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Kurt Elling returns to the Dakota, October 23 |
This is the
weekend of CD releases in the Twin Cities, and you could not ask for a more
diverse selection, from gypsy swing to R&B flavored jazz to the spontaneous
combustion of “out there” post bop experiments. Vocal talents abound this week,
as well, from hometown heroine Patty Peterson to the vocal blend of Five by
Design to the cutting edge interpretations of Kurt Elling. And more. And more.
Big Gigs, This Week
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Reynold Philipsek |
Friday, October 19. Where to start? If you start in
Excelsior, specifically at the 318 Café, you can be among the first to hear
selections from Reynold Philipsek’s
latest retrospective, Rara Avis. Possibly the most prolific recording artist
among Minnesota
musicians, Philipsek set about making a recording every year, and has pretty
much met that goal over the past three decades. This new release brings
together his favorite acoustic guitar compositions, many which have appeared
previously and most often in trio format, now presented as solo arrangements
(with a couple guest appearances from percussionist Michael Bissonnette). But
now Reynold hints that he might take a break from the studio. If so, this is a
good placeholder. Celebrate tonight at the 318 and get a copy of the CD with your
$10 cover.
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Patty Peterson |
Downtown in
Minneapolis at the Dakota, veteran vocalist and radio personality Patty Peterson celebrates her fourth
recording, The Very Thought of You, produced by brother Billy and featuring a
stellar cast of…. lots of Petersons and folks like David Hazeltine, Jim Rotondi
and Bobby Lyle. It’s a rather curious dual CD celebration, with Patty sharing
the spotlight with native son Bobby Lyle
and his trio, alternating mini sets over two ticketed shows. Patty will have
her CD for sale tonight, apparently Bobby’s is still in production. Tickets
remain for the 10 pm show.
At the Black Dog in St Paul, Brad Bellows (trombone) and Dean Granros (guitar) reunite for an evening of mayhem, reproducing their alliance of the 90s. Drawing inspiration from the interplay of such great pairs as Bob Brookmeyer and Jim Hall, Brad and Dean take apart jazz standards as well as performing their trademark free improv.
At the Black Dog in St Paul, Brad Bellows (trombone) and Dean Granros (guitar) reunite for an evening of mayhem, reproducing their alliance of the 90s. Drawing inspiration from the interplay of such great pairs as Bob Brookmeyer and Jim Hall, Brad and Dean take apart jazz standards as well as performing their trademark free improv.
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Dave King |
Friday/Saturday, October 19-20. In case the choices Friday night overwhelm you, you do have Saturday options: Two nights to get down to the Artists Quarter to hear yet
another CD release, this one from Dave
King in a surprising acoustic trio format that is neither Bad Plus nor
Happy Apple. Recorded without rehearsal last spring, King brought out big if underappreciated
guns, pianist Bill Carrothers and bassist Billy Peterson. Just finding a moment when all three were available and in the Twin
Cities must have been serendipity. The resulting CD, I’ve Been Ringing You, is a major departure for Dave—a set of mostly jazz standards reassembled for 21st century
ears; yet it is exemplary Bill Carrothers and familiar, if not frequent,
territory for Peterson. It’s moody, it’s creative, it's the best display of Minnesota's native talents in the realm of very modern, still-accessible jazz.
Across the river in the new Cafe Maude at Loring Park, enjoy a trio featuring percussionist Babatunde Lea and his two much younger cohorts, guitarist Zacc Harris and bassist Adam Linz. Lea and Harris recently brought down the house at the Artists Quarter with Lea’s quartet; mixing in Linz with these guys is a promise of excitement
Across the river in the new Cafe Maude at Loring Park, enjoy a trio featuring percussionist Babatunde Lea and his two much younger cohorts, guitarist Zacc Harris and bassist Adam Linz. Lea and Harris recently brought down the house at the Artists Quarter with Lea’s quartet; mixing in Linz with these guys is a promise of excitement
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Five by Design |
Sunday, October 21. Feel like a trip back in time to
the great nightclubs of the 30s and 40s? That’s the “vacation” offered at Club
Swing, a fictitious club built on the stage of the Burnsville Performing Arts
Center starring vocal ensemble Five by
Design and the Robert Baca Big Band. It’s a 2 pm matinee, but you will feel
like you’ve been inside a glitzy swing-era club by the time you leave. Enjoy the best of swing times with tunes from
the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and more.
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Graydon Peterson |
Monday, October 22. Hang out tonight in Minneapolis. At Jazz Central, it’s bassist Graydon Peterson dueling with saxman Doug Haining; and you never know who
will turn up for the late set jam. On Eat
Street (Nicollet), check the action at the
Icehouse, as JT’s Jazz Implosion tonight brings together a volcanic trio –Bryan Nichols, Anthony Cox and JT Bates.
Yes you can definitely do both – Jazz Central starts at 8:30; Icehouse boasts a
late show at 11:30. Sleep is optional.
Tuesday, October 23. Certainly one of the most eagerly
anticipated gigs of the month, Kurt
Elling returns to the Dakota. On the heels of his latest release, 1619
Broadway: The Brill Building Project, the modern era’s premier male vocalist
will do what he always does—deliver covers and original material with uncanny
interpretations and vocal prowess, making every tune a new work of art. Down
the street at Jazz Central, the usual Big Band night is turned over to Scott Agster to explore the iconic Birth of the Cool from new angles, aka
“Rebirth of the Cool.”
At the AQ
in St Paul,
it’s the first of two consecutive Tuesday nights with a quartet including Dean
Magraw, Bryan Nichols, Billy Peterson and Kenny Horst. Can’t go wrong with
that.
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Todd Clouser |
Wednesday, October 24. A terrific midweek line-up around
town: The Atlantis Quartet takes on Foodie Night at the Dakota; Todd Clouser’s
A Love Electric plays the music of Brian Eno at Café Maude (southwest
Minneapolis location); and the Phil Hey Quartet take all comers at the Artists
Quarter. Yeah, you can do two of three since Hey and company get underway a
couple hours later than the other bands. (Check Clouser’s website for his very busy Twin Cities
schedule this month!)
Thursday, October 25. The new Third Floor (579 Selby) in
St Paul had a promising start last week, and tonight the Thursday night jazz
schedule features Charmin and Shapira along with some dazzling
chocolate-inspired desserts from the lower level “Doctor Chocolate’s Chocolate
Chateau” and a well stocked bar. Oh, and all those very cool Victorian-era
design features in one of St Paul’s
historic mansions near Cathedral Hill.
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Lee Engele and Reynold Philipsek |
Follow me—I
am starting on the Third Floor and moving down to the Artists Quarter for the
nearly monthly blast with the Pete
Whitman X-Tet. From sublime swing to hard-hitting postbop charts, all
within about 2 miles. And I might just stop in at Barbette for the last call,
and catch the last set with Lee Engele
and Reynold Philipsek. Sleep is optional.
More Jazz!
Yes, there
is more, all over town. Every night and sometimes earlier. Find what you need
on the local online calendars on the Jazz
Police and KBEM websites. More
suggestions:
Friday, October 19. Bryan Nichols and Chris Bates,
dinner sets at the Icehouse; Joyce Lyons at Three Crows (Delano)
Saturday, October 20. Charmin and Shapira, Midtown
Global Market (12:30 pm); Memorial Tribute to Bruce Nerase at the Artists
Quarter (4 pm); Bryan Nichols and Brandon Wozniak, dinner sets at the Icehouse;
Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Lucia Newell with
Laura Caviani and Kevin Clements at Parma; Sophia Shorai at the Red Stag
Sunday, October 21. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria’s
Café; Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Charmin Michelle and the
Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra at Cinema Ballroom
Monday, October 22. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Todd Clouser’s A Love
Electric Plays Elliott Smith at the Red Stag
Tuesday, October 23. Cory Wong Quartet at the Artists
Quarter (7 pm); Nick Haas at Hell’s
Kitchen
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Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson at The Lex |
Wednesday, October 24. Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson at The Lexington;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the
Bastids at the Artists Quarter (7 pm); Jon Pemberton at the Red Stag;
International Novelty Gamelan with Milo Fine and Paul Metzger at the Icehouse
Thursday, October 25. Sophia Shorai at the Dakota
Coming Soon!
·
October
26-27, Eric Kamau Gravatt and Source Code at the Artists Quarter
·
October
29, Charmin & Shapira and Friends at the Dakota
·
October
30-31, Maria Schneider Orchestra at the Dakota
·
November
1, Arne Fogel (new vocal series) at Jazz Central
·
November
1, Vicky Mountain at the Third Floor
·
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
9-10, Patty Peterson, CD Release and Birthday Celebration at the Artists
Quarter
·
November
10, Dave Karr at Studio Z
·
November
11, PipJazz Sundays Youth Showcase at Landmark Center
·
November
12-13, Bettye LaVette at the Dakota
·
November
17, JazzMN Orchestra Tribute to New Orleans, Hopkins High School
Performing Arts Center
·
November
17, Sidewalk Café at Jazz @ St Barneys (St Barnabus Church)
·
November
19, Dorado Schmitt and the Gypsy All-Stars at the Dakota
·
November
25, Meshell Ndgeocello at the Dakota
·
November
26-27, Karrin Allyson at the Dakota
·
November
29, Dakota Combo (Young Artists Series) at the Artists Quarter
·
December
6, Maryann Sullivan CD Release at the Third Floor
·
December
7-8, Manhattan
Transfer at the Dakota
·
December
9, PipJazz Sundays Holiday Showcase at Landmark Center
·
December
12-13, John Pizzarelli at the Dakota
·
December
14-15, Reid Anderson, Jeff Ballard, SPCO, Liquid Music at SPCO Music Room
·
December
21-22, A Hot Christmas (Lee Engele, Joan Griffith, Reynold Philipsek, Gary
Schulte), Bloomington
Center for the Arts Black
Box Theater
·
December
27-29, Bad Plus at the Dakota
·
December
29, Peterson Family Holiday Concert at Hopkins Center
for the Arts
·
December
28-30, Pat Mallinger at the Artists Quarter
·
January
12, Vicky Mountain,
“Voice of Van Heusen” at the Black Box Theater, Bloomington
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Bettye LaVette at the Dakota (coming November 12-13) |