs for Blue Note, solidifying his position as a pivotal voice in the wave of groove music sweeping across the scene, including membership in the James Brown, Thelonious Monk, Rahsaan Roland Kirk tribute band TJ Kirk.

While Hunter can rock the house, there’s more to his playing than that. The last time I heard him with trumpeter Miles, the music was as sublime as it was salacious (in the best sense, of course). The Denver-based Miles is simply a treasure. Recently drummer Matt Wilson was in town to perform and record with the Fred Hess Big Band that also features Miles. As Wilson noted during that visit, when New York players talk about important musicians who aren’t in the Big Apple, Miles’ name is right at the top of the list.

For this date at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, Hunter and Miles are joined by drummer Royston and keyboardist Deutsch both of whom worked with Miles before carving out a name for themselves on the New York scene following their move east from Denver. Among others, Royston is currently working with guitarist Bill Frisell (who has his own Denver connection), while Deutsch has been part of Hunter’s trio, appearing on the guitarist’s 2007 Mistico CD and the 2008 Baboon Strength disc. The keyboardist is also the subject of a “Players” piece in the February issue of Down Beat.

Originally, the date was a trio outing. But since Deutsch was in town for a January 21 date at the Boulder Theatre (303-786-7030) celebrating the release of his new CD Hush Money, his joining in on the Dazzle fun was a natural. The sets tonight and Friday are at 7 and 9 p.m. ($25/half price for students tonight at 9 p.m., 303-839-5100).      

On a different chord, the 16-piece Vanguard Jazz Orchestra is also in state tonight and Friday. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the big band, which traces its lineage back to the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra through the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, is at the Vilar Performing Arts Center, 68 Avondale Lane in Beaver Creek ($50, 888-920-2787). Come Friday, the big band directed trombonist John Mosca settles into University of Denver’s Newman Center, Iliff and University, for a 7:30 p.m. concert ($28-$45, 800-982-2787 or at the box office). 

The Grammy-winning big band has a number of fine players, including alto saxophonist/artistic director Dick Oatts, baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan (who this past weekend was recording in New York with Denver-based composer Chie Imaizumi for her new Capri CD) and trumpeter Scott Wendholt who has his own Denver roots. At 6:30 p.m., prior to the concert, there is also a free ‘Behind the Curtain” lecture on the big band and its music. Earlier on Friday, the Vanguard big band offers a free clinic at 1 p.m. on “The Precepts of Swing.” The clinic/workshop is sponsored by the DU’s Lamont School of Music and the Newman Center.  

Then, on Saturday and Sunday at Dazzle, along comes the Fly Trio to wrap up the trifecta. Fly consists of tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, drummer Jeff Ballard and bassist Larry Grenadier and goes back a trio under Ballard’s name from 2000. In 2004, the cooperative trio issued its inaugural CD on Savoy. But, the group really started creating a stir with its potent 2009 disc on ECM titled Sky and Country. Fly truly is a joint undertaking rather than a saxophone trio supported by a piano-less rhythm section. Ballard and Grenadier, both originally from California, have performed and recorded with a host of major-name players and have worked together with pianist Brad Mehldau and guitarist Pat Metheny. The Ohio-born Turner moved to California when he was four and is now one of the top rising stars on tenor. On Saturday, the sets are at 7 and 9 p.m. and on Sunday the starting times are 6 and 8 p.m. ($25/half price for students on Sunday at 8 p.m.). This Fly doesn’t just flap its wings. Instead, the highly creative trio is among the best newer bands around.

Also on tap, singer Leonard Barrett Jr. sings the music of Nat “King” Cole and others at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, 16^th and Arapahoe, on Friday at 8 p.m. ($25, 303-293-0075). His show called “Unforgettable” continues every Friday through February 26 incorporating music from singer Lannie Garrett’s favorite jazz/soul/pop singers, including Cole, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and others.

Speaking of singers, the fine up-and-coming vocalist Sophie Milman is at the Lakewood Cultural Center on September 23 ($28/$22.25 for members, 303-987-7845). The singer, who is on a rapid trajectory to the top, was originally scheduled to perform at the Lakewood Cultural Center this past fall, but her tour was cancelled due to illness. So, it’s certainly good to see her back on the road from her home in Canada. And, to end the musical week, saxophonist Max Wagner brings a trio to Dazzle on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ($10).

Normanprovizer@aol.com