Tag: Dazzle Jazz

GREG GISBERT ON THE TRUMPET: DAZZLE’S FIRST WEEK-LONG ARTIST RESIDENCY

by Kelley Dawkins, posted in Music & Notes

Press Release 9/1/23

Dazzle at the Arts Complex is thrilled to announce its first week-long Residency with internationally renowned jazz trumpet touring and recording artist Greg Gisbert. Greg’s influence on the Jazz community transcends generations as he enters the 5th decade of his electric career.  He prefers to work in the background, connecting people, giving advice, and introducing fellow musicians to new musical styles. He gives freely and is appreciated by musicians around the world.  This week is Greg’s opportunity to spotlight both the best that Denver’s musicians have to offer and include some international talent to spice things up.

Poster for Greg Gisbert's week-long residency at Dazzle in Denver
Photo Credit: Adam Cory

Each show in the Residency has a completely different musical style, intergenerational artistic pairings, and Greg’s neverending mentorship as he brings internationally renowned and new-to-Denver musicians to Dazzle’s stage.

There is an overarching theme of Mental Wellness, Community Support, and Awareness for each of the shows in the Residency. Dazzle is amplifying these messages by making the United Suicide Survivors the Nonprofit of the Month. Donations can be added to all tickets purchased throughout September.

(Click on each show for a complete description and bios of the artists.)

Electric Gizz

Saturday, September 23 – 7PM

Tickets: https://www.dazzledenver.com/live-music/#/events?event_id=80141

Electric Gizz was founded & created By Greg Gisbert & Mickey Lenny (AKA Michael Lenssen). Joining them tonight will be Sonya Walker (keyboards) Conner Terrones (Bass & Guitar) and introducing newcomer to Denver Jaik Hakkarinen (Drums/percussion). 

Greg Gisbert & Art Lande

Monday, September 25 – 7PM

Tickets: https://www.dazzledenver.com/live-music/#/events?event_id=80139

Grammy-nominated Art Lande is considered one of the premiere improvisational jazz pianists today. He began piano at age 4, studied at Williams College & moved to San Francisco in 1969. He has mostly carved out his own singular path throughout his career, taking the innovations of Bill Evans several steps further. In 1973 he recorded with Jan Garbarek and Ted Curson and in the mid-1970’s had started his own jazz school. In 1976 he formed the quartet Rubisa Patrol which recorded for ECM and lasted until 1983. After teaching for three years in Switzerland, Lande in 1987 moved to Boulder, Colorado. He appears in many of the “Who’s Who in Jazz” encyclopedias available today for his role in the development of “Chamber Jazz.”

Presented by The Gift of Jazz

Chie Imaizumi Little Big Band feat. Randy Brecker and Greg Gisbert

Wednesday & Thursday, September 27 & 28 – 6:30PM & 9PM

Tickets: https://www.dazzledenver.com/live-music/#/events 

Performers:

Chie Imaizumi, Randy Brecker, Greg Gisbert, Peter Olstad, David Bernot, John Gunther, Zach Rich,  Allison Young, Mike Abbott, Sonya Walker, Mark Simon, Paul Romaine, Leo Corona

The Gift of Jazz proudly presents a grand reunion show with Chie Imaizumi and Randy Brecker. Click the show title above for the official show description. The information below is not part of the official show description.

The themes of Mental Wellness, Community Support, and Awareness stem from these two days. The artists and Dazzle hope to encourage others to seek help without fear of stigma and increase the understanding that we all deal with mental wellness issues to various degrees. Sometimes these issues are easy for us to see but not easy for us to understand. Not all wounds are visible, but that doesn’t make them any less real or minimize their need for healing.

“These two days are a pure expression of healing, recovery, love, and support. Music is an oasis for both the musicians and the audience.” ~Greg Gisbert

The worst part about mental wellness issues is that many people consider asking for help to be a sign of weakness. It’s quite the opposite. It’s okay to not be okay. We just happen to be going through difficult times. 

Chie’s compositions are story and emotion based. She is even orchestrating special music for September’s shows. Chie’s music takes the listeners on a journey through the many emotional worlds we have all experienced including darkness, loneliness, struggle, fear, hopelessness, and anger then through the worlds of joy, happiness, love, forgiveness, trust, hope, triumphs, peace, and genuine human connection.  

“Since I know how these emotions feel, I’d like to inspire others to know they’re not alone, by expressing my real, raw, and vulnerable feelings through my artistic creations, music.” ~Chie Imaizumi

Greg Gisbert Bio

Jazz trumpeter Greg Gisbert’s eclectic career is in its 5th decade. His resume includes recordings, tours, multiple television performances / movie & TV soundtracks with such icons as Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Horace Silver, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, Buddy Rich, Clark Terry, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme Jazz @ Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis, Maria Schneider, Dizzy Gillespie all stars w/ John Lee, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Chie Imaizumi (producer) & more. 

Gisbert has held professorships & artist in residence as well as a highly respected featured guest artist for dozens of colleges & conservatories most notably Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, U of Miami, CU Boulder & is currently a faculty member of the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts.

From 1989-2000 & 2010-2015, he was highly in demand on Broadway & in the studios of  NYC.

Greg Gisbert moved HOME to Denver in 2015 & brings his vast world-class experience, creativity & enthusiasm with him.

BRANDEE YOUNGER AT DAZZLE

by Kelley Dawkins, posted in Music & Notes

Brandee Younger

June 4, 2023

Dazzle, Denver

By Geoff Anderson

A version of this article was published on AllAboutJazz.com on June 12, 2023.

The harp is far from a common jazz instrument and the list of famous jazz harpists is a short one. In fact, the list of significant jazz harpists probably numbers about two: Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. There have been a few others here and there, but none that had the impact of those two. But wait, there’s a new contender on the scene: Brandee Younger. Sunday night at Dazzle, Younger stated her case for expanding that short list of significant jazz harpists.

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The harp brings a different sound to jazz. Often associated, in popular culture, with angels floating among the clouds, it seems antithetical to jazz’s often boisterous, gritty, slice-of-life soundscape. But the scope and sounds of jazz are wide and if a player can make an unusual instrument work somewhere within the big jazz tent, he or she will be welcomed.

At age 39, Younger has been playing for several years in a variety of contexts ranging from classical to hip hop. She’s also worked as an educator at several institutions of higher education including New York University and the New School, among others. But it was her albums on Impulse! that started to catch the attention of many in the jazz world, Somewhere Different (Impulse! 2021) and Brand New Life (Impulse! 2023).

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Sunday night at Dazzle, Younger brought all her myriad influences with her along with bassist Rashaan Carter and drummer Allan Mednard. She filled her set with tunes from those aforementioned albums, alternating with songs by her harp heroes, Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby (who else?). She began her set with “Rama, Rama,” a composition by Alice Coltrane. This one had an ethereal, floating atmosphere tailor made for the heavenly sonics of her pedal harp. Her original, “Love and Struggle” from Somewhere Different followed. This one, as befitting the title, had a bit more of an edge to it. Another original, “Unrest” followed. She explained that she wrote that song during the pandemic and was inspired by events happening right outside her window.

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Another Alice Coltrane piece followed, “Turiya and Ramakrishna” and then her own “Moving Target” from Brand New Life. That one incorporated a busy rhythm section, especially the drum part. The hyperactive rhythmic activity contrasted nicely with the relaxed harp floating overhead. She then incorporated her other heroine, Dorothy Ashby, into the act with her composition “You’re a Girl for One Man Only,” which also appears on Brand New Life.

A solo piece followed, Stevie Wonder’s “If It’s Magic” also from Brand New Life. Younger explained that it was Ashby that played the harp part on Wonder’s original recording which appeared on Songs in the Key of Life (Tamla, 1976). “Spirit U Will” was from Somewhere Different and had one of the sharper edges of the evening, again creating tension with the rhythm section while the harp drifted above the fray in a gauzy reverie.

Perhaps Younger’s biggest challenge of the evening was the Denver Nuggets. Making their way to the NBA finals for the first time in team history, Game 2 of the series began only a few blocks from Dazzle shortly before Younger’s first set. She thanked the audience more than once for choosing her band over the game. Indeed, the first set sold out, even in the face of championship hoops. But the Nuggets have played dozens of games in Denver this season. What Denver hasn’t seen is jazz harp played like this. It was a one-of-a-kind evening.

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Set List

Rama, Rama (Alice Coltrane)

Love and Struggle (Original)

Unrest (Pandemic piece, original)

Turiya and Ramakrishna (Alice Coltrane)

Moving Target (Original)

You’re a Girl for One Man Only (Dorothy Ashby)

If it’s Magic (Stevie Wonder)

Spirit U Will (Original)

Tickled Pink (Original)

The Band

Brandee Younger, pedal harp

Allan Mednard drums

Rashaan Carter bass