Recent Articles from Mike Cote
ACE for excellence
Alex Cranberg and his wife, Susan Morrice, have two school-age daughters, so his interest in education is more than a passing notion. And through them, he appreciates that no system of teaching, no specific classroom structure, works for every child. Ten years ago, Cranberg was among several Denver businessmen who founded the Alliance for Choice […]
Treasure hunt
Framed photos taken with U.S. presidents, stacks of trade magazines, native artwork collected from international travel. The memorabilia that adorns the walls and shelves in a small conference room in Alex Cranberg's Denver headquarters for Aspect Energy is typical of a successful executive. Exce...
Marcia Ball’s “Roadside Attractions” is a wild ride
MARCIA BALL Roadside Attractions (Alligator) Marcia Ball just keeps getting better with age. On her 12th album, the singer and piano player delivers the first collection of her career devoted to entirely to songs she either wrote or co-wrote. Steeped in her Texas and Louisiana roots and the rhythms of the eternal touring musician, Roadside […]
Cote’s Colorado: Tools to a shared end
The editor-in-chief of Forbes is a creature of the 21st century. Steve Forbes likes to read books on his Kindle and hosts a popular online video interview show. And if you checked his iTunes playlist, you’d probably find a few songs by U2. The deal Forbes Media inked in 2006 with private equity fund Elevation […]
Rocky Mountain Way
Colorado isn’t widely known for its importance in the music industry, but maybe it should be. With a collection of Grammy-winning recording and mastering facilities in the Boulder area, and new ones being built, the world’s most important and unique performance venues and festivals, and an entire genre of music emerging from the area, Colorado […]
The world should be flat
Steve Forbes has a bolder idea than simply extending the Bush-era tax cuts for two years. Remember the flat tax? The editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine has long advocated one tax rate as less burdensome for individuals and businesses. In an exclusive interview with ColoradoBiz, Forbes also talked about the climate for commerce and initial public […]
Roomful of Blues stays retro in the 21st century
ROOMFUL OF BLUES Hook, Line & Sinker (Alligator) As Alligator Records celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the Chicago blues label continues its relationship with a band that predates the label’s existence by a few years. Roomful of Blues, already a couple of years into its fifth decade, has shuffled its lineup many times but […]
Big Head Todd celebrates Robert Johnson at the century mark
BIG HEAD BLUES CLUB 100 Years of Robert Johnson (Ryko/Big Records) If Robert Johnson had been around for his 80th birthday, he could have basked in the success of The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson, the double-disc box set collecting nearly every master version and alternate take he recorded during those now-celebrated 1937 and 1937 […]
Cote’s Colorado: Bill Ritter aims to keep the sun and wind by his side
FORT COLLINS – If anyone wants to challenge Bill Ritter’s reputation as the “greenest governor in America,” he’ll be around to defend it. As Ritter prepared to exit the governor’s mansion last month, editorial writers pondered the success of his four years in office: his schizoid stance between labor and business; his championing of education […]
Greg Allman returns to his roots with “Low Country Blues”
GREG ALLMAN Low Country Blues (Rounder)Greg Allman first conjured the spirit of the country blues 40 years ago as the young lead singer and organ player for the Allman Brothers Band. So it’s no surprise the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame icon sounds even more authentic and soulful now that he has the world-weary […]
Dave Brubeck: “Legacy of a Legend”
DAVE BRUBECK Legacy of a Legend (Columbia/Legacy)DAVE BRUBECK The Definitive Dave Brubeck on fantasy, concord jazz and telarc (Fantasy) Call it a box set without the box. Released on the same day by separate labels, two new double-disc compilations by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck offer a great chronicle of his work over the past six […]
Maximum Impact: Colorado Business Hall of Fame Laureates
What the five 2011 Colorado Business Hall of Fame laureates share with the more than 100 alumni who have come before them is the generosity of spirit and financial commitment to their communities. We're talking about the kind of drive that has a lasting impact long after they retire. And these peo...