Dear, Ms. Dearie, the music of Blossom Dearie

Sat, May 23

Tickets: $20 , $40 , $50 , $60 (price includes $5.50 processing and ticketing fee) 7:00 show: Doors @ 6:00 9:30 show: Bar @ 6:00, Doors @ 8:45 Pianist, vocalist, and composer Dawn Clement is a joyful and formidable voice in modern jazz. Known for her distinctive sound and boundless versatility, she bridges lyricism and invention with ease. DownBeat writes, “The revelation is Dawn Clement’s piano, always ready with the lyricism or structure the moment needs.” Clement has performed with Jane Ira Bloom, Ron Miles, René Marie, Julian Priester, and Ingrid Jensen, and appears on säje’s GRAMMY-nominated debut album. Her recent release, Delight (May 2025, *Origin records), features Buster Williams and Matt Wilson in a “legacy trio” recorded at the storied Maggie’s Farm in Pennsylvania—an intimate, soulful reflection on connection and lineage. She also has a forthcoming project paying tribute to the music of Blossom Dearie, featuring John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, and Steve Kovalcheck, to be released in April of 2026. Clement serves as Associate Professor and Area Coordinator of Jazz and American Improvised Music at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and is the Artistic Director of the Centrum Jazz Workshop. Based in Denver, she remains a vital presence in both the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest music communities. Dear, Ms. Dearie is a project shaped by time, listening, and deep affection for the music of Blossom Dearie. Drawn to her understated brilliance—her swing, humor, and quiet authority at the piano—this recording honors the elegance of her songbook while allowing the music to breathe in the present. The ensemble features Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton, artists whose sound, feel, and generosity define what it means to play this music at the highest level, alongside guitarist Steve Kovalcheck, whose warmth and clarity bring a lyrical voice to the band. Produced by drummer Matt Wilson, the project was arranged with care and intention, shaped specifically for this group of musicians. In contrast to more exploratory and original-driven work often associated with the leader’s output, Dear, Ms. Dearie turns toward the song itself—intimate, grounded, and quietly swinging. It is both a tribute and a conversation: with Blossom Dearie, with the tradition, and with the artists who continue to carry it forward. Band Lineup: Dawn Clement, piano/vocals Steve Kovalcheck, guitar John Clayton, bass Jeff Hamilton, drums