Two Decades of Traditional Jazz
Since 2001, Evergreen, Colorado, the picturesque mountain town just 30 minutes west of Denver, has been home to what one jazz columnist called “the best jazz festival anywhere.”
The Festival was founded by longtime Evergreen resident and jazz aficionado Sterling Nelson, who served as the Festival Music Director until retiring in 2010. He traveled the country over the years to find the traditional jazz groups and individual musicians who have helped the Festival establish and maintain its reputation for excellence.
It was Nelson’s 70th birthday that led to the launch of the Festival. To help him celebrate, he invited local jazz musicians to jam at his party. It was such a success that one of his friends enthused, “We ought to do this every year!” After the initial Festival in 2001 proved an artistic success, organizers took a year off to develop a business plan and fundraising strategy, and in 2003 produced the second Evergreen Jazz Festival, EJF. With the exception of two Covid year cancellations, they have done it every year since, presenting top musicians from across the country and attracting jazz-loving audiences from around the world.
Maybe it all shouldn’t be so surprising. Without a river delta or a Savoy Ballroom or an 18th & Vine, Evergreen still has its own modest jazz heritage that the Evergreen Jazz Festival continues to build upon. Like many cities across the country, Evergreen was one of those summer house locations in the cool mountains west of the oppressive summer heat of Denver. In the early days, the Evergreen venue, The Red Ram, hosted the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Glenn Miller and others.
The intimate EJF venues allow the patrons to tap, sway, dance and enjoy in a totally up- close-and-personal style. The headquarters venue is the Evergreen Elks Lodge which has two stages, the ballroom with a large dance floor and the patio, which many have said is like enjoying world-class jazz in your own backyard. Evergreen Lake House is a beautiful log structure on the shore of Evergreen Lake. The fourth venue is Evergreen Christian Church, whose sanctuary boasts truly amazing acoustics. Center Stage Evergreen, CSE, has joined the stable of venues for 2024. CSE has become a main cultural venue for the Evergreen community hosting musicals, choral, and jazz performances.
Regular, free shuttle service connects all the venues. Food and bar service are available at all but the church, although church members offer tasty items fresh off the barbecue grill.
Every Festival Sunday begins with a gospel service at the church. The service features Denver’s own Queen City Jazz Band and vocal star Wende Harston. Many critics and fans call her a modern-day Bessie Smith, and as one Denver radio personality put it, “With Wende leading the service, you know you’ve been to church!”
Included in the Festival mission statement is a commitment to jazz education. A key educational activity is the Student Clinic held during Festival Week, providing student musicians with the opportunity to learn from many of the pros performing in the Festival.
Emphasizing the Festival's commitment to education in instruction and performance, patrons also have the opportunity to experience the future of traditional jazz, most recently in the form of the The Colorado Jazz Ambassadors, New Mexico State University Jazz Ensemble and from the University of Colorado-Denver, the Claim Jumpers.Denver Jazz Club Youth All-Stars
Each year, the Festival opens with a two-hour educational presentation featuring one or two musicians appearing that year. Among the past presenters are James Dapogny, ragtime legend Terry Waldo and New Orleans piano favorite John Royen. In 2024, Jeff Barnhart, piano great and longtime Festival favorite, presented "So You Want to Write Songs? Better Play the Piano!".
Following Mr. Barnhart the show will continued with a performance by the Clinic Student Band composed of the select musicians who participated in the annual Clinic prior to the Festival along with their instructors, the musicians performing at the Festival. It will be sure to include a jam session.
The Evergreen Jazz Festival is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and is managed and produced by volunteers in and around the Evergreen, CO community. Funding is provided by ticket sales, grants, sponsorships, individual contributions and fundraising events. The Festival website is www.EvergreenJazz.org
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