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Lynne Arriale at the Artists Quarter this weekend |
© Andrea Canter
The weekend
is off to an icy start but steamy hot jazz should warm you inside and out, with
a glow to last through the week.
Highlights This Week
Friday-Saturday,
February 1-2. One
of the most lauded pianists of her generation and leader on 13 critically
acclaimed recordings, Lynne Arriale
makes a welcome return to the Twin Cities. The Motema recording artist (and one
of my long-time favorites) played the AQ years back on Jackson Street and since has performed
several gigs at the Dakota. After a decade heading one of the most telepathic
trios since Bill Evans, Arriale set off in new directions, adding horns
(including the great Randy Brecker) as well as going solo. Long-known for her
melodicism and songful compositions, her more recent work has included
inventive arrangements of pop and rock hits as well as intriguing originals. On
both nights at the AQ, Lynne will be joined by dazzling bassist Adam Linz, with
drum masters Jay Epstein (Friday) and Dave Schmalenberger (Saturday).
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Dean Magraw |
Tuesday, February 5. “First Tuesdays” at the Black Dog
continue under the musical leadership of Dean
Magraw and Davu Seru, and tonight it’s an extra-special night with
free-improvising Milo Fine on
marimba. Fine plays just about everything, it seems, but I have yet to enjoy
him on marimba which seems particularly well-suited for the free movements of
his improvising heart. And in such inventive company as Magraw and Seru, this
might be a major midwinter meltdown.
Over at the
Artists Quarter, we can ponder, “What
Would Monk Do?” What would have happened if eccentric genius Thelonious
Monk had encountered four of the best Twin Cities jazzmen on the stage of one
of the premiere jazz clubs in the Midwest?
Trumpeter Steve Kenny, pianist Peter Schimke, bassist Billy Peterson and
drummer Kenny Horst first asked that question in 2010, and will give us some
idea of the answer when they reunite tonight.
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Robert Everest |
Wednesday, February 6. Brazilian rhythms can insulate us
from the next winter blast, particularly when the leader of the pack is world
music guru, guitarist Robert Everest. The new trio, Choro Borealis, promises to bring us music rooted in Africa and Europe, with clarinetist Pat O’Keefe and percussionist/Brazilian
string specialist Tim O’Keefe joining Everest at the most logical venue for
Brazilian music – the Jewish Community Center of St. Louis Park.
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Phil Hey |
Thursday, February 7. Always filled with inventive energy
and new twists on the greatest jazz improvisers, the Phil Hey Quartet fills its almost-monthly slot at the Artists
Quarter. With such talents as Dave Hagedorn, Phil Aaron and Tom Lewis as his
long-time collaborators, Hey’s gigs keep the Twin Cities jazz scene nipping at
the heels of the Big Apple in terms of innovation and savvy.
More Jazz Every Night (and Day)
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. A few more gigs of
note:
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Brian Courage |
Friday, February 1. Joann Funk
and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Todd Harper at the Black
Dog; Steven Hobert and Brian Courage, dinner set at the Icehouse; Ticket to
Brasil at Faces Mears Park; Vic Volare at Hell’s Kitchen; Milo Fine Free Jazz
Ensemble at the West Bank School of Music
Saturday, February 2. Lila Ammons at Club Saratoga; Joann
Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at
Parma; Keys Please (Carei Thomas, Todd Harper and Paul Cantrell) at Studio Z;
John Devine at the Red Stag
Sunday, February 3. Patty and the Buttons at the Aster
Café (brunch); Robert Everest at Maria’s Café (brunch); Mouldy Figs at
Shamrocks (1 pm); Keys Please at Studio
Z (2 pm); Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, February 4. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; JT’s Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse; Southside Aces
at Famous Dave’s (Uptown); Neighborhood Trio at Barbette
Tuesday, February 5. Cory Wong Quartet, early show at
the Artists Quarter; Café Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Capri Big Band at
Edinborough Indoor Park; Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz Central; Triose at Café
Maude (Penn Av)
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Dave Brattain |
Wednesdsay, February 6. Wolverines Trio at Hell’s Kitchen;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the
Bastids, followed by Dave Brattain Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Connie
Evingson with Tanner Taylor and Dave Karr, Jazz in the Lounge at the
Minneapolis Woman’s Club
Thursday, February 7. Lee Engele with the Moonlight
Serenaders at Wabasha Street Caves; Sophia Shorai at the Icehouse; Josh
Granowski and Patrick Harison at Barbette
Coming Soon!
.
February 8-9, Bryan Nichols Trio at the Artists Quarter
.
February 9, Zacc Harris/Chris Thomson at Studio Z
.
February 10, Tuck and Patti at the Dakota
.
February 13, Boot Camp at the Artists Quarter
.
February 13-14, Stacey Kent at the Dakota
.
February 15-16, Bill Carrothers at the Artists Quarter
.
February 16, Lease/Moriarty Quintet at Studio Z
.
February 16, Todd Clouser Love Electric at the Icehouse
.
February 20, International Guitar Night at the Dakota
.
February 21, X-tet at the Artists Quarter
·
February 22, Bill Frisell at Macalester (Janet Wallace Auditorium)
.
February 22, Nachito Herrera at the Dakota
.
Februrary 22, Kevin Washington Quintet at the Dakota (Late Night)
.
February 22-23, Estaire Godinez at the Artists Quarter
.
February 23, Patty Peterson at the Dakota
.
February 27, Valve Meets Slide at the Artists Quarter
.
March 8, Bobby Commodore 60th Birthday Bash at the Dakota
.
March 8-9, Dave King Trucking Company at the Artists Quarter
.
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 9, Fat Kid Wednesdays, Jazz at Studio Z
.
March 10, Bruce Henry, PipJazz Sundays at Landmark Center
.
March 11, Charles Lloyd Sky Trio at the Dakota
.
March 16, Mimi Fox at Sundin Hall (Hamline
University)
.
March 19, SF Jazz Collective at the Dakota
.
March 22-23, Atlantis Quartet at the Artists Quarter
.
April 1, Bela Fleck and Chick Corea at the Dakota
.
April 2-3, Madeleine Peyroux at the Dakota
.
April 4-6, Eau Claire Jazz Festival, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus and
beyond
·
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 13, Charanga Tropicale at Studio Z
·
April 15-16, 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
. May 19,
Illicit Sextet at Jazz Central (TCJS Jazz From J to Z)
. June 18-19,
Reid Anderson at Music Space (SPCO), rescheduled from December
. June
27-29, Twin Cities Jazz Festival at Mears
Park
. July 5-7,
Iowa City Jazz Festival (Iowa City, U of I Pentacrest)
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Tuck and Patti return to the Dakota, February 10th |