{"id":32119,"date":"2023-08-23T23:47:58","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T05:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/the-delbert-anderson-jazz-quartet-shares-cross-cultural-tunes\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T01:53:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:53:21","slug":"the-delbert-anderson-jazz-quartet-shares-cross-cultural-tunes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/the-delbert-anderson-jazz-quartet-shares-cross-cultural-tunes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Delbert Anderson Jazz Quartet shares cross-cultural tunes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Delbert
Delbert Anderson Jazz Quartet plays at Canyons of the Ancients on Aug. 8. Colette Czarnecki\/The Journal.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Outside, in front of the Canyons of the Ancients entrance doors, a trumpet could be heard blaring staccato notes alongside rhythmic drum beats, a bright sounding keyboard and the bass guitar\u2019s low frequency line. Just before dusk took down the evening sun, the air still held its heat from the length of the summer day.<\/p>\n

Mingling Din\u00e9 sounds with a jazz infused flow in the National Monument was the band\u2019s intention since they devote incorporating Indigenous life and history with cross cultural stories.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Aug. 8, the Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance collaborated with Canyons of the Ancients to make the Delbert Anderson Quartet Jazz Band\u2019s concert possible that evening. It\u2019s imperative for the band to talk to tribe members before actively doing anything on their land. During the Painted Mountains Tour, the band wanted to hear the stories of the tribes where they worked.<\/p>\n

Anderson, the trumpeter, said they all shared the same message \u2013 the desire to get their youths more involved with their cultures.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we asked if we could use the songs and put them in a way that we can play them, they (tribal members) approved them and said, \u2018yes\u2019 because if you can play it at least it\u2019s some way of documenting our song,\u201d said Anderson, who is Navajo. \u201cThe elders thought it was a really good way of not only preserving their culture but for getting their music out there in front of everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier that day, on Aug. 8, D\u2019DAT also held a workshop for community members to participate and play music with them. They also did this with all other visits from the Painted Mountains Tour.<\/p>\n

\"Robert
Robert Muller, left, and Delbert Anderson, right, at Canyons of the Ancients with their band D\u2019DAT on Aug. 8, 2023. Colette Czarnecki\/The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

D\u2019DAT\u2019s keyboardist Robert Muller said that five people showed up and everyone played one tune together at that morning\u2019s workshop. They also talked about connecting with different types of people.<\/p>\n

\u201cPutting everything aside, like belief systems, and coming together for a common cause of hope helps us connect and respect each other in a totally different way,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cWe (as a band) use that process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between each jazz piece during the concert, Anderson talked about the tour and the band\u2019s purpose with the BLM residency. He said they\u2019re currently working on the Land Healing Album, which will be the finished outcome of the tour. They anticipate the album will have 10 tracks on it and they hope to have it out next year.<\/p>\n

They then played Ebola Blues<\/em>, where the bass flowed its scales with rhythmic drums and a melody of keys flew. Soon after, Anderson introduced the trumpet with staccato notes that climbed the scale.<\/p>\n

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