In the early 1990s, Allyson began recording for the Concord label, producing a string of 10 impressive CDs, including her Grammy-nominated tribute to John Coltrane titled Ballads and her newest release called Footprints. While Peyroux's attraction lies in the quiet aerobatics of her completely off-the-beat singing and Gambarini's charm rests in the way she attacks a tune in no nonsense, straight-ahead style, Allyson has a voice that captivates through an appearance of vulnerability. On Footprints, with the effective lyrics provided her, she turns a number of jazz tunes associated with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Jordan to Coltrane and Wayne Shorter into her very own.
At the Soiled Dove under the Tavern Lowry, her shows are at 7 and 10 p.m. ($20, www.
ticketswest .com). There is also a dinner/show package available ($40, 303-336- 0007).
ALSO ON TAP: John Carter tears things up at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave. in Greeley, at 8 tonight. The Detroit-born Carter has a gumbo saxophone sound that contains dollops of swing, bop, avant-garde and R B, all blended in a manner that creates a pretty spicy sauce.
Think of it this way: Carter was in Robert Altman's 1996 movie Kansas City playing Ben Webster and he also recorded a knockout disc in 2005 (Cold Sounds) playing the very different music of the group Pavement. Carter is in Greeley as part of the North American Saxophone Alliance regional conference at the University of Northern Colorado. And, at Union Colony tonight, he performs with the university's Jazz Lab Band I directed by pianist Dana Landry.
That big band was named the top college jazz ensemble this year by Down Beat magazine. The saxophonist and company perform at 8 p.m.
($10/$5 students and teachers, 1-970-356-5000). Also tonight, bassist Ken Walker is back at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln St., with his sextet at 7 and 9 p.
m. ($10, 303-839-5100). Then, on Thursday, Walker returns to the club on Lincoln as part of The Three Bassists band, following the example of previous groups at the spot featuring three trumpeters and three tenor saxophonists.
Denver's version of the Bass Choir (with Walker, Bijoux Barbosa and Kirwin Brown) plus piano and drums hit the stage at 7 and 9 p.m. ($10).
Additionally, Thursday offers saxophonist Mark Harris and his band Three Little Words at the Lab at Belmar, 404 S. Upham St. in Lakewood.
Three Little Words is part of the "School of Musical Reform" series at the interesting artistic space in Belmar. There is a reception at 6 followed by the music at 6:30 p.m.
($8/$3 members, 303- 742-1520). FINAL NOTES: Ron Miles' much anticipated new CD on Sterling Circle, Stone/Blossom, is now out. And it was worth the wait.
The two distinct, though musically interconnected CDs in the package will justly add to the Denver player's national reputation. Armed with his trumpet on Stone and his cornet on Blossom, Miles generates beautiful music that already has received kudos in The New York Times. Another rising musician connected to Denver, crossover saxophonist Paul Taylor, is at Jazz@ Jacks, 500 16th St.
, at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
The first show is sold out and, at this writing, only a few seats remain for his second set ($30, 303-433-1000).
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