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For over two decades—more than 250 consecutive months—Ken Walker and his sextet commanded the Dazzle stage on the last Friday of every month. In addition to these regular performances, Ken collaborated with countless renowned musicians and often enjoyed listening to other performances as a guest at the club. To us, Ken was family. Ken Walker was more than just a performer; he was family and a dear friend to the club, me, and many others who came to appreciate his bass playing and words. Ken was a man of immense gratitude, always expressing his appreciation through his music and words. My lasting image of Ken is that of a giant with a beaming smile and his best friend joyously riding on his back.
Dazzle evolved alongside Ken and his original sextet—Paul Romaine, Al Hood, Peter Sommer, Jeff Jenkins, and Dave Corbus. While the lineup shifted over the years, Ken’s commitment to the Colorado jazz community never wavered.
On Friday, February 27, the Dazzle family invites you to celebrate Ken Walker and his musical community.:
11:00 AM: Keith Oxman and Ken’s former students, Aidan Nowell, Eli Acosta and Stevie Pearlman, take the stage to kick off our Friday Lunch series. Musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments and sit in for a community jam session to honor the legacy of Ken Walker.
Tickets- https://tickets.venuepilot.com/e/lunch-series-ken-walker-musical-memorial-led-by-keith-oxman-2026-02-27-dazzle-the-arts-complex-denver-b9d3a2
6:30 PM: The celebration will continue with a performance by the Ken Walker Sextet under the artistic direction of Paul Romaine, Dave Corbus, Peter Sommer, and Jeff Jenkins. The performance will include guest artists that have sat in with the sextet over the years.
Tickets- https://tickets.venuepilot.com/e/ken-walker-sextet-2026-02-27-dazzle-the-arts-complex-denver-7b2c76
In partnership with the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts (CCJA),we are proud to establish a scholarship fund in Ken’s name, and contributions can be made through the Colorado Gives portal. This scholarship will provide a summer camp jazz learning experience for school-aged students who might not otherwise have the opportunity, ensuring Ken’s passion for education lives on.
Donate here- https://www.coloradogives.org/story/6sxrrf
CCJA's Camilla Vaitaitis and Paul Romaine had a conversation with Ken Walker, you can enjoy his stories and words of wisdom. He was an inspiration to us all!
About the CCJA camp- Jazz In The Sangres Camp | Jazzarts
To Contact Ann Bowar, Executive Director Colorado Conservator for the Jazz Arts- [email protected]
To Contact Keith Oxman- [email protected]
To Contact Dave Corbus, Leader of the Ken Walker Sextet- [email protected]
To Contact Artist Alex Graham - [email protected]
Donald Rossa
Co-Owner DazzleJazz, Inc.
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1080 14th Street , Denver, CO, United States, Colorado 80202
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