![]() ![]() As a result, they could not be fired and would be playing by their own rules. In other words, they would not be working for a tavern owner. The musicians agreed to work for whatever admissions they could engender. That first band also established a precedent that may partially explain its longevity. The band has made 40 recordings, collaborated with 20 different concert bands, orchestras and concert choirs, been the opening act for a Bob Newhart show, and performed with a range of guest stars that included Cab Calloway, Herb Hall, Alvin Alcorn, Dick Hyman, Henry Cuesta, Bob Havens, and George Segal.Īlan Frederickson, an architect who tromboned his way through the University of Chicago before landing in Denver, was the band’s first leader, a position he held for 22 years. Originally called the Rocky Mountain Rhythm Kings, Queen City has appeared at 25 different festivals, many of which have resulted in repeat invitations for a total of some 100 appearances. Over the years, 82 players have been in the band, of whom 30 were considered regulars. The rest is history because the QCJB performed there every Friday and Saturday night for the next 14 years. The Mon-Vue could normally hold about 100 people, and that first night, 200 fans showed up. That party led to a few more jam sessions, and in 1958, Peterson’s wife negotiated a gig at a small nightclub in Lakewood called the Mon-Vue Village. He would frequently lament the fact that Denver needed a jazz band and finally decided to invite musicians to an informal jazz party at the Coors hospitality lounge. The band’s genesis harks back to the mid-1950s and the popular Jazz Classics radio show that was hosted by a Coors chemist and volunteer disc jockey named Harney Peterson. We also know that our future and the future of our music depends on attracting new audiences and younger audiences.” The old Dixieland styles of Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith will never be out of date, and we are well known for playing early jazz with energy and respect. John and bands like the Rebirth Brass Band and the Treme Brass Band have inspired us to discover new rhythms and melodies that are thrilling our concert and party audiences. The music of New Orleans artists like Trombone Shorty and Dr. “Second, the QCJB has embraced old and new second-line styles from the streets of New Orleans. First, we are playing to young adults who pack the dance floors jitterbugging and swing dancing to the music of Louis Jordan, Nellie Lutcher, and other pop stars of the ’40s and ’50s. What’s the secret of their longevity? According to retired educator Bill Clark, who’s been the tubist for 43 years and leader for 32, “In the past 10 years, we have added only two new players, but our band has evolved musically in two important ways. It’s their diamond anniversary, which means they have been entertaining jazz fans for the past 60 years. This is a special year for Denver’s Queen City Jazz Band. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |