Legendary Denver Jazz Club Dazzle Supporting Local Artists During Pandemic

Art, cultural and music venues have been badly hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are working to remain open and adjust to the current circumstances. Dazzle Denver, considered to be one of the premier jazz venues in the country, has been an integral part of the Denver music scene for almost 20 years. During the current pandemic, Dazzle is working to support local musicians and artists by providing an online platform. According to the venue’s website, “the online stage will be a place where artists can share their creative content and the community can show them support.”

KGNU’s Tish Beauford finds out about the history of the venue, its role in the Denver music scene, and how it is adapting during the pandemic.

We hear from two people who have played a central role in Dazzle:  Matt Ruff has been with Dazzle since December of 2003. In 2017, when Dazzle made the move from the original 9th and Lincoln location to the current downtown location in the historic Baur’s building, Matt became part owner with proprietor and owner, Donnie Rossa.

Renowned musician Ken Walker is a regular at Dazzle. He is considered a “first-call” jazz bassist for the Rocky Mountain region and has played with a veritable Who’s Who of jazz artists. He has played all over the world and in 2006, Rocky Mountain News Spotlight, Top of the Rockies Edition named the Ken Walker Sextet:     TOP JAZZ GROUP. The Ken Walker Sextet has been a headliner feature group at Dazzle Denver for 19 years.

Find out more about the Dazzle Online Stage.

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