In many ways, the career of jazz singer Sophie Milman, who performs on Saturday at the Lakewood Cultural Center, provides perfect material for a Hollywood movie. Born in Ufa on the western slope of the Ural Mountains in 1983, Milman emigrated from the old Soviet Union to Israel with her family when she was seven.

Nine-years later, as a teenager, Milman made another move with her family that brought her to Canada. Before she hit 20, Milman was discovered at a club in Toronto and before long recorded her first CD which was then nominated for a Juno Award (Canada’s version of the Grammy Awards). In a flash, the business student at the University of Toronto whose hobby is singing became an international touring artist with fans across the globe.

With her second CD in 2007, the singer made even more people happy and was  not only nominated for a Juno, but won the award in 2008 for best jazz-vocal album. In 2009, Milman, who speaks Russian, Hebrew, French and English, followed up with her third disc, Take Love Easy, and was set to appear at the Lakewood Cultural Center this past year. But that appearance had to be cancelled when she found herself suffering from vocal fatigue. Now she’s back on the road with her band.

A self-taught vocalist, whose father collected jazz albums back in the U.S.S.R., Milman reworks established tunes rather than writing her own original material. Yet, her approach is anything but standard. As she puts it, “There is an art to interpretation.” And it’s an art she has mastered at a still young age.

Milman is on stage at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway in Lakewood, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday ($28/$22.25 season members, 303-987-7845). Additionally, there is a benefit for the HCA Alliance that includes the show, a dessert/champagne reception with Milman and a CD ($60/$100 for two).

Another show to keep in mind is keyboardist Erik Deutsch’s CD-release party at the Boulder Theater, 2032 14^th St. in Boulder, tonight at 7:30 p.m. Deutsch came to Colorado to attend CU and stayed for about a decade before moving back east. Not long after his move, the keyboardist hooked up with guitarist Charlie Hunter and is on two of Hunter’s recent CDs, as well as working on his own projects. 

One of those projects is Hush Money on Hammer and String Records that displays Deutsch’s cine-magical, genre blending. The rhythm section from the disc, bassist Jonti Siman and drummer Marc Dalio (who has his own Denver connection), are in town for the party, along with Ron Miles, Jon Gray, Jon Stewart and Glenn Taylor. 

This past week, Deutsch joined trumpeter Miles (with whom he worked in Denver), guitarist Hunter and drummer Rudy Royston for two, jam-packed nights romping through Miles’ music at Dazzle. Tonight, the keyboardist gets to display his own writing talent. In addition to Deutsch, the evening that starts at 7:30 p.m. also has two opening acts, the Jefferson Hammer Band and Tom Hagerman and the Guerilla Ensemble ($12, 303-786-7030). 

Additionally this week, trombonist John Hines and Table for Five is a at Dazzle this evening at 7 and 9 p.m. ($8/$12 for two, 303-839-5100), while saxophonist Keith Oxman and pianist Marc Sabatella put together their considerable talents at Dazzle on Friday at 7 and 9 p.m. ($15/$10 students). On Saturday, electric bassist Matt Skellenger brings his group, with Miles on trumpet, to Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m. ($10).

Come Sunday, Dazzle, KUVO/KVJZ and the Gift of Jazz sponsor a “Jazz Jam for Haiti” at Dazzle from 6 until 9 p.m. Then on Tuesday at Dazzle, saxophonist Lynn Baker brings his quartet on stage at 7 p.m. ($10), followed by bassist Lelah Simon, who brings a quintet to the club on Lincoln featuring violinist Skye Steele from Brooklyn, on Wednesday also at 7 p.m. ($10).

In addition to the return to Colorado of Deutsch and drummer Royston, this past week also found trumpeter Scott Wendholt visiting town as part of the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Among other things, Wendholt has his own group that has a serious rhythm section made up of drummer Victor Lewis and bassist Ugonna Okegwo. Drummer Royston also has his band, with Don Braden on saxophone, along with his other activities way out east.

Normanprovizer@aol.com