Freelance writer

Bret Saunders

Bret Saunders (bretsaunders@kbco.com) can be heard from 6 to 11 a.m. weekday mornings at KBCO 97.3 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @Bretontheradio.

Anthony Braxton at the Moers Music Festival in 2007. (Nomo/Michael Hoefner)

Jazz: Anthony Braxton at 80 is still awe-inspiring

June 1, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Saxophonist-bandleader-visionary Anthony Braxton turns 80 on June 4, and if you’re not familiar with his mesmerizing sound world, that likely has more to do with a media obsessed with superficiality...

Sheila E. will be at the Winter Park Jazz Festival in July. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Festivals bring jazz to the Colorado mountains this summer

May 5, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

As the ski season winds down, several mountain towns and resorts prepare to stage music festivals, and this summer, there’s an abundance of stellar live jazz to take in.

Dianne Reeves, pictured in November 2019 in New York City, will perform at the Denver Jazz Festival. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Lincoln Center)

Denver Jazz Fest kicks off April 3; Record Store Day is April 12

March 30, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

This will be the first Denver Jazz Fest, and hopefully an annual Colorado tradition will be established

“Music heals, and I create music that would speak to the peoplem," said trumpeter and bandleader Avishai Cohen. (Provided by DL Media)

Israeli bandleader Avishai Cohen at Dazzle this month

March 2, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Trumpeter and bandleader Avishai Cohen connected with me on Zoom recently while walking to his home in Tel Aviv, Israel. The city streets at night, as seen through his smartphone,...

Bassist Christian McBride during a concert at Constellation, a performing arts nightclub in Chicago, on March 23, 2023. (Victor Hilitski/for the Chicago Tribune)

Christian McBride, and more Denver jazz in February

February 3, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Bassist and bandleader Christian McBride has spent a considerable amount of his 52 years in the spotlight, and deservedly so.

From left: Richard Bona and Antonio Rey perform onstage during the Flamenco Summit portion of the Paco De Lucia Legacy Festival at The Town Hall on Feb. 22, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Bassist Richard Bona, pianist Emmet Cohen and more jazz in Colorado in January

January 6, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Even if you prefer to stay in this January, there are some compelling reasons to venture out and hear something beautiful.

Dianne Reeves will close out the new Denver Jazz Fest in April 2025. (Provided by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance)

There’s a new jazz fest coming to Denver next spring

October 31, 2024 at 1:24 p.m.

The Denver Jazz Fest will run April 3-6 next year, organizers announced on Oct. 31.

The Kris Davis trio -- made up of Davis, left, bassist Robert hurst, center, and drummer Johnathan Blake -- perform on "Run the Gauntlet." (Ssirus Pakzad, provided by Pyroclastic Records)

Jazz: Kris Davis innovating with record label, performing at Dazzle

September 29, 2024 at 3:29 p.m.

Pianist-educator Kris Davis’ venture, Pyroclastic Records, must be included in the conversation of innovative, self-sufficient outlets.

Marc Ribot and Buddy Miller perform onstage at the 14th annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 16, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music)

There is some great Denver jazz on tap for September

August 30, 2024 at 6:57 a.m.

There’s so much promising live music to take in this September, it looks like I’ll be losing sleep. But it’s worth it, right?

The band The Burroughs performs at City Park Jazz on June 13, 2021. (Kevin Mohatt, Special to The Denver Post)

City Park Jazz closes out its season, new boxed sets, and other jazz news

August 2, 2024 at 11:35 a.m.

The 38th season ends with the Jakarta Band, a horn-heavy powerhouse funk unit.

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