The three gentlemen who will be joining me onstage at Dazzle Denver are musical maestros as well as longtime friends. Bob Mintzer and I first met in 1969 at the Interlochen Arts Academy, while Alan Pasqua and I met two years later on the campus of Indiana University. Darek and I became acquainted at the California Institute of the Arts in the early 1990s, and we have been playing in trio with Alan for many years. We go back a long ways. We are four fellows well met. I don’t think I’ve played with a more swinging band than this one.

-Peter Erskine

The ability to project a defining sound is a powerful instinct built into the DNA of jazz artists. Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer, Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles - award-winning artists, all – evince this truth with the quartet making its appearance at Dazzle Denver on Thursday, March 11.

In speaking about the musical marriage of drummer Peter Erskine, pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist Darek Oles, journalist Jim Worsley from All About Jazz once said, “The trio could be considered the perfect melting pot of creativity, complexity, and rhythm, pollinated with spontaneous interplay and intelligent conversation.” That’s quite a summary of these top-tier jazzmen who, after playing together for decades, find themselves at the top of their game. Their Live In Italy recording, which garnered a Grammy nomination in 2022, is evidence of their primacy.

What makes this exclusive Vibrato appearance extra special is the addition of saxophonist Bob Mintzer, acclaimed composer, arranger, and long-time member of the Yellowjackets. His presence elevates the group’s collective mastery.

A total of 20+ Grammy citations surround the musicians who will play on the stage of Dazzle Denver.