As the ski season winds down, several mountain towns and resorts prepare to stage music festivals, and this summer, there’s an abundance of stellar live jazz to take in.

The Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Experience takes place at various locales in downtown Aspen, June 26-29. Singers Alicia Olatuja and Jose James will perform with the JAS Academy Big Band under the direction of returning bassist Christian McBride. Also of note is a tribute to the gone-too-soon guitarist Russell Malone, trumpeter Takuya Kuroda and “Remembering Oscar Peterson,” a celebration of the pianist around the 100th anniversary of his birth. JAS is a mountain tradition. jazzaspensnowmass.org

The Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival is scheduled for July 12-13 at River Run Village, with an emphasis on established Colorado acts like Dotsero and Buckner Funken Jazz, which should serve as an excellent soundtrack for the sensible consumption of fine wines. keystonefestivals.com

Back for its 42nd year, the Winter Park Jazz Festival has become a preferred spot for a whole lot of smooth jazz and R&B. Taking place at the Rendezvous Event Center July 19-20, internationally recognized performers will include Shelia E., Gerald Albright, The Dazz Band, Kirk Whalum and Mindi Abair. playwinterpark.com

Closer to Denver is the Evergreen Jazz Festival, slated for July 25-27. I’ve long admired the commitment of this fest’s producers, who remain dedicated to presenting music in a more traditional vein. This year, expect returning favorites Carl Sonny Leyland Trio, The Nighthawks, and The Queen City Jazz Band with Wende Harston. The music takes place on five stages. evergreenjazz.org

The Telluride Jazz Festival is one of my overall favorites, with life-affirming sounds and the backdrop of one of the most breathtaking places in North America. For this year’s event, Aug. 8-10, organizers have lined up the well-loved spiritual saxophonist Kamasi Washington, New Orleans representative Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave, and saxman Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. telluridejazz.org

Bringing the summer season to a close, the Vail Jazz Festival (Aug. 29-31) will take place at the Manor Vail Lodge. It’s another excellent lineup scheduled for this year, including Gerald Clayton, John Clayton, Terell Stafford, Rene Marie, Lewis Nash, Bill Cunliffe, and Wycliffe Gordon. vailjazz.org

The City Park Jazz series returns to the pavilion at 6 p.m. on June 1 and runs Sundays until Aug. 3. The music is as eclectic as ever, including the opening night with the Zimbabwean singer and marimba player Blessing Bled Chimanga. Other shows: a tribute to Neil Bridge featuring Karen Lee Bridge and The Bridge 12; the Colorado Mambo Orchestra; Chris Daniels & The Kings; and the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra. All performances are free. cityparkjazz.org

Side note: If there’s a more bravely exploratory music festival in the United States than March’s Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tenn., I’d like to hear about it. There were exquisite showings from artists who rarely seem to make it to Colorado, like visionary trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and the electrifying British quartet {Ahmed}. The music was exciting, and there seemed to be a charge of enthusiasm in the air. Could something as adventurous land in Denver or Boulder someday?

And more jazz in May: Ghanian artists Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas appear at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom on May 4 … Pianist Joey Alexander plays Dazzle on May 8. Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly of Shadows featuring Danielle Wertz is at Dazzle on May 10, while innovative guitarist Stanley Jordan performs solo there on the 22nd … At Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club, the Peter Sommer Trio plays on Thursdays in May, and you can hear “Songs of the Spring” by the Steven Denny Quintet on Fridays.

Boulder-based Bret Saunders is a freelance writer and radio DJ.