El Chapultepec

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The Pec expands By PETER MARCUS - January 18, 2007 The founder of Denver’s first, longest-standing and most famous jazz club said he is “tired, not retired.”Understandably so considering Jerry Krantz has been bringing jazz to Denver for the past 52 years, since he opened El Chapultepec — known to Denver’s inner jazz circle as “The Pec.”It’s not surprising that Krantz made friends with the likes of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald over the years. All of them performed at the original El Chapultepec.Krantz was even one of only 50 to be invited to Fitzgerald’s funeral — he’s a good-hearted person with a sincere love for jazz.“I’ve seen ’em come an go,” said a smiling Krantz as he parted his silver hair, clutching a glass of Coke. “Jazz is not about big money, you must like what you’re doing.”Labor of loveClearly, Krantz enjoys the business, because he, along with his wife, Alice, and daughter, Anna, are opening a second El Chapultepec, called Chapultepec Too. It opens tonight in the Highlands at 3930 W. 38th Ave.That’s where the Denver Daily News met up with the Krantz’s on Wednesday — in the dark, newly remodeled bar, formerly the Blue Corn Lounge.As Krantz perched himself up at the Chapultepec Too bar, surrounded by locals who were dancing to the jukebox, pouring down drinks at 2 p.m., he started reminiscing about his jazz promotions in Denver. He never played, always just listened.“Everybody loves jazz,” he said. “The idea was that it’s hard for musicians. All of their life, most will never be seen.”So, Krantz opened up El Chapultepec and invited people into his club at no charge so they can hear some of Denver and the nation’s greatest jazz musicians.Changing sceneBut over time, LoDo, where El Chapultepec is located, started changing, and the Krantz’s realized that a younger population was not feeling the jazz, and parking was becoming an increasing problem. When an opportunity opened up recently in the booming Highlands neighborhood, Anna and Alice Krantz jumped on it, realizing that this could be the second location for The Pec.“I think this is really great — we’re going to attract a lot of our older clientele,” said Anna Krantz. “We’re expecting people from all over the city.”With plenty of parking, traditional jazz and the Chapultepec name, there’s no reason why the club’s original and more mature attendees shouldn’t make it back to hear that jazz music that they love so much.The Krantz’s would like to see it a little more smokey inside, the way a true jazz club should be, but Colorado’s smoking ban makes that impossible.Different focusesThe original El Chapultepec will remain where it is at 1962 Market St., but its focus is more on the funky and bluesy sounds that are circulating around Denver.“Up here, we do more straight jazz, old-school jazz, you know?” said Anna Krantz.A place for developing musiciansOver the years, Jerry Krantz has watched some of the industry’s greatest jazz musicians grow their wings and fly away. Both Branford and Wynton Marsalis played at The Pec in their early days.The Krantzs hope to keep the door open for developing jazz musicians in Denver and across the nation. Jerry will remain in charge of booking the bands and finding talent — that is what he does best.Some of Denver’s current jazz musicians, including Greg Ginsberg, who will be performing tonight, have literally been attending El Chapultepec since they were children.“We were told if you know the song, play your solo then shut up,” said Ginsberg, who has been coming to The Pec since his early teens. “If you didn’t know the song, then we were told to stand outside — that’s just how it goes.”Ginsberg added that he takes every chance he gets to hang out at The Pec. To which Jerry replied, “That he does.”“I learned to play there,” he said.While Jerry Krantz no longer stays out all night partying with jazz musicians, he said he plans on staying out tonight for the grand opening of Chapultepec Too,“I used to go out every night, all night,” he said. “These days I go to bed all night. I may be tired, but I’m not retired.”Tonight, tomorrowThe grand opening of Chapultepec Too is from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. tonight and tomorrow.Admission is free and you can enjoy the great jazz sounds of Greg Ginsberg, Tony Black, Pat Bianci and Paul Romaine tonight.For more information, call 303-480-9406.