MMB Live - Denver Jazz Festival at Dazzle, Isaiah Collier and the Chosen Few + Halle & Aaron

DJ Mateo and Isaiah Collier

MateoMateo's Magic Bus was parked at the Dazzle Jazz Center in downtown Denver for the first annual Denver Jazz Festival this past weekend, what a great show by Grammy-nominated Isaiah Collier and his band The Chosen Few. It's no wonder the Chicago Tribune named him Jazz Artist of the Year in 2024, end to a end they focused on Collier's latest album, The World is On Fire, which "pulls no punches in its commentary on

commentary on current chaos – but the album also imagines the future he'd like to see." (WBEZ). It was a great show, great energy and the packed house was engaged the whole way - huge congrats to our newest music nonprofit in Denver, The Denver Jazz Festival - their first even this past weekend was a huge hit, all events mostly sold out playing at a number of venues across downtown Denver and Boulder. 

After the show, we met and took pix with Isaiah and the band & picked up a vinyl copy of The World is On Fire (amazing btw) & stopped by the after hours Dazzle Lounge and caught an amazing duo, Halle Tomlinson and Aaron Daniels, a few of their covers (Come Together and Lovely Day) are at the end of the video. 

Looking forward to seeing Isaiah grow and flourish for many years to come, as well as the Denver Jazz Festival and Dazzle at the Denver Arts Complex. Following is a link to the show and more information (mostly from their websites) and links to all three. Enjoy! 

Rock on, 

DJ Mateo

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About Isaiah Collier (https://www.colliersworld.com/)

In February 2025 Isaiah was featured on NPR's "Jazz Night In America", and graces the cover of Downbeat Magazines April 2025 issue. The Chicago Tribune named him Jazz Artist of the Year for 2024.  His recording The Almighty (Division 81 Records, 2024) was selected as one of the Top Ten Jazz Recordings of 2024 by The New York Times. He was featured in The New York Times Fall Arts Preview in September 2024. Downbeat Magazine selected him as one of 25 for the future in their 90th Anniversary issue in July 2024.  He won the Rising Star Award in Downbeat Magazine’s critics poll for Tenor Saxophone (2023), and Soprano Saxophone (2024), and has been named a Steve Jobs Fellow.

He has released six albums to date, The Almighty (Division 81 Records, 2024), which was chosen by The New York Times as one of the 10 best jazz albums of 2024, Parallel Universe (Night Dreamer, 2023), I AM BEYOND (Division 81 Records, 2022), Cosmic Transitions (JAZZ, 2021), and Return of the Black Emperor (JAZZ, 2018).    His latest release The World Is On Fire (Division 81 Records, 2024) is receiving wide critical acclaim.

About The Denver Jazz Festival (https://denverjazz.org/)

The inaugural festival was held Thursday, April 3 through Sunday, April 6, 2025, in venues throughout the Denver and Boulder metro areas with an emphasis on Denver’s downtown and the historic Five Points cultural district. April was chosen to coincide with Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), which celebrates America’s only indigenous art form — recognized by joint houses of Congress as a National Historic Treasure. Also occurring each April is International Jazz Day, which highlights the role of jazz in uniting people worldwide.

About Dazzle (https://www.dazzledenver.com)

Dazzle opened its doors in 1997 at 930 Lincoln Street. In 2017 they moved to the Baur’s Building at 1512 Curtis Street. In August 2023 Dazzle moved to its current location, at 1080 14th Street in Denver. It has been a journey, but their third location is the best yet and officially installs jazz at the Denver Arts Complex.

Producing unique musical experiences, Dazzle provides the stages upon which artists share their craft, reflecting the beautiful diversity that Colorado has to offer. The roots lie in jazz, but expands to other genres, with a variety of national and international touring acts spicing up the calendar.