Niwot’s Jazz On 2nd Avenue | Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes

On Saturday, you can head to Niwot and catch the 5^th edition of Jazz on 2^nd Avenue that runs from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. As in the past, the free, in-town event blends area-based artists with special guest performers for a well-produced day and night of music. The Colorado Jazz Group Lions kick things off, followed by trumpeter Brad Goode’s Polytonal Dance Party and the Quemando Salsa Band. At 3:30 p.m. saxophonist/flutist Nelson Rangell takes the stage; and, after Rangell, it’s harmonicat Howard Levy. Levy, of course, was one of the founding fathers of the Flecktones as in Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

Following Levy is another of the visitors, singer Aisha De Haas. She is a vocalist known for her work in film, television and on Broadway. Then Levy and saxophonist Donald Harrison join the Colorado Jazz Group players before Harrison and Big Chief close things down. Through much of the 1980s, Harrison co-led a quintet with trumpeter Terence Blanchard, a fellow New Orleans player. The two of them had joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, with some fanfare, replacing two other New Orleans musicians – Wynton and Branford Marsalis. More recently, Harrison has grabbed the title as king of Nouveau Swing and has been focusing on the music from the Big Easy, most notably the black Mardi Gras Indian tradition.

Prior to the 11-hour day affair on Saturday, Jazz on 2^nd Avenue in Niwot also offers a private party on Thursday at Treppeda’s, 300 2^nd Ave., at 6:30 p.m. with the Colorado Jazz Group Lions along with Levy and Harrison (303-652-1606). Then on Friday, there’s a fundraiser concert by the Colorado Jazz Group Big Band with De Haas, Levy and Harrison in the festival tent at 7:30 p.m. (jazzon2ndave.com).

 In 2014, Harrison was the headliner at the annual KUVO event at Balistreri Vineyards serving up a gumbo of sound cooked with Crescent City heat. This year, it was Dianne Reeves who closed down the Live at the Vineyards party and she did it with a set of music that amply displayed why she has earned a spot among the great jazz vocalists.  Before Reeves wrapped up the party, the H2 Big Band got things going on its own and supporting singer Kevin Mahogany. On Thursday, another area-based big band, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra, provides a taste of the big-band tradition at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., at 7:30 p.m. (720-898-7200). Also on Thursday, several members of the area-based Motet join forces with others, including saxophonist Dominic Lalli of Big Gigantic, to pay tribute to the music of Herbie Hancock at Cervantes, 2637 Welton, starting at 9 p.m. (303-297-1772).

Moving to Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, Thursday has a trio called Born to Wander that’s made up of guitarist Steve Kovalcheck, bassist Erik Applegate and singer Katie Skinner. The interesting threesome combination plays at 7 p.m. (303-839-5100). On Saturday, 7 and 9 p.m., saxophonist Keith Oxman holds a B-Day Bash at Dazzle with a quartet. Oxman is an area-based player who receives a lot of praise from such as Curtis Fuller and Benny Golson. Other groups at the club on Lincoln are: the Daryl Gotts Quintet paying tribute to saxophonist Joe Henderson on Friday at 7 and 9 p.m.; saxophonist Joe Anderies with Denver’s Young Lions on Sunday at 7 p.m.; and the Polite Jazz Quartet on Monday at 7 p.m. Then, it’s guitarist/singer Brian Jasper Hull launching a new CD with a quintet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and the Minor Note Orchestra on stage at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Also on Saturday, pianist Purnell Steen is at the Crown Social, 1446 S. Broadway, with a group that includes singer Myra Warren.

On Sunday, pianist Scott Cossu is at Baur’s Listening Lounge, 1512 Curtis, at 8 p.m. The pianist strongly associated with world/new age music and Windham Hill has had musical ties with players such as Dave Valentine, Mark Eagan, Danny Gottlieb and Gene Friesen. At Baur’s, he has multi-instrumentalist, world-music singer and Colorado resident Beth Quist on stage as well (baursmagic.com). If you go to the website and put in the code KUVO, you can receive two free tickets for the music. And on Tuesday, saxophonist Joe Anderies brings his Little Big Band into the KUVO studio. The live music runs from 7 until 8 p.m.

 In the category of other news definitely worth knowing: KUVO’s Arturo Gómez has received recognition (for the fourth time) as the top programmer at a major-market station from JazzWeek and Mount Vernon Country Club has announced its upcoming jazz lineup. That strong lineup includes: bassist Kyle Eastwood (Sept. 17); saxophonist Javon Jackson with Eddie Henderson (Oct. 22); pianist George Cables (Nov. 19); trumpeter Wallace Roney (Jan. 14); guitarist Pat Martino (Feb. 25); and pianist Omar Sosa (April 7). .