About The Friends of Colorado Springs Jazz
Do you enjoy straight-ahead jazz performed by world-class musicians? Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, The Dorsey Brothers, Billie Holiday, Johnny Mercer and many others inspire the Friends of Colorado Springs Jazz to bring great classic jazz musicians to Colorado Springs for your enjoyment and assistance in sustaining this art form.
Our mission is to promote, inform and grow the presence of straight-ahead jazz in Colorado.
Towards this end, our non-profit, 501c3 organization has three initiatives:
- Present the Colorado Springs Jazz Party;
- Present small, intimate jazz performances (“Evenings With…”) and,
- Support the Student Outreach Program by providing jazz students with an opportunity to learn from and occasionally perform with the All Star- class of jazz musicians.
Colorado Springs Jazz Party
The “Jazz Party” is a uniquely American musical event. It is a three-day, four-session event that brings together the best straight-ahead jazz musicians in the country. This affords an opportunity for these world-class musicians to jam, thereby renewing and revising their craft. Typically, each musician will lead a set bringing their own unique style and playbook. For the audience, each set is an original experience that may never be heard again.
Our 2014 Jazz Party will be held on October 31, November 1-2, 2014 at the Antlers Hilton in Colorado Springs. The musician lineup includes:
- Harry Allen (Saxophone)
- Houston Person (Saxophone)
- Bill Allred (Trombone, Tuba)
- Bucky Pizzarelli (Guitar)
- Jeff Barnhart (Piano)
- Chuck Redd (Drums, Vibes)
- John Cocuzzi (Piano, Vibes)
- Ed Polcer (Cornet)
- Kevin Dorn (Drums)
- Bria Skonberg (Cornet, Vocals)
- Brady McKay (Vocals)
- Frank Tate (Bass)
- Richard Moten (Bass)
- Wayne Wilkinson (Guitar)
- Alan Vache (Clarinet)
An Evening With …
… is an opportunity for a small group of people to enjoy an evening performance by a classic jazz All-
Star musician or a small All-Star combo. Typically, we plan to do three of these events per year. Our first event of the 2014 season will be held on February 17th and is An Evening with Jeff Barnhart.
Master Class – Student Outreach Program
Like other classical music, jazz is suffering from a dwindling audience and a reduced cadre of entry-level musicians and students. The Friends of Colorado Springs Jazz helps address this situation by inviting students to participate in clinics with professionals, providing exposure to genuine delivery of this art form.
In 2014, our student outreach program will include approximately 70 students from Colorado Springs public schools. These students will participate in a clinic with the All Star Musicians on Saturday, 1 November 2014 and are invited to sit in on the afternoon performance.
Our Organization
- Maureen Frediani/Executive Director
- Jerry Murphy/Marketing
- Janet & Claus Weidner/Marketing
- Jan Ostrom/Operations
- Donna Fry/Arrangements
- Jean Lohse/Ombudswoman
- Wayne Wilkinson/Master Class
What We Need & What You Get
Experience a once in a life time performance as 15 of America's top jazz musicians come together and jam. Many of the sets performed will be entirely unique, and may never be heard again.
The Friends of Colorado Springs Jazz is a non-profit organization, and running an annual Jazz Party comes with financial challenges. The $25,000 raised will go towards the costs of running the Jazz Party.
The Impact
All contributions will go towards paying for the event and for future events
- This event is to help promote jazz and to get the younger generation interested in jazz.
- Jazz Party is all about keeping jazz alive.
Risks & Challenges
The Friends of Colorado Springs Jazz is running a Jazz Party with potential financial short comings. We need more attendees and donations to help fund and keep this event going for future generations.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you cannot afford to help monetarily, please help us by spreading the word about the Jazz Party via social media and word of mouth.
Don't forget to make use of the IndieGoGo sharing features!
