Welcome to the
Pikes Peak Jazz And Swing Society

The Pikes Peak Jazz And Swing Society was founded on January 13, 1985, when some 35 individuals met at the Raintree Inn for an organizational meeting and jam session. As stated in the original bylaws, the purpose of the society was: to preserve, support and foster jazz in its various forms; to provide encouragement to jazz musicians in their effort, including providing scholarships for jazz education; to assist members in their knowledge and enjoyment of jazz; to provide a focal point for the exchange of information about jazz and jazz musicians; and to provide a social environment in which to experience jazz. Elected to the new Board of Directors were Bob Simon (President), Russ Chapman (Vice-President), Von Alter (Secretary/Treasurer), and Peggy Bartley and Frank Stadler (Members-At-Large). A logo was designed, and non-profit status applied for and approved by the state of Colorado. PPJASS joined the American Federation of Jazz Societies as a charter member.

From the beginning, the heart of the society's activities has been the Second Sunday Jazz Affair. This monthly get-together of musicians and jazz fans has taken place since the very first meeting, and continues to this day. From its original home at the Raintree Inn, it has moved to the Holiday Inn Central, CastAways Restaurant, Le Baron Hotel, Plaza Club, Antlers-Doubletree Hotel, Le Baron Hotel again, Palmer House and back to the CastAways (now the Original CastAways), where it currently takes place. A group is hired to perform three sets of music between 2 and 5 PM, with the third set (and often much of the second) being a jam session in which musicians can sign up to sit in with the band. Admission is $5 for members of PPJASS, $7 for non-members, $3.50 for students and free for children 12 and under. Everyone is invited to attend. The January event is always a birthday party, the August gathering is generally a picnic, and the December session a Christmas party. Twice a year the session is an open jam.

Also established in the first year of its existence, and continuing to this day, are the weekly Jazz In The Parks concerts presented by PPJASS, the city of Colorado Springs and various sponsors. Under the direction of Laura Davis, this event began with a series of six concerts in 1985, and has grown to a full slate of performances offered every Wednesday night from 6:00 to 8:00 PM throughout the summer. A different band is featured in a different park each week, with crowds in the hundreds (and sometimes thousands) appreciating the outdoor ambience. These concerts are free and open to the public. The Springs Contemporary Jazz Big Band kicks off each summer season, and as of late has been bringing in big-name guest artists. Bobby Shew, Carl Fontana, Gary Foster, Frank Mantooth, Denis DiBlasio, Pete Christlieb, Chuck Findley and Bill Watrous have all appeared with the band. The final concert of each summer is usually with the United States Air Force Band of the Rockies, the Falconaires.

PPJASS has also presented many concerts featuring internationally renowned jazz musicians. The first, in 1985, featured trombonist Carl Fontana. Others have been with the Hot Cotton Jazz Band, New Orleans Jazz Gathering, Johnny Smith, Plas Johnson, Jay McShann, High Sierra Jazz Band, Brooks Tegler's Hot Jazz, Spike Robinson, Ed Polcer, Summit Reunion, Conte Candoli, Pete Christlieb, Summit Ridge Jazz Band, Peter Appleyard, Dan Barrett & Howard Alden, Sorta Dixie Jazz Band, Stephanie Hancock, Queen City Jazz Band, High Altitude Trombone Quartet, Dan Barrett, Tom O'Boyle and The Magic of Swing Street.

PPJASS has been involved in many special events in the community as well. When postage stamps were issued honoring Duke Ellington in 1986, Louis Armstrong in 1995 and various big band leaders in 1996, the society arranged for live jazz to be played outside the main post office building. When the jazz-themed movies "Round Midnight" in 1987 and "Bird" in 1988 came to town, the society lined up local bands to play in the lobbies of the theaters. It also provided entertainment for the "Century Of Jazz" celebration at the Pioneers Museum and Pikes Peak Center in 1990, and famed jazz photographer William Gottlieb's "Golden Age Of Jazz" exhibit at the Pioneers Museum in 1996. PPJASS co-sponsored Colorado Springs visits by the Woody Herman Orchestra in 1987 and Mel Torme in 1995, and jazz festivals with the United Way in 1995 and 1996.

As for its commitment to provide scholarships for jazz education, PPJASS has awarded the $1,000 Danny Stevenson Scholarship since 1988 to an outstanding high school musician who plans to go on and further his or her musical education. Beginning in 1993, the Springs Contemporary Jazz Big Band has been matching that amount.

Established in 1996, the Alice Award has been given each year to a local musician who exhibits not only a high degree of musical talent and experience, but must also have those intangible attributes that can only be described as "class." The first winner was vocalist Alice Cardozo, for whom the award was named. Subsequent honorees have been Dale Chamberlin, Johnny Smith, Frank Fanelli, Art Wiggins, Ray DeWitt, Jerry Brown and Bruce Pennington.

The Pikes Peak Jazz And Swing Society is an active and vital organization with over 500 members. Anyone interested is invited to join, with annual membership dues of $30 for families, $20 for individuals and $5 for students. Write to PO Box 6802, Colorado Springs, CO 80934 to become a member, or call 632-8719 for further information. Of course, you can just come to a Second Sunday Jazz Affair, or a Jazz in the Parks concert, and if you have a good time, sign up as a member there. There's much to enjoy on the local jazz scene, and PPJASS is right there in the forefront.