The 2022 Evergreen Jazz Festival is back July 29, 30, & 31!

After Midnight – Denver – This incredible group is now well into its third decade of delivering the spot-on sound of the Benny Goodman Sextet plus equally authentic renditions of Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, and other greats of the Swing Era.

​Carl Sonny Leyland Trio – Southern California – Talk about popular demand! One of the most requested groups ever to appear in the Festival, these three mega-talents deliver a range of boogie-woogie, barrelhouse, and blues that is certain to have audiences rocking again this year.

Felonius Smith Trio – Boulder – If you have a special place in your heart for old-time Blues, this is your band! They’ve appeared in three previous Festivals, thrilling audiences with their authentic sound of those marvelous bottleneck blues players of the 1920s and 30s.

Holland-Coots Swingin’ West – Nashville – Festival favorites Brian Holland and Danny Coots have put together a special Nashville take on Western Swing just for Evergreen. With all the talent in their hometown coupled with Brian and Danny’s standard for quality, you can be sure the group will provide a memorable listening experience.

Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra – Denver – Dust off your dancing shoes – or at least your toe-tappers – and get after it with one of the top swing bands anywhere. With their authentic re-creations of such Swing Era greats as Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie, the Hot Tomatoes have been creating happy dancers and listeners for over 35 years.

Joe Smith and The Spicy Pickles – Denver – Since its creation in 2013, this young, exciting band has gained an enthusiastic following, particularly with swing dancers in Denver and across the country. They pride themselves on being true to the genre, and their marvelous sound, authentic dress, and unbridled energy have made them a festival favorite.

Your Father’s Mustache Band – Denver – This mainstay of the Denver jazz scene traces its roots back to the mid-1960s when the Your Father’s Mustache club opened in downtown Denver. The club survived ten raucous years before closing, and the band reorganized in 1975 to include several members who are still playing today!  Those long-timers are leader Joe Petrucelli on banjo,  Ray Leake on piano, and Mike Johnson, on washboard/drums.  The band has now been spreading joy to Rocky Mountain audiences for over 45 years and even includes two next-generation Petrucelllis.  As a special treat, we’ve arranged to bring their vocal favorite Mary Kelly out of Florida retirement for a guest appearance at the Festival.

Louis Ford & His New Orleans Flairs – New Orleans – The music doesn’t get much more “New Orleans” than this.  The band’s extensive repertoire and great sound featuring Louis’ high-flying clarinet make them a big hit wherever they play.

Queen City Jazz Band with Wende Harston – Denver – For over 60 years, this treasure of the Queen City of the Plains has been thrilling audiences on both sides of the Atlantic with their big, authentic New Orleans sound. The musicians have changed over the years, but the band’s commitment to quality has been unwavering. Wende Harston is regarded as one of today’s great jazz vocalists.

The Dalton Ridenhour Trio – New York City – Making its Evergreen debut, this amazingly talented and versatile group digs deep into jazz from the 1920s through the 40s. You’re likely to hear Nat King Cole Trio arrangements, Swing Era standards, and some seldom heard.

Double 88 – In addition to the great bands highlighted above, the Festival will present several sets of dueling pianos featuring Brian Holland, Carl Sonny Leyland, and Dalton Ridenhour. Each will play at least once with each of the other two in what will likely be some of the most memorable sets of the whole Festival. Three fabulous talents and two grand pianos in the acoustically marvelous Church.