Denver Jazz believes the future of jazz lies in the education of every generation regarding the history and cultural importance of America’s first and only indigenous art form. Jazz provides lessons and opportunities for community conversations in addition to individual expression. Through social interaction, education brings together rich traditions from across the globe. Jazz is a gift that America has given people throughout the world!
In support of our commitment to these beliefs, Denver Jazz, a Colorado nonprofit organization will provide opportunities for the community to experience and learn about jazz through free educational and performance programs during Denver Jazz Fest (DJF).
Among these programs will be three days of education programming featuring veteran jazz educators Rodney Whitaker, Ingrid Jensen and Rico Jones, all of whom will also perform at Dazzle during the festival.
The immersive jazz education experience begins Wednesday, April 8 combining jazz band students from Denver School of the Arts and South High Schools. Students will have the opportunity to interact on jazz performance techniques with New York-based, DSA alum tenor saxophonist Rico Jones. This program is co-sponsored by The Denver Municipal Band – the oldest continuous-playing professional concert band in the U.S.
Thursday, April 9 the program moves into Metropolitan State University’s jazz studies building at 800 Kalamath where Jazz Ambassador Arturo Gomez will conduct an interactive and lively discussion with our visiting educators. Rodney Whitaker, director of jazz studies at Michigan State University will be joined by MSU trombonist Michael Dease and guitarist Randy Napoleon on their collective jazz experiences. This event titled Jazz Up Close is free and open to the public from 11:30AM to 12:30 PM on Thursday, April 9 at the MSU Denver School of Music, Kalamath building, 800 Kalamath St and made possible by DJF National Education Sponsor, Michigan State University.
Immediately following this event, the Michigan State University faculty will present jazz and performance concepts, a free clinic for the Metropolitan State University jazz studies enrollees. Students attending other Front Range university programs are invited to attend this 12:30PM event as well. The program is also made possible by the generous support of Metropolitan State University of Denver.
On Sunday, April 12 at 3:00PM, the DJF education program will be located at The Muse Performance Space in Lafayette. Trumpeter-educator Ingrid Jensen will bring her touring quartet to this intimate venue and present a free program for the benefit of Boulder County high school and middle school music students. Jensen will then performat 7:00PM on that stage, produced by the Front Range jazz education nonprofit, The Gift of Jazz. The clinic and performance are both presented through a consortium grant made possible by Chamber Music America.
Through our ongoing commitment to free jazz education, Denver Jazz endeavors to ensure accessibility and inclusion for the entire community. This is a vital component to an ever-changing cultural treasure.