Ben Markley Big Band with Ari Hoenig

Wednesday, June 8th - 7pm

The Ben Markley Big Band with Ari Hoenig will be performing their album release performance of “Ari’s Funhouse!” The repertoire will consist of pieces from some of Ari’s most well known albums including The Painter, Bert’s Playground, and Punk Bop.

Ari Hoenig (drums), Ben Markley (piano), Evan Gregor (bass), Steve Kovalcheck (guitar), Saxophones: Wil Swindler, Scott Turpen, Jim Pisano, Heath Walton, Sam Williams Trumpets: Pete Olstad, Jake Boldman, Dan Jonas, Gabe Mervine Trombones: Adam Bartczak, Paul McKee, Zach Rich, Jon Gauer

H2 Big Band: A Message of Healing to Al Hood

Monday, July 11th- 7pm

This is our H2 Big Band “Call to Health” for Al Hood and the Denver community, and the opening salvo in Dazzle’s Monday night large ensemble series. We will be playing arrangements and compositions of Dave Hanson’s that were written to feature Al, as well as great charts by Wil Swindler and Paul McKee. After Al Hood’s serious spinal injury earlier this year we’ve been going out of our way to keep Al’s situation front and center: his recovery is going to be a long haul, and he will need as much emotional and financial support as our community can make available to him. Our music is a “call” to/for Al and a reminder of the wonderful music he’s made, and hopefully will make in the future!

Dave Hanson (piano), Ken Walker (bass), Paul Romaine drums Saxophones: Wil Swindler, Pete Lewis, Rich Chiaraluce, David Bernot, Sam Williams Trombones: Darren Kramer, Al Herrman, Nat Wickham, John Mathews Trumpets: Peter Olstad, Brad Goode, Greg Gisbert, Gabe Mervine

Denver Jazz Orchestra

Monday, July 18th - 7pm

The Denver Jazz Orchestra is comprised of Denver’s finest jazz musicians performing a wide range of big band styles. For more than 15 years, the Denver Jazz Orchestra has entertained music fans at festivals, clubs, concerts and events.

Tim Hurley (guitar), Ron Jolly (piano), Andrew Hudson (bass), Kat Ellis (vocals), Derek Swink (drums), Trumpets: Scott Handler, Joseph Tabris, David Froman, Kevin Bollinger Trombones: Rob Olds, Chad Schneider, Tommy Van Den Berg, Justis Williams Saxophones:
Eric N. Jordan, Fly McClard, Edison Salvador

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra

Monday, July 25th- 7pm

The MJO is one of the area’s premier jazz orchestras, delighting audiences since 2002. MJO features a vast repertoire of music from all decades of the big band era as well as current contemporary tunes. The MJO focuses on recognizable tunes playing in a modern big band style. Tunes performed from the library of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and Woody Herman and many more. Arrangers include Eric Richards, Alan Baylock, Sammy Nestico to name only a few. Please join us for a night of high energy jazz!

Jim Mick (musical director, co-leader), Jason Malmberg (bass), Clint Dadian (guitar), Ron Jolly (piano), Alan Aluisi (drums) Saxophones: Zack Cassell, Matt Burchard, Paul Farus, Alan Nowicki, Chris Wojtecki Trumpets: Scott Handler (co-leader), David Froman, Doug Barta, Mark Ibsen Trombones: Kevin Buchanan (co-leader), Ron Argotsinger, Spencer Malott, Kiel Lauer

Annie Booth Big Band

Monday, August 8th - 7pm

Established in 2019, the Annie Booth Big Band is an 18-piece jazz orchestra led by Booth that performs her original compositions and arrangements. The ensemble features a diverse cast of the best and brightest jazz musicians in Colorado and beyond including the likes of veteran all-stars such as Greg Gisbert (Maria Schneider Orchestra, Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra), Paul McKee (Woody Herman Orchestra), and Wil Swindler along with the newest generation of up-and-coming jazz artists including guitarist Tim Wendel, saxophonist Anisha Rush, vocalist Jenna McLean, and many more. The Annie Booth Big Band delivers a dynamic and groovy array of fresh original music.
Annie Booth’s big band music has been performed by elite professional bands such as the U.S. Navy Commodores and colleges and universities all over the U.S. and Canada, including the One O’Clock Band at the Univ North Texas.She has composed commissioned works for institutions such as the University of Idaho and the University of Nevada, Reno, where she was the 2022 Commissioned Composer for the Reno Jazz Festival.

Zaremba Jazz Fellowship

Monday, August 15th - 7pm

Come hear the Zaremba Jazz Fellowship play music from Drew Zaremba’s recent EP “My Mind on Quarantine”. The band will play an assortment of jazz standards, standard reimaginations, and new compositions from Drew’s pen. The ZJF features some of Denver’s finest musicians including the UNC Faculty Jazz quartet (Dana Landry, Erik Applegate, Steve Kovalcheck, Jim White), Gabe Mervine, Paul McKee, and a plethora of other amazing musicians.

Denin Slage-Koch (guitar), Dana Landry (piano), Erik Applegate (bass), Jim White (drums), Marion Powers (vocals) Saxophones: Drew Zaremba, Andrew Janak, Austin Cebulske, Jared Cathey,
Allison Young Trumpets: Jake Boldman, Gabe Mervine, Dawn Kramer, Shawn Williams Trombones: Zach Rich, Paul Mckee, Seth Weaver, John Matthews

Mariachi Femenil Alma del Folklore

Monday, August 22nd - 7pm

Mariachi Femenil Alma del Folklore was formed on March 21, 2018 by Pam Liñan. We made our debut at the 5th Annual Mariachi Women’s Festival at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse in San Gabriel, California. We shared the stage with the Grammy Award Winning, Mariachi Divas from Los Angeles, Mariachi Las Adelitas UK from London, and Mariachi Estrellas from Vancouver, Canada. Since then, we have played through Denver, Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs. We are the first and only professional all female mariachi group in the Colorado! We enjoy celebrating and sharing our love of the traditional mariachi music culture with our audiences.

Pam Liñan (trumpet), La buena Frances (violin), Trinity Payne (violin), Deanna Payne (violin), Magali Martinez (violin), Alexa Prado (violin), Amber Liñan (violin), Sofia Robinson (vihuela), Izel Gomez Martinez (vihuela), Sofia Romero Campbell (guitar), Leanna Chacon (guitar), Jacqueline Liñan (guitarron), Chavela Garcia (guitarron)

Flatirons Jazz Orchestra

Monday, August 29th - 7pm

The Flatirons Jazz Orchestra – featuring Deborah Stafford, authentically recreates the great Swing Era dance music by Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Gene Krupa, Ella Fitzgerald, and more.

Deborah Stafford (vocals), Todd VanSelus (bass), Jim Lichens (guitar), Matthew Popkin (piano), Orvel Ray–Wilson (drumkit) Saxophones: Stephen Angus, Doug Rasmussen, Dave Gribble, Patty Shaw, Tom Henderson Trumpets: Richard Mason, Jared Crump–Bertram, Gerry Sutton, Cameron Martin Trombones: Tommy van den Berg, James Griffis, Tom Soto, Jackson McLellan

Gavin Worland Big Band

Monday, September 19th - 7pm

The Gavin Worland Big Band (G.W.B.B.) is an 18-piece jazz ensemble made up of the finest young musicians along the front range. This band is the brainchild of Gavin Worland, a 21-year-old, composer, arranger, producer, and trumpeter with over 12 years of experience in music, currently studying in the Jazz & American Improvised Music Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Some of his mentors include Greg Gisbert, Shane Endsley, Dawn Clement, Adam Bartczak, Dru Heller, and many more. The music being performed is exclusively written and arranged for this band by Gavin with influences such as Chick Corea, Bob Brookmeyer, Steven Feifke, Annie Booth, Remy Le Boeuf, and the late great Ron Miles.

Gavin Worland (bandleader /composer /arranger /trumpet), Tucker Smidt (guitar), Max Moore (piano), William George Kuepper V (bass), Gabe Gravangno (drum set) Saxophones:
Nathan Radich, Xander Peters, Jonas Shofler, Ike Spivak, Allison Young Trumpets: Hudson Adams, Nate Miller, Sean Applebee, Sonya Walker, Gavin Eschholz Trombones: Gabriel Harrison, Terron Windom, Zach Kaufman, Johnny Torres

Denver Municipal Band

Monday, September 26th - 7pm

For more than 160 years (longer than Colorado has been a state), the Denver Municipal Band has been delighting Denver-area audiences. We have professional musicians and music for everyone. Bring the kids, dogs, and picnic gear and join us for a concert. They play a variety of Big Band Swing, Pop, Rock, Salsa and Show tunes.

Daniel Leavitt (director and Trumpet, Steve Shurack (guitar), Julie Fredericksen (keys), Ron Bland (bass), Dean Oldencott (drums), Joe Sanford (vocals) Saxophones: Rich Chiaraluce,
Jeremy Wendelin, Matt King, Chuck Schneider, Jerry Noonan Trombones: Rob Olds, Nat Wickham, Joseph Martin, Justis Williams Trumpets: Scott Handler, Ryan Sullivan, Doug Bushnell,
Denny Sullivan

Hugh Ragin Creative Ensemble

Monday, October 1st - 7pm

Hugh Ragin was raised in Houston, Texas, and began playing trumpet in his early teens, taking lessons in classical music, and was a member of the Houston All-City High School Orchestra. He received a degree in music education from the University of Houston and a degree in classical trumpet performance from Colorado State University. He continued his education in 1978 at the Creative Music Studio with Roscoe Mitchell. One year later he performed with Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, and the Creative Orchestra at the Moers Festival in Germany. He then toured with Anthony Braxton. During the early 1980s he toured with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. He began an association with David Murray, becoming a member of Murray’s band in the 1980s. Currently he is a member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Dr. Ragin received his DMA in jazz studies from UC Boulder and leads a variety of ensembles, masterclasses, and workshops.

East Meets South: A Collaboration of Bands

Monday, October 10th - 7pm

On a high note, South High School and East High School bands share the stage in collaborative spirits.