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Queen City Jazz Band
A Colorado
Institution
IN 1957, A DENVER JAZZ DJ, Harney Peterson, asked his listeners to help
him find musicians to form a band. He and his wife, Jeanne, opened
their home for jam sessions and rehearsals and before long a solid
traditional jazz ensemble took root. They chose the name Queen City
Jazz Band. The QCJB's first gig was at a local roadhouse, the Mon-Vue
Village, where the band played every Friday and Saturday night for the
next l4 years.
It was in the Peterson's living room that the authentic musical style
of the Queen City Jazz Band was established. Each week the band would
meet at Harney and Jeanne's and learn one or two new tunes directly
from definitive traditional jazz recordings. Occasionally, with
monumental recordings like Jelly Roll Morton's recording of Black
Bottom Stomp or Louis Armstrong's recording of Potato Head Blues, the
musicians would learn the songs exactly. The recordings were mostly
used as models, and musicians enjoyed creating their own versions of
the classics. The current band maintains that same philosophy as the
musicians re-create the music with great respect for the style.
The membership of the Queen City Jazz Band has evolved, but at any one
time there have always been band members who had been in the band for
at least two decades. That longevity among our alumni and among the
current band members has preserved the QCJB's original spirit and
style. The current band has three members who joined in the 1970s
when the original leader, Alan Frederickson, was still in charge.
Over the past 50 years the band has produced more than 25 recordings
including four videos. The QCJB has played in the Carribean, Holland
and Switzerland, and have performed at dozens of jazz festivals in
North America. The band travels frequently in Colorado and adjoining
states to play formal concerts, parties, and church services. In the
Denver area they attract large audiences for public concerts including
their own annual anniversary bash. Local steady appearances are at the
Mercury Cafe for swing dancing and at the Bull and Bush for great
Sunday evening jam sessions.
The Queen City Jazz Band, having perforemd for more than half a
century, is now a Colorado musical institution. QCJB has been honored
by the State Legislature, two governors, two mayors, and the Denver
City Council for its cultural contributions.
In addition to performing, the QCJB Foundation also helps preserve
Traditional Jazz through education, including awarding of scholarships
to jazz scholars and performers, establishment of a jazz camp, and
dissemination of jazz arrangements for jazz bands. The Foundation is
supported by revenue from concerts and by contributions from
individuals. The QCJF is a 501c3 foundation and contributions to the
QCJF are deductible under the rules of the Internal Revenue Service. To
contribute to the foundation, mail your check payable to QCJF to Hank
Troy, 4628 South Newton Street, Denver, CO 80236.
For more information about QCJB, its concerts and supporting foudation,
please contact them at:
Queen City Jazz Band. P 0 Box 635, Longmont, CO 80501.
303-795-8960
e-Mail:
info@QueenCityJazzBand.com
www.queencityjazzband.com
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