My wife, Lois, and I just got back from Denver, Colo., where we attended what we considered to be the very best Jazz Party we have ever been to -- the Summit Jazz Foundation Festival, held Sept. 26-28 at the Four Points by Sheraton Denver Southeast. The Summit Jazz Party was celebrating its 30th. Anniversary, and Juanita Greenwood and Alan Frederickson, the presenters, really put together a marvelous group of musicians: the Jim Cullum Jazz Band from San Antonio, Tex., (their 25th consecutive year at this affair); the Alan Frederickson Jazz Ensemble (the great collection of Colorado's best); the New Black Eagle Jazz Band from Boston, Mass. (a national group that is one of the most acclaimed jazz bands of today); the Hot Antic Jazz Band from Nimes, France (a really impressive band that emulates Jabbo Smith and the other great black bands of Chicago from the late '20s) and two local "youth" groups, the Arapahoe High School Dry Creek Dixie Dawgs and The Jazz Cookers (the latter being mostly recent members of the Dixie Dawgs who decided to remain together). If these groups weren't enough, there were five All Stars who literally blew the roof off each time they performed -- Joe Ascione on drums, John Cocuzzi on vibes and piano, Anat Cohen on tenor sax and clarinet, Paul Keller on string bass and Jerry Krahn from Nashville on guitar. More aboout these fine cats later.

The festival began at 5:30 p.m. on Friday with the Jazz Cookers, the first of the young bands to appear. This band, with lead trumpeter Colton Crandall, really lived up to its name. The band really "cooked" and got festival attendees in the mood with great renditions of "Emperor Norton's Hunch" and "West End Blues."

Next up came Alan Frederickson and his Jazz Ensemble, the host band for the festival. Although the band plays regularly in the Denver area, Alan is not always with the band since he and Juanita live on the border of Oregon and Washington states. However, when Alan does join the regular front line of Charles Bowles, trumpet, and Lance Acker, reeds, you'd think they played together six nights a week. The band jumped into a program of old traditional tunes, starting with "At The Jazz Band Ball" and "Once In A While" down to "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?" It was a rousing set that just got more exciting throughout the four regular programs and on into the Afterglow session at the famous Bull and Bush Pub and Brewery after the festival closed on late Sunday afternoon.

Then, for the flirst time ever, we heard a six-piece "reading" band from France, the Hot Antic Jazz Band. They were sensational and got even more so as the event continued through Sunday, playing in the early style of the great Chicago black bands of the '20s. Each member soloed and each played more than one instrument. And they all vocalized, individually and in groups of two, three and four. They had been at the Summit Party in 1997, and we noted in the chronology that they had also appeared in l987. I certainly hope we will see and hear this fine group sooner than 10 years hence.

The New Black Eagle Jazz Band was up next, and we were surprised to see our old Oregon friend Chris Tyle substituting for Tony Pringle on the front line. Originally scheduled for the drum chair, Chris, at the last minute, replaced Tony who had taken ill. He did a wonderful job on trumpet and as reedman/leader Billy Novick announced, Chris knew over 90 percent the band's repertoire. Joe Ascione subbed on drums and was a joy to watch and hear. I've only witnessed one drummer as fast as Joe; that being Buddy Rich.

Then the All Stars performed and each of the five acted as bandleader during their individual sets. I don't believe Juanita Greenwood could have chosen five other musicians who played as well individually or as part of a group as did Cohen, Cocuzzi, Krahn, Keeler and Ascione. My, oh my! Did they ever swing!

October 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

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