On May 20 Denver Arts & Venues will be hosting the 15th Annual Five Points Jazz Festival. The Five Points Jazz Festival, while being a mecca for jazz enthusiasts is also significant, as it returns the Denver jazz scene to its origins in the Five Points neighborhood, one time known as the Harlem of the West. Taking place across nine stages in the Five Points area from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the family-friendly event will feature more than 40 of jazz music’s brightest stars as well as yoga classes, drum lessons and even South African dance routines. Not to mention, the event is completely free.

Five points Jazz Festival

Photography By Meg O’Neill

Five Points, previously known as a predominately African-American area in the past has played host to many Jazz legends from Miles Davis and Theolonius Monk, to Duke Ellington and many more. The Five Points Jazz festival is a testament to the mark those artists imbued on the area and nothing short of a celebration of the cultural history of the Five Points Neighborhood. In fact, historical neighborhood fixtures like the recently revitalized 715 Club will even be incorporated into the festival as one of the nine stages and the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library will be showing documentaries on the likes of African American Jazz staples like Nina Simone and Charles Mingus.

715 Club Sign

Photography by Brittany Werges

As for the bill of music, it features a great and diverse lineup across the Jazz spectrum. Some of the highlights include Portuguese Jazz melting pot Mistura Fina, who’ve recently released their eclectic sophomore effort A Little Bit of This & A Little Bit of That, as well as super group Judo chop, composed of members of Analog Son and The Magic Beans. Elsewhere, Colorado’s own 14-piece band Groove N’ Motion & The Rocky Mountain Horns will be closing down the main stage with what is sure to be a triumphant performance.

The festival will close down Welton St. between 25th and 30th Street from May 19 and 20, and will kick off with a parade down the street. Last year, the festival boasted an attendance of 50,000 and with increasing numbers throughout the years, they only expect that number to grow.

Check out the Full Schedule Below:

Main Stage/Escenario Principal

11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Guerrilla Fanfare Brass Band

12:30-1:30 p.m. – Denver Jazz Orchestra

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Paa Kow

3:30-4:30 p.m. – Conjunto Colores

5:00-6:00 p.m. – SF1

6:30-7:30 p.m. – Groove ‘N Motion

 

Plaza Stage/Escenario Plaza

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Voz de la Clave

1:00-2:00 p.m. – Eddie Turner & the Trouble Twins

2:30-3:30 p.m. – Sista Soul

4:00-5:00 p.m. – Soul Sacrifice: A Tribute to Santana

5:30-6:30 p.m. – Ricky Earl Band and Cherise

 

Arts & Venues Stage/Escenario de Arts & Venues

12:00-1:00 p.m. – Denver Jazz Heritage Orchestra

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Soul Confluence

3:00-4:00 p.m. – Flat Out Jazz

4:30-5:30 p.m. – Peter Sommer Septet

6:00-7:00 p.m. – Mistura Fina

 

Crossroads Theater

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – GoodRattle

12:45-1:45 p.m. – Coexistence

2:30-3:30 p.m. – Tom Gershwin Sextet

4:15-5:15 p.m. – Expeditions

6:00-7:00 p.m. – Rico Jones Quartet

 

Coffee at The Point

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – La Pompe Jazz

1:00-2:00 p.m. – SAS Jazz

3:00-4:00 p.m. – Steve Kovalcheck/Dave Devine Quartet

5:00-6:00 p.m. – Chris Kroger Quintet

7:00-8:00 p.m. – Judo Chop

9:00-10:00 p.m. – Keith Oxman Trio

 

Coffee at The Point Outdoor Patio/Patio Exterior en Coffee at The Point

12:00-1:00 p.m. – Styles Bitchley

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Smooth E and the Grooves

4:00-5:00 p.m. – Purple Squirrel

6:00-7:00 p.m. – The Jazz Partners

8:00-9:00 p.m. – The Hendersons

 

Cervantes

12:00-1:00 p.m. – Brad Goode Polytonal Quartet

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Space Orphan

 

Blair Caldwell African American Research Library

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Denver Jazz Club

12:00-1:30 p.m.– Film: “Nina Simone, Love Sorceress”*

1:30-2:30 p.m. – Quirktett

2:00-3:30 p.m.– Film: “Charles Mingus: Triumph of the Underdog”**

3:30-4:30 p.m.– Spherio

 

715 Club

3:30-4:30 p.m. – Teresa Carroll and the Top Cats

5:00-6:00 p.m. – Dustin Adams Band

6:45-7:45 p.m. – The Utopian Futurist Society

8:30-9:30 p.m. – Freddy Rodriquez and the Jazz Connection

 

A.C.E. Youth Hub/A.C.E. Centro de Actividades para Jóvenes

12, 1, 2, 3 p.m. –Yoga

12:20, 1:20, 2:20, 3:20 p.m. – Drumming/Tambores

12:40, 1:40, 2:40, 3:40 – Dance/Danza

11:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Family Zone/Zona familiar