Category: Music & Notes

Holiday Party Rental Availability | BOOK NOW

by Kelley Dawkins, posted in Music & Notes, Uncategorized

Thinking about having your company or personal holiday party at Dazzle? Shows are already booked, so check out the booking details and date availability below.

Private Party Availability

Dazzle considers holiday party rentals to start on Friday, November 22, 2024 through Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

There are special guidelines for these dates:

  • A non-refundable $1,000 deposit reserves the date and time. We can work out the food and beverage details later.
  • The full deposit (25% of food and beverage + booking / coordination fee) is due 45 days before the party.
  • Holiday Party food & beverage minimums are different. They are listed in the Private Events packet.
  • Venue rental rates are the same year-round.
  • A special $25,000 all-inclusive package is available and can be fully customized to suit your needs. It includes food, beverages, live music, sound technician, venue rental, gratuity, taxes, and fees.

Available Dates for Private Holiday Parties:

  • Saturday, November 23 before 5PM
  • Sunday, November 24 – any time
  • Monday, November 25 – any time
  • Tuesday, November 26 – possibly before 7PM
  • Wednesday, November 17 – possibly any time
  • Friday, November 29 – after 7PM
  • Saturday, November 30 – possibly (definitely available if you buyout the band too)
  • Sunday, December 1 – any time
  • Monday, December 2 – any time
  • Tuesday, December 3 – any time
  • Wednesday, December 4 – any time
  • Sunday, December 8 – after 8PM
  • Tuesday, December 10 – before 9PM
  • Wednesday, December 11 – any time
  • Sunday, December 15 – after 8:30PM
  • Sunday, December 29 – any time
  • Monday, December 30 – any time
  • Tuesday, December 31 – any time for a $25,000 all-inclusive buyout
  • Wednesday, January 1 – after 8PM
  • Thursday, January 2 – any time
  • Friday, January 3 – after 8PM
  • Saturday, January 4 – after 8PM
  • Sunday, January 5 – any time
  • Monday, January 6 – any time
  • Tuesday, January 7 – any time
  • Wednesday, January 8 – any time
  • Sunday, January 12 – any time
  • Monday, January 13 – any time
Private Events at Dazzle

Private Happy Hour Rental Availability

Holiday Private Happy Hours are available from 3PM – 5PM, seven days a week, starting Friday, November 29, 2024 (the day after Thanksgiving) through Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

There are so many dates available for Happy Hour, that the unavailable dates is a shorter list.

Unavailable Dates for Private Happy Hours:

  • Sunday, December 8
  • Friday, December 20 – Wednesday, December 25
Booking Form & More Info

🎉Dazzle Turns 1 at the Arts Complex 🎉

by Kelley Dawkins, posted in Music & Notes

Dazzle celebrates its 1st year at the Denver Performing Arts Complex with four shows on July 31st & August 1st, 7 & 9:30PM.

Derrick has complete creative control over these shows (as does every artist at Dazzle), but expect jazz, RnB, blues, fusion, and maybe even some gospel.

Wed. 7/31 – 7PM
Wed. 7/31 – 9:30PM
Thur. 8/1 – 7PM
Thur. 8/1 – 9:30PM

Matt Ruff, Owner and Operations Manager, says, “the process to get to the Arts Complex was long and arduous, but I felt this was the correct move for Dazzle. One year at this location has given me proof that we are finally home.”

Owner Chad Schneider believes that, “there is no cooler jazz club anywhere and it’s such an honor to be entrusted by the people of Colorado to continue this legacy. I want the best jazz in the world brought to Dazzle. We are succeeding wildly!”

Derrick Hodge celebrates Colorado as Dazzle 3.0 turns 1

YOU Get the Presents

Instead of Dazzle receiving presents for its birthday, show attendees get the presents. Drawings will be held before each show to win presents. Everyone who comes to the shows gets a ticket and is entered in the drawing.

🎂 All Presents Given Away at ALL Four Shows 🎂

🎁 A pair of tickets to any touring show at Dazzle (available seats only)

🎁 A pair of tickets to any local show at Dazzle (available seats only)

🎁 A signed print of Dazzle by photographer Mark Payler

🎁 Official Dazzle water bottles

🎁 A cocktail created for and named after YOU by master mixologist Westin Elliot and it will be on the Dazzle menu for a month

🎁Community Partner Gifts (one will be given away each night) from: Swallow Hill, Colorado Symphony, and The Renaissance Hotel.

🎁Admission for two to Dazzle Brunch because Dazzle is bringing back the bottomless brunch for our birthday, starting Aug. 4!

🎁 And more!

The best 🎁 of all is Derrick Hodge. Derrick performed at the soft opening for Sponsors, Friends, and Family before Dazzle opened to the public last year. This year, he puts together ‘The Dazzle Sessions,’ with fellow Denver based musicians:

Derrick Hodge – bass

Aaron Daniels – keyboards

Solomon Chapman – piano

Matt Campbell – drums

Derrick Hodge

Derrick Hodge is one of contemporary music’s most complete and complex artists.

Two time GRAMMY Award Winner for: Best Traditional R&B Performance 2014 – Jesus Children & Best R&B Album 2012 – Black Radio (with Robert Glasper)

Also lauded as a composer, he is revered as one of the great bassists and musicians of his generation and his solo projects—Live Today (2013), The Second (2016), and Color of Noize (2020)—have been met with praise from critics and audiences alike.

His albums are rich, raw and revelatory, reflecting his roots in the church, a passion for hip hop, and an eternal reverence for melody and classical composition. Like the artist, Hodge’s music contains multitudes.

Hodge has played a role in countless groundbreaking projects and historic firsts.

In 2022, he directed the music for the Academy Awards and arranged for Nas’s performance at the Grammys. As part of CNN’S Juneteenth celebration, he conducted the first all Black orchestra to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2014 Hodge became the first Black composer to compose Hip Hop for the National Symphony when he acted as orchestral arranger and music director for the 20th anniversary celebration of Illmatic. Named one of the top moments in hip hop history by Fender Magazine, it was the first time hip hop was ever performed by the National Symphony Orchestra. He was also the first Black composer to write strings for hip hop at Carnegie Hall and the first Black composer to write symphonic music for hip hop with the Houston Symphony.

Bring a Friend and Win!

by Deborah Stafford, posted in Music & Notes

Bring a Friend to Dazzle and Win!

In the month of July, bring a friend to a Dazzle show who has never been to the new location. Spin the wheel and you can win amazing prizes. Win tickets to shows around Denver, desserts, T-shirts, drinks, and other great prizes. 
Spread the word about Denver’s best Jazz & Blues venue to all your friends and you’ll be a winner. Check out our lineup at DazzleDenver.com

Prizes:

“Admission for 2 & A Bottle of Wine” coupons

Complimentary Seasonal Dessert

Complimentary Admission to Brunch

Fun Dazzle schwag

KUVO merch

Hotel Teatro freebies

Tickets to Dazzle shows in July & August

Tickets to our Community Partners shows: Swallow Hill, Colorado Symphony, CJRO, Opera Colorado

And our grand prize, enter to win a weekend night at the Renaissance Hotel Denver!

One prize per party. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Major Mondays

by Deborah Stafford, posted in Music & Notes

Go to 4 Major Monday Shows, the 5th One Is On Us!

Come to 4 Major Monday shows, the 5th one is on us!  Major Monday is our new large ensemble series. Every Monday night (some Mondays excluded) Denver’s best large ensembles will take the stage at Dazzle. If you love the power and excitement of a really BIG band, get your tickets for your first Major Monday show and grab a stamp card so you can join us for more.

Tickets at DazzleDenver.com

When you fill your card, contact host@dazzledenver.com to be placed on the guest list for the next Major Monday!

Nonprofit of the Month & A Show: Colorado Music Hall of Fame

by Kelley Dawkins, posted in Music & Notes

The Colorado Music Hall of Fame is the Dazzle Nonprofit of the Month. Sunday, July 21st is the launch event for their new partnership with El Chapultepec Legacy Project.

Buy Tickets

Throughout July, donations can be added to any ticket purchased or you can donate directly here.

Colorado Music Hall of Fame

Colorado Music Hall of Fame’s mission is to celebrate, promote and support Colorado’s music community.

Founded in 2011 by concert promoter Chuck Morris and a group of volunteer board members, including current co-chairs, Scott Tobias and Paul Epstein, Colorado Music Hall of Fame is nonprofit organization that serves Colorado’s music community through:

  • Inductions & Events
  • Hall of Fame Museum
  • Supporting Mental Wellness in Our Music Community
  • Promoting Colorado Music
  • Advocacy

El Chapultepec Legacy Project / Colorado Music Hall of Fame

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El Chapultepec Legacy Project announces its partnership with Colorado Music Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, at a launch event to be held on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Dazzle in Denver. The concert event, Ode to the Early Days, is a throwback to the straight-ahead be-bop standards that launched the original El Chapultepec’s long tenure as the best jazz club in town.

Colorado Music Hall of Fame will be serving as the project’s fiscal sponsor. The National Council of Nonprofits describes a fiscal sponsorship as “a nonprofit organization that provides fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services to help build the capacity of charitable projects.” Through its fiscal sponsor, El Chapultepec Legacy Project will now be able to accept tax-deductible donations for its project work.

The kick-off event will take place on the main stage in Dazzle’s newest incarnation at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Dazzle has been a steady partner in preserving El Chapultepec’s Legacy, including naming their piano lounge in its honor. El Chapultepec Piano Lounge at Dazzle hosts happy hours and late-night shows.

2024 Inductees

Colorado Music Hall of Fame logo and reason why you should donate

June Vendor of the Month: Denver Chip Co.

by Deborah Stafford, posted in Music & Notes

Denver Chip Co. is a Denver-made, family-owned arm of The Broad Ripple Chip Co, located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Their all-natural, handmade artisan chips are made from Idaho Russet potatoes, which result in larger, slightly darker chips that are richer in flavor. These lightly-seasoned chips are super crunchy and have more true potato flavor than factory-made chips, which use bland white potatoes, and may be months old when you purchase them.

Every step of their process is done by hand: selection, slicing, seasoning and packaging. Their chips are made in small batches in pure, heart-healthy canola oil and delivered fresh. They contain no preservatives, no trans fats, no MSG, no GMOs, and are gluten free.

Dazzle is proud to serve these artisan, locally-made potato chips. We love to support local food crafters. Taste the difference!

Nonprofit of the Month & A Show: Breast Cancer Can Stick It!

by Kelley Dawkins, posted in Music & Notes

Breast Cancer Can Stick It! is the Dazzle Nonprofit of the Month and there’s a show to go with it 🥁

Breast Cancer Can Stick It!

Mission: To drum up funds for treatments, research, trials, and mammograms through music-centric events that ROCK, to ultimately STICK IT to breast cancer.

Throughout June, donations for Breast Cancer Can Stick It! can be added to any ticket purchase or you can donate directly here.

In conjunction with being the Nonprofit of the Month, ‘Radio Unplugged with April Samuels’ is on Sunday, June 23rd at 7PM, doors at 6PM.

Come down for some great food, to support a good cause, and enjoy an acoustic spin on hairband 80’s rock and beyond!

April will be on hand to sign her book, ‘Breast Cancer Can Stick It!’ Limited copies will be available at Dazzle. Links to buy the book online are below.

Buy Show Tickets (coming soon)

About April Samuels & Breast Cancer Can Stick It!

On October 26, 2010, professional female drummer April Samuels was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer called triple negative breast cancer (ER-, PR-, HER2-). Immediately, April was motivated to “do something.” In November of 2010, combining her will to fight breast cancer with her passion for drumming, she came up with the slogan “Breast Cancer Can Stick It!”

The trademarked logo shown was designed at the same time and the drummer pictured was modeled after April. She began selling “Breast Cancer Can Stick It!” t-shirts with this logo from the back of her car, raising funds for breast cancer awareness organizations. This slogan and logo would became the cornerstone of our future nonprofit.

In October of 2011, the Breast Cancer Can Stick It! Team participated in their first breast cancer awareness walk.

In 2012, in addition to participating in its second breast cancer awareness walk, multiple “Breast Cancer Can Stick It!” fundraisers were held throughout the year. By this time, April was raising thousands in the fight against breast cancer. It was clear the next step was to establish a nonprofit.

In May of 2013, Breast Cancer Can Stick It! became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, donating funds directly to facilities that provide breast cancer care.

On October 25, 2015, the first ever Breast Cancer Can Stick It! Drummathon was held, featuring multiple celebrity drummers and raising over $13,000. Drummathon has become the foundation’s largest annual event. Since 2018, Drummathon alone has raised over $50,000 each year.

Since 2010, April’s efforts have raised over $500,000 in the fight against breast cancer.

The Book

HOT OFF THE PRESS Released in May of 2024, “Breast Cancer Can Stick It!” gives access to April’s real-time journal and present-day reflections on the intense journey to triumphantly declare herself “CURED!” 

“Read this book and learn what it’s like to beat the odds and give back to the world.“

– Rikki Rockett,  Drummer- Poison

“Get ready for a wild ride that will inspire you to create your own story of action and victory for the precious beings that need you.”

-Mark Schulman, Drummer- P!NK, Cher;  Speaker, Author and TV Personality
Buy On Amazon
Buy at Barnes & Noble

Dazzle Summer BOGO Sale May 30-31

by Deborah Stafford, posted in Music & Notes

School’s Out and it time to celebrate the Summer with our annual BOGO ticket sale. For 2 days only, May 30 – 31 you can get Buy 1, Get 1 Free tickets to these 10 great shows . Check out this great line up and use the discount code SCHOOLSOUT to get your deal on tickets. Email kelley@dazzledenver.com if you have trouble using the code.

📢Patio Is Open 📢Check Out Happy Hour at Dazzle at the Arts Complex

by Kelley Dawkins, posted in Music & Notes

Happy Hour at Dazzle is now available on the new patio, in addition to the El Chapultepec Piano Lounge, Monday – Friday, 3PM – 6PM.

Great for after work or before a show at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

(Sometimes you might even catch a soundcheck for that evening’s show.)

Where to eat at the Denver Performing Arts Complex?

Happy Hour at Dazzle is perfect for a light bite from 3PM – 6PM, Monday through Friday. Our regular menu is always available in the Bar and El Chapultepec Piano Lounge during other operating hours, so stop by before or after a show.

Christian McBride & Mr. Ron Carter At Dazzle

by Kelley Dawkins, posted in Music & Notes

That’s right, Dazzle is excited to welcome both Mr. Ron Carter and Christian McBride back to the Dazzle stage. Mr. Carter brings his Foursight Quartet to Dazzle this September and Christian McBride & Ursa Major come in February, 2025.

Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet at Dazzle in Denver, CO

Monday – Thursday, September 9 – 12, 2024

6:30PM & 9PM

Ron Carter brings his Foursight Quartet to Dazzle in Denver, Colorado.

When do tickets go on sale for Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet?

Excellent question. We expect tickets to be on sale in early June, but that is not confirmed yet. We will update this Music Note (blog) when we have a date.

Are there any Pre-sales?

Another excellent question. Yes, there are three Pre-sales.

  1. First is a 48-hour Sponsor Pre-sale for those who helped us buildout the new space. (Sponsorships are no longer available.)
  2. Next is a 48-hour Member Pre-sale. Memberships are still available. Learn more about Memberships here.
  3. Then comes a rare 24-hour newsletter subscriber Pre-sale. Sign up for the newsletter here.
  4. Lastly, tickets go on sale to the general public.

Christian McBride & Ursa Major

Monday – Thursday, February 17 – 20, 2025

6:30PM & 9PM

Christian McBride and Ursa Major come to Dazzle in Denver, Colorado

When do tickets go on sale for Christian McBride & Ursa Major?

Tickets are on sale now. Go to the Live Music page and scroll down to the bottom or use the search function for ‘McBride’.

Were there any Pre-sales for Christian McBride & Ursa Major?

Another excellent question. Yes, there were three Pre-sales.

  1. May 18th: 48-hour Sponsor Pre-sale for those who helped us buildout the new space. (Sponsorships are no longer available.)
  2. May 20th: 48-hour Member Pre-sale. Memberships are still available. Learn more about Memberships here.
  3. May 22nd: A rare 24-hour newsletter subscriber Pre-sale. Sign up for the newsletter here.
  4. May 23rd: Tickets are on sale to the general public.

I’m having trouble understanding the seating chart. Can I see a picture of where the seats are?

Yes, we created this fabulous page where you can see all of the seats in relation to the stage. Click here.

If it’s your first time at Dazzle, you’ll enjoy the layout as it’s reflective of the theater-in-the-round seating from Greek and Roman outdoor theaters. Every seat is less that 25 feet away from the stage.

Other FAQs can be found here.

What other shows with local Artists are similar to these?

Dazzle is incredibly proud of our local lineup because the talent here rivals most touring shows.

Ken Walker is an upright bassist and Dazzle Artist In Resident who has played on our stages monthly since 2011. You can catch his show the last Friday of every month.

Ken Walker Sextet

Last Friday of every month at 6:30PM

Full Show Description & Ticket Links:

May 31st

June 28th

Daruma

Saturday, June 1 – 9:30PM

Full Show Description & Ticket Link:

9:30PM

Benny Green, Solo Piano

Tuesday, July 30 – 7PM & 9:30PM

Full Show Description & Ticket Links:

7PM

9:30PM