This weekend, for the 31st time, the Telluride festival swings in with another impressive lineup.

Guitarist John Scofield, this year's "guest of honor," appears with both the groove-oriented trio, Scofield, Medeski and Deitch (with keyboardist John Medeski and drummer Adam Deitch), and the Trio Beyond band with Jack DeJohnette on drums and Larry Goldings on keyboards. S, M and D is on the outdoor stage tonight; Trio Beyond plays Saturday.

Besides the guitarist and his groove friends, today also offers Bola Abimbola, master organist Dr. Lonnie Smith (with guitarist John Hart) and the partying band Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. On Saturday, Scofield and his other friends are joined by trumpeter Roy Hargrove's quintet, singer Giacomo Gates and the trio led by bassist Esperanza Spaulding.

Sunday at the festival, singer Roberta Gambarini, trombonist Steve Turre's quintet, guitarist Bill Frisell's trio and Soulive perform.

A number of the artists appear later tonight and Saturday at a variety of locations around town.

Tickets for shows are $165, and a three-day pass for the outdoor concerts is $125. Tickets also are available for individual days at $50 and for late-evening concerts with $15 or $25 tickets (970-728-7009).

ALSO ON TAP: Alto saxophonist Richie Cole is in Denver Saturday and Sunday at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln St. Saturday, his "alto madness" sets are at 7 and 9 p.m.; Sunday, he plays at 6 and 8 p.m. ($15, 303-839-5100).

The Colorado-based label Jazz Excursion Records recently released a quintet session by Cole (The Man with the Horn) that was recorded in 1981. Cole said he found the old tapes in his basement and knew he "needed to put this album out." He was right.

• Pianist Jeff Jenkins and saxophonist Peter Sommer are at Dazzle at 7 and 9 p.m. today exploring the music of Jimi Hendrix ($12).

• Also this evening, saxophonist Paul Riola brings a special version of his Bottesini Project to the Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave., for an 8 p.m. concert sponsored by Creative Music Works. The band has the visiting Scott Amendola on drums, Ron Miles on cornet, Jeff Parker on guitar, Glenn Taylor on pedal steel, Doug Anderson on bass and DJ Olive on turntables ($20/$18 members, 303-455-2124).

• Tonight marks the opening of an exhibit of the outstanding jazz photos taken by Ned Radinsky (the founder of the highly informative Web site, rockymountainjazz.com) at the Wilson Adams Gallery, 1307 Bannock St. Opening is 6 to 9 p.m.

• The weekend also offers singer Lannie Garrett doing her songs-from-films show at Lannie's Clock Tower Cabaret in the D&F Tower, 16th and Arapahoe streets, at 8 p.m. today and Saturday ($30-$35, 303-293-0075).

• At 8:30 p.m. Thursday, guitarists Larry Carlton and Robben Ford play at the Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. at 8:30 p.m. ($35, 303-786-7030).

• Also on Thursday, singer Rene Marie begins a three-night stand at Dazzle ($20). For the first time since the vocalist moved to Denver, she performs here to mark the release of her new CD, Experiment in Truth. Her trio has Quentin Baxter on drums, Kevin Bales on piano and Rodney Jordan on bass.

Rene's appearance with her own trio at 7 and 9 p.m. should not be missed. She also performs Aug. 10 and 11, the latter to benefit Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

ON A FINAL NOTE: This past week, Denver's Nelson Rangell played in front of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and brought down the house. This is a show that any number of symphony orchestras might seriously want to consider for their schedule.

Normanprovizer@aol.com