After Midnight
Denver
www.aftermidnightjazzband.com
Now well into their third decade, this incredible group continues to deliver its spot-on sound of the Benny Goodman Sextet along with equally authentic renditions of Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and other greats of the Swing Era. They’ve been thrilling Evergreen audiences ever since their initial appearance in 2006, and it is always a pleasure to welcome them back.
Sponsored by
Sue & John Dunlop
Roger Campbell – Clarinet/Leader,
Rick Weingarten – Vibraphone/Vocals, Mike McCullough – Guitar/Vocals,
Andy Weyl – Piano,
Dwight Thompson – Bass,
Jim Moore – Drums
Special Sets
Friday 7:30 PM - 8:25 PM, Evergreen Lake House, "Dance Me to the End of Love"
Saturday 1:45 PM - 2:40 PM, Center Stage, "Terrific Tony Bennett"
Saturday 5:30 PM - 6:25 PM, Evergreen Christian Church, "Incredible Ken Peplowski"
Sunday 1:30 PM - 2:25 PM, Center Stage, "Rockin' Red Norvo"
The Carl Sonny Leyland Trio
Southern California
www.carlsonnyleyland.com
One of the most popular groups ever to perform in the Festival, this trio always has audiences cheering with its range of boogie-woogie, blues and barrelhouse. Their repertoire goes from familiar to original to total improvisation (“Let’s just do something in G”) and frequently includes very entertaining lyrics. But how can just three musicians generate so much energy?
Sponsored by
Betsy & Mike Slager
Barb & Don MacDonald
Dianne & Gerald Berk
Carl Sonny Leyland - Piano/vocals
Marty Eggers - Bassist
Josh Collazo - Drums
Chris Calabrese
Las Vegas, NV or Colorado
EJF Patrons may recall Chris from Big Mama Sue Trio we had a few Festivals ago.
The resident pianist for Disney theme parks in the United States and Tokyo, Calabrese is known for his ultra-fast, New Orleans-influenced style of piano playing. Festival Patrons wil remember him from Big Mama Sue a few festivals ago featuring banjo player "Fast Eddie" Erickson and tuba player "Rockin'" Alan O'Dea.
Sponsored by
Jim White in memory of Anne White
Hal Smith’s El Dorado Jazz Band
Searcy, AR
www.halsmithmusic.com
The original El Dorado Jazz Band performed in southern California in the 1960s, delivering a distinctive sound that set the band apart from other traditional jazz groups of the era. The current EDJB, led by jazz historian Hal Smith on washboard (true El Dorado) and featuring Festival favorite Jeff Barnhart on piano and vocals, is sure to replicate that original sound right down to the last note.
Special Sets
Saturday, 11:15 am Patio "Dedicated to Ray Ronnei"
Sponsored by
Baseline Solution Ltd
Hal Smith - Washboard/Leader
Dave Kosmyna- Cornet/Vocals
Brandon Au - Trombone/Vocals
Andy Schumm - Clarinet
Jeff Barnhart - Piano/Vocals
TJ Müller - Banjo/Vocals
Mikiya Matsuda - String Bass
The Holland-Coots Sextet
Nashville
http://shanesmohawk.com/hollandcootsjazzquintet/html
What happens when some of the nicest guys you've ever met get together to play traditional jazz? Brian Holland and Danny Coots tapped into their enormous hometown talent pool. They'll steal your heart by delighting your ears as their collective genius, good manners, and gracious attitudes put some of the most authentic jazz songs into the air. You're going to want a cigarette afterwards! They’re back for 2025.
Sponsored by
Janet Ostrom
Barb & Don MacDonald
Brian Holland - Piano
Dan Hitchcock - Reed
Danny Coots - Drums
John Otto - Reed
Mark Caparone - Cornet
Steve Pikal - Bass
Ivory & Gold®
Mystic, Conneticut
Long time Festival patons will remember the favorite Ivory & Gold® from past years. Unlike Felix and Oscar, the inter music banter of this virtuoso wife and husband duo, Anne Barnhart on flute and vocals with Jeff Barnhart on piano and vocals, is filled with decades of mutual love and respect.
Praised by The L.A. Jazz Scene as a musical duo that can “draw out the beauty in the rich melodies and play the music...with taste, sensitivity, and a real affection for the idiom,” Ivory & Gold® celebrates the greatest examples of American jazz, blues, ragtime, Broadway and hits from the Great American Songbook. Internationally renowned American musical performer and historian Max Morath calls Ivory & Gold® “musically flawless.”
We welcome them back for another Festival.
Sponsored by
Janet Ostrom
Jeremy Mohney and his Orchestra
Jeremy Mohney and his Band
Denver, CO
https://www.jeremymohney.com/
EJF Patrons loved Jeremy's small troupe last year. This year he's bringing his big group to play his reinvigorating versions of Traditional Jazz. If you're not tapping or dancing, please check with your MD. Jeremy's group swings the kids all over the Front Range, so be sure to catch his sets before we loose him to the rest of the Festival circuit.
Sponsored by
Sandy Adams & Ron Sherbert
Orchestra
Jeremy Mohney - Alto Sax/Vocals
Jonas Shofler - Alto Sax
Cian Krueger - Tenor Sax
Stacey Novik, Sonya Walker - Trumpet
Decker Babcock - Trombone
Matt Cantor - Guitar
Conner Hollingsworth - Bass
Chris Carland - Drums
Band
Jeremy Mohney - Alto Sax/Vocals
Matt Cantor - Guitar
Conner Hollingsworth - Bass
Chris Carland - Drums
The Colorado Nighthawks
Denver, CO
The Nighthawks are a new band for the Evergreen Jazz Festival. Doug Tidaback leads some of his favorite musicians in this group. Prepare to be caught up in their merry renditions of Traditional Jazz's immortal tunes.
Doug Tidaback - Leader/Trombone
Seth Merlin - Trumpet
Ben Sevey - Soprano Sax
Dave Shugert - Banjo
Jake Maxtield - Drums
Hank Troy - Piano
Bill Clark - Tuba
The Poudre River Irregulars
Fort Collins, Colorado
https://www.prijb.com/
The Rable Rousing Rascals are back! Fresh from engagements martial and merry the motley assemblage of the men who heard the call will gather to recall the notes of "True Trad Jazz". Festival patrons will recall the fun of many past visits with the group that leaves it all on the stage. Kellogg, Lagerberg, Smith, Burnside, Leake, Thomas, DeZoto, Sparks, Bollinger, and Dale will gang up to deliver another year of expert testimony to the vitality of traditional jazz in our time. If you can't wait, check their tunes at Avogado's Number 605 S. Mason, Ft. Collins the first Friday of every month.
Special Sets
FRIDAY 2:30 pm Evergreen Christian Church, Bix Beiderbecke
FRIDAY 6:15 pm Evergreen Lake House, Jelly Roll Morton
SATURDAY 4:15 pm Center Stage, Lu Watters & Turk Murphy
SUNDAY 12:15 pm Elks Ballroom, Duke Ellington
SUNDAY 2:45 pm Elks Patio, King Oliver & Young Louis
Sponsored by
Wendy Potthoff
Charlie Smith - Trumpet
Kevin Bollinger - Trumpet
Larry Lagerberg - Trumpet
Clark Burnside - clarinet and soprano sax
Len Kellogg - Trombone
Ray Leake - piano
Alan Sparks - Bass
Rory Thomas - banjo
Oscar Dezoto - drums
The Rocky Mountain Rascals
Thereabouts
New bands are a joy to see when musicians seem to mesh seamlessly and have a great time performing amazing traditional jazz. That's how this group met at another festival and decided to spend the weekend sharing the fun with us.
Festival goers will know Danny Coots drum licks from many Evergreen Festivals. He'll be playing with Festival veteran Chris Calabrese on piano and newcomer Dan Hitchcock on Sax. The vibes will be excellent.
Chris Calabrese - piano/ Leader
Dan Hitchcock - clarinet and sax
Danny Coots - drums
Sponsored by
JazzFest at Sea
The Sweet&Hot Quartet USA!
Mystic, Conneticut
The Sweet&Hot Quartet lives up to its name with scintillating selections from the Ragtime through Swing eras, brilliantly rendered by Jeff Barnhart (piano/vocals); Anne Barnhart (flute/vocals); T.J. Müller (banjo/guitar/trumpet/trombone/vocals) and Josh Duffee (vintage drum kit/xylophone). Individually, the musicians are masters of their craft, having logged thousands of hours of performance time across six of the seven continents. As the Quartet, their music and mirth are unparalleled. Whether they’re playing raucous ragtime, nifty novelties, joyous jazz, stomping swing or beautiful ballads, their show will leave you breathless and shouting for more!
Sponsored by
Randy Brame & Sandy Zimmerman
Baseline Solution Ltd.
Jeff Barnhart - piano/vocals
Anne Barnhart - flute/vocals
T.J. Müller - banjo/guitar/trumpet/trombone/vocals
Josh Duffee - vintage drum kit/xylophone
Special Sets
Friday 6:15 pm Church Swingin' in the Pines
Saturday 12:30 pm Church Tribute to the Red Hot Mamas
Saturday. 3 pm. Patio Hot Novelty Tunes of the 1920’s
The Queen City Jazz Band with Wende Harston
Denver
www.queencityjazzband.com
This local treasure has been thrilling audiences on both sides of the Atlantic for well over 60 years. Their big New Orleans sound was born in a smoky Lakewood roadhouse in 1958, and the band has grown to become one of the premier groups anywhere. Likewise, Wende Harston is regarded as one of today’s standout jazz vocalists, reminding many of a modern-day Bessie Smith. Their Sunday gospel service is not to be missed. For those that can't wait, check them out at The second Sunday of the month at The Pearl Cafe, 2199 California St, Denver, CO.
Sponsored by
Jeannie Mann
Kevin Bollinger - trumpet
Jeremy Wendelin - clarinet/saxophone
Eric Staffeldt - trombone
Hank Troy - piano
Bill Clark - tuba
Wende Harston - vocals
Rory Thomas - banjo
Tony Pantelis - drums
Special Sets
Friday 7:30 pm Evergreen Christian Church, "Wende's Great American Female Blues Set."
Saturday 4:15 pm, Ballroom, "Alumni"sets
Saturday 5:30 pm, Patio
Maurie Walker, the virtuoso of the banjo and John Bredenberg, the rock solid reed man join the band for 2 "Alumni Sets".
It's sure to be a blast to hear them all together again.
Sunday 4 pm, Center Stage "Featuring Wende Harston"
Double 88's
Brian Holland, Carl Sonny Leyland, Jeff Barnhart
In addition to the great bands appearing this year, the Festival will present several sets of dueling pianos featuring the three mega-talents listed above. Each will play at least once with each of the other two in what will likely be some of the most memorable sets of the entire weekend. Three superb musicians and two grand pianos in the acoustically marvelous Center Stage. This is going to be special!
Sponsored by
Janet Ostrom
Bob Griendling
Evergreen Jazz Festival Footwarmers
Friday's special set is the annual collection of gamin we affectionately refer to as The Footwarmers.
The completely unrehearsed display of skill and daring of true musicianship
will delight the senses.
Curated by our own Music Director, Ed Danielson, from among the stellar talents performing at this years Festival.
Embodying the ephemeral spirit of jazz it will happen once in this lifetime.
Sponsored by
Nancy Brune
Brandon Au - Trombone, Hal Smith's El Dorado Jazz Band
John Bredenberg - Clarinet, Queen City Jazz Band
Chris Calabrese - Piano, Rocky Mountain Rascals
Marc Caparone - Trumpet, Holland-Coots Sextet
Bill Clark - Tuba, Queen City Jazz Band
Jim Moore - Drums, After Midnight