“Longtime Denver artist, musician and activist Jeff Campbell wants to ignite a Black cultural renaissance in his former neighborhood: Five Points. Is that still possible? Take a trip down Welton Street. The neighborhood was once the heart of “Black Denver” and historically dubbed “the Harlem of the West.” Much like Harlem, Five Points has … [Read more…]
“Summer is festival season in Colorado, but health concerns related to COVID-19 have already caused the cancellation of several large events. Denver’s annual Cino de Mayo celebration will not happen to help slow the spread of the virus. Earlier this week, organizers of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival announced their difficult decision to cancel … [Read more…]
“The virus may be taking in-person performances away from Denver, but it’s not killing the music. The annual Five Points Jazz Festival will happen May 16 in the form of a two-hour event broadcast on a whole rack of stages: Rocky Mountain PBS (6 to 8 p.m.), KUVO 89.3 FM (8 to 10 p.m.), … [Read more…]
“Denver jazz legend Freddy Rodriguez, Sr., died Wednesday from complications of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, son Freddy Rodriguez, Jr., said Thursday. “He was our king, our sax man,” Rodriguez, Jr., said. “Not just in music, but in life. He was an old-school, dedicated person who treated everybody with respect.” Rodriguez, … [Read more…]
“Public safety, the Five Points Business Improvement District and the “Food, Jazz and Wine” event were all on the table this morning when Tracy Winchester, executive director of the Five Points Business District, visited “First Take with Lando and Chavis” with her monthly segment “Fridays on Five Points.” Five Points business district met with … [Read more…]
“Walking through Five Points, the Denver neighborhood looks like it could be an up-and-coming cross-section of any U.S. metropolis. Full of art studios, new restaurants, and hip coffee shops, the cultural scene resembles many other art districts. Look more closely. You’ll find the imprints of a rich history of jazz music, including world-class venues … [Read more…]
“Real-estate reporter Margaret Jackson found herself seriously reflecting on the way gentrification has affected Denver after her dog groomer jokingly claimed to be the “last black man standing” in Whittier (east Five Points). As Jackson writes in a Confluence Denver article, “As the investment dollars spill out of the city center, the Whittier neighborhood … [Read more…]
“Within the Five Points neighborhood in Denver, radio station KUVO is known as the sound of jazz. But on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., it’s Spanish music that takes over the airwaves. This radio station has kept the tradition of Hispanic music alive for 29 years. “It’s a show that has transcended generations. … [Read more…]