Songs & Stories

The Andy Nevala Quartet performs traditional and contemporary Cuban Jazz. Dr. Andy Nevala, pianist, has been recognized by Downbeat Magazine for directing, arranging, composing, and performing. 

Nevala has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Steve Lippia, Eddie Turner, and The ProJazz Trio.

The musician has recorded on over 20 CDs released in the US, Japan, and South America, most recently New West Records' “Big Band of Brothers,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Jazz Charts, and “Three Times Two,” released on the Girod record label out of New Orleans.

A jazz musician since the 1970s, Keith Oxman, toured with the Buddy Rich big band in 1986 and has played with artists including Art Blakey, Sonny Stitt, Red Holloway, Pete Christlieb, Jack McDuff, Phil Woods, Dave Brubeck, Jon Hendricks, Pete Christlieb, Louis Bellson, Pearl Bailey, The Temptations and The Fifth Dimension. He has eleven CDs on the Capri Records label. Two of his CDs were with John Coltrane’s trombonist Curtis Fuller, one with liner notes written by Benny Golson. Keith is also a sideman on two of Curtis Fuller’s CDs and a CD by Charles McPherson, and he has been a sideman on other recordings that have come out commercially but are not on the Capri label. His 2020 CD release with Houston Person, Two Cigarettes In The Dark (liner notes by Charles McPherson), was widely reviewed and was on the National Top 50 Jazz Week Chart for over two months. It received a 4-star review in the June 2020 issue of DownBeat magazine.

In this episode of Backstage Jazz, we spoke with singer, guitarist, and producer James McAndrew of Denver-based Milquetoast & Co. about the band’s upcoming show at Dazzle on Saturday, November 11, and their new album Run Rant Rave.

Denver-based Milquetoast & Co. mingles high-intensity indie rock with angular elements of Americana and a melancholic touch. The band’s music has drawn comparisons to  Morphine, Murder by Death,  Jeff Buckley, and even a little DeVotchKa. The lyrics are abundantly self-aware and ironic without watering down the complexity of the human experience.

Tyler was a part of IU Straight No Chaser for all four years of college, serving as the group's Musical Director for three years. He graduated in 2007, which makes him the youngest member. After college, he sang on two cruise ships with the a cappella group "Oceans F"ur." He joined Straight No Chaser in 2009 and was a part of SNC's first PBS special, "Live in "New York." He says he's been very blessed to do this for a living and can't thank the fans enough for their support.

Straight No Chaser is back on tour, serving up an all-you-can-eat buffet of holiday music (with none of the calories) as they cross the U.S. from October through December.

Thanks for listening, and please support the artists you hear by seeing them live and online. Purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke, and inspire.

Jack Dunlevie is a Denver-based pianist, mandolinist, vocalist, and composer. He graduated in 2015 from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, winning composition and recital performance awards. Performing full-time around Colorado and touring nationally, he can be heard playing Jazz, Classical, Salsa, and Bluegrass with various bands both as a side man and as a leader.

Thanks for listening, and please support the artists you hear by seeing them live and online. Purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke, and inspire.

A Djembist, Composer, Producer, and Folklorist of the highest caliber, Braimah has an almost insatiable knack for drawing entire audiences into his groove, zigzagging through Africa on a breathtaking rhythmic roller coaster. His sound is the new voice of Djembe Music around the world.

Born in Ghana and raised in East St. Louis with deep roots in New Orleans, he was first introduced to West African culture and drumming and began performing at the age of 2.

In this episode, we'll speak with saxophonist/flutist Joe Anderies. He discusses his music career and latest release Resonance.

Joe’s past performance and recording experiences include the international group IMAGES that he helped form as well as collaborations with Rob Mullins, Ron Miles, Chuck Lamb, Eric Gunnison, Hugh Ragin, Paul Romaine, and Nestor Torres. Joe continues to lead groups and produce jazz concerts in the Denver area primarily at the jazz venue Dazzle.

This episode features an interview with composer and saxophonist Wil Swindler. We discuss his current release Space Bugs.

Swindler resides near Denver, CO, where he leads Wil Swindler's Elevenet, the modern bop quintet GoodRattle, and the Wil Swindler Quartet.  In addition to his own bands, he is an active performer with the Peter Sommer Septet, Al Hood’s H2 Big Band, the Colorado Symphony, the Ben Markley Big Band, the Colorado Jazz Orchestra, the Adam Bartzcak Republic, and many more.  

In addition to receiving IAJE's Gil Evans Fellowship in 2008, Wil has completed numerous commissions from jazz ensembles, military bands, and symphony orchestras worldwide.  Wil has three CDs available under his own name, Universe B (OA2 Records 2010), the Right Riot (2014) with GoodRqattle, and Chamber Jazz Ensemble (NohJoh Music 2006), and can be heard on numerous other albums, including Ingrid Michaelson’s Songs for the Season, Steve Owen's Stand Up Eight, Peter Sommer’s Happy-Go-Lucky-Locals, Al Hood/Dave Hansen's You're It, Bob Washut’s Journey to Knowhere, and David Caffey’s Enter Autumn and All in One.

Thanks for listening, and please support the artists you hear by seeing them live and online. Purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke, and inspire.

Taylor Clay was born in Brooklyn, NY, and began his musical journeys at the age of 13 and went on to study at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. After completing his degree in Music Performance in 2012, he moved to Colorado to attend the University of Northern Colorado as a graduate student and teaching assistant. Taylor lives in Denver, Colorado, and works as a freelance musician.

Upcoming Shows

The Taylor Clay Quartet will begin their weekly residency at Nocturne’s Jazz/Supper Club on Sunday, October 1. There will be two sets: 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.

In this episode of Backstage Jazz, musician Matt Smiley shares a few tracks with us from his upcoming double CD.

Matt Smiley is a bassist, composer, and educator who has performed in various musical settings over the last fifteen years. He has a bachelor’s degree in music industry with a jazz studies minor from James Madison University and a Master of Music in jazz studies from the University of Northern Colorado.

 An avid and enthusiastic musician, Smiley has performed nationally and internationally at universities nationwide and the Montreux, North Sea, and Montreal Jazz Festivals. 

Currently, Matt resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he plays jazz weekly with the Subterraneans at Ace Gillett’s. He has recently performed with legendary jazz musicians Terrell Stafford and Greg Osby and worked with composer Alvin Lucier. Matt has assisted Dr. Paul Elwood with the University of Northern Colorado’s Open Space Music Festival for the last five years and worked with festival artists Stephen Drury, Christian Wolff, and Jean-Claude Risset. 

Matt released Quartet Art on the Dazzle label in 2011, featuring David Pope on saxophone. Peaceful Contact Proved Elusive, with guitarist Alex Nauman, followed in 2014 as a limited-edition vinyl. Matt is featured on several Dazzle releases by artists Josh Quinlan, Annie Booth, and Ryan Fourt.