Creative Music Works

08/18/2026

This Thursday, August 20th, Creative Music Works is proud to partner with the Aurora Fox Theater to present Shadow and Light, an immersive collaboration that blurs the lines between concert, installation, and cinematic experience. The Aurora Fox Theater is located at 9900 E Colfax Ave in Aurora.

Bringing together musicians, visual artists, VJs, and designers, the performance transforms the Fox Theater into a continually evolving landscape of sound, projected imagery, sculptural light, and physical space.

Rather than presenting separate artistic disciplines, Shadow and Light allows each element to shape the others, creating an environment that is at once intimate, expansive, and unpredictable.

At the center of the experience is a living dialogue between music, moving image, light, and space. Live video collage, real-time visual sampling, lighting, and set design become active participants, continually responding to and reshaping the emotional arc of the evening. Every moment unfolds organically, inviting audiences to experience the work with curiosity rather than expectation.

More than a performance, Shadow and Light is an invitation to inhabit a space where listening becomes seeing, seeing becomes feeling, and the familiar gives way to something unexpected.

Featuring

Paul Riola | Saxophones & Electronics
Enmanuel Alexander | Guitar
Colin Bricker | Guitar & Electronics
Sam Kok | Drums, Sampling & Beats
Elicia James | Visual Collage & Videography
Brandon Case | Set Design
Olivia Kirkpatrick | Live VJ & Video Sampling
Wesley Schwarz | VJ, Video Sampling & Lighting

08/14/2026

Tickets are now on sale for our 2026-2027 season!

Craig Taborn Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Tomeka Reid Quartet Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026

Gary Lucas: The Golem Friday, Feb. 19, 2026

Min Xiao-Fen: White Lotus featuring Rez Abbasi Friday, March 19, 2026

Creative Music Works connects artists to audiences, while working to inspire, educate, and challenge listeners and to cultivate the role of jazz, improvisation, and experimental music in today’s culture. Creative Music Works is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

08/11/2026

Creative Music Works is proud to announce our 2026-2027 season featuring an incredible lineup. This fall we have two MacArthur Fellowship award winners: Craig Taborn performing solo piano on October 9th and Tomeka Reid performing with her quartet on December 12th fresh off the release of her album dance! skip! hop! (presented in partnership with MAS Presents).

This winter, we have a pair of live music soundtracks to silent films: legendary guitarist Gary Lucas performing his original score to The Golem (1920) on February 19th and Min Xiao-Fen performing White Lotus, her original score to The Goddess (1934), featuring Rez Abbasi on March 19th.

Our member-only presale starts this Wednesday, August 12th. If you are not yet a member and would like access, you can donate online via the link in the comments below.

Ticket sales for the general public open Friday, August 14th.

We’ll see you at the shows!

04/15/2026

On Friday, May 15th, Soundtrack Roulette, a live music fundraiser for Creative Music Works, comes to the award-winning recording studio of Mighty Fine Productions, 5235 E 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80207.

Colorado’s top improvisers will score soundtracks on the spot to film clips chosen by audience members spin of the wheel—the musicians won’t know what’s coming.

Suggested donation is $75 and includes access to the mixer at 6:30 pm with drinks and small plates. Performance starts at 7:30 pm. Any donation level accepted for entry.

Creative Music Works creates a stage for music innovators – connecting artists with audiences. Since 1989, the organization has championed music innovation on the Front Range—presenting vanguard musical artists, facilitating artist-audience dialogues, and hosting education workshops for the next generation of composers and musicians.

Contributions will support the Creative Music Works 2026-2027 season.

Host committee (in formation): Matthew Garrington, Britt Marden, Scott McCumber.

About Soundtrack Roulette

Musical Director:
Matt Smiley

Lineup:
Sarah Christiansen, flute + electronics
Greg Harris, vibes
Mark Harris, reeds
Farrell Lowe, guitar + extensive pedalboard
Kent McLagan, bass
Eric Moon, pedal steel or keys
Paul Riola, reeds
Matt Smiley, bass
Glenn Nitta, reeds
Wade Sander, trombone
Joshua Trinidad, trumpet
Gregory Walker, violin

03/25/2026

Save the Date. 5.15.2026.

03/20/2026

Just over 15 hours away from 20 hours of music with The Playground Ensemble!!!

03/19/2026

Tonight at the Federal Theatre!

Join us for a VIP/Members-only after-party with Bill Frisell and his trio to celebrate his 75th birthday with purchase of your concert ticket.

Limited tickets still available: https://creativemusicworks.org/an-evening-with-bill-frisell-75th-birthday-celebration/

03/19/2026

Tonight!! Limited tickets still available.

Bill Frisell is waiting patiently to see if you'll join him TONIGHT at The Fed! 🎸

Very limited tickets remain for tonight's show!
Get yours while you still can: https://thefederaltheatre.holdmyticket.com/tickets/455497