For more than three decades, Denver’s legendary Five Points jazz tradition has traveled far beyond Colorado through the music of the Five Points Ambassadors — a group founded by the late Purnell Steen, whose lifelong mission was to preserve and share the cultural heritage of Denver’s historic jazz district.
That legacy continues this week as the Ambassadors return to the stage for their regular first-Friday performance at Dazzle, a performance that now carries special meaning following Purnell Steen’s recent passing.The performance also reminds Denver Sister Cities supporters of a remarkable international chapter in the group’s history.
In September 2022, the Five Points Ambassadors traveled to Brest, Denver’s sister city in northwestern France, where they spent a week performing, teaching, and connecting with local audiences through music. Their visit was more than a concert tour — it was a cultural exchange that brought Denver’s Five Points story to French audiences while strengthening people-to-people ties between the two cities.
During their time in Brest, the musicians shared not only jazz and blues performances, but also the history of Five Points as one of the most important African American cultural centers in the American West. Through lectures, conversations, and performances, they introduced audiences in Brest to a uniquely Denver story — one rooted in resilience, creativity, and community.
For many involved in the exchange, Purnell Steen represented exactly what Sister Cities work is meant to achieve: authentic cultural diplomacy led by artists, citizens, and local voices rather than formal institutions alone.
Now, as Denver remembers his contributions to music and culture, Brest committee members are exploring ways to celebrate his international legacy and the lasting friendship he helped build between Denver and Brest.
His music crossed an ocean. His story remains part of Denver’s international story.
🎶 A Denver jazz tradition.
🌍 A Brest friendship.
🕊️ A legacy that continues.
