Norman Provizer’s Jazz Notes–February 12th

In recent years, Ron Miles has released two CDs with his all-star trio on Enja/Yellowbird. First, there was Quiver, followed in 2014 by Circuit Rider and both discs, featuring the sublime interplay among Miles on cornet, Bill Frisell on guitar and Brian Blade on drums, are truly something to behold. On Saturday and Sunday, this incredible trio returns to Dazzle, 930 Lincoln, with sounds you don’t want to miss.

The trio is on stage at 7 and 9 p.m. on Saturday and 6 and 8 p.m. on Sunday (303-839-5100). While all four sets are listed, quite understandably, as sold out, you might want to keep checking to see if you just might be able to slip in. Both Miles and Frisell are East High School graduates and the famed guitarist was in town not long ago with one of his bands to perform at his old high school in a concert benefitting the school’s music program. Miles, who teaches at MSU Denver, is a very real musical treasure; and when you mix the two East High guys with the extraordinary drummer Blade, you have one amazing band.   

Three of the tracks on the trio’s Quiver disc were recorded at Dazzle and having the band back there is special. On Thursday and Friday, before the return of the Miles trio, guitarist Bobby Broom blows into town from Chicago to perform at Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m. Broom has spent a lot of time working with Sonny Rollins, as well as with Stanley Turrentine and Dr. John – and is one fine player who can cover standards and much more. Broom’s current CD is My Shining Hour and, according to the guitarist’s website, the trio he will have in Denver has Dennis Carroll on bass and Makaya McCraven on drums.

            Also on tap at Dazzle during the week, there’s guitarist Leni Stern with her African Trio that has Mamadou Ba on electric bass and Alioune Faye on vocals and various other instruments at the club on Wednesday at 7 p.m. When you add Stern to Broom and Frisell, you have an imposing list of guitarists packed into a single week. And, on top of that, the guitar duo of Eric Johnson and Mike Stern (who worked with Miles Davis during the trumpeter’s comeback in the 1980s) is at the Gothic Theater, 3263 S. Broadway in Englewood, on Thursday at 8 p.m. (303-788-0984). Also on Tuesday, Dazzle has a party from the H2 Big Band at 7 p.m. celebrating the release of the big band’s new CD, It Could Happen. The band, co-led by trumpeter Al Hood and pianist Dave Hanson, is filled with a number of solid, area-based players.   

On the groove side, drummer Joe Russo’s Almost Dead band is at the Ogden Theater, 935 Colfax, on Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m. (303-830-2525) and at the Boulder Theater, 2032 14^th St. in Boulder, on Monday at 7 p.m. (303-786-7030). And since Saturday is Valentine’s Day, there’s a list of musical offerings playing to the theme of the day.

Leading up to Valentine’s Day, Thursday finds bassist Mark Diamond at Treppeda’s, 300 2^nd Ave. in Niwot, with a quartet at 6:30 p.m. (303-652-1606) and clarinetist Dexter Payne at Caffé Sole, 637R S. Broadway in Boulder (303-499-2985). On Friday, Diamond is at the Hotel Boulderado, 2115 13^th St. in Boulder with a quartet for dining and dancing, singer Teresa Carroll is at Nonna’s, 6603 Leetsdale at 6:30 p.m. (303-399-2000) and singer Meryl Romer and her quintet are at Boulder’s Caffé Sole at 7 p.m.. Also on both Friday and Saturday, singer/pianist Ellyn Rucker is at Randolph’s in the Warwick Hotel, 1776 Grant at 6 p.m. (303-861-2000). Also on Saturday, singer Bonnie Lowdermilk is at the Sun Rose Café, 379 Main St. in Longmont (303-651-3533), pianist Andy Weyl has a quartet at the Hotel Boulderado and singer Carroll is at Poppie’s, 2334 S. Colorado (303-756-1268).  

Last and not least for Valentine’s Day, crossover saxophonists Marion Meadows and Paul Taylor are together at the Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. 1st Ave., for shows at 7 and 10 p.m. (303-830-9214).  

normanprovizer@aol.com