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| Jeremy Walker at the Dakota |
© 2012, Andrea Canter
Someone
pointed out that the days are clearly getting shorter as we head toward Labor
Day. The corollary is that the nights are getting longer—meaning there is more
jazz time, right? So enjoy the last vacation at the lake, but come home in time
to hit your favorite venue. There’s plenty to choose from this week.
Highlights, This Week
Friday, August 24. I don’t know if Jeremy Walker misses his
year in New York
but we’re quite happy to have him based again in the Twin Cities, particularly
when he presents ensembles like Boot Camp. He debuted this new quartet last
winter, and now he’s back on the Late Night schedule at the Dakota (11:30 pm)
with the same idea and some different musicians. Joining pianist Jeremy will be
saxman Brandon Wozniak, bassist Chris Bates and drummer Miguel Hurtado. They follow Davina and the Vagabonds so the
stage will already be hot and steamy, just ripe for Walker’s intriguing original compositions.
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| Nichola Miller |
Friday/Saturday,
August 24-25. Thank
you Arne Fogel for spearheading the weekend jazz series at The Lexington in St. Paul. The landmark
restaurant needed an injection of hip entertainment and vocal jazz seems to be
that right amount of hip. Two local favorites go back to back this weekend.
Friday night, Nichola Miller, Tanner Taylor and Steve Pikal swing
for the rafters with sets of standards that will leave your feet tapping right
through the prime rib and crème brulée. Saturday night brings Lucia
Newell to The Lex with too-seldom-heard pianist Adi Yeshaya and bassist
Jeff Bailey, mixing Lucia’s diverse repertoire from bossa to Anita O’Day to
Betty Carter. Perfect with a cognac and a splash of tabasco.
Saturday, August 25. Continuing the tradition of new
collaborations, the Artists Quarter presents a quartet of veterans making their
first music together—saxophonist Pete Whitman blowing with pianist Peter
Schimke, bassist Tom Lewis and drummer Kenny
Horst. Expect them to take apart bebop classics and more. You might get
singed if you sit too close.
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| Dave Karr |
Monday, August 27. Take your pick or do a double
header tonight. At Jazz Central, straight-ahead doesn’t get any better than Dave
Karr with Graydon Peterson and Mac Santiago.
At 80+, Dave shows no signs of slowing down or breathing hard. With veteran
drummer/JC co-owner Mac and much younger but ever-busy bassist Graydon
Peterson, Dave will surely blow through the bebop repertoire and take no
prisoners. Later, or even a lot later, the Icehouse presents another Monday
night “Implosion” with Fat Kid Wednesdays (Mike Lewis, Adam
Linz, JT Bates). This place is becoming the go-to venue for musicians—to play
or to listen, and Fat Kids always brings out the younger generation. But don’t
worry, they respect their elders!
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| Todd Clouser |
Tuesday, August 28. Enough to make your headspin
midweek: Big Band night at Jazz Central features the Adam Meckler Orchestra,
one of the most exciting new ensembles around and a showcase for both young
talent (we have plenty here!) and Adam’s skills as composer. As for putting a
big band in a small space—where else can you have a really intimate experience
with 18 musicians? Over at Café Maude,
Minnesota native, Baja resident
guitarist Todd Clouser has an evening away from touring with A Love
Electric, focusing on the interaction with just drummer Greg Schutte. Ask to be
seated near the music (front room). And in St Paul, the Artists Quarter Tuesday night
line-up starts off with guitar ace Cory Wong and his quartet, followed
by Peter
Schimke’s trio with special guest, saxophonist Dave Brattain. Dave has
been appearing more often lately – at Jazz Central and the Dakota in the past
month. Let’s hope the trend continues.
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| Cliff Brunzell |
Thursday, August 30. A birthday bash for three of the
area’s most treasured jazz artists salutes Jeanne Arland Peterson (91), Irv Williams
(93) and Cliff Brunzell (91), and hopefully they can all make it to the
Artists Quarter for the party tonight. Jeanne’s had some health problems
recently and might play spectator. Cliff recently was on hand for the memorial tribute
to Elliott Fine, and Irv is still pulling them into Happy Hour at the Dakota
every Friday. Any celebration of this scope is bound to fill the AQ with music
well into the night—which will start early, at 7:30 pm. Let there be cake!
More Jazz Every Night (and Day)
It is not
easy to pick highlights each week, as there are so many gigs deserving an
audience. For the most complete live jazz listing for the Twin Cities, visit
Jazz Police and view the calendar on the right side of the home page. The completeness of this
listing depends on musicians and venues to send in their information – send to tc@jazzpolice.com. Other live jazz
announcements are listed in the Star Tribune,
Pioneer Press, and on KBEM and KFAI radio. Some more recommended gigs this
week:
Friday, August 24. Patty Peterson and Friends at
School II Bistro; Erin Schwab at Hell’s Kitchen; Media Addicts CD Release at
the Artists Quarter
Saturday, August 25. Charmin & Shapira at Midtown
Global Market (12:30 pm); Adam Linz and Tommy O’Donnell at the Icehouse; Jana
Nyberg at Hell’s Kitchen; JazZen at the
Hat Trick Lounge; David Sanborn/Brian Culbertson at Burnsville Performing Arts Center with Patty Peterson opening
Sunday, August 26. Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine
Bar; River Falls
Cultural Project at Emmas’ Bar Downtown (River Falls)
Monday, August 27. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Gypsy Mania at Barbette
Tuesday, August 28. Jack Brass Band at Driftwood
CharBar
Wednesday, August 29. Firebell at the Black Dog Café;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Alden Ikeda Trio at Café
Maude; Steve Kenny and the Bastids followed by the Joe Smith Quartet at the
Artists Quarter
Thursday, August 30. Tellharmonium at the Red Stag; East Side at Hell’s Kitchen
Coming Soon!
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August
31, Arne Fogel at The Lexington
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August
31-September 1, Phil Hey Quartet at the Artists Quarter
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September
2, Leigh Kamman 90th Birthday Party at the Artists Quarter
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September
4-5, Pat Metheny Unity Band at the Dakota
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September
7, Tuesday Night Band at the Artists Quarter
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September
8, Selby Avenue
Jazz Festival
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September
8, Debbie Duncan at the Artists Quarter
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September
9, Dakota Combo Auditions at MacPhail
Center for Music
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September
9, Ben Sidran at the Dakota
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September
10, Milo Fine at Homewood
Studios
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September
11-12, Marcus Miller at the Dakota
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September
14-15, Chris Bates’ Red 5 CD Release at the Artists Quarter
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September
15, Arne Fogel, Jazz @St. Barney’s (St. Barnabas Arts Center, Plymouth)
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September
18, John Scofield Trio at the Dakota
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September
19, Delfeayo Marsalis at the Dakota
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September
21, Saxophone Day at McNally
Smith College
with Bob Sheppard
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September
21-22, Bob Sheppard at the Artists Quarter
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September
26-27, Chick Corea and Gary Burton at the Dakota
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September
28-29, Bryan Nichols Quintet at the Artists Quarter
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September
30, Esperanza Spalding’s Radio Society at the State Theater
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September
30, Men With Mics (Gregg Marquardt, Reeves Carey, Dan Ristrom) at the Artists
Quarter (TCJS, Jazz From J to Z)
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October
6, Wayne Bergeron with the JazzMN Orchestra at the Hopkins
High School Performing Arts Center
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October
12-13, Ari Honig Trio with Bill Carrothers at the Artists Quarter
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October
13, Connie Evingson, Jazz @St. Barney’s (St. Barnabas Arts Center, Plymouth)
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October
14-15, Cassandra Wilson
at the Dakota
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October
23, Kurt Elling at the Dakota
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October
30-31, Maria Schneider Orchestra at the Dakota
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November
4, Spiral Visions (Milne, Hagedorn, Aaron, Lewis, Hey) at Landmark Center
(TCJS Jazz From J to Z)
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November
9, Anat Cohen and Evan Christopher at Minneapolis Convention
Center (MN Orchestra)
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November
10, Anat Cohen and Klezmatics at Minneapolis
Convention Center (MN
Orchestra)
·
November
11, Duke Ellington Orchestra with Evan Christopher at Minneapolis Convention
Center
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November
11, PipJazz Sundays Youth Showcase at Landmark Center
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November
26-27, Karrin Allyson at the Dakota
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December
7, Manhattan
Transfer at the Dakota
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December
12-13, John Pizzarelli at the Dakota
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December
14-15, Reid Anderson, Jeff Ballard, SPCO, Liquid Music at SPCO Music Room
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| Anat Cohen, joining the MN Orchestra's Clarinet Festival in November |
All photos by Andrea Canter
