Denver Jazz believes the future of jazz lies in the education of every generation regarding the history and cultural importance of this great art form. Jazz provides lessons and opportunities for community conversations in addition to individual expression. Through social interaction, it 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 will provide opportunities for the community to experience and learn about jazz through free educational and performance programs during the Denver Jazz Fest (DJF).
Among these programs will be two days of education programming featuring veteran jazz educators Terell Stafford and Charles McPherson who will also perform together in a quintet at Dazzle of Friday, April 4th at 7PM and 9;30PM.
Celebrated trumpeter, composer, bandleader and educator, Terell Stafford serves as Director of Jazz Studies for the nationally renowned Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. The Grammy Award winning trumpeter will conduct a Master Class in conjunction with Dawn Clement, Coordinator of the Jazz and American Improvised Music program at Metropolitan State University.
Jazz luminary, Charles McPherson, who at 85 years continues to inspire and prosper through his prolific past affiliations with Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis and currently his celebrated quintet that records for Smoke Sessions. McPherson has been in residence at the UCLA Herbie Hancock Institute, New School, New York, Royal Conservatory, London, Temple University, Philadelphia, and the Global Music Foundation, Spain, among other prestigious institutions.
The altoist will engage in a master class with the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts (CCJA) under the directorship of drummer Paul Romaine. This signature session will feature CCJA’s high school and adult jazz students engaged with McPherson on the Artistry of Improvisation: Improv in Real Time. The master class will discuss and apply on stage performance in real time communication through improvisation supported by a live rhythm section.
KUVO Jazz Ambassador and host of “Lunch Time and Salsa con Jazz” Arturo Gomez will conduct a fun filled hour of lively discussion with both McPherson and Stafford on their collective century of jazz experiences. This event titled Jazz Up Close is sponsored by KUVO, Gift of Jazz and Denver Jazz Fest and is free and open to the public from 3:00PM to 4:00 PM on Thursday, April 3 at the MSU Denver School of Music, Kalamath building, 800 Kalamath St.
The immersive jazz education experience continues Friday, April 4 combining audio production and jazz band students from North and East High Schools. Students will have the opportunity to interact on jazz performance and recording techniques with Stafford and Shane Endsley, Jazz and American Music Lecturer, Metropolitan State University. This program is sponsored by The Denver Municipal Band (the Band) which accomplishes its vision by partnering with governmental agencies, educational institutions, neighborhood groups, foundations, other performing arts institutions and interested individuals.
This comprehensive two-day initiative is sponsored by Temple University and the Boyer College of Music and Dance, Metropolitan State University, and the Denver Municipal Band which is the oldest continuous-playing professional concert band in the U.S. Additional support is being made available through Gift of Jazz, a Colorado jazz education nonprofit.