Purnell LeVant Steen, a beloved Denver jazz pianist, carried the legacy of Five Points jazz for more than six decades. He passed away at 84 on Tuesday, November 18, according to information posted on his website. Steen was known for his tender touch on the keys and his mentorship of younger musicians. He led the Purnell Steen & the Five Points Ambassadors and previously worked with Le Jazz Machine. Steen’s life was a testament to music as both heritage and community.

Steen’s extraordinary talent was recognized early. He was born in 1941 into a family rich with musical brilliance. His relatives included bassist Charles Burrell, keyboardist and singer/songwriter George Duke, and saxophonist Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson. His niece is vocalist and Grammy Award winner Dianne Reeves.

As a child, Purnell began playing the piano at age three. His gift was discovered by Kathryn Cohron, a well-known East Denver piano instructor, who guided him through four years of classical training. By 1947, when he was just six, he performed his first public recital.

His prodigious skill captured citywide attention at age twelve. On June 12, 1953, he appeared on the front page of the Denver Inquirer. A photograph ran under the headline “IN RECITAL.” The announcement noted his upcoming piano–violin concert at Zion Baptist Church. The article highlighted the young musician’s early promise and his future as a key figure in Denver’s music scene.

Steen’s training in classical music is what made him so skilled. But it was the streets and clubs of old Five Points, when it was known as the Harlem of the West, that perfected his voice and talent. Jazz became his home. He grew into one of the city’s cherished historians of Denver’s jazz era.

Steen gave his heart to his community, using music to unite and honor Denver’s history. He was present at every important event.

He performed regularly with his bands, Le Jazz Machine and the Five Points Ambassadors. For us at DWN, it was these cherished annual traditions that shaped how we truly came to know Steen—not just as a musician, but as a friend to Denver. Every January, we found inspiration in his soulful performances with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for the Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian Awards or other MLK events during the weeklong celebrations because his music set the tone for remembrance and hope. In February, his presence was a highlight at the Denver Public Library’s Juanita Gray Community Service Awards and Black History Month events, where he played from the heart to honor the community’s legacy. By April, at the Five Points Jazz Festival, Steen was the heartbeat of the celebration, keeping the neighborhood’s jazz traditions vibrant and alive. He played music that told stories—of struggle, triumph, and joy in Five Points. In 2023, seeing him honored as Co-Grand Marshal for the festival’s New Orleans-style parade felt like the city giving him a standing ovation for a lifetime of love and leadership. And when Juneteenth arrived, or on those golden Sunday evenings at City Park Jazz concerts by the lake, Purnell and his band were always there, lifting spirits and giving back with every note. These moments are how we will always remember him—warm, generous, and deeply woven into the fabric of Denver.

Purnell’s warm spirit and dedication throughout his life didn’t go unnoticed. In 2016, he was inducted into the East High Alumni Heritage Hall for his leadership and musical talent. He was further honored at the Five Points Jazz Festival in 2019 for his efforts to keep the neighborhood’s music alive.

Steen did more than play music—he mentored, engaged audiences, and always gave his time and kind words after shows.

We last saw Steen performing at Dazzle Denver jazz club in October 2024. His music was always friendly and welcoming, as if he were talking to or engaging his audience through his piano. During the tribute to his cousin Burrell, he invited audience members, pianist and mentor Tony Greene, pianist and director Darryl Walker, and vocalist Maya Warren to join him on stage. Every song shared memories. His shows weren’t just for fun. They helped keep his story and Denver’s jazz history alive.

From a young rising star on the front page of the newspaper over 70 years ago to a respected leader in the Denver jazz scene, Purnell LeVant Steen’s life was all about music, love, and dedication to performance.  àṣẹ

Details about his funeral service are not available.