Free Jazz Shows in Denver

Musical Style: Straight Ahead, Ambient, Thru-Composed, Rhythmic Luke Leavitt is a Denver native whose love for straight-ahead jazz is matched by a seeking spirit that embraces the joy, healing and adventure found in diverse styles ranging from ambient, free jazz, minimalism, afrobeat, and sound art. Having toured nationally with his own groups, Luke has also played with several national and international figures in jazz, including Arun Luthra, Reggie Workman and Hugh Ragin. His most recent release, Cruel Optimism, is a trio offering of mostly original music, with a nod towards such diverse luminaries as Cole Porter and Steve Lacy. Hezekiah Agbo is a Denver-based drummer whose playing seeks to meld the jazz tradition and the percussive languages of his native Nigeria. Raised among the rhythms of the Yoruba and Hausa peoples, he brings those deep roots into dialogue with jazz, the great American artform.

Free improvisation jam for all instruments/voices/abilities!

Jazz vocalist Julie Koenig returns to the Nocturne stage with Ben Hall (guitar) to celebrate the musical partnership of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass, and their four beloved duet albums released between 1974 and 1986. Joining on bass is Alex Annan as they explore the free and improvisatory nature of this soulful music. Julie Koenig is an accomplished multi-genre vocalist, pianist, and educator based in Fort Collins, CO. Her sound is influenced by the traditions of jazz and blues; key inspirations include Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Anita O’Day, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell. Julie is currently an adjunct instructor of Applied Voice, Applied Piano, and Class Piano at Laramie County Community College (Cheyenne, WY), and instructor of voice and piano at Flourish Music Academy (Greeley, CO).

GIFT OF JAZZ Blind Tiger Series presents Join us for a profound evening of music and memory as we honor the unparalleled life and legacy of the late Jazz tenor saxophone player Sonny Rollins. Widely revered as a defining figure in Jazz, Rollins left behind a monumental catalog that forever altered the landscape of this great American music. To celebrate this titan's enduring spirit, we are thrilled to feature the Peter Sommer Quartet to present this program. As an esteemed saxophonist and dedicated jazz educator, Peter Sommer brings a deep, lifelong connection to Rollins’ music. He and his quartet will lead a powerful exploration of Sonny’s iconic compositions, bringing to life that big, swinging groove he was known for. In the enriching tradition of the Blind Tiger series, Peter will draw on his extensive expertise to share insightful historical context and personal reflections on Sonny's life and monumental influence, offering a much deeper listening experience. SONNY ROLLINS (1930-2026) Often called “the greatest improviser in the history of Jazz,” Sonny Rollins (Harlem, NY) forged a completely unique jazz identity by combining a massive, muscular tenor tone with an unmatched sense of rhythmic wit and structural genius. His long solos were built from "thematic improvisation," transforming tiny melodic fragments into grand solos that shifted from a robust fullness to a biting, raspy bark. Playing with an elastic sense of time, Rollins frequently stripped his rhythm sections down to a "pianoless trio" to grant himself total harmonic freedom, allowing him to seamlessly inject joyous Caribbean calypso rhythms or humorous pop-tune quotes into his commanding, deeply vocal performances. PETER SOMMER Saxophonist Peter Sommer has contributed his energetic and graceful playing and creative spirit to a wide variety of musical projects ranging from mainstream bebop to classic and contemporary concert music to avant-garde improvisations at venues across the nation and around the world. Peter has released six albums as a leader. His latest release, Soulful Songs and Spirits (2022), features his working septet of Front Range jazz masters playing original arrangements and compositions inspired by legends of the art form. As a concert saxophonist Sommer performs recitals of newly commissioned pieces and masterworks both regionally and abroad. Peter Sommer is Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins and is a D’Addario Woodwinds Artist, performing exclusively on Select Jazz and Reserve Reeds on all of his instruments.