Local jazz clubs hand DU students and alumni the mic

Jazz has been a constant throughout Denver’s storied history. The music scene that originated in the Five Points neighborhood in the 1920s drew some of the biggest names in jazz—Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, among many others—to the Mile High City.

But it wasn’t all big-name performers. Denver’s homegrown jazz musicians—including countless DU students, alumni and faculty—have always played a critical role in keeping the scene alive and thriving. And today, local venues like Nocturne and Dazzle are the best places to find members of the DU community on stage.

An old-school night out at Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club

Owned and operated by alumna Nicole Mattson (BSBA ’02, MBA ’12), an adjunct professor in the Daniels College of Business, and her husband Scott, Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club has paired next-level eats and classic cocktails—some of which pre-date the origins of Denver’s jazz scene—with performances from Colorado’s finest jazz musicians since 2015.

Tucked in the corner of 27th and Larimer—in the heart of RiNo Art District—evenings at Nocturne harken back to an earlier era of Denver’s musical history. With a three-course tasting menu, small plates or the opulent five-course “Ellington Experience” to choose from, guests are given a classic supper club experience with a side of jazz.

And the music is just as good as the food. With shows five nights a week, Nocturne’s intimate venue hosts performers for four to eight weeks, giving them a chance to explore the music of a favorite icon, dive deep into a specific jazz genre or showcase their own work. With a focus on local musicians, DU’s vast community of musicians are regulars on stage and in the crowd.

“There are a lot of people who have come through Lamont [School of Music] that are mentors for those that end up on our stage,” Mattson says. “And there are a lot of people who have connections and have been through the DU program that are our guests. We love being able to serve them, meet them and make that connection through a cocktail and some great music.”

Numerous bands with DU ties took the stage at Nocturne in recent months. Passiflora, featuring Lamont adjunct professors Annie Booth, Marion Powers and Bijoux Barbosa alongside alumna Camilla Vaitaitis (BM ’16), explored Brazilian jazz throughout their multi-show run. The Jack Dunlevie Trio, including Jack Dunlevie (BM ’15) and Hunter Roberts (BM ’15), spent their month-long series of shows exploring the music of countless jazz guitar icons. And throughout their two-month run, the Wil Swindler and Friends Quintet hosted assistant professor Remy Le Boeuf and Lamont graduate student Adam Gang as guest performers.

Honoring Denver’s musical legacy at Dazzle

Founded in 1997, one of Denver’s most famous jazz venues, Dazzle, remains a pillar of Denver’s jazz community, despite several moves. The club’s original location, a compact concert space on Lincoln Street, hosted national and local acts for nearly two decades before moving to the historic Baur’s building in downtown Denver, and in August 2023, settling into its new home in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Dazzle’s menu of shareable plates and Colorado-sourced seasonal libations, including sophisticated non-alcoholic cocktails, makes for the perfect pairing with a night of spectacular jazz. And if you happen to catch a Sunday morning show, the special brunch menu is a must. In October, Dazzle honored DU alumnus and legendary classical and jazz bassist Charles Burrell (BME ’65) on his 103rd birthday. A portrait of Burrell, titled “The Bassist,” hangs on the wall in recognition of his contributions to music and the arts in Colorado.

Paying homage to Denver’s long history of jazz music in LoDo, Dazzle houses El Chapultepec Piano Lounge, honoring the famed but now-closed club and providing a new space for cover-free late-night performances for "El Pec’s" regulars.

From monthly performances by bass player and former Lamont faculty member Ken Walker to an annual run of Charlie Brown Christmas performed by the Annie Booth Trio, DU’s talented musicians are commonplace on Dazzle’s stages.