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Chick Corea and Gary Burton, coming to the Dakota September 26-27 |
© Andrea Canter
Old lions.
Young tigers. A legendary duo. It’s all here in the Twin Cities this weekend
and into the new week. Out in Washington,
DC, the Monk Institute’s annual
international competition turns to drums for the first time in 20 years,
meaning a big handful of the top under-30 drummers will duke it out for a
serious cash prize and recording contract. But not all of the hot young drum
talent is on the East Coast this weekend—we have Miguel Hurtado right here.
But the real supernova this week passes over the Dakota when Chick Corea and Gary Burton celebrate 40 years of collaboration.
But the real supernova this week passes over the Dakota when Chick Corea and Gary Burton celebrate 40 years of collaboration.
Jazz Highlights, This Week
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Bob Sheppard |
Weekend, September
21-22. One of
the great sax voices of the West Coast, Bob Sheppard comes to town for two
nights at the Artists Quarter. Based in Los
Angeles, the Eastman School of Music graduate has
appeared on countless movie and television soundtracks and has enjoyed
associations with Chick Corea’s Origin, the Peter Erskine Trio, Joni Mitchell,
Freddie Hubbard, Randy Brecker, Horace Silver, Elvis Costello, Kurt Elling and
Dianne Reeves. He’s appeared with Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan, and most
recently has toured with Herbie Hancock. His arsenal includes tenor, alto and
soprano sax, flute, piccolo, clarinet and bass clarinet. Bob will also be leading clinics for the
MacPhail/McNally Smith Saxophone Day on Saturday at McNally, which is open to
the public.
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Gary Schulte |
Put some
swing in your weekend with Sidewalk Café, performing Friday
night at the intimate and classy Aster Café down by the river on Main Street. With
Reynold Philipsek on guitar, Gary
Schulte on violin and Jeff Brueske on bass, they start where Django and
Grappelli left off. Plus the Aster is a rather cool place for a Friday night,
and a perfect fit for this music. And if
your tastes run totally outside, come inside to the Black Dog Friday night for Merciless
Ghost, the avant garde trio headed by monster saxophonist George
Cartwright, with Davu Seru on percussion and Josh Granowski on bass. They’re
still celebrating the double album release of music recorded live at the Black
Dog, Dog Times Two and Cat Times Three.
Jeff
Brueske has a busy weekend. After the gig with Sidewalk Café, he crosses the
river to rejoin Joann Funk for the return of their Saturday nights in the Lobby
Bar of the St. Paul Hotel. Joann adds vocals to her piano, bringing bits of
Blossom Dearie, Peggy Lee and more to turn “lounge music” into sophisticated
jazz. (And the Artists Quarter is an easy walk from the hotel –and you can
still catch the late set after the Lobby Bar closes!)
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Fat Kids at the Icehouse |
Monday, September 24. The Icehouse in south Minneapolis is fast
becoming the go-to hang for the young, the hip, and the multi-generational fans
of creative music. JT Bates’ “Jazz Implosion” series on Monday nights features
top ensembles, and tonight is one of the best, Fat Kid Wednesdays with
Bates, Adam Linz and Michael Lewis. They tackle Ornette, Mingus, Coltrane and
more, as well as their own compositions, but even the most familiar fare
becomes new deconstructions with these wizards on stage. Come early, try something
from the inventive menu, grab a table across from the stage and enjoy artistic
freedom.
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Phil Aaron |
Tuesday, September 25. Tuesdays at the Artists Quarter
used to be reserved for B-3 Organ Night, but now it seems the AQ has gotten its
Tuesday groove back with a series of ensembles typically including the names
Peterson and Horst. This week Billy and Kenny are joined by the veteran of
eloquence, pianist Phil Aaron. And you can warm up with the free opening set from
young masterful guitarist Cory Wong and his quartet. It’s a
great double header, home runs guaranteed.
At Jazz
Central tonight, the Big Band series continues with the newly formed, explosive
ensemble headed by Doug Haining and Scott Agster, and filled with top big band
musicians. Imagine sitting only a few feet from the trombones! There may be no
other venue that will give you such an intimate big band experience (without
blowing your ears off).
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Miguel Hurtado |
Wednesday, September
26. The Artists
Quarter welcomes the birth of a new ensemble of young upstarts. Originally billed as the Miguel Hurtado Quartet, it's actually a new collaboration with Miguel on drums, Nelson Devereaux on saxes, Joe Strachan on keys and Brian Courage on bass. And what else? They are calling it Courageous Endeavors. Since graduating
from the Manhattan School of Music, South High alum Miguel has been tearing up
trapsets all over town and proving himself to be a savvy bandleader as well.
Joe is finishing studies at the U of M but keeps his hands in a variety of bands between classes. Nelson finished at the U of M a year ago, and is becoming more and more known as he leads his own trio, plays in the Adam Meckler Orchestra and more. Brian just finished his degree at Lawrence and wasted no time joining the list of first-call bassists around town.Come see a fiery young ensemble that ensures the vitality of modern jazz in the
Twin Cities for years to come.
Wednesday-Thursday,
September 26-27. One of the most eagerly anticipated gigs of the year,
the Chick
Corea-Gary Burton duo is on tour celebrating their 40-year
collaboration and the release of Hot
House. The pair has lost none of its sublime energy and graceful harmonizing
over the decades, whether playing original compositions or eloquent
arrangements of standards. I caught their set at the recent Detroit Jazz
Festival and am eager for another dose, at the Dakota.
Thursday, September 27
(through 29). Sorry for those who read this earlier, but The New Trio, with
drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, bassist Anthony Cox, and guitarist
Brandon Ross, scheduled for the Icehouse, has been cancelled, or at least postponed due to illness. Stay tuned for hopefully a new date.
More Jazz Every Night
Keep up
with jazz in the Twin Cities with the live calendars on Jazz Police and KBEM, broadcasts on KBEM and KFAI, and
sometimes, even in the daily newspaper! More suggestions:
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Dennis Spears |
Friday, September 21. Nichola Miller at Hell’s Kitchen; Rhonda
Laurie and Joel Shapira at the Wine Market; Debbie Duncan at The Lexington; Lee
Engele and James Allen at Pardon My French; Dennis Spears at the Dakota
Saturday, September 22. Mary Louise Knutson (solo) at The
Marsh; Lee Engele and James Allen at the Red Stag; Charmin Michelle at The
Lexington; Nachito Herrera at the Dakota
Sunday, September 23. Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra with Charmin Michelle; Zacc Harris
Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, September 24. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Headspace at the Artists Quarter; Evan Montgomery/Brian Courage Duo at Jazz Central
Tuesday, September 25. Benefit for Marriage Equity at the
Dakota; Bud’s Brass Band at Café Maude
Wednesday, September
26. Charmin
Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the Bastids at
the Artists Quarter (early show)
Thursday, September 27. Gypsy Mania at Hell’s Kitchen;
Pete Whitman X-Tet at the Artists Quarter; Vicky
Mountain and the Swing Beat Band at Wabasha Street Caves
Coming Soon!
·
September
28-29, Bryan Nichols Quintet at the Artists Quarter
·
September
30, Esperanza Spalding’s Radio Society at the State Theater
·
September
30, Men With Mics (Gregg Marquardt, Reeves Carey, Dan Ristrom) at the Artists
Quarter (TCJS, Jazz From J to Z)
·
October
4, Larry McDonough/Richard Terrill CD release, Artists Quarter
·
October
6, Wayne Bergeron with the JazzMN Orchestra at the Hopkins
High School Performing Arts Center
·
October
12-13, Ari Hoenig Trio with Bill Carrothers at the Artists Quarter
·
October
13, Connie Evingson, Jazz @St. Barney’s (St. Barnabas Arts Center, Plymouth)
·
October
13, Atlantis Quarter, Jazz at Studio Z
·
October
14, Steve Faison, PipJazz Sundays at Landmark
Center
·
October
14-15, Cassandra Wilson
at the Dakota
·
October
17, Bela Fleck and Marcus Roberts at the Dakota
·
October
23, Kurt Elling at the Dakota
·
October
30-31, Maria Schneider Orchestra at the Dakota
·
November
4, Spiral Visions (Milne, Hagedorn, Aaron, Lewis, Hey) at Landmark Center
(TCJS Jazz From J to Z)
·
November
5, Charlie Hunter at the Dakota
·
November
9, Anat Cohen and Evan Christopher at Minneapolis Convention
Center (MN Orchestra)
·
November
10, Anat Cohen and Klezmatics at Minneapolis
Convention Center (MN
Orchestra)
·
November
11, Duke Ellington Orchestra with Evan Christopher at Minneapolis Convention
Center
·
November
11, PipJazz Sundays Youth Showcase at Landmark Center
·
November
12-13, Bettye LaVette at the Dakota
·
November
26-27, Karrin Allyson at the Dakota
·
December
7-8, Manhattan
Transfer at the Dakota
·
December
12-13, John Pizzarelli at the Dakota
·
December
14-15, Reid Anderson, Jeff Ballard, SPCO, Liquid Music at SPCO Music Room
·
December
27-29, Bad Plus at the Dakota
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Kurt Elling returns to the Dakota, October 23rd |
All photos by Andrea Canter except Bob Sheppard (courtesy of the artist)