Live Jazz Performance at the gallery!
Join us on Friday, August 13th starting at 7pm MT.
$5 ENTRY, REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED.
The quartet, comprised of close friends on the Colorado Jazz Scene, features the works of Ornette Coleman and Thelonious Monk, as well as original compositions inspired by the creativity of restructuralist artists who continued to push the boundaries of improvised music. The innovations of artists like Ornette and Monk is what drives us to define our own sound within the music — to not just captivate the audience, but to draw them in and express our unique stories as individuals and as a collective ensemble.
Thank you to our generous partner, Sunday Vinyl!
Chris Ferrari
Born and raised in Denver, Chris Ferrari is a saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist currently studying at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Beginning private instruction in fourth grade, Chris was inspired early on to pursue woodwinds, particularly in improvised music, through the likes of John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. Additionally, the training he received from the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts and while attending the Denver School of the Arts allowed Chris to connect with and learn from some of the greatest players across the state and in the country (including the members of Convergence, Shane Endsley, Sean Jones, Dave Liebman, Dianne Reeves, and John Clayton). Through dedication and hard work, Chris has received national recognition through programs like the 2017 Vail Jazz Workshop, the inaugural NYO Jazz Orchestra, and numerous National YoungArts awards. Now entering his junior year of college (studying under Donny McCaslin, Frank Carlberg, and Jerry Bergonzi), Chris has been focused on developing his own sound within the music, one which pays respect to the tradition while stretching the possibilities of improvisational freedom and compositional creativity.
Maliq Wynn
Drummer Maliq Wynn was born and raised in Denver, CO. At the young age of nine, Maliq began playing the drums in after-school programs and in the youth choir at the New Hope Baptist Church. With a dedication to his craft and support from his mentors, he began playing professionally in his freshman year at East High School. Maliq became further involved with Denver’s jazz scene through the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, which allowed him to gain experience freelancing with musicians around town. At the age of 17, Maliq was asked to go on tour with Bambaata Marley, grandson of reggae legend Bob Marley, opening for R&B vocalist, Lauryn Hill. Maliq has been recognized for his abilities by saxophonist David Liebman, who co-signed his talent with a letter of recommendation for the Berklee College of Music. At age 18, Maliq headed east to Boston to study at Berklee under Ian Froman and Neil Smith. He is now forging his own path through music, exploring production, and becoming a band leader.
Mark Simon
Mark Simon was born and raised in Detroit, but soon moved to Colorado where he began to play upright bass, studying under James Carroll at Metropolitan State University. Mark has been playing professionally in Denver now for the past 35+ years, notably in Convergence, and as the founder of the Jazz WORMS - two of Denver's most beloved jazz groups. As an exceptional composer and a driving force in any rhythm section, Mark formerly taught bass at CU Boulder, and has been a mentor for hundreds of students in the Denver-metro area, as a result of his work with the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts - a program which Chris, Max, and Maliq all attest much of their musical growth to. Though Denver has been Mark's home for some time, he has performed internationally with numerous exceptional musicians - notably Rene Marie, Art Farmer, Jimmy Heath, Carmen McRae, Regina Carter, Eddie Harris, Roberta Gambarini, James Moody, Houston Person, and Betty Carter.
Max Moore
Hailing from Georgia, Max Moore is an up and coming pianist on the Denver Jazz scene. Playing professionally since the age of 14, he attended Denver School of the Arts and trained in the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, studying under and playing with Denver greats such as Eric Gunnison, Shane Endsley, Brad Goode, Paul Romaine, Greg Gisbert and Greg Harris. At Denver School of the Arts, he got the chance to attend masterclasses and play alongside many jazz legends - including Melissa Aldana, Ron Miles, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Greg Osby, Veronica Swift, and Terrell Stafford. After graduating, he attended The New School in New York City, where he got the opportunity to study with Gerard D'Angelo and former Jazz Messenger Dave Schnitter, along with one of his heroes Hal Galper. He regularly performs at local Denver venues Dazzle, Nocturne, and the Mercury Cafe; and has played the Vail Jazz and Five Points Jazz festivals, been featured in Downbeat Magazine, and was recognized by Wynton Marsalis as an outstanding soloist at the 2017 Essentially Ellington Competition in New York City.