Jazz Time

SUN, 1/30

Boulder jazz drummer and composer Chris Lee first fell for Canadian trumpeter Kenny Wheeler’s music in the 1970s, when the percussionist, only fourteen years old at the time, listened to Wheeler’s debut album, Gnu High — a fine romp with Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette — and loved what he heard. Good ear, young Chris: The disc was a considered a bellwether in Wheeler’s morphing musical career, and its musical pastiche still holds up today.

Lee remained a fan over the years, but he often regretted that he’d never gotten the chance to play Wheeler’s innovative, free-thinking tunes in a large ensemble capable of a truly bang-up interpretation. But the occasion of Wheeler’s 75th birthday earlier this month was an opportunity for just such a celebration. “This seemed like a good time to put a band together and devote it to playing all his wonderful music,” Lee says — and that’s what he did. The Chris Lee Septet, a fabulous lineup of local talent, including guitarist Dave Devine, pianist Eric Gunnison, bassist Kent McLagen, vocalists Mark Miller and Colleen O’Brien and appropriately adventurous trumpet player Ron Miles (assuming Wheeler’s all-important role), will throw a Kenny Wheeler 75th Birthday Tribute concert tonight, in conjunction with the Creative Music Works. The group’s repertoire will focus on Wheeler’s music, from the release of Gnu High forward, and will include a group of songs the trumpeter co-wrote with singer Norma Winston.

Lee and friends salute Wheeler at 7:30 p.m. at First Universalist Church, 4101 East Hampden Avenue; admission is $8 to $14. For information, go to www.creativemusicworks.org. — Susan Froyd

Angels to the Rescue
At St. Joseph’s Church, restoration hits a high note.
SAT, 1/29

Five years ago, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, at 600 Galapago Street, was on the verge of ruin. Built in 1883, the building was falling apart; it was in need of stone replacement, tuckpointing and general repairs. Home to a poor, mostly immigrant population, the church could not solicit money from its congregation. Instead, St. Joseph’s wrote grant after grant, sought help from the community, and slowly began to build the church back to its former glory.

If the Sacred Landmarks Preservation Division of Historic Denver had been around then, it would no doubt have helped St. Joseph’s. As it stands, the now-pristine church will help the preservation group.

“This is a success story that other churches can look to, to see all that they can accomplish,” says Historic Denver preservation coordinator Nicole Hernandez.

For that reason, Historic Denver chose St. Joseph’s as the venue to host Angels in the Architecture, a benefit concert for Sacred Landmarks Preservation. Beginning at 7 p.m., the St. Martin’s Chamber Choir will perform, followed by a wine-and-cheese reception and silent auction. The money raised will help Historic Denver to support other restorations of historic churches, synagogues and gathering places. The concert costs $25; for more information, call 303-534-5288, ext. 16. — Adam Cayton-Holland