Nat Yarbrough served as a mentor to a generation of young jazz players in Denver.

"As a teenager, there was a nucleus of musicians who were pivotal to me, and Nat was one of them," said Denver-born tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson, who has since gone on to earn a national profile.

Mr. Yarbrough died Aug. 9, a day before his 71st birthday.

"He would not only encourage you, he would invite you to his house to talk about the music and more," said Jackson, who is flying in to play today as part of a remembrance for the drummer.

"I saw the business aspect of things beyond what's occurring on the bandstand. And he always supported me throughout my career. He was a man of few words, but his words had impact and meaning."

The former Marine will be buried at 11 a.m. today in Fort Logan Cemetery (staging area A). A memorial service will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the New Hope Baptist Church, 3701 Colorado Blvd. After the service, there will be a music session in his memory at drummer Tom Tilton's Jae Ram Studio, just north of 21st Street in the alley between California and Stout streets.

Mr. Yarbrough was born Aug. 10, 1936, in Montclair, N.J. Known as a singer, he took up the drums while attending East -Orange High School and worked with alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson's band, as well as the organ trios led by Big John Patton and Freddie Roach. In 1966, while with Roach, Mr. Yarbrough first connected with Denver, and he moved here the next year.

For 16 years, the drummer traveled between Denver (where he played with pianist Gene Harris) and the East Coast, before permanently settling here in 1983. Mr. Yarbrough quickly became a leading figure in the city, working as a regular at El Chapultepec.

It was not until 2002 that he had his first disc as a leader - El Yabah on Capri Records. That disc featured saxophonists Brad Leali and Jackson, trumpeter Greg Gisbert and pianist Eric Gunnison, all players influenced by Mr. Yarbrough who have gone on to establish strong reputations in jazz. In 2005, Capri issued his second CD as a leader, Triple Play.

Mr. Yarbrough underwent dialysis for the past seven years and was on the list for a kidney transplant the past five years. Just days before he died of a stroke connected to elevated blood pressure, Mr. Yarbrough learned he was in line to receive a kidney within the next few weeks.

In June, Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge honored Mr. Yarbrough with a show to a sold-out house.

"Nat influenced all the young players here, and he was like a musical father to me," said Leali, who returned to Denver to perform at that event.

"What I learned from him was more than the music. What I learned included the importance of being humble as well as the importance of practicing. He gave me an understanding of music and life that continues until this day. He was the real deal."

The articulate drummer recognized that the ability to play was grounded in the ability to listen while searching for your own voice in the music. About that Mr. Yarbrough once wrote, "Listen closely . . . listen deeply . . . expect nothing but the unexpected."

The drummer is survived by his wife, Linda Wooten. Prior to this relationship, he had two sons, Damon and Caleb; and a daughter, Charmine Lee.