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| Anat Cohen with bassist Joe Martin, coming to the Dakota November 10th |
© Andrea Canter
Edvard
Munch’s “The Scream” comes to mind when I look at this weekend’s options for
live jazz. Help!!! Too much, too many choices.
Ah, well, maybe there can never be too much of a good thing. And there
is no end to the good things for all tastes this weekend, and more going into the week. Really, we are lucky to live here. And with Give
to the Max Day coming (November 15), remember to support your favorite music
organizations so we can continue to enjoy one of the most jazz-friendly cities
in the country.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Patty and Paul Peterson |
November 9-10. A couple weeks ago, vocalist Patty Peterson officially released her
latest recording, The Very Thought of You, sharing a double bill at the Dakota
with Bobby Lyle. Now Patty celebrates in St
Paul—it’s her birthday, too—with a weekend all her own
at the Artists Quarter. That means a terrific band featuring a few more
Petersons (brother Paul on drums and nephew Jason DeLaire on sax), guitarist
Billy Franze, keyboardist Bobby Vandell, and who knows, more Petersons and more
friends are likely to appear. The line
between jazz and R&B gets pretty fuzzy with Patty and the band, and with
these musicians, that is a good thing.
The new
Café Maude at Loring Park, like it’s sister spot in southwest Minneapolis, is quickly
becoming a haven for modern jazz. This weekend enjoy a Tribute to Steve Lacy with the very talented ensemble of Scott
Fultz (sax), Luke Polipnick (guitar) and Alden Ikeda (drums). Not the usual
fare for downtown cafes.
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| Evan Christopher |
November 10. The lockouts of both major
orchestras has caused a lot of disappointment already with concert cancelations
now through December. One of the early casualties was the Minnesota Orchestra’s
Clarinet Festival, which this weekend was to feature Anat Cohen and Evan Christopher. Enter Lowell Picket, who figured
both clarinet stars might be available for a gig at the Dakota. The Anat Cohen
Quartet with Special Guest, Evan Christopher, promises to be one of the top shows
of the fall season. And in the smaller space, perhaps a lot more engaging than
the originally scheduled concert.
Jazz at
Studio Z continues its season in Lowertown St Paul with the Dave Karr Quartet (Dave Karr, Dave Graf,
Adam Linz, Phil Hey). The JASZ series starts out at 5 pm with a free public
workshop presented by the musicians, and tonight Dave leads the session on
“Building A Be-bop Vocabulary.” Who better to present on bebop than the
82-year-old bop master himself? Come for the workshop and get $2 off on your
ticket to the 7 pm concert.
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| Pippi Ardennia and youth artist Joshua Jones |
November 11. For a terrific
overview of the future of local jazz, you can’t top tonight’s PipJazz
Youth All-Star Night at Landmark
Center. Since last
November, PipJazz has presented student artists at each monthly concert, and tonight Pippi Ardennia has gathered her youth guests for a night showcasing their exceptional talents. The young
musicians will play with the PipJazz house band (including Pippi, Peter
Schimke, Billy Peterson, Jay Young, Dean Magraw, Marcus Wise, Glenn Swanson) in
varying combinations. Close your eyes, you won’t believe these are
teenagers.
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| Vicky Mountain |
Down the
street, and starting a couple hours later, it’s a 20th Anniversary Party
for the acclaimed Nova Classic Jazz
Orchestra at the Artists Quarter. This big band has built its repertoire
via member compositions and commissions, meaning they play a unique book of
music as well as new arrangements of the great jazz orchestras. There’s no
cover, making this the best jazz bargain of the week. And across town, Jazz
Central hosts a unique pairing of vocalists celebrating the unique
contributions of a pair of legends – Vicky
Mountain and Maryann Sullivan salute the music of Anita O’Day and Blossom
Dearie (“Dearie and O’Day”).
November 12. Jazz Central’s Monday nights have
proven to be terrific opportunities to bring musicians together for some fun
and experimentation that might not get bookings I more commercial spaces.
Tonight it’s trombonist Jeff Rinear and
drummer Matt Edlund, with pianist Tanner Taylor and bassist Graydon
Peterson.
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| Bettye LaVette |
November 12-13. Bettye
LaVette is truly a soul singer, not a jazz artist, but count a lot of
jazzers among her fans in the Twin Cities. She’s an emotive storyteller,
constantly bringing new material to the stage as well as the favorites her fans
demand. She’s at the Dakota for two nights of brilliant soul. Move over,
Aretha.
November 13. Three consecutive Tuesdays
featuring Dean Magraw launch tonight at the Artists Quarter, with the Dean Magraw/Bryan Nichols Quartet. The
eclectic guitarist and inventive pianist have collaborated many times and the
results are always magical. And the Jazz Central Big Band night continues, this
week featuring the Cedar Avenue Big Band.
No, the sound is not overwhelming in this small space—very little amplification
needed so you hear what is really going on inside a big band. It’s a unique
experience and maybe the best setting to really enjoy big band music. Just
don’t try to dance.
November 14. A duo I would love to hear (drat,
I am out of town tonight) at Café Maude (Penn Ave)—saxman Chris Thomson and
bassist James Buckley. Please go and tell me about it.
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| Phil Mattson Singers |
November 15. Jazz Central continues its new
vocal series with the Phil Mattson
Singers. Phil moved here a few years ago after a long and distinguished
career leading vocal ensembles, teaching, and arranging. Now he just continues
his work in the Twin
Cities as well as
continuing his leadership of some major choral events and festivals around the
country. One of his local projects is the Phil Mattson Singers, a sextet of
vocalists drawn from some of the top voices in the region. And of course Phil
accompanies the group on piano. An intimate space for some very savvy vocal music.
More Jazz, Every Night
For the
most complete picture of live jazz around town, you might need to read two
calendars—Jazz Police and KBEM. More suggestions for the coming
week:
Friday, November 9. Lee Engele at Pardon My French; Benny
Weinbeck Trio at D’Amico Kitchen (Le Meridien); Community Pool/Deep End with
Erik Fratzke, Brian Roessler, Peter Leggett at the Black Dog; Vital Organ at
Hell’s Kitchen; James Buckley and Bryan Nichols at the Icehouse (dinner sets);
Charmin Michelle at House of Pizza (Sartell, MN)
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| Maryann Sullivan |
Saturday, November 10.
Samba Meu at
the Black Dog (2 pm); Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at D’Amico Kitchen (Le
Meridien); James Buckley and Bryan Nichols at the Icehouse (dinner sets);
Maryann Sullivan at Parma; Mississippi Peace/Jello Slave/James Patrick at the
Icehouse (late sets)
Sunday, November 11. Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine
Bar
Monday, November 12. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Headspace at the Artists Quarter, JT’s Jazz
Implosion featuring Courageous Endeavors at the Icehouse; Jon Pemberton at the Red Stag; Josh Granowski and
Patrick Harrison at Barbette
Tuesday, November 13. Frankhouse at Hell’s Kitchen; Cory
Wong Quartet at the Artists Quarter (7 pm); Chris Olson Project at the Black
Dog
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| Graydon Peterson |
Wednesday, November
14. Charmin
Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; The Wolverines Trio at Hell’s
Kitchen; Steve Kenny and the Bastids
followed by the Graydon Peterson Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Caravan of
Thieves at the Dakota
Thursday, November 15.
Illicit Sextet
at the Artists Quarter; Gypsy Mania at Barbette; Zeitgeist New Music Cabaret
(through November 18) with Flying Forms, Zeitgeist, and Atlantis Quartet.
Coming Soon!
Note
cancelations due to the lockouts of the Minnesota Orchestra and SPCO apply to
come jazz events.
·
November
15-18, Zeitgeist New Music Cabaret at Studio Z (featuring Zeitgeist, Atlantis
Quartet, Orange Mighty Trio, Bill Simenson Orchestra, Carei Thomas)
·
November
16, Donald Washington and Brad Bellows Quartet at the Black Dog
·
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
17, How Birds Work at the Artists Quarter
·
November
19, Dorado Schmitt and the Gypsy All-Stars at the Dakota
·
November
21, Bill Brown and the Tuesday Night Band at the Artists Quarter
·
November
23-24, Dave King Trucking Company at the Artists Quarter
·
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 (7 pm)
·
November
29, Pete Whitman X-Tet at the Artists Quarter
·
November
30-December 1, Atlantis Quartet at the Artists Quarter
·
December
4, Charmin & Shapira at the Dakota
·
December
6, Maryann Sullivan CD Release at the Third Floor
·
December
7-8, Manhattan
Transfer at the Dakota
·
December
8, Babatunde Lea Quartet at Studio Z
·
December
9, PipJazz Sundays Holiday Showcase at Landmark Center
·
December
12-13, John Pizzarelli at the Dakota
·
December
14-15, Reid Anderson CANCELED due to SPCO lockout (to be rescheduled)
·
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
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December
29, Peterson Family Holiday Concert at Hopkins Center
for the Arts
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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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January
27-28, Dave Holland Quintet at the Dakota
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February
22, Bill Frisell at Macalester (Janet Wallace Auditorium)
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April
6, John Zorn 60th Birthday at Walker Art Center
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April
15-18, Doc Severinsen Big Band at the Dakota
·
April
26, Craig Taborn at Walker
Art Center
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| The JazzMN Orchestra salutes New Orleans on November 17th |
