In contrast to the world of popular music, most jazz musicians languish in relative obscurity. It’s great when some can make a living doing what they’ve mastered, but you can’t help but wonder if some artists had a bit more exposure, would they finally take hold of that larger audience they deserve? I’d like to submit pianist Monty Alexander as an artist worthy of a much larger public embrace.
Alexander has been touring and releasing good-to-excellent recordings for more than 40 years, and he’s a spectacular, intuitive musician. He’ll appear (with his band Harlem-Kingston Express) at Dazzle Jazz on Aug. 2-3, most certainly playing versions of selections from his newest CD, “The River Rolls On (Motema)” which blends modern jazz with the rhythms of his native Jamaica. There’s always the equivalent of a welcome handshake in his playing, and it’s easy to get the feeling that you’re listening in on a relaxed club date when his music is on, even when it’s created in the studio. Find out more at dazzlejazz.com
The night before Alexander plays in Denver, he’ll appear at the Telluride Jazz Festival, which runs Aug. 1-3. The festival is always one of the most diverse in the mountains, and this year, in addition to Guest Of Honor Poncho Sanchez (the percussionist delivers an infectious party vibe, especially in a live setting) this year’s lineup includes the groups Lettuce, Grupo Fantasma, Snarky Puppy and the New Orleans-based Dragon Smoke. Also on the bill: pianist Jon Cleary, Brazilian singer Claudia Villela and turntablist DJ Logic. Tickets and the lineup/schedule are at telluridejazz.org.
Denver School of the Arts graduate Ben Jenkins at 18 has already demonstrated a rare proficiency on the piano. There’s footage of him performing Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” on YouTube and he’s been playing in various Denver-area clubs lately, trying to raise funds to attend the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, where many prominent names got their start, and where he’s been accepted to begin classes this fall. What sets Jenkins apart is his autism, which was diagnosed at a young age and requiring intensive (and costly) therapy. His family was put in the position of spending his college tuition up front, which is not unusual for the parents of children with autism who seek to help their children in any way they can. Jenkins has recorded a new CD, and there’s a push to help him raise the money he needs to attend Berklee at benjcollegefund.weebly.com.
More music: The Evergreen Jazz Festival concludes tonight at various Evergreen locales, featuring James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band and The Queen City Jazz Band with Wendy Harston. Details at evergreenjazz.org… Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band Featuring Erica Brown and Merrian Johnson plays City Park Jazz tonight, and this summer’s City Park season wraps up with Chris Daniels and The Kings on Aug. 3…
Bret Saunders can be heard from 6 to 11 a.m. weekday mornings at KBCO 97.3 FM and KBCO.com. Contact bretsaunders@kbco.com.