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| The Bad Plus return to their holiday home, The Dakota |
© Andrea Canter
Among the
younger set, visions of sugar plums (or iPods) might dance in their heads, but
among the jazz cognescenti, perhaps it’s aural visions of eighth notes and
blues scales? Whatever you are dreaming about for the holidays, there’s bound
to be a great live soundtrack to make your spirits bright, starting with a “Hot
Christmas” weekend, right through to a now-rare appearance by Moore by Four, one
of the top vocal groups in the Midwest, all setting the stage for the annual
holiday homecoming of the Bad Plus and a jazzy countdown to the New Year.
Hot Holiday
Week
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| Todd Clouser |
Friday, December 21. Former metro resident, guitarist Todd Clouser burns a path between Baja
and the Twin Cities throughout the year, often with
his A Love Electric ensemble. He’s been in town frequently this fall, closing
out his latest visit tonight at Café Maude in Loring Park.
If you’re into jazz, Todd leans far into rock. If you are into rock, Todd leans
far into jazz. Just lean into the music and enjoy!
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| Ginger Commodore |
And what’s
not to enjoy when Debbie Duncan and
Ginger Commodore trade tunes and banter at the Dakota tonight? With two of
the most divine voices in the region, Debbie and Ginger will soar through some
blues, standards, holiday favorites and more.
Friday/Saturday,
December 21-22.
He’s not exactly Santa Claus but multi-reed veteran Dave Karr will have a bag of bebop gifts on stage at the Artists
Quarter this weekend, with musical elves Phil
Aaron, Billy Peterson and Kenny Horst.
Dave seems ageless, and with tenor, bari, flute and clarinet at hand, he
guarantees happy ears on any stage. But the AQ is “home,” and what’s better
than home for the holidays?
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| Hot Christmas! |
Lee Engele is becoming as much an impresario
as vocalist, and this weekend she brings another great ensemble together for a
“Hot Christmas” on the Black Box Stage of the Bloomington Art
Center. With cohorts Joan Griffith (guitar and bass), Reynold Philipsek (guitar) and
Gary Schulte (violin), the heat will be generated by a lot of strings as
well as Engele’s swinging vocals. And you can choose Friday night or Saturday
matinee, whatever fits your shopping schedule best.
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| Gary Schulte, Joann Funk, Jeff Brueske |
Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske continue their weekend double
(voice and bass) in the Lobby Bar of the St Paul Hotel, but Saturday is even
more special with the addition of violinist Gary
Schulte. I caught this trio earlier in the fall and it’s a stellar
match-up, whether Joann is channeling Blossom Dearie or Peggy Lee, or just
hamming it up with two of the area’s finest stringmen. (And the Lobby Bar is
just a couple short blocks from the Artists Quarter – make an evening of
music!)
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| John Raymond |
Saturday, December 22.
There’s
typically a number of “homecoming” gigs around the holidays as former residents
return to visit family and friends. And ever since he graduated from the UW-Eau
Claire, Twin Cities native John Raymond
has scheduled gigs whenever the New York-based trumpeter can squeeze in a
visit. Tonight it’s Late Night at the
Dakota with a new trio, with long-time cohort
Jeremy Boettcher on bass and Adrian Suarez on drums. This might be the
smallest configuration that we’ve ever heard from John, which likely means even
more focus on that agile trumpet and melodic flugelhorn, and an introduction to
some new compositions as well as a seasonal gem or two, like “O Come Emmanuel.”
Definitely worth staying out late!
Wednesday, December 26. Back some 25 years or more, a new
vocal jazz quartet began turning ears, Minnesota’s
answer to the Manhattan Transfer. Now Moore
by Four, like TMT, is a fixture on the music scene, but unlike their
counterparts, their get-togethers are few and far between as each member has
forged a busy solo career. Thus their Dakota performance promises no holiday
let-down but an evening filled with charm, wit, and exceptional harmonies from
Dennis Spears, Ginger Commodore, Connie Evingson and Yolande Bruce, led by
Sanford Moore.
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| Jeremy Walker leads Boot Camp |
Starting a
new tradition in locally, organically grown music, Jeremy Walker’s Boot Camp was initiated less than a year ago, and
makes their Artists Quarter debut tonight. With Walker on piano and handling most of the
composition duties, Boot Camp also includes saxophonist Brandon Wozniak,
bassist Chris Bates, and young drummer Miguel Hurtado. This is one boot camp
that you’ll want to continue!
Thursday, December 27. The days between Christmas and New
Year’s have long been blessed with a “home for the holidays” visit from the Bad Plus. Now a three-night run at the
Dakota, the residency begins tonight and continues through Saturday. And it’s been
a banner year for TBP, with high praise from all corners for their new trio
recording, Made Possible, and an
unforgettable set with Joshua Redman to close out the 2012 Twin Cities Jazz
Festival.
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| MYJB All Stars at the Artists Quarter |
Tonight
also marks the annual AQ Holiday Party,
with the locally grown Minnesota Youth Jazz Band opening the evening. MYJB,
directed by David Mitchell, has performed on European stages as well as
throughout the Twin Cities. As for the holiday party, the line-up was not
announced yet but figure any of the monstrous musicians who frequent the stage
here are likely to be on hand, and who better to play Santa than Davis Wilson?
More Jazz, Throughout the Holidays
There’s
always more – check live jazz calendars on Jazz
Police and KBEM sites.
Suggestions to make your choices more difficult:
Friday, December 21. Brad Bellows/Donald Washington Quartet at
the Black Dog; Benny Weinbeck Trio at D’Amico Kitchen (Meridien Hotel); Jim Anton
Trio at the Icehouse
Saturday, December 22.
Zacc Harris
Trio at Loring Pasta Bar; Jim Anton Trio at the Icehouse
Sunday, December 23. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at
the Aster Café; Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, December 24. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; JT’s Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse; Artists
Quarter and Dakota closed!
Tuesday, December 25. Merry Christmas (most venues
closed)
Wednesday, December
26. Charmin
Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Firebell at Café Maude (Penn
Av); Steve Kenny and the Bastids, early show at the Artists Quarter; Maud Hixson with the Wolverines
Trio at Hell’s Kitchen
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| Arne Fogel |
Thursday, December 27. Donald Thomas and Rick Carlson at
Jazz Central; Arne Fogel at Hell’s Kitchen
Coming Soon!
.
December 27-29, Bad Plus at the Dakota
·
December 28-29, Pat Mallinger at the Artists Quarter
·
December 29, Peterson Family Holiday Concert at Hopkins Center
for the Arts
.
December 31, Carole Martin, Pat Mallinger and Friends, NY Eve Party at the
Artists Quarter
.
January 4, Koplant No at the Icehouse (11 pm)
.
January 5, Kelly Rossum Quartet at the Dakota (Late Night)
.
January 7, Nellie McKay at the Dakota
.
January 10, Omer Avital’s Band of the East at the Jewish Community Center (St Paul)
.
January 11-12, Lulu’s Playground CD Release at the Artists Quarter
·
January 12, Vicky Mountain and Friends, “Voice of Van Heusen” at the
Black Box Theater, Bloomington
.
January 15, Latin Jazz All-Stars (Steve Turre, Pete Escovedeo) at the Dakota
.
January 18, Dorothy Doring/ Phil Mattson CD Release at the Artists Quarter
.
January 20, Sing the Truth (Dianne Reeves, Angelique Kidjo, Lizz Wright) at the
Mpls Convention Center
.
January 20, Tony Bennett at the State Theater
.
January 22, Jose Feliciano at the Dakota
.
January 26, Maud Hixson, Jazz @St Barneys
·
January 27-28, Dave Holland Quintet at the Dakota
.
February 1-2, Lynne Arriale Trio at the Artists Quarter
.
February 12-13, Stacey Kent at the Dakota
·
February 22, Bill Frisell at Macalester (Janet Wallace Auditorium)
.
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
.
March 19, SF Jazz Collective at the Dakota
.
April 1, Bela Fleck and Chick Corea at the Dakota
·
April 6, John Zorn 60th Birthday at Walker Art Center
.
April 8-9, John Scofield Hollowbody Band with Mike Stern at the Dakota
.
April 12, 2 Cellos at the Dakota
·
April 15-18, Doc Severinsen Big Band at the Dakota
.
April 21, Red Planet at Landmark
Center (TCJS Jazz From J
to Z)
·
April 26, Craig Taborn at Walker
Art Center
.
April 28, Diana Krall (Glad Ragdoll Tour) at the State Theater
. June
18-19, Reid Anderson at Music Space (SPCO), rescheduled from December
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| Kelly Rossum returns to the Dakota, January 5th (Late Night) |
All photos by Andrea Canter, except for Joan Griffith and Lee Engele images in the "Hot Christmas" collage
