The Jacob Larson Band is a 10-piece funk and soul ensemble combining powerhouse vocals, classic instrumentation, and an old-school approach to music. Digging inspiration from the roots of soul religion, the band shares their own take on notable influences such as Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind, and Fire. 

Jacob, an experienced entertainer with a strong and soulful voice, leads the band with true dynamic flair and presence, delivering the goods with a performance that moves and excites concert-goers of all ages.

The Jacob Larson Band will appear at Dazzle on Friday, January 12, 2024, for a 6:30 p.m. show.

An in-demand keyboardist outside his own projects, Adam Bodine, has racked up thousands of performances with hundreds of groups, playing alongside some of the best in the biz. A go-to studio session musician to boot, Bodine is regularly recruited for all sorts of recording work. He has also accompanied various theatrical productions, including musicals, silent films, improv comedy, dance troupes, and various cultural arts and social justice presentations.

Extra cool, Adam currently plays in the house band at eTown, the illustrious and nationally syndicated radio show and multimedia organization out of Boulder. In recent times with eTown, Adam has accompanied a myriad of popular artists including Rufus Wainwright, Madison Cunningham, City and Colour, Shovels and Rope, The Milk Carton Kids, The Secret Sisters, Bruce Cockburn, Ron Sexsmith, Peter Rowan, Daniel Rodriguez, Abraham Alexander, S.G. Goodman, Allison Russell, Calexico, Buffalo Nichols, Jake Blount, Parker Millsap, The Ballroom Thieves, Mmeadows, Dom Flemons, and The War and Treaty.

Bodine will appear at Dazzle on Wed, December 27, 2023.

Mike Marlier has performed and recorded with countless artists and musicians, including Dave Grusin, Nelson Rangell, Benny Golson, Bobby Shew, Rob Mullins, the Neophonic Jazz Orchestra, Lee Ritenour, and Stanley Jordan. He is the staff drummer at the annual Conference on World Affairs at CU and Mile Hi Church in Lakewood. Marlier was the featured drummer at the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert presented by the Gift of Jazz in 2009 and presented a clinic and masterclass at a Gospel Chops seminar in Taipei, Taiwan, in 2014. 

Eric Gunnison has worked extensively with trumpeter Ron Miles, with whom he has toured and recorded since 1997, including appearing as a clinician and pianist with Miles’s quartet at the 1st Annual Thailand Jazz Conference and the Bangkok Jazz Festival in 2009. Gunnison has also been the pianist and a composer/arranger for the cooperative band Convergence, one of Denver’s leading jazz ensembles, since 1991. In addition to releasing several recordings, Convergence hosts a monthly series of appearances with special guest jazz artists at Denver’s premier jazz club Dazzle that, since February 2010, has featured Roberta Gambarini, Rene Marie, Randy Brecker, Jim McNeely, Chris Potter, Christian McBride, Wallace Roney, and Bobby Watson among others.

The Eric Gunnison & Mike Marlier tribute to Chick Corea will take place on Wednesday, January 3. Showtime is 6:30 PM, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets and more info: https://www.dazzledenver.com

Max Bessesen is a multi-woodwind instrumentalist and composer in NYC. His “saxophone virtuosity” (Downbeat) has made him an in-demand sideman alongside musicians like Frank Lacy, Joe Farnsworth, and Mimi Jones. He has performed across the US, the Netherlands, Jordan, and NYC venues like Dizzy’s, Ornithology, and Birdland. His acclaimed 2020 album Trouble (Ropeadope) features Ron Miles, and the single “Bakkam” won an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award.

Max Bessesen and his group will appear at Dazzle on Wednesday, December 27, for a 7:30 p.m. show. Doors open at 7. 

Lynn Skinner is a classically trained vocalist whose out-of-the-box personality quickly led her to weave her 3-octave voice into jazz, original music, folk, bossa nova, and a series of tribute concerts ranging from Duke Ellington to Joni Mitchell.

For over 40 years, Lynn has brought her artistry as a Denver-based performer and voice educator to much of the USA, the UK, France, and Switzerland in intimate cafés, clubs, schools, festivals, and concert halls.

Lynn Skinner and her band will perform at Dazzle (Denver) on Thursday, January 4, for a 6:30 p.m. show. Doors open at 5:30. 

DAES is a group of musicians committed to pushing the boundaries of jazz music through modern jazz hip-hop fusion. DAES comprises current and former students from the Denver School of the Arts. Members include Elias Earl (vibraphone), Declan Scully aka GOLDICHOPS (drums), Scarlet Before-Horses (piano), Aesop Pelta-Tiller (bass), and Gwen Parney featured on saxophone.

DAES will perform at Dazzle on Friday, January 5, for a 6:30 p.m. show. Doors open at 5:30.

This episode of Backstage Jazz features an interview with Koki Renwick of Moon.unit. We discussed their music and upcoming performance at Dazzle on Saturday, January 6.

Moon.unit is an emerging project out of Boston, a brainchild of three current New England Conservatory students. It features Denver’s own Koki Renwick on trumpet, synth, and electronics, Jake Walters on piano, synth bass, and vocals, and Dominic Vance on drums, electronics, percussion, and moon.unit combines the styles of modern jazz, free and noise music, hip-hop, and pop genres into a unique listening experience. 

This episode of Backstage Jazz features an interview with Denver guitarist, composer, and teacher J.J. Murphy. We discussed his upcoming performance at Dazzle on Saturday, December 16.

As a composer and a guitarist, J.J. Murphy brings a soulful vitality to contemporary music. His sound is an effortless blend of folk, blues, rock, and jazz, with covers from Thelonious Monk to Radiohead.

“JJ is an inspiring guitarist well versed in many styles, but he made me fall in love with blues and slide guitar all over again,” said Dave Abear (Melvin Seals and JGB). Nashville-based producer Ryan Connors defines Murphy's style as “the blues-inspired rawness of Eric Clapton with the jazz vocabulary and sensitivity of Bill Frisell.”

JJ Murphy, Nate Miller, Kirwan Brown, and Braxton Kahn will perform on Saturday, December 16, at 9 p.m. (doors open at 8:30). The material will be rooted in funk, but it can go any direction at any moment. The band will draw on original material from each member and some songs the audience knows. The music will make you want to move.

In this episode of Backstage Jazz, we spoke with Laurena Frihauf, a rising star in the music industry whose talent has been recognized on prestigious platforms. 

She discussed her upcoming solo album and performance at Dazzle on December 7th.

Her music carries an indie singer-songwriter essence, infused with folk and neo-soul elements, creating a captivating and unique sonic landscape. Surprisingly, Lauren's urban vibe starkly contrasts the rural farm where she lives and creates, adding an intriguing dimension to her artistry. 

More info: https://laurenfrihaufmusic.com/

This episode features an interview with Grammy-nominated musician Art Lande and jazz sax player Sam Williams. We discussed tracks from their current album Portals, and the duo’s upcoming show at Dazzle on November 26.

Sam Williams is a saxophonist and music educator, currently residing in Boulder, CO. Experienced in various music styles, Sam performs regularly in jazz venues and concert halls throughout northern Colorado and beyond.

Grammy-nominated Art Lande is an internationally known pianist, composer, improviser, drummer, and educator who has performed with a long list of the Who's Who in jazz, including Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson, Steve Swallow, Charlie Haden, Kenny Wheeler, Sheila Jordan, Mark Isham, Paul McCandless, Jan Garbarek, and many others.