Preserving Legacy. Advancing Jazz. Building Community.

The Five Points Jazz Center is a community-rooted hub in

development—celebrating and growing jazz in historic Five Points.

Help Shape The Vision

Preserving Legacy. Advancing Jazz. Building Community.

The Five Points Jazz Center is a community-rooted hub in

development—celebrating and growing jazz in historic Five Points.

Help Shape The Vision

Who's Behind 5PJazz

Wil Alston, Founder & Project Director

Wil Alston is a current working jazz singer in and around Denver and is the engine behind 5PJazz. He is the founder and band leader for his band Kool Grooves and a retired senior city administrator, and a former executive director of the Five Points Business District. To learn more about Wil, go to www.wilsgroove.com.

This project is also being shaped by a growing network of artists, community leaders, cultural organizations, and advisors who care deeply about the future of jazz in Denver and evolving the jazz legacy of Five Points!

What We're Hoping to Build

Live Performances

Education & Youth Engagement

We want to present high-quality live jazz performances and curated concert series that showcase local and national talent, creating meaningful audience experiences and consistent opportunities for artists.

Education & Youth Engagement

We want to offer accessible jazz education programs that introduce young people to the music, build skills, and inspire the next generation of artists and engaged audiences.

Artist Development

Education & Youth Engagement

Community & Cultural

We want to support emerging and established artists through mentorship, performance opportunities, and professional development—helping them grow creatively, build careers, and strengthen the jazz ecosystem.

Community & Cultural

We want to host community events and cultural programming that bring people together, foster connection, and highlight jazz as a powerful force for expression and shared experience.

Cultural Preservation

We want to honor and preserve the rich jazz legacy of Five Points by uplifting its history, celebrating its influence, and ensuring its cultural significance is recognized and carried forward.

Latest News

Check out our latest activity!

Community Interviews Underway as 5PJazz Public Survey Opens

April 2026

As part of the ongoing feasibility study process, 5PJazz has officially begun community interviews and stakeholder conversations focused on exploring the future of jazz in Denver and the potential development of a physical Five Points Jazz Center.

In partnership with Corona Insights, the project is gathering input from across the jazz and cultural ecosystem to better understand community needs, opportunities, challenges, and long-term possibilities.

In addition to interviews and listening sessions, a public survey is now open, and community participation is strongly encouraged. Feedback from a wide range of voices will help shape the future direction of the project.

The survey is especially intended for:

Jazz musicians and artists
Venue owners and operators
Festival and event producers
Arts and cultural organizations
Educators and students
Jazz supporters and audience members
Community leaders and residents who care about Denver’s cultural future

Take the survey:
5PJazz Community Survey

5PJazz Secures Fiscal Sponsorship and Operational Support

April 2026

The Five Points Jazz Center (5PJazz) has secured fiscal sponsorship with the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC), providing an important operational foundation as the project continues its early development phase.

In addition, Venture X Denver North is supporting the initiative by providing workspace, meeting space, and support for pop-up concerts, workshops, planning activities, and community engagement efforts.

These early partnerships represent important building blocks as 5PJazz works to strengthen, connect, and expand jazz-centered cultural activity rooted in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood while helping cultivate a stronger, more visible, and more connected jazz ecosystem throughout the city.

While Five Points remains central to the project’s cultural identity and inspiration, the broader vision is to help create greater opportunities for musicians, audiences, educators, venues, presenters, and future generations of jazz artists across metro Denver.

5PJazz Partners with Corona Insights to Assist with Feasibility Study

February 2026

5PJazz has engaged Corona Insights, a respected Colorado-based research and strategy firm, to assist with the project’s feasibility study and community engagement process.

The study will include public surveys, stakeholder interviews, listening sessions, and market research focused on understanding community interest, ecosystem needs, programming opportunities, and long-term sustainability.

Input from musicians, venue operators, presenters, cultural leaders, and jazz supporters across the region will help inform recommendations for the project’s next phase.

Wil Alston Receives Denver Creates Grant to Explore a Five Points Jazz Center

November 2025

Denver vocalist, cultural strategist, and community leader Wil Alston has received support through the Denver Creates program to explore a physical Five Points Jazz Center (5PJazz) in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood.

The funding will support an early-stage feasibility study, community engagement efforts, and initial “proof-of-concept” programming designed to help shape the long-term vision for the project.

Envisioned as a community-rooted cultural hub, 5PJazz aims to preserve, celebrate, and advance jazz through performance, education, artist development, and cultural connection while helping strengthen Denver’s historic jazz ecosystem.

Importantly, the project is not intended to replace, compete with, or overlook the many musicians, venues, presenters, educators, and organizations already doing meaningful work. Instead, 5PJazz hopes to collaborate with, amplify, support, and help connect existing efforts while exploring opportunities to expand the overall visibility and sustainability of jazz in Denver.

As part of the planning process, community members are encouraged to participate in the public survey that will help shape the future direction of the project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at wil@wilalstongroup.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is the Five Points Jazz Center?

The Five Points Jazz Center (5PJazz) is a community-rooted cultural hub in development—designed to preserve, celebrate, and advance jazz in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood through performance, education, artist development, and cultural storytelling.

Why is Five Points the focus?

Five Points is one of Denver’s most historic Black neighborhoods and was once a thriving center for jazz and live music. 5PJazz is rooted in honoring that legacy while creating new opportunities for artists, audiences, and the broader community to engage with jazz today.

What will the Center actually do?

The Center will offer a mix of live performances, educational programs, artist development opportunities, and community-based cultural experiences. It is being designed as a place where jazz can be experienced, learned, supported, and sustained.

Is this a physical venue or a citywide initiative?

The vision includes both a physical home in Five Points and programming that extends across the city. The goal is to establish a central hub for jazz while also supporting and connecting activity throughout Denver’s broader jazz ecosystem.

What stage is the project currently in?

The Five Points Jazz Center is currently in an active feasibility phase. This includes community surveys, stakeholder interviews, and market analysis to ensure the model is responsive, sustainable, and grounded in community input.

How is this different from other jazz venues or organizations in Denver?

While Denver has several strong jazz presenters and venues, the Five Points Jazz Center is uniquely focused on being a place-based cultural hub rooted in Five Points—bringing together performance, education, artist development, and preservation under one unified vision.

How can I get involved or support the effort?

You can get involved by completing our community survey, joining our email list, attending upcoming events, or exploring partnership and sponsorship opportunities. Your input and support will help shape the future of the Center.

Explore Sponsorship & Partnership Opportunities

Five Points Jazz Center (5PJazz)

Explore Sponsorship & Partnership

The Five Points Jazz Center is being built through collaboration—with partners who believe in the power of culture, community, and creative expression.

We are actively seeking sponsors, partners, and collaborators who want to invest in preserving the legacy of Five Points while helping shape the future of jazz in Denver.

Whether through financial support, program collaboration, or shared resources, there are meaningful ways to get involved.

Five Points Jazz Center (5PJazz)

Preserving Legacy. Advancing Jazz. Building Community.

Preserving Legacy. Advancing Jazz. Building Community.

About The Project

A Cultural Home for Jazz in Five Points