This weekend, Telluride Jazz Festival took over Telluride Town Park, bringing the likes of Mavis StaplesMacy Gray, the Funky Meters with Dr. JohnLee Fields & The ExpressionsMiles Mosley & The West Coast Get DownThe SuffersFatsO, and more to the charming town nestled in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The internationally renowned jazz festival has been running since 1977, consistently pulling big names to come and take over the small village of around 2,500. This year, Bootsie Collins was slated to make a headlining appearance at the festival, but after his ear surgery took him out of commission, the bassist was replaced the Funky Meters and Dr. John, more than making up for the last-minute change.

With bonus sets at the Sheridan Opera House, which only has a capacity of 240 people, as well as the main stage of the town park turned festival grounds, the weekend was filled with intimate performances in a context rarely experienced in larger cities. With a background of gorgeous mountain ranges on all sides, Telluride Jazz Festival (and any of the other numerous Telluride-based music festivals, such as Telluride Bluegrass and Blues and Brews) tops many audiophiles must-see events, if not sheerly for the setting and the consistent energized performances that seem to be the Telluride way.

You can check out gorgeous photos from this year’s Telluride Jazz Festival below, courtesy of Andrew Rios.