Sweet Street Jazz

Sweet Street Jazz couldn’t be sweeter! With charming compositions from pianist Michael Ami, captivating lead singer Saia Blakeslee, pleasant percussions by Dave Barton and great bass from Kirk Anderson, their blends of jazz standards, rock tunes, instrumentals and everything in between are perfect entertainment! - La Cour, Denver's Art Bar

Pianist Michael Ami, bassist Kirk Anderson and drummer Dave Barton entertain at La Cour on October 22 from 7 to 10 PM, with a wild mix of jazz standards, mad mashups and reimagined Beatles classics, played like you've never heard 'em. Vocalist Saia Blakeslee adds extra spice to this tasty musical melange.

Michael Ami is a classically trained pianist with a composition degree from Boston Conservatory. His classical past influences his jazz style, which is noticeably different from most jazz players. He enjoys being different, and loves to mash up jazz standards and pop classics, adding a classical touch. - KUVO/KVJZ Radio

SWEET STREET WILL SWING YOUR WORLD! THIS INNOVATIVE QUARTET MASHES UP JAZZ, BROADWAY AND POP INTO AN ENTERTAINING, UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE. VOCAL DUETS AND INTRIGUING INSTRUMENTALS POWER THE FUN. COME SEE WHY THEY’VE BEEN PACKING THE HOUSE! RESERVATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

Saia Blakeslee

is the lead singer of Sweet Street. She also performs with other Jazz acts in the denver area including ‘The Jazzles’ and the ‘Scott Martin Trio’. She is an acclaimed actress who has played many principle roles in Reparatory companies throughout the west coast. Most notable roles include: Gypsy Rose Lee in ‘Gypsy’, Nora in ‘ A Doll House’, The Witch in ‘Into the Woods’ and Nellie in ‘South Pacific’. Saia is a multi-faceted singer who enjoys singing jazz, blues, country rock, musical theatre and classical.

Michael Ami

is a jazz pianist/singer with a difference. A classical pianist and composer since age four, he performed his own works, along with those of the great composers, at University of Miami recitals when he was just eight years old. His improvisation and ear skills showed themselves early, causing his piano teacher great consternation as Michael improvised riffs on Beethoven and Kabalevsky sonatas instead of playing the pieces as written.

After earning a Boston Conservatory of Music degree in composition, with a concentration in orchestral and choir conducting, Michael’s extensive repertoire of around 1000 pop songs landed him as a piano bar entertainer on cruise ships. Since leaving the seafaring life, he has concentrated on jazz, incorporating his classical and pop heritage into his unique interpretation of jazz classics. This wild mix of styles is behind Sweet Street’s trademark “mad mash-ups,” in which the duo combines two, three and even four songs into one unforgettable experience.

When not at the piano, Michael enjoys technological pursuits, and is a well-published author of books and magazine articles in the electronics field, as well as an inventor and an avid amateur radio operator.

Dave Barton

Raised in the NY/NJ area, Dave studied classical percussion at the State University of NY at Albany, and studied jazz drums with Bob Moses (famed drummer/composer on Pat Metheny debut album “Bright Size Life). Thriving on a broad range of musical tastes, Dave’s diverse background includes performing in symphony orchestras, theatre and dance productions, praise bands, big bands, and various rock, blues, and of course, jazz bands. Dave is currently a member of the Colorado Jazz Workshop.

Kirk Anderson

Kirk Anderson has been playing music since he was 12. His guitar and bass gigs span folk, gospel, R&R, funk & soul, and jazz, and his bands have opened concerts for Journey and Tower of Power. Kirk has a a unique and eclectic musical voice that melds his own style of rhythm, soul and harmony and melody. - La Cour, Denver's Art Bar