Celebrate International Jazz day in breweries, historic music lounges and more

By Emily Baker

While sometimes overlooked, there is a long history of jazz in the Mile High City and the tradition is alive and well in bars and clubs around town.

Historically, establishments like El Chapultepec in LoDo and The Rossonian Hotel in Five Points were renowned for hosting icons like Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and Duke Ellington. During segregation, African American musical legends like Nat King Cole and Dizzy Gillespie weren’t allowed to stay in Denver’s white hotels after performing around the city and instead would stay in The Rossonian.

As a result, the hotel’s accompanying lounge became famous nationwide as a notable jazz club. Although the Rossonian and El Chapultepec are shuttered, there are plans to reopen both with jazz entertainment included. Until then, jazz fans can still find a number of great spots around the city to enjoy a show. Catch some music this Sunday, on International Jazz Day, or most any night of the week. Below are just a few that we would recommend.

Dazzle

As one of the most well-known spots for jazz in Denver, Dazzle’s mission is to provide “some of the best jazz and improvised music from around the world.” Originally located at 9th and Lincoln, Dazzle moved to its new home at 1512 Curtis. The location has not changed the establishment’s acclaim. Plans call for another move in the near future to the Denver Performing Arts Complex, just up the street. They held the title for Best Jazz Club in Denver for 15 years running from 2003-2018 and then reclaimed it again in 2021.

Dazzle has an extensive lineup of regular shows including their annual “A Charlie Brown Christmas” show every December. Elise Anderson, a regular attendee of the Christmas shows says of the event, “It’s a favorite Christmas tradition of ours in one of the coolest jazz clubs we’ve seen.”

For a great night out in historic Denver, quality food and drink, and even better jazz, be sure to check out their upcoming events online.

Herb’s

It’s hard to go wrong when a music venue is owned and run by an actual musician, and Herb’s in LoDo is just that. “You will see some of the hottest bands and some of the most incredible untapped talent Denver has to offer,” at Herb’s, a staple on historic Larimer Street since opening its doors in 1933. Not always a music venue, Herb’s has since hosted music legends like the Steve Miller Band, Jack Black, and Ravi Coltraine. In spite of these big names, Herb’s has managed to keep its small local feel that Denverite’s have appreciated for decades.

Herb’s is not exclusively a jazz joint, catering to an eclectic crowd and having shows ranging from blues to funk to live DJs. However, Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for jazz. Swing by to check out Monday Night Jazz with Vlad Girshevich or the B3 Jazz Jam on Tuesdays and enjoy some of the craft cocktails Herb’s is known for. Learn more at their live music page online.

Mercury Cafe

Located in the heart of Denver’s Curtis Park neighborhood, Mercury Cafe was founded to create a home for good food, community and the arts. It is a hub of events from poetry open mic nights, to political and informational meetings, to their regular jazz night. Mercury Cafe is not just about the music however, they pride themselves on a high-quality organic menu of locally sourced ingredients.

Recently under new ownership, the original flavor of the Mercury Cafe hasn’t gone away. The variety of events that the Merc is beloved for is alive and well. Most notably, their Friday Jazz Jam with the Gabe Gravagno Trio and Sunday Jitterbug with the Jeremy Mohney Band. For some homegrown food and great local entertainment, be sure to check out Mercury Cafe’s full lineup online.

Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club

One might not look at an empty warehouse in RiNo and think jazz, but that’s exactly what Scott and Nicole Mattson did. They truly put their hearts into redesigning the space while maximizing its historic value. “We dreamt of making Nocturne into a place that would make jazz more accessible to a broader audience with a unique hospitality experience,” the website states.

Today they serve up delicious meals, craft cocktails, and jazz Wednesday through Sunday every week. The venue is unique in that each artist will take up essentially a four to eight-week residency. Nocturne is also proud to be the only club in all of Colorado to exclusively offer jazz music. All reservations include your prepaid dinner, the show, and fees that support the artist. Recently, owners expanded and opened another venture called Noble Riot, a wine bar also in RiNo. To check out their full lineup and support jazz artists from across the nation, check out their website.

Spangalang Brewing

Self-proclaimed “Jazz-Inspired Microbrewery,” Spangalang is another great spot in the Denver area. Located in the Five Points neighborhood near the historic home of The Rossonian Hotel and iconic Denver jazz hotspot, the neighborhood's history is integral to the brewery's mission. In addition to other fun events, every Friday is Jazz Night at the brewery. They have live music and all of their fresh beers on tap.

Spangalang believes strongly that beer is served best fresh, so it can only be found in their brewery and in a few select locations. To enjoy their unique beers and some great jazz, check out their website or stop by the taproom any Friday night.

Emily Baker is a Denver native and lifelong resident of Colorado. In her spare time you can find her reading, riding horses, hiking with her two dogs, and working on her novel.