Articles by Geoff Anderson
Denver Jazz Fest 2026
by Geoff Anderson
Denver Jazz Fest 2026 Denver and Boulder, CO April 7-12, 2026 It's easy to get used to the lifestyle: a concert every night, and three on Saturday: eight concerts in six days. Shouldn't life be like this all the time? Well, it was for almost a week in early April around Denver because of the second annual Denver Jazz Fest. I thought I was a diligent concertgoer as the aforementioned schedule attests. And yet, I didn't ...
Continue ReadingMeshell Ndegeocello at the Newman Center
by Geoff Anderson
Meshell Ndegeocello Newman Center Denver, CO February 13, 2026 Protest music has a long history in the United States. It often ebbs and flows depending on the political temperature of the moment. The '60s were a fertile time for such music owing to the twin upheavals of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. Activism through jazz is nothing new. For example, drummer Max Roach demanded social justice in his album, Max Roach: We Insist! Freedom Now ...
Continue ReadingColorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra at Dazzle
by Geoff Anderson
Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra Dazzle Denver, CO February 1, 2026 It is good to be flexible. It provides more options, more variety, a better ability to adapt to different situations. The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra is generally a big band, but it can slim down on a moment's notice and morph into a small ensemble. And, with all those players on hand, the personnel in the small ensemble can shift and change as the tune ...
Continue ReadingDon Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble at the Newman Center
by Geoff Anderson
Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble Newman Center Denver, CO January 29, 2026 What to make of Don Was? He was co-leader of the band Was (Not Was), a band known for Frank Zappa-esque irreverent, off-beat humor that drew musical inspiration from rock, funk, soul, r&b, dance music, jazz, pop, world music, country, fusion, reggae and more. How does someone like that end up as president of Blue Note Records, one of the most storied ...
Continue ReadingGeoff Anderson's Best Blues Albums of 2025
by Geoff Anderson
The blues just kept on coming in 2025. It's been a big year for new blues albums. 92-year-old Bobby Rush and 89-year-old Buddy Guy both released masterful albums this year. Newcomer D.K. Harrell burst onto the scene with a compelling album. Young blues masters Kingfish and Southern Avenue released albums that shouldn't be missed and several blues veterans joined the fun. Family Southern Avenue Alligator Records
Continue ReadingRobert Plant at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House
by Geoff Anderson
Robert Plant and Saving Grace Ellie Caulkins Opera House Denver, Colorado November 15, 2025 Robert Plant enjoys digging up obscure songs to present to his fans. Maybe it is a response to the hyper-popularity of songs from his Led Zeppelin legacy. Or perhaps it is simply an enjoyable musical hobby. In the jazz world, Cecile McLorin Salvant does the same, and she does not have the heavy legacy of her past hanging over her like ...
Continue ReadingBrandee Younger at Dazzle
by Geoff Anderson
Brandee Younger Dazzle Denver, CO October 28, 2025 The jazz harp is an unusual concept. The upside is that it makes the player instantly stand out because of the dearth of jazz harpists. A potential downside is that jazz fans may turn away, thinking a harp cannot possibly fit into jazz. Of course, those with a bit of knowledge of jazz history know that this ground has already been broken by Alice Coltrane and Dorothy ...
Continue ReadingKristin Korb at The Muse Performance Space
by Geoff Anderson
Kristin Korb The Muse Performance Space Lafayette, CO October 15, 2025 In the first half of the 20th century, jazz borrowed heavily from pop music, turning many tunes of the day into jazz standards. When rock 'n' roll came on the scene, the pop appropriation almost went the way of Blockbuster stores. Sure, many jazz players covered The Beatles, but those efforts often sounded like they were produced at the orders of record companies. Jazz ...
Continue ReadingPaul McCartney at Coors Field
by Geoff Anderson
Paul McCartney Coors Field Denver, CO October 11, 2025 A Paul McCartney concert, unlike most other musical events, is laden with cultural significance, bearing carts of baggage both good and bad; but mostly good. The weight of context complicates attempts at a dispassionate evaluation of the music. But it is music. It is inextricably intertwined with passion and emotion. Because of his longevity and cultural impact, McCartney's music just carries more of that ...
Continue ReadingDowntown Tacoma Blues And Jazz Festival 2025
by Geoff Anderson
Downtown Tacoma Blues and Jazz Festival Tacoma, Washington August 24, 2025 .Tacoma, Washington held its first annual Downtown Tacoma Blues and Jazz Festival on August 24, 2025, with a first-class lineup of new blues players, veterans and some in between. And it was free. For each band, the leader's name doubled as the band's name. Not surprisingly, then, it was a day of big voices, belting the blues from many different angles. The city ...
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