The 2013 Five Points Jazz Festival will be held on May 18th from 11a.m. - 8p.m. This free community event celebrates the music, culture and history of Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, with performances highlighting many of Denver’s finest jazz musicians. Performances and activities take place in numerous venues in Historic Five Points, with food and art vendors along Welton Street.

May 17 - Five Points Jazz Festival Presents - Jazz on Film: The Girls in the Band
5:30 pm - Reception
6:30 pm - Film
McNichols Building: 144 W. Colfax Ave

Purchase Tickets: $20

In the world of jazz, women have long been marginalized as singers or piano players. Little has ever been documented about the enormously talented female trumpet players, saxophonist and drummers who struggled for recognition but were cut off from any meaningful employment by men who didn't want women on their bandstands. This film traces the history of the all-girl bands and the struggles of the handful who broke through the male bastions, and brings us into the present day, where brilliantly gifted young women are going toe-to-toe with the finest jazz musicians of their day.

2013 Five Points Jazz Festival Schedule of Performances & Activities

Main Stage

11:00am  Southern Journey
1:00pm  Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra
3:00pm  Park Hill Brass
5:00pm  Conjunto Colores
7:00pm  Hazel Miller Band

Five Points Plaza Stage

11:00am  Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine
12:30pm  Swing Je T'aime
2:30pm  Blues Man Willie Houston
4:30pm  Buckner Funken Jazz

Coffee at the Point Stage 

11:00am  Katie Glassman Quartet
1:00pm  Manuel Lopez Trio
3:00pm  Adam Bodine Trio
5:00pm  Deep Chocolate

Crossroads Theater Stage

1:30pm  Linda Theus – Lee Quintet
3:30pm  Devoted to the Standard 

Cervantes Stage

12:00pm  SuperCollider
3:00pm  Julie Monley Band

Bellco Youth Stage

11:00am  Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts
12:30pm  Break Dance Lesson
1:00pm  Absolute Fam
1:30pm  DSA Jazz Band
2:30pm  Break Dance Lesson
3:00pm  Five Points Heritage Band

All Day Activities

Youth Lecture
Approaching Jazz Through the Lens of Folkloric Music, Blair Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton Street - 1:00pm and 5:00pm 
Join guest lecturers Greg Tanner Harris, John Grigsby and Ido Ziv as they look at jazz from the folk music perspective

Free Day at The Stiles African American Heritage Center
2607 Glenarm – 12pm to 5pm
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

Five Points Jazz Exhibit at Blair Caldwell African American Research Library
2401 Welton
Please visit an exhibit on the history of the Five Points Jazz Festival.

Ol’ Skool Street Rollers Car Show
28th and Welton
Will be located in the parking lot on the corner of 28th and Welton

USTA Intermountain Colorado
Ten & Under Tennis 27th and Welton
10 and Under Tennis, using the QuickStart Tennis play format, 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. 

Jam Session at Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center
2836 Welton Street – 2pm – 6pm
In the spirit of improvisation that is jazz, all are invited to participate or attend this free Jam Session. Bring your instruments, bring your vocals, other talent or simply sit back and enjoy

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. The Museum Gift Shop features contemporary Colorado African Arts.  General admission applies.

Chalk Art
Join three amazing artists from the Denver Chalk Art Festival as they create amazing works of art while you watch!  There are also areas for kids to participate in the chalk creations.  Find the artists at Crossroads Theater, The Blair Caldwell African American Research Library and in the Festival Marketplace.

Gabriela Candotti – Exhibiting Artist
Crossroads Theater 2590 Washington
Gabriela was born and raised in São Paulo, Brasil and moved to the US to work as a nanny in 2006. Ever since she was little, art was her passion, and she was lucky enough to have parents who supported that passion and never complained about the pricing of canvas and oil paints. Although she has been painting for almost 15 years, only recently was she encouraged to show her work. She has lived in Denver for five years and now lives and works in the Five Points. Gabriela teaches during the week and paints during her time off.  

NEW! "Urban Treats" features Five Points Jazz Artists
Join us the third Thursday of every month through May at the McNichols Civic Center Building for FREE entertainment at our Urban Treats series! Enjoy your lunch with Five Points Jazz artists and more.

Artist Schedule:
May 11 (at Sonny Lawson Park)
11:30am Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra         
1pm Conjunto Colores            
3pm Buckner Funken Jazz  
May 16
11am Park Hill Brass   
12:15pm Swing Je T'aime   

Additional events to be announced...