As program director for the Mile High City’s premier jazz radio station, Jazz89 KUVO (89.3 on the FM dial), Carlos Lando is extremely well-versed in the past, present and future of jazz in Denver. Carlos has over 30 years of experience in radio, starting out on the Armed Forces Caribbean Network in Puerto Rico, followed by DJ stints in New York City and elsewhere. Over the years he interviewed greats like Count Basie, Dexter Gordon, Betty Carter and many others. VISIT DENVER chatted with Carlos about the swinging jazz scene in the city.

VISITDENVER.com: Why is Denver a great city for jazz lovers?

Carlos Lando: I think it’s a great city for this kind of music because of all the jazz lovers. There’s such a wide variety of jazz lovers. You’ve got young people hearing jazz in other kinds of music, whether it’s hip hop or electronic or rock, and then you’ve got other people coming to it from a more classic perspective. And it’s great too, because there’s such a good mix of places where people can hear the music and participate in the scene.

VISITDENVER.com: How far back does jazz history go in Denver?

CL: It goes a ways back – although there are stories of Denver not being quite ready for jazz at a certain point. Benny Goodman played at Elitch’s way back in the 30s and he was basically told: “You guys can stop anytime.” [laughs] So the city might not have been ready just yet. But in the late ‘30s and early ‘40s was when things really took off, when the Count Basie Band, the Jay McShann Band and other big bands from Kansas City and Texas started coming to Five Points on a regular basis. That was when the Rossonian was cooking, and you had the Rainbow Lounge and Lil’s – that was where bebop and hard bop really started taking off in Denver. In the '50s, Five Points started getting more of an R& B flavor, with Louis Jordan and Charlie Brown and those cats. It was an amazing scene, no doubt. And Denver had its own great musicians. 

VISITDENVER.com: What are some of the best clubs in the city for live jazz?

CL: First of all, I really love Dazzle, because it really delivers a good mesh of music. They’ve got big bands, national acts, young musicians, they’ve got it all. Everyone there just lives and breathes jazz. For classic jazz, you should head out to Chapultepec II – the local acts who play there regularly just can’t be beat. You can see Pat Bianchi, Ken Walker & the Sextet, Convergence, Hugh Ragin. Those guys are local musicians who are making great music every time they step onstage. 

VISITDENVER.com: Who are some of the best local jazz musicians?

CL: You can see Pat Bianchi, Ken Walker & the Sextet, Convergence, Hugh Ragin – all those guys [are] making amazing music every time they step onstage. And we’re really fortunate in that we have three or four great big bands – there’s the 9^th & Lincoln Orchestra, the Denver Jazz Orchestra and Ultraphonic. And just recently, there’s Chie Imaizumi. She’s a young Japanese woman who recently moved out here who’s writing all original music with incredible big band orchestration. And then of course, we’ve got Dianne Reeves, who’s pretty much at the pinnacle of what a great jazz vocalist can be.

VISITDENVER.com: What are some of the best music festivals in Denver that showcase Jazz?

CL: JazzFest Denver, which takes place every March is really cool. And Five Points Jazz is always fantastic. We’ve always got a great lineup and great activities. And then in the summer, City Park Jazz is a great way for people to be exposed to the jazz scene here. It’s free; it’s outdoors in a beautiful spot. It’s a perfect way to spend your evening.