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| The Dave King Trucking Company, coming to the Artists Quarter |
© Andrea Canter
Baby, it’s
cold outside! Relatively speaking, that is. Maybe we were spoiled by the mild
temps of the past few weeks. But if it is getting colder outside, it is only
getting hotter inside our area clubs and music venues, and all signs point to
an exciting winter jazz season. Maybe enough to bring in some of the Mn
Orchestra and SPCO audiences starved for live music? This week is as diverse as
it gets, with Meshell Ndegeocello and Karrin Allyson on the Dakota schedule,
Dave King Trucking Company and Pete Whitman X-Tet at the Artists Quarter, the
Zacc Harris Group at Café Maude/Loring Park, Nichola Miller at Jazz Central…
and the beat goes on.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday/Saturday,
November 23-24.
Hot off a recording session for their second CD, the Dave King Trucking Company parks for the weekend at the Artists
Quarter. It’s a quintet on record (with New York-based Chris Speed providing a
second reed) but the core quartet will be on the AQ stage, with Brandon
Wozniak, Adam Linz and Erik Fratzke joining driving force Dave King. Come for
the monologue, stay for the music!
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| Gary Schulte |
And you can
start the evening on a more sane and swinging note a block down the street at
the Lobby Bar of the St Paul Hotel, where Joann
Funk and Jeff Brueske expand to two nights. They celebrate with special
guest, violin virtuoso Gary Schulte, on Friday. This is a perfect spot to
unwind and recover from Black Friday madness; Funk and Brueske are a most
compatible pair, and the addition of Schulte makes this a very special
experience.
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| Meshell Ndegeocello |
Sunday, November 25. You would be hard pressed to find a
more eclectic musician on the scene today than Meshell Ndegeocello. Bassist, vocalist, songwriter and
conceptualist, Meshell returns to the Dakota with her tribute to muse Nina
Simone. Inventive musician and social activist, Simone was a major influence
for Meshell, who started out more conservatively with some pop/rock/dance hits
in the early 90s, now more inclined to meld rock/jazz/hiphop and beyond.
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| Pete Whitman |
Monday, November 26. There are two chances this week to
enjoy saxophonist Pete Whitman. In
addition to his monthly last Thursday at the Artists Quarter with his X-Tet,
Pete will shine in a much more intimate context tonight at Jazz Central. Likely
cohorts are Tanner Taylor and Mac Santiago, and you never know who will show up
to jam on the late set.
JT Bates’
Jazz Implosion series at the Icehouse continues tonight with the Graydon Peterson Quartet, one of the
hottest of new bands in town. Now well-established as a first-call bassist with
a wide range of chops, Peterson harnesses the skills of trumpeter Adam Meckler,
guitarist Vinnie Rose and drummer Adrian Suarez for his debut at one of the
area’s most daring music venues.
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| Karrin Allyson |
Monday/Tuesday, November
26-27. Without
fail, vocalist Karrin Allyson gives
it everything she’s got whenever she lands on the stage at the Dakota. Maybe
it’s because the Twin Cities have been a second home; maybe it’s because she
can count on family (her mom lives here) and friends to be in the audience;
maybe it’s because Karrin knows no other way to perform. Last year’s release, Round Midnight, was one of her all-time
best, and it’s always a treat to hear new additions to her repertoire as well
as crowd favorites. She raises the bar every time.
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| Zacc Harris |
Tuesday, November 27. The Zacc Harris Group gets quite a workout this week, following their
weekend gigs at Café Maude/Loring Park with tonight’s offering at sister venue,
Café Maude in southwest Minneapolis.
Guitarist Harris assembles a stellar crew, with Bryan Nichols on piano, Chris
Bates on bass and Pete Hennig on drums. Anticipate mostly original music
perfectly paired with the creative dinner menu. And speaking of original music,
Big Band night at Jazz Central features one of the most creative young
composers around, Adam Meckler and
his Orchestra, with special guests tonight, Doug Haining (sax) and Scott Agster
(trombone)—coleaders of their own big band.
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| Steve Kenny |
Wednesday, November
28. What Would Monk Do in a 21st
century context? Led by trumpeter Steve Kenny, an ensemble of area veterans
tries to answer that question, tonight at the Artists Quarter. Along with
Kenny, the explorers include Peter Schimke on piano, Billy Peterson on bass and
Kenny Horst on drums. They get underway following Kenny and “The Bastids”
opening at 7 pm.
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| Dakota Combo |
Thursday, November 29. The Twin Cities Jazz Society’s
Young Artists series continues at the Artists Quarter with a 7 pm set featuring
the Dakota Combo. Directed by Adam
Linz via the support of MacPhail and the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education,
this year’s ensemble features adventurous instrumentation, an octet of horns,
rhythm, violin and vibes. Gotta hear these high school students!
Over at Jazz Central, the new vocalist
series continues with sassy swinger Nichola
Miller (backed by Tanner Taylor). Jazz and cabaret meet on very friendly
terms in this intimate space.
More Jazz, Every Night
We’re never
at a loss for music, even with the double lock-outs. Live jazz calendars will
help you find your favorites as well as some new sounds – check out Jazz Police and KBEM.
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| Marcus Wise and Dean Magraw |
Friday, November 23. Birthday jam for Luis Santiago at
Jazz Central; Zacc Harris Group at Café Maude/Loring Park; Benny Weinbeck Trio
at D’Amico Kitchen (Meridien Hotel); Marcus Wise/Dean Magraw at the Icehouse (7
pm); Debbie Duncan at The Lexington; Lee Engele and Reynold Philipsek at the
Wine Market
Saturday, November 24. Maurice Jacox and Bobby E at Eat Street
Social (1 pm); Ticket to Brasil at the
Loring Pasta Bar; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel);
Benny Weinbeck Trio at D’Amico Kitchen (Meridien Hotel); Bryan Nichols and Dean
Magraw at the Icehouse (7 pm); Charmin Michelle at Parma; Nachito Herrera at
the Dakota; Zacc Harris Group at Café Maude/Loring Park; Sophia Shorai at the
Red Stag
Sunday, November 25. Patty and
the Buttons at the Aster Café; Charmin Michelle with the Jerry O’Hagan
Orchestra at Medina
Ballroom (3 pm); Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Zack Lozier at the
Red Stag
Monday, November 26. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Patty and the Buttons at
the Red Stag
Tuesday, November 27. Cory Wong Quartet followed by Dean
Magraw and friends at the Artists Quarter; Café Accordion at the Loring Pasta
Bar; Carl Franzen and Rahjta Ren at the Black Dog
Wednesday, November 28. Wolverines Trio at Hell’s Kitchen;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Sophia Shorai at the
Dakota; Dan Musselman at the Red Stag; James Buckley and Bryan Nichols at Café
Maude (Penn Av)
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| Robert Everest |
Thursday, November 29. Eastside at Hell’s Kitchen; Pete
Whitman X-Tet at the Artists Quarter; Robert Everest at the Icehouse (6 pm);
Lee Engele at the Red Stag; Carl Franzen, Rahjta Ren, and
Antonio Monterroso at the Third Floor (Doctor Chocolate’s Chocolate Chateau)
Coming Soon!
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November 30-December 1, Atlantis Quartet at the Artists Quarter
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December 4, Charmin & Shapira at the Dakota
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December 4, Claudia Schmitt at the Black Dog
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December 5, Sue Orfield Quartet at the Artists Quarter
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December 6, Maryann Sullivan CD Release at the Third Floor
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December 7-8, Manhattan
Transfer at the Dakota
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December 8, Babatunde Lea Quartet at Studio Z
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December 9, PipJazz Sundays Holiday Showcase at Landmark Center
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December 10, Atlantis Quartet at the Icehouse
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December 12-13, John Pizzarelli at the Dakota
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December 14-15, Reid Anderson CANCELED due to SPCO lockout (to be rescheduled)
.
December 18, Haining/Agster Explosion at Jazz Central
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December 21-22, A Hot Christmas (Lee Engele, Joan Griffith, Reynold Philipsek,
Gary Schulte), Bloomington
Center for the Arts Black
Box Theater
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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
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December 31, Carole Martin, Pat Mallinger and Friends, NY Eve Party at the
Artists Quarter
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January 4, Koplant No at the Icehouse (11 pm)
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January 12, Vicky Mountain,“Voice of Van Heusen” at the Black Box
Theater, Bloomington
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January 18, Dorothy Doring CD Release at the Artists Quarter
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January 20, Sing the Truth (Dianne Reeves, Angelique Kidjo, Lizz Wright) at the
Mpls Convention Center
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January 22, Jose Feliciano at the Dakota
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January 27-28, Dave Holland Quintet at the Dakota
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February 4, Lynne Arriale at the Dakota
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February 12-13, Stacey Kent at the Dakota
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February 22, Bill Frisell at Macalester (Janet Wallace Auditorium)
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March 9, McCoy Tyner Quartet at the Hopkins
Center for the Arts
.
March 9, Randy Brecker with the JazzMN Orchestra at the Hopkins
High School Performing Arts Center
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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
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April 26, Craig Taborn at Walker
Art Center
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| Sue Orfield returns to the AQ on December 5th |
