Tom Harrell continues his visit to Dazzle tonight and Friday. Born in 1946, Harrell is frequently labeled, with good reason, as one of the greatest trumpeters of his generation. Not long after he graduated from Stanford University, Harrell began burning up the scene, playing with a number of people including Horace Silver. In the early 1980s, the trumpeter began a long stay as a member of saxophonist Phil Woods’ quintet after which he formed his own group.

At Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, Harrell has his working band on hand for sets at 7 and 9 p.m. ($30, 303-839-5100). That group features saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Donald Edwards. With the exception of drummer Edwards, this band has been together for several years and can be found on Harrell’s last three CDs on Half-Note Records (the latest of which is the soon-to-be released Roman Nights). Simply stated, Harrell is a potent player who can spin a tale with lyrical beauty. And it’s also worth noting that saxophonist Escoffery (born in 1975) is a leader in his own right with a number of CDs under his belt, the most of which is Uptown, while the London-born bassist Okegwo (born in 1962) is a much in-demand player.

Interestingly, the last time heard Harrell live was at Mount Vernon Country Club in Golden (where the trumpeter played a tad too much piano). Mount Vernon has a highly regarded jazz series and on Wednesday that series offers singer Sachal Vasandani who has two CDs out on the Mack Avenue label (Eyes Wide Open in 2007 and We Move in 2009). Born in Chicago, Vasandani has gained attention following his move to New York; and he hits Colorado right after a stop at Yoshi’s in San Francisco.

The singer is at Mount Vernon with his working trio. Since 2001, that trio has featured Jeb Patton on piano, David Wong on bass and Quincy Davis on drums. The buffet dinner at the country club located west of Denver off of I-70 (near exit 254) starts at 6 p.m. with the music kicking in at 8 p.m. ($36.95 for dinner and music/$15 for the music alone, 303-526-0616).

Returning to the weekend, Saturday finds pianist Purnell Steen and his group (with trumpeter Hugh Ragin, saxophonist Max Wagner, bassist Fred Fuller and drummer Todd Reid) turning up the crawfish heat at Dazzle with the “Sounds of Mardi Gras” at 7 and 9 p.m. ($15). This year, of course, the Crescent City had a giant Super Bowl party even before the countdown to Mardi Gras began. Things wrap up on Fat Tuesday which is February 16.

In addition to Mardi Gras, this week also offers Valentine’s Day. To celebrate that day on Sunday, pianist/singer Ellyn Rucker and saxophonist Laura Newman come together in a quartet setting for a night of romance (with some swing thrown in) at Dazzle. Newman and Rucker play from 4 to 9 p.m. ($40 including a full dinner).

Leading into Valentine’s Day, Lynn Skinner is the featured vocalist with the Arvada Chorale concert in the Arvada Center for the Performing Arts, 6901 Wadsworth, at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with a silent auction at 5:30 p.m. ($10, 720-898-7200). Also on Saturday, singer Bonnie Lowdermilk and her trio provides some pre-Valentine sounds at the Twisted Olive, 8270 Northfields Blvd., number 1480 in the Stapleton Center, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (303-375-8100). And on Sunday, the Polite Jazz Quartet is at Baur’s Restaurant, 1512 Curtis, from 8:30 until 11 p.m. (303-534-4842). 

Additionally, there are some edgy sounds happening during the week as well. On Saturday, the Bottesini Project (with saxophonist Paul Riola, trumpeter Glen Whitehead, guitarist Dave Devine, bassist Kent McLagan and special guest Scott Amendola on drums) appears at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St., at 8 p.m. ($7/$5 students and members, 719-634-5583). Bottesini explores creative, improvisational music with style and having Amendola (who has worked with a host of players, including guitarist Charlie Hunter) is a sweet treat.

Then on Tuesday, Dazzle has a trio named Chicago Goes West on stage at 7 p.m. The trio has Karl Schwonik, from Alberta, Canada, on drums, Nik Bedard, from Montreal on bass and James Davis from Chicago on trumpet. The group     released its debut recording not too long ago and should provide something rooted in the tradition with added twists ($10/$5 students).

On a final note: the Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1^st Ave., offers its own smooth Valentine’s Day on Sunday with the Gentlemen of the Night, featuring crossovers players Marion Meadows, Paul Taylor and Michael Lington. There are two shows at 6:30 and 10 p.m. ($45-$55, 303-366-0007).

Normanprovizer@aol.com