The May/June 2013 Denver Jazz Club Newsletter is now available for download. There is info on the May 19th performance of the Neil Bridge 7+, and the June 16th session, featuring Vern Baumer’s Mile High Jazz Gathering..

May-Jun2013 DJC Newsletter

There is also breaking news about the DJC Youth All-Star upcoming June 9th benefit concert at Ziggies (4923 W. 38th Ave, Denver)! They have 17 professional musicians joining them to raise money for their performances at the Umbria, Italy, and Montreux, Switzerland Jazz Festivals. You will also find columns by Walt Hewitt and Peter Robinson. John Sobott’s, “Prez Sez” article rounds out the newsletter.

Say, do you want an easy way to help out the club? It’s simple – just give us your email address! The club can save up to $2,000.00 in expenses simply by emailing the newsletter instead of printing and mailing it. For those of you who have already supplied us with your email address, THANK YOU!

On Sunday, May 19th, you’re in for a real treat - The Neil Bridge 7+. They will perform from 2 until 5pm at the Westminster Elks Club. Neil Bridge 7+ plays a variety of big-band swing, jazz standards, salsa, ballroom, ballads and fun funky blues for dancing and listening! Pianist Neil Bridge was honored by the Denver School of the Arts with the dedication of the Neil Bridge Jazz Room in May, 2008. He was a pianist with the Denver Symphony and has appeared with Henry Mancini, Steve Allen, Nelson Riddle, Mel Tome, Anita O‘Day, Nancy Wilson, Dakota Staton, Johnny Smith, The Mills Brothers, Clark Terry and many more. The deep connection he has with the music personally gets passed along to his musicians, and then to the audiences. The Neil Bridge 7 consists of Ron Bland, bass; Dean Oldencott, drums; Gabriel Mervine, trumpet; Tom Ball, trombone; Byron Hamer, reeds; along with vocalist Karen Lee.

The UCD Claim Jumpers will perform from 1:30 until 2pm.

The Denver Jazz Club Youth All-Stars will perform at approximately 3:50pm. This will be their final performance at the Denver Jazz Club before their 4th appearance at the Sacramento Music Festival!!

THE DJC YOUTH ALL-STARS ARE LOOKING FOR DEDICATED, HARD-WORKING, 9^TH, 10^TH and 11^TH GRADE DRUM SET PLAYERS – THE AUDITION MUSIC AND RECORDING HAVE NOW BEEN POSTED AT: www.bandresourcesunlimited.com.

Our drummer is graduating this year, so we’re looking for a replacement 9^th, 10^th or 11^th grade musician to take his spot.

WHEN WILL AUDITIONS TAKE PLACE? Sundays, May 5th (4:00-8:30pm), May 12th (6:30-9pm), and May 19th (6:30-9pm), at Flesher-Hinton Music Store (3936 Tennyson St. in Denver). 

WHAT EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED? Intermediate to advanced jazz experience is necessary.

MONTHLY CLINICIANS: Retired UC-Denver Music Professor Bill Clark, tuba player/leader of the Queen City Jazz Band, is a regular clinician. Additional professional jazz musicians  will be doing clinics from time to time as well.

REHEARSALS: Weekly rehearsals take place at Flesher-Hinton Music Store, from 6:30 until 9:00 pm, each Sunday. Some holiday weekends and a few other Sundays may need to be skipped.

PERFORMANCE GIGS? We feature this all star-band during each monthly Denver Jazz Club sessions, professional jazz festivals, and performance gigs throughout the area. The  Youth All-Stars will be performing at the 2013 Montreux (Switzerland), Umbria (Italy), Sacramento, Evergreen and Summit Jazz Festivals! We are hoping to take a national performance tour to NYC during the summer of 2014.

SCHOOL CONFLICTS? The Denver Jazz Club Youth All-Stars only agree to do performances that do not conflict with school activities.

COST: Each selected student will be required to become a member of the Denver Jazz Club ($10 yearly fee). The monthly dues (4 weekly sessions) run $120, and are payable at the start of each month.

WILL PAID GIGS REDUCE FUTURE TRIP COSTS? Any money the band is paid will go towards future trip expenses.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE? The Denver Jazz Club does have financial assistance available for students who need help with monthly dues and/or private jazz lessons.

MORE INFORMATION & AUDITION SCHEDULING: ecan11@msn.com or 303-328-7277. Ed’s complete resume, audition music, and audition recordings can be found at: www.bandresourcesunlimited.com.