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Celebrate the music, culture and roots of Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, at the FREE 9th Annual Five Points Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 19, 2012, noon – 7pm.  Performances at seven musical venues along Welton Street highlight many of Denver’s finest jazz musicians, plus additional free events including a lecture series, photo contest, marketplace, kid-friendly activities, art exhibits and more, keep the whole family entertained.
 
New in 2012
The 2012 Five Points Jazz Festival (FPJF) will focus on the community’s youth with new events and a dedicated youth stage showcasing the talent of local kids. The Youth Stage will feature four local bands with kids 18-years old and younger. Kids can participate in the USTA Intermountain Colorado 10 and Under Tennis play.  Using the QuickStart Tennis format, the program is structured for kids to learn, rally and play quickly in a way that is both enjoyable and rewarding.  Tailoring equipment and courts so they are sized appropriately for kids, make the game more assessable – and more fun – by allowing kids get involved right from the start. 

Performance Schedule
KUVO In-Studio
11:00am Queen City Jazz Band

Main Stage (29th and Welton)
12:00pm Mary Louise Lee Band
1:30pm Ultraphonic Jazz Orchestra
3:30pm Tribute Awards (see below for more details)
4:15pm Danny Showers Band
5:45pm Jakarta

Five Points Plaza
1:00pm Ricky Earl Band
3:00pm Jose Espino & Clave Fusion
5:00pm Ron Ivory & Members Only

Coffee at the Point
11:00am Chris Kroeger Trio
1:00pm Impromptu
1:45pm Minor Disturbance
3:00pm Carmen Sandiem
5:00pm Dr. Tone & The Notes

Crossroads Theater – Pianorama
12:00pm Sue Downs & Judy Boyd
1:30pm Bill Stephens & Ron Jolly
3:00pm John Kite & John Hayden
4:30pm Gayle Leali & Jesse Dawkins

Cervantes’ The Other Side
1:00pm Aakash Mittal
3:00pm Dazzle Recordings Jazz Review

New! Youth Stage (26th and Welton)
12:00pm Five Points Heritage Band
1:30pm The Absolute Family
3:00pm The Old Souls
4:30pm Back Beat Band

Festival Marketplace Presented by the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce
Welton between 26th & 28th Streets
The Marketplace will feature food, drink, artists and exhibitors, and community organization booths.

Free Five Points Jazz Exhibit
Blair Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton
Please visit an exhibit on the history of the Five Points Jazz Festival featuring posters from the past 8 years.

Free Lecture Series
Blair Caldwell African American Research Library, Community Room
Join Metropolitan State College of Denver Instructor and professional musician Carmen Sandim for her lecture series entitled, “Jazz Improvisation – An Evolution of a New Language.”

Free Day at the Stiles African American Heritage Center
2607 Glenarm Place
The Stiles African American Heritage Center strives to help all people become aware of the significant contributions African Americans have made towards the development and progress of America.

Black America West Museum
3091 California Street
Founded in 1971 by Paul W. Stewart, the museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving and disseminating the contributions of Blacks in the Old West.  Visit the museum for light refreshments and entertainment.

Free Jess Dubois Exhibit
Crossroads Theater
Local artist Jess Dubois has made Five Points his home for 20 years. To see his work, visit the Crossroads Theater and his studio on the 2800 block of Welton.

Free Day at RedLine Gallery
2350 Arapahoe Street
The Main Gallery at RedLine will host an exhibition by local artist Rory Knudtson entitled, “The Lost Suppers.”  The Community Gallery will feature work by students enrolled in RedLine’s Epic Arts program.

Five Points Jazz Festival Chalk Artists
Three artists from the Chalk Art Festival create large chalk drawings live throughout the day.  Children will also have the opportunity to fill in chalk drawings at locations in the Marketplace, Crossroads Theater, and Blair Caldwell African American Research Library.

Five Points Jazz Festival Photo Contest
Guests are encouraged to take and submit photos of the event to win great prizes. Photos will be judged in two categories: Players n’ Purveyors (musicians and vendors) and Faces in the Crowd (people at the festival). Upload photos to www.denverartsinteractive.com where they will go to public vote. Prizes include iPod Shuffles, CDs and Madgreens gift certificates.

Five Points Jazz Festival Tributes – Main Stage, 3:30pm
Each year the FPJF honors three individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to jazz in the Five Points neighborhood and beyond. This year’s recipients are*:

Erica Brown
Erica Brown is a bona-fide blues woman who has shared stages with heavyweights such as B.B. King, Al Green, Delbert McClinton, and Tab Benoit. As front woman for the award-winning Erica Brown Band, Erica has thrilled audiences all over the Rocky Mountain region with her band’s brand of soulful blues.  The band has won numerous awards, including Westword’s “Best Blues Band,” The Denver Post’s “Best Underground Blues Band,” and The Rocky Mountain News’ “Best of in the Blues Category.” There’s no doubt that Erica is Denver’s “Queen of the Blues”.
Carlos Lando
Carlos began his Denver career in 1980 at the legendary KDKO where he developed a loyal following and introduced Latin jazz to the Front Range. In 1985, Carlos changed the landscape of jazz radio forever by beginning his tenure as Program Director at the then new station, KUVO. A firm believer in local talent, Lando has always included Colorado musicians in KUVO’s music mix, a programming philosophy and advocacy that remains to this day. His commitment to the community and Five Points has never waned; he currently serves on the board of the Five Points Business District. This year, Carlos celebrates 25 years with jazz 89 KUVO and continues being the most important jazz radio host, emcee and jazz ambassador in the storied music history of Denver.
Bob Montgomery
An internationally-recognized musician and band leader, Bob is known for his outstanding trumpet playing and has played on stage with icons such as Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones, and Tony Bennett. Bob was part of the renowned Clark Terry Big Bad Band, has been the featured soloist for the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra for the International Trumpet Guild, and played at the New York City’s JVC Jazz Festival. His band plays many local festivals and jazz venues, in addition to touring the U.S. and Europe and Australia.

*Detailed biographies available 
Transportation
The FPJF encourages the use of public and carpooled transportation, or ride a B Cycle! The event is easily accessible by RTD Light Rail D line, 25th & Welton stop. Parking is also available in several lots around Welton. Starting at noon, a free shuttle service will make 20-minute loops around the neighborhood, stopping at each FPJF venue. 

For Five Points Jazz Festival information, visit www.denvergov.org/5pointsjazz. 

FPJF Sponsors
Jazz89 KUVO
Five Points Business District
SCFD
Denver Urban Spectrum
Gift of Jazz
Wave Audio Visual
Coffee at the Point
Jorson LLC

FPJF Partners
City Council District 8
CM Dance
Denver8
Colorado Creative Giving T.A.B.L.E.
YouthBiz

FPJF Venues
Blair Caldwell African American Research Library
Cervantes’ The Other Side
Coffee at the Point
Crossroads Theater
Five Points Plaza

Arts & Venues Denver’s mission is to enhance Denver’s quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, artwork and entertainment opportunities.  The division operates some of the region’s highest-profile facilities including the Colorado Convention Center, Crossroads Theater, Denver Coliseum, Denver Performing Arts Complex and Red Rocks Amphitheatre.  Arts & Venues Denver also oversees Denver’s public art program, economic development programs including Create Denver, literacy programs such as One Book, One Denver, and entertainment and cultural events such as the Five Points Jazz Festival.