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Be Beary Careful with Black Forest Critters and Other Wildlife

It's Springtime in the Forest and there have been reports of bear and mountain lion sightings. So be "beary" careful out there! This big fella, Bear #1247, was reported to have traveled all the way from Walsenburg. And he's not alone! A momma bear with cubs and bears with no ear tags are also roaming about. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a great page of tips on How to Live with Wildlife where you can learn how to be "bear aware." They also have lots of information on how to manage a moose.... ...and cope with those cute little porky pines nesting in our trees. Then there's mountain lions, coyotes, fox, pronghorn and deer to watch out for. We're lucky to live in an area with such plentiful wildlife, but it's wise to keep our eyes peeled and be extra neighborly to our …

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Black Forest Music and Concerts

Black Forest Pavilion Summer Concerts

Come to Black Forest for our very popular FREE Summer 2019 Jazz Concert Series in the Log School Pavilion (next door to the Community Center) and affordable Black Rose Acoustic Society concerts too. Join us for a toe-tappin’ good time with friends, family and neighbors alike!

FREE! Black Forest Summer Jazz Concerts

WHERE: Log School Park Pavilion, corner of Shoup & Black Forest Rd. (Map)

WHEN: Thursday evenings from July 11 – August 22, 2019 | Music starts at 6:30 pm

Download 2019 Summer Jazz Concert Schedule

Black Forest Pavilion Summer Concerts

Food! Drinks! Desserts!

Dawn Sciarrotta and her crew will serve affordable, easy-to-handle dinner foods, cold drinks and homemade desserts before, during and after the concert.

Summer 2019 Concert Schedule

July 11: New Horizons “Kicks” Big Band

New Horizons Band (Kicks Jazz Band) of Colorado Springs was founded by Ed Nuccio and his wife Mary Nuccio in 2002 as a musical band for adults who wanted to resume their interest in playing music. September 2019 marked the 18th year for the New Horizons Band of Colorado Springs.Tom Fowler leads the Band. He is an applied saxophone instructor at the Colorado Springs Conservatory. In addition, he serves in the jazz mentor program sponsored by the Pikes Peak Jazz and Swing Society. Tom retired from the faculty at Wichita State University where he was Associate Director of the School of Music and Director of Jazz Studies.

July 18: Triple Play

Triple Play is the jazz quartet that features Trip Zeigler, piano, Dave Hardin, drums, Patrick Abbott, bass and Tom Fowler, saxophone. The quartet has performed at local and regional jazz clubs and concert venues for more than three years. Triple Play’s repertoire includes standards from the great American songbook, jazz standards and original compositions composed by the quartet’s members. Join Triple Play for July 18th concert at the Black Forest Community Center that will feature the quartet along with some terrific surprise guest artists.

July 25: Peak Big Band

August 1: All In Jazz Trio

All In Jazz Trio (piano, upright bass, drums, and occasionally a guest artist) has been playing in public around Colorado Springs for the last ten years. This experienced classical jazz trio plays straight-ahead jazz standards of mostly swing, Latin, jazz waltz, ballad and light rock from the Great American Jazz Songbook. The Trio loves sharing timeless jazz standards with their audiences at community concerts and events supporting philanthropic organizations.

August 8: Academy Jazz Ensemble

The Academy Jazz Ensemble started in 2014 as a professional development course for music teachers in Academy School District 20 in Colorado Springs. After years of hard work and dedication, AJE is the tightest big band in Southern Colorado. Our mission is to explore and preserve the music of America’s original art form. The membership includes the finest jazz musicians in the Pikes Peak Region, many of whom are public school teachers. Our repertoire spans from rare and historical big band works to some of the newest original music for contemporary jazz bands. Our music book represents the passion and poise this ensemble brings to the stage. AJE is also a 501(c)(3) non-profit group with a goal to promote jazz through performance, education, and workshops. We believe that jazz has the power to transform the lives of young people, and that is why AJE holds open rehearsals, performances at schools, and routinely features young, talented, musicians with the band.

August 15: Front Range Big Band

The Front Range Big Band is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Back in 1978, instrument repairman Vern Rice invited a few local musicians to his house to play from the big band era library of music that he brought with him from Cheyenne Wyoming. Soon after this first get-together, a full 18-piece big band was performing as The Vern Rice Orchestra. Over the next 40 years this group has changed its name to The Widefield Serenaders, The Moonlight Serenaders, The New Century Big Band (in the year 2000) and is now The Front Range Big Band. The band is committed to community outreach with the majority of the 40-plus concerts a year that this band does are held at senior living facilities. Watch their videos on Facebook.

August 22: Peak Big Band

Black Rose Acoustic Society

The Black Rose Acoustic Society produces intimate concerts in the log-cabin Black Forest Community Center on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. Affordably priced. Visit BlackRoseAcoustic.org for more information.