Meet Paloma Rose | Jazz Bassist & Vocalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paloma Rose and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paloma, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Music has the capacity to heal everyone beyond our understanding. We don’t know exactly why, although I think everyone has their theory on why- but music can change our emotions and our thoughts within in instant of hearing one note.

One of my favorite things about being a jazz musician is that jazz is not just about finding notes or rhythms that sound good aesthetically, jazz is about how can we how can we channel the emotions and experiences that comes from deep within our soul that everyone can relate to in some way or another. Everytime I play jazz music I’m improvising, I’m playing something new, and being spontaneous in a way that can only live in that moment in time and then it’s gone forever.

I’m so thankful that I get to do this for a living because every single time I play music for people, I get to hopefully have the opportunity to positively impact people’s emotions and thoughts. Everyone in the world right now is going through something, whether it’s loss, stress, or tragedy and I hope that the music I play can help folks reconnect with their joy, peace, and inner power, even if it’s just for a moment.

One of the reoccurring shows that I’ve done is a Nina Simone tribute show at Dazzle here in Denver, and it’s amazing to perform these songs that have carried me through tough times in my life and then for people to come up to me afterwards and share how much these songs have also carried them through their own tough times too.

Music reminds us of just how connected we are to one another especially since there is so much out in the world that is trying so desperately to get us to hate each other.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My path to being a musician wasn’t easy but I’m so grateful that I somehow kept getting up and rising to the challenge, even if it took my a while to get back up. I quit music so many times because it’s not an easy path. The industry still struggles with issues surrounding sexism, elitism, and all the other isms! Ha! I joke but it’s true. I started in the music industry at a very young age, before I had even become an adult and I saw the dark sides of the industry pretty early on.

I grew up homeless at certain points, I lived in the Native American reservation in New Mexico with my family, I struggled to find who I was outside of the identity of pain I had known my whole life. I struggled to stop identifying as a victim to my circumstances. It took me along time to understand what my purpose was.

In spite of all of that, music was something I kept coming back to even when I had quit over and over again. One of my teachers says, “We heal through storytelling.” When we feel lost or stuck in life, it’s because we haven’t yet expressed our story. It can be through music, dance, writing, painting, fashion, cooking, acting, anything can be a way we share our story with the world.

One of my ways of storytelling is through music. For me, when I play music it’s a chance to share my story which is full of challenges and triumphs so that others may be inspired to find healing in their own story which is also full of challenges and triumphs.

When I reconnected with my Indigenous roots and blended it with jazz music, it all became so clear. Jazz music is a genre of music where we get to see people of all walks of life really showcase what true democracy can look like in this world; listening to one another, compromising, leading and following one another.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of the best places to visit in Denver are all the underground jazz joints as well as the popular clubs around here. I’d start off at the jazz club Dazzle where you can catch local and touring jazz artists perform some of the highest caliber music you’ve ever heard in a slick listening room.

Then, I’d suggest heading to South Broadway and stopping into the Roxy for their Wednesday night jazz jam in a speakeasy style restaurant and bar. Plus Monolith Brewing for their Tuesday night jazz jam which has become a hip place for beginners and advanced players to show off their skills.

After that, I’d head to RiNo Art District to check out Nocturne Jazz and Supperclub for an elevated, classy experience. They’ve got the absolute best cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails in all of Denver. Plus a full course menu that is deserving of a Michelin star all while listening to jazz music that transports you back in time to the prohibition era of jazz.

Of course you must check out Spangalang which is a bar in Five Points. The name of the venue is meant to be the sound of the cymbals on a drum kit when a jazz drummer plays the iconic, “spang-spang-a-lang” rhythm.

There are countless places in Denver that have jazz playing any night of the week, some honorable mentions that are fabulous; Vine Street Pub, The Muse Performance Space (not in directly Denver but what is Colorado jazz without the Muse?), Bar404, Brown Palace, Emerald Eye, City Park Jazz, Jazz in the Park, Appaloosa Bar and Grill, Colorado Sake Co. Jazz is happening all over Denver and I believe it is continuing to grow into more and more establishments. My dream is that jazz plays in every neighborhood of Denver every night of the week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m shouting out the local jazz music community here in Colorado. This community is full of vibrant and talented musicians who dedicate their whole lives to constant learning and honoring this music tradition which comes out of the suffering as well as the brilliance of Black people. Organizations like Gift of Jazz and Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts work so hard to support our local musicians; creating performance and educational opportunities that hopefully continue to grow this community. This lifestyle isn’t necessarily an easy path to walk. Being a musician doesn’t necessarily guarantee financial stability, it demands a lot of the physical body to haul heavy equipment around on a daily basis, working late nights- I could go on about how hard it is to be a musician. However, it is one of the most rewarding paths one can walk. All the musicians and music educators here in Colorado are incredibly hard working people who are trying their best to make the world a better place.

Website: https://lapalomamusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lapalomarose/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paloma.ress77/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@palomarosemusic

Image Credits
Matthew Baena