Note: In last week's Beat I misspelled Denver JazzFest Denver headliner Wallace Roney's name several times! It's Roney not Rooney. You can learn more about this great trumpet player on his website @ www.wallaceroney.com .

Saturday's JazzFest Denver headliner will be the Marlena Shaw Quartet. Born in Valhalla, New York and raised on gospel and jazz, Marlena's first public performance was at the age of 10, at the legendary Apollo Theater. Her activities since then have been as diverse as her legions of fans. Marlena has fronted big bands and orchestras, among them Basie's (both original and new). Frank Foster's Loud Minority Band, the Cologne Big Band, the Smithsonian and Seattle Repertory Orchestras, and the US Army Blues Band.

She's performed and recorded with Ray Brown, Benny Carter, and Joe Williams, toured with Sammy Davis Jr. for four years, and graced every major jazz festival in the world, as well as top venues like Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. It's not unusual for Marlena to be on the road over 200 days a year! She'll be taking the JazzFest stage @ 10:00 on Saturday the 24th.

The festival will be held in the Temple Event Center @ 1595 Pearl St on February 24th & 25th. You can find more details on the artists, schedule and ticket information on the event website @ www.jazzfestdenver.com.

Young Lovers Wherever You Are... some of the up-coming Cupidity Gigs present The Lynn Skinner Quintet on Thurs., 2/9 @ Jazz@Jack's. 7PM Hit. Check: www.lynnskinner.com for more details; the beauty Barbara Paris & the beast Joe Bonner on Mon. 2/13 @ Dazzle. 7PM Hit. Check: www.dazzlejazz.com; Nate Birkey & Ilona Knopfler On V-Day proper @ Dazzle for two shows, 7 & 9PM.

The Woodsheddin' Is Done. Pianist Chip Stephens, Bassist Ken Walker & Drummer Todd Reid go into the recording studio @ Mile High Music to document this Trio next week. I've been hipped that it'll be a combination of Chip's original compositions melded with tasteful standards. Look for this Capri release in hopefully the not too distant future.

Do you wanna dance? Check out www.cmDance.org for their up-coming gathering this weekend @ The Denver Turnverein (16th & Clarkson Sts.). The Jitterbugs will be out fancy-footin' to The Gypsy Swing Revue on Sat., 2/11 from 8:30PM to 'Round MidNight. For more info: www.gypsyswingrevue.com.

The Only On-Time Combo That Plays Timelessly: The Dale Bruning Quartet featuring Narrater, Ms. Jude Hibler, presenting "The Timeless Music Of The Gershwins" on Feb., 18th @ The Jefferson Unitarian Church, 14350 W. 32nd St., Golden --- (303)/279-5282 or www.jazzlinkenterprises.com for additional info, reservations & directions. .

Jazz Goes To Community College: The Ken Walker Trio featuring multi-reedist Rich Chiaraluce & Guitarist Dave Corbus will perform on The Westminster Campus Of Front Range Community College @ 3645 W. 112th Ave., Westminster. Seek, & ye shall find Gallery C1660. HitTime: 7:30PM. For more info, please contact The D'CheZZe aka Dean Shyrel Smith-Hosseini @ The New Center For Diversity Enrollment & Community Partnerships --- (303)/404-5172 or Shyrel.Hosseini@frontrange.edu.

The Hot Ticket: Composer Chie (Chee -ay) Imaizumi (Ee-my-zu-mee) will be presented by Greg Gisbert @ Dazzle Sat., 2/11 & Sun., 2/12. This will be a VSOP Band with Virtuosic Baritone Saxophonist (also playing, bcl), Gary Smulyan and featuring Brassmen, Greg Gisbert & Ron Miles; Reedists, John Gunther & Peter Sommer; Trombonist Alex Heitlinger; a Rhythm Section consisting of Mike Abbot(g), Jeff Jenkins(p), Mark Simon(b), Paul Romaine(d); Manavihare "Mimy" Fiandratovo(perc); & Jeremy Ragsdale(vcl). This Band will then go into the recording studio under Producer, Tom Burns (Capri Records) and Master Engineer, Scott Griess @ Mile High Music Studios, 11919 N. Frontage Rd.#118 (off I-70), Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. (303)/733-8110.

TO BE HEARD: Tenorists Peter Sommer & Rich Perry (tenorist for The Maria Schneider Orchestra) will be @ Dazzle, Sun. 2/18 with a Quintet, and @ CSU in Ft. Collins for 2/20 & 2/21. The Edna Rizley Griffin Auditorium Concert will take place on Tues. 2/21. Check with Peter Sommer @ Peter.Sommer@colostate.edu for more info. Tix are @ (970)/491-4TIX (CSU).

Also: Peter Sommer & Pianist Art Lande's Duo Concert originally scheduled for SuperBowl Sun. 2/5 has been re-scheduled for Sun. 2/26, again @ The Edna Rizley Griffin Hall (see above for additional info).

BTW: You, The Night, & The Chamber Music: The Edna Rizley Griffin in Ft. Collins, was designated by "The Denver Post" Arts & Cultural Journalist, Mr. Kyle MacMillan, as one of "the five best places to listen to live chamber music" ("Best Seat In The House", 1/22/06). I don't reckon that Prof. Sommer 7 Maestro Lande would take exception to their music being designated chamber music for a night. All'zz well that soundzz well.

Moody @ Mt Vernon Country Club Thurs., 2/23 --- www.mountvernoncc.com or (303)/526-0616. On the following Thurs., 3/2 The Conrad Herwig(tb)---Brian Lynch(t) Septet will feature The Latin Side Of Trane & Miles with Mario Rivera(ts, fl), Edsel Gomez(p), Ruben Rodriquez(b), Robby Ameen(d) & Perdro Martinez(perc, cnga, & vcl). The night before, Wed., 3/1, The Band will have been @ Colorado College in Colo Spgs. the Andy Bey Quartet is due in on Wed., 4/12. Stay tuned.

The "www" for The Jazz Fest Denver '06 is up & running: www.jazzfestdenver.com. CHECK IT OUT: Fri., 2/24: Trumpeter Wallace Roney 6; Pianist Neil Bridge 8; Vibist Mark Sherman 5 featurin' Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli; & 3osity ("Three-Ahhh-Sity") B3 Trio (Brianchi, Corbus & Reid --- releasin' their LONG-AWAITED 2nd CD); AND Sat., 2/25 Vocalist Marlena Shaw 4; Brad Goode 5, featurin' THE BARON (Kenton Drummer John Von Ohlen, also of Blue WISP Band fame); The CCJA Jazz Latin Youth Band; Mistera Fina 6; & The Bob Montgomery-Al Hermann 5 playing The Music & Arrangements of BrassMan John McNeil. For more info: (303)/426-3088.

Congratzz, Kudozz & Welcomes to David Caffey, currently The President of IAJE who recently arrived to head & lead The School Of Music (Jazz) at UNC In Greeley. He also has generously volunteered to sit on The Board of The Colorado Conservatory For The Jazz Arts. Hip, Hip, Hooray! And he was in attendence @ the Friday performance of Keith Oxman's CD release party. Keith, Paul Romaine, & Mark Patterson among others, were students of Maestro Caffey when he conducted the BIG band @ DU long ago & not so far away.

LISTENING FORWARD: The UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival, the largest Jazz event of its kind with over 7,000 participants representing over 300 MS, HS, & Secondary Programs, will take place, 4/20 - 4/22. The Featured headliners will be The Maria Schneider Orchestra (Sat., 4/22); The Cedar Walton Quintet featuring Steve Turre. Also, Maestro Jim McNeeley with The UNC Jazz Lab Band I, (Fri., 4/21); The NY Voices w/ The USAF Falconaires, & The Extraordinary Jazz Vocalist, Ms. Nancy King (Thurs., 4/21). For more info: www.uncjazz.com.

SPECIAL: "Now Available: The Long Awaited Limited Edition CD Release, Live In Concert --- 'Soulful Serendipity' --- James Williams & Bobby Watson w/ Very Special Guest Pamela Baskin-Watson from a House Party (06/14/03) --- All Original & Never-Previously Released Material". For additional info contact: National Pastimes Productions, 218 N. Eigth St., Columbia, MO 65201 @ (573)/449-3009 or email: www.wealwaysswing.org or info@wealwaysswing.org.

IAJE Conference for 2007 will be in NYNY, Wed., 1/10/07 - Sat., 1/13/07. Again, The NY Hilton & NY Sheraton will be The Host Establishments. Consider making reservations by March/April. Go to www.iaje.org for more info.

Thanx For The Sonic Tonic: Curtis Fuller with The Keith Oxman Quintet. If you want to read more about The Trombonist, check out: Gourse, L. (2002). Art Blakey: Jazz Messenger. N.Y: Schirmer Trade Books; Goldsher, A. (2002). Hard Bop Academy: The Sidemen Of Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corp. www.halleonard.com.

Until The Next Gig, dig, Peter Poses, Host of "OverNight Jazz: The Soundz Of Surprize" from "'Round Midnight, Thurs. to 6AM, Fri. on KRFC FT COLLINS HomeGrown Community Radio @ 88.9FM, or streaming on www.krfcfm.org. Poses is also an Associate Editor of "The Rocky Mountain Jazz Beat" & can be reached @: pposes@rockymountainjazz.com Check out Peter's Best of 2005 list on our new News Page

Lynn Baker's Jazz Legend's shows should be on every Jazz lovers calendar. This month he's joined by Hugh Ragin for a tribute to trumpet virtuoso Woody Shaw. The repertoire will includes Little Red's Fantasy , In Case You Haven't Heard , Nutville (from Shaw's time with Horace Silver), Isotope (from Shaw's time with Joe Henderson) and other classic Woody Shaw tunes. The powerhouse ensemble includes Lynn Baker on tenor sax, Hugh Ragin on trumpet, Joe Bonner at the pianoo, Jimmy Trujillo on the bass and Mike Marlier on drums. There will be two sets @ 7 & 9

The great organ trio, 3ósity (formerly the oft mis pronounced "Tri-Ocity"), will be appearing at the Robusto Room on Thursday night from 8:00 to 11:00. 3ósity consists of Pat Bianchi on organ, Dave Corbus on guitar and Todd Reid on Drums. The group also has a nice new website, while your at it check out Pat Bianchi's revamped site and Todd Reid's first class site.

If you have yet to check out the south sides newest Jazz club you need to make the pilgrimage to Lone Tree sometime. The club has a different vibe then our perennial favorite Dazzle. It's like a really nice version of El Chapultepec (without the smoke and the LoDo hatboys). In other words it's a nice bar with great Jazz rather then a performance oriented Jazz supper club.

On Friday, February 10th bassist Robin Ruscio will be at Dazzle with his quartet. The focus will be on on presenting original modern jazz compositions, works by significant contemporary jazz composers, and new interpretations of popular music from the last 30. The quartet featuring the amazing Jeff Jenkins on piano, Michael Berry on drums, and Ross Martin on guitar. Sets @ 7 & 9

The Summit Jazz Swinging Jazz concert series returns with a Mardi Gras Celebration honoring the music and musicians of New Orleans. Featuring Topsy Chapman (vocals), Duke Heitger (trumpet), Evan Christopher (clarinet), John Sheridan (piano), Richard Moten (bass), Doug Belote (drums). The two night event, will be in the Seawell Grand Ballroom DCPA @ 7:00.

It's always a treat to hear World renown Denver based trumpet player Greg Gisbert blow. On Saturday and Sunday night he'll be joined but a who's who of Colorado's top shelf players as he presents the music of composer Chie Aizumi. The line-up includes Ron Miles on trumpet and fugelhorn, John Gunther on sax, Peter Sommer on sax, Alex Heitlinger on Trombone, Gary Smulyan on Bari Sax & Bari Clarinet, Mike Abbott on Guitar , Jeff Jenkins on Piano, Mark Simon on Bass, Paul Romaine on drums, Fiaindratovo "Mimy" Manavifare on Percussion and Chie Imaizumi on baton. This one promises to be a mind blower! Two sets Saturday @ 7 & 9 and one set Sunday at 7:00.

Joe Bonner and Barbara Paris will be performing a special pre-Valentines set of love songs Monday @ Dazzle begining @ 7.

Celebrate St. Valentines day at Dazzle with the Nate Birkey Quartet featuring vocalist Ilona Knopfler. Birkey will be joined by With: Jeff Jenkins, Ken Walker and Paul Romaine. Show starts @ 7:00.
You can catch the same line-up on Wednesday night @ Nissis in Lafayette.

The exciting vibraphonist Greg Harris, along with Bill Larson on drums will join Andy Weyl and Mark Diamond for this week's showcase.

As always, the gig is on Wednesday on "The Mezz" at Boulder's historic Hotel Boulderado. They'll be performing from 5:30 to 9:30. In addition to great music there is a complimentary wine tasting, featuring a different winery every week. A full bar and appetizer menu is available. These gigs are definitely worth driving to Boulder for!

For Information on these other great Jazz events happening in coming days and weeks, check out our Master Calendar on the Rocky Mountain Jazz web site.

CBS4 anchor Molly Hughes recently presented a cople more instalments on 14 year old Denver Jazz singer Erienne Romaine. If you missed it ,you can read a transcript and watch the segments on the CBS4 website:

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please check your gigs on the schedule to ensure that they are correct. Our new calendar allows us to enter dates months in advance, let us know about any firm upcoming gigs/events no matter how far they are in the future. We have also begun posting events beyond the Denver/Boulder metro area. As long as they are in Colorado send them in.

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