Telluride Jazz Festival 2025: Days Two & Three

Day Two of the Telluride Jazz Festival 2025:

If the crisp mountain air and towering San Juans weren’t enough of a draw, days two and three of the 47th annual Telluride Jazz Festival bring a full slate of world-class performances to this high-elevation hideaway. We’ve got your guide to what’s going down at a festival that continues to honor jazz’s deep roots while embracing fresh voices in soul, funk, and global grooves.

Festival gates open up on Saturday at 1:00pm MT, and the first act to set the tone for the afternoon is Denver University based outfit, End All Quintet at 1:30pm. Made up of 5 best friends, this group brings jazz fusion steeped in post-rock and electronics. "Songs for the Sun" is their debut EP — a three-track trip through big questions about belief, the planet, and how to keep moving forward when things get weird.

Then later at 3:00pm, the jazz‑inspired, funk‑driven organ trio Parlor Greens brings their groove to the mainstage. Featuring Adam Scone on Hammond B3 organ, Jimmy “Scratch” James on guitar, and Tim Carman on drums, their sound pays homage to legends like Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Melvin Sparks, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Colemine Records founder Terry Cole had the vision for a fresh organ trio and pulled the band together. They’d never played before, but the chemistry clicked—within minutes they wrote and recorded “West Memphis,” kicking off their debut album In Green / We Dream, tracked live to tape. Parlor Greens is going to roll into Telluride with a raw groove and a fresh spin on vintage soul, guaranteed to get the crowd moving.

Voodoo Orchestra, joined by special guest Karl Hunter, kicks things into high gear at 4:30 p.m. Named the nation’s top young blues and swing band by DownBeat Magazine, this band consists of 20 members mixing up a feel-good combo of rockabilly twang, jazz grooves, and bluesy charm. Packed with young talent ages 15 to 18, this big band brings the full-on brass blast to the stage, all under the direction of jazz champ Caleb Chapman. Special guest Karl Hunter is a seasoned saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his long-standing role with the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Expect their set to invite the crowd to dance as high-voltage swing fills Town Park.

Colorado jazz-supergroup BTTRFLY Quintet comprised of Lettuce members Eric Benny Bloom on the trumpet and Adam Deitch on drums, Dominic Lalli from Big Gigantic on Saxaphone, Break science bass player Hunter Roberts, and also from Break Science and the Pretty Lights Live Band, Borahm Lee on keys/synths. The group’s members are seasoned performers, with global festival experience both in their own acts and as collaborators with world-renowned artists. BTTRFLY Quintet dropped by KUVO last November and gave us a live taste of Coast, their debut album packed with fearless, futuristic soul jazz. We can’t wait to see their sound come alive in the heart of Telluride.

Headlining the stage on Saturday is Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (KDTU), embarking on a tour to celebrate a quarter-century of music. KDTU is where jazz chops meet funk swagger and straight-up rock 'n' roll attitude. With Karl leading the charge, the band brings the heat—tight grooves, wild solos, and a vibe that gets you moving and leaves your brain buzzing. It feels like a real homecoming whenever they roll into Telluride. The fest crew says it best — Karl’s no stranger around here, and the band always brings that signature funk-jazz fire.

The Main Stage might wrap up, but the night’s just getting started. Jazz After Dark brings the late-night vibes all along historic Main Street. Slide into the Sheridan Opera House for BTTRFLY Quintet, catch Parlor Greens at The Moon at O’Bannon’s, and groove with End All Quintet at The Alibi. Music kicks off around 10 p.m. and goes well into the night.