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| Maud Hixson at Jazz Central |
© Andrea Canter
She’s been a local favorite for quite a while now, and generally
wherever Maud Hixson sings, her fans are sure to follow, be it the intimate dining
room of The Lexington or the larger stages of our suburban theaters. And now
Maud is no stranger to the haunts of Manhattan,
having performed at the famed Metropolitan Room and in the Midtown series at St.
Peter’s Church. But it’s hard to imagine a more perfect meeting of voice and
venue than the cabaret-like setting of Jazz Central in northeast Minneapolis,
where just a week ago Arne Fogel initiated a new Thursday night vocal series.
Jazz Central is the Twin Cities version of the New York underground
club scene, a privately owned studio that runs on rentals and donations under
the leadership of pianist Tanner Taylor and drummer Mac Santiago. Monday nights
bring in the well known and should-be-known, often together, trying out new
combinations of musicians and/or new music that might not get much support in
larger and more commercially-minded venues. Tuesday nights bring in top area
big bands, again free to try out new material with a seriously interested
audience—and perhaps the only opportunity to appreciate big band from just a
few feet away.
And now there’s the Thursday night series for vocal jazz.
Consistent with the philosophy of Jazz Central, this is not business as usual
but an opportunity to try out new material and new arrangements with listeners
who appreciate the risk-taking of new and unusual repertoire. Sure, I could
enjoy hearing Maud sing “Lotus Blossom” or “Star Dust,” but she’s always
finding new material, and what a joy to hear some of her latest finds and trial
runs! Her sets last night, backed sparingly by Rick Carlson (piano) and Steve
Pikal (bass), revealed some surprisingly intimate songs, including a group from
the seldom-turned pages of the Rogers and Hart book, delivered in that purely
songful conversational style that has long been Hixson’s signature, and so
perfectly aligned with the “lounge for listeners” environs of Jazz Central.
Cabaret in the best –and most musically astute—sense
of the word.
Visit Jazz Central online for schedule and more
information.
