Telluride has since 1977 been putting on one helluva jazz party, earning national and international applause for its top-of-the-line classic, mainstream, blues, African, Cajun, and Latin jazz music lineup. It’s a festival that honors the country’s long history of jazz, which is rooted in blues and ragtime.
The jazz fest, known formally as Telluride Jazz Fest, is taking place Aug. 9-11, and it pulls in artists from all kinds of other music genres along with that epic jazz, including gospel, funk, and soul. Past festival performers include Muddy Waters, Dizzy Gillespie, and Mavis Staples.
Aside from the beats, attendees can also enjoy food, beer, and cocktail vendors at the event. In the evenings, you can swing by local venues like the Sheridan Opera House, Liberty Bar, the Palm Theatre, and The Moon at O’Bannon’s for Jazz After Dark performances, which are intimate settings where you can get close up and personal with the musicians.
“The city of New Orleans has always had an influence on the Telluride Jazz Festival, earning a special place in our heart,” Steve Gumble, festival director, stated in a news release. “I could not think of a better representative than Trombone Shorty to honor that legacy. This year, we’re excited to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Student All-Stars Program. Veronica Swift, a darling of the jazz world, returns to the lineup after getting her start here in Telluride years ago as a teenager in the Allstars Program. Once again, we are honored to present a very well-rounded artist line-up with a wide range of appeal to all generations.”
Here’s a look at the 2019 lineup:
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Lettuce
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Victor Wooten Band
Turkuaz
Cha Wa
SPAGA
Veronica Swift
Matthew Whitaker
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
Mattson 2 Play A Love Supreme
Battle Of Santiago
Danny Green Trio Plus Strings
LP And the Vinyl
Tyree Morris & Hearts of Worship
Voodoo Orchestra
J-Calvin
Telluride Student All-Stars Jazz Ensemble
The Telluride All-Stars 25th Reunion Band
Little Big Band
La Onda Caribeña
Kingston Winter
Stillwater All-Stars
The McCarthy Trio
The Speakeasy Jazz Quartet
For tickets and more information, visit telluridejazz.org.
Amanda Push
