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| Spiral Visions, at the Artists Quarter this weekend |
© Andrea Canter
Seems that
2012 ended, and 2013 began, with no real break in the jazz action in the Twin
Cities. And the jazz action for the coming week starts out with a Dave Hagedorn
mini-festival as the vibes virtuoso is in residence three consecutive nights at
the Artists Quarter (in duo with Dan Cavanagh and in quintet with Spiral
Visions). It’s also a Minnesota-New York reunion weekend
as four musicians with ties to both cities come together in a new quartet on
the Dakota Late Night schedule (Kelly Rossum, Jeremy Walker, Michael O’Brien
and Miguel Hurtado). The coming week
also brings us a family reunion featuring the Hainings (Doug, Trevor and Preston) at Jazz Central. 2013 promises to fully support
the premise that jazz is alive and well in the Twin Cities!
Highlights This Week
 |
| Patty Peterson |
Friday, January 4. Less than a week after three
generations of Petersons celebrated the New Year and matriarch Jeanne’s
“retirement,” Patty Peterson returns
to the Dakota for one night with “Friends” including contemporary jazz
saxophonist Steve Cole and brother Ricky Peterson on B-3. Pianist Tommy
Barbarella, Billy Franze (tonight on bass) and drummer Bobby Vandell round out
the band, always a big draw so come down early or better yet, make a
reservation.
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| Joel Vanderheyden (Koplant No) |
Weekends at
the Icehouse in south Minneapolis
start off with a dinner set duo, this weekend featuring pianist Bryan Nichols
and bassist James Buckley. And all sorts of music typically fill the late night
schedule. Tonight, one of the top modern jazz ensembles in the Midwest, Koplant
No, comes in at 11 pm with a raft of new compositions, including ten that
appear on their new album, Distants.
If you caught these guys on the Sixth Street Stage at the 2012 Twin Cities Jazz
Festival, or a year earlier at the
Artists Quarter, you have a good idea of what to expect—an intriguing blend of
acoustic and electronic elements, elegant harmonies from the horns of Twin Cities native Joel Vanderheyden and
Brian Lewis Smith, sonic explorations via bass, percussion, synth, vibes and
more from Drew Morton and Ron Baner.
 |
| Dave Hagedorn |
Friday-Saturday,
January 4-5. Dave Hagedorn continues his three-night
run at the Artists Quarter. On January 3rd, he reunited with former
student, pianist Dan Cavanagh for a duo set reprising their elegant 2010
recording, Horizon. For the weekend,
Dave’s back on the bandstand as co-leader of Spiral Visions, a quintet dedicated to revisiting the works of the
Bobby Hutcherson/Harold Land Quintet of the 1960s. Launched last November as
part of the Twin Cities Jazz Society’s Jazz From J to Z series, Spiral Visions
features coleader Dave Milne (sax), Phil Aaron (piano), Tom Lewis (bass) and
Phil Hey (drums) – so essentially the Phil Hey Quartet + Milne. The results
were “too marvelous for words” and this is a most welcome second gig.
 |
| Kelly Rossum |
Saturday, January 5. Once upon a time, Kelly Rossum lived in the Twin Cities
where he made music in a wide range of classical and jazz contexts and directed
jazz at MacPhail; then he moved to New York to
check out Big Apple opportunities, but soon moved again to pursue university
teaching, first in Alabama and now in Virginia. Meanwhile Twin Cities native Jeremy Walker opened and closed a small jazz club (Brilliant
Corners), launched a jazz collective known as Jazz Is Now!, moved to New York
and returned a year later to lead new bands including Box Car and Boot Camp.
Earlier, another Twin Cities native, bassist Michael O’Brien decided to check out New York where he has become a busy resident
musician. And finally, drummer Miguel
Hurtado graduated from Minneapolis South High, went on to study at the
Manhattan School of Music, and returned to the Twin Cities where he is becoming
a first-call player and bandleader. Put all these characters into one quartet
for one late night at the Dakota! How can you even think of sleep with all this
music-making?
 |
| Trevor Haining |
Monday, January 7. It’s the first “Father and Sons”
night at Jazz Central, with the spotlight on those talented Haining men – dad Doug on sax (Twin
Cities 7, Haining/Agster Big Band) and sons Trevor (drums) and Preston (bass and trumpet). Trevor studied at Indiana University
and has been gigging around the Twin Cities; Preston is completing studies at
the University of
North Texas. Have to
wonder if mom Maryann Sullivan might put in a cameo appearance on vocals?
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| Nellie McKay |
Monday-Tuesday,
January 7-8. It
is not accurate to describe singer/songwriter/satirist Nellie McKay as a jazz musician but there really is no way to
describe her categorically. McKay returns to the Dakota for two nights of
unpredictable musical commentary about anything from politics to culture. She
might offer some covers (Doris Day?) as well as original tunes and lyrics,
accompanying herself on piano or ukulele, dead panning as she delivers the most
outrageous and hilarious storylines. She might not be the jazziest act you will
see this year, but she will be one of the most entertaining. (And don’t let her
humor obscure the fact that she is a very talented musician.)
 |
| Jack Brass Band |
Tuesday, January 8. If you have not yet checked out
music at the Amsterdam Bar in St Paul,
this might be a good reason – Jack Brass
Band. The Amsterdam
is a bar, but a bar with a large space both on and off stage. Which makes it a
perfect setting for the high energy, horn heavy antics of Jack Brass, the Twin
Cities answer to Crescent
City second liners. And
some of the area’s best musicians hang out in Jack Brass so you are always
guaranteed superb artistry. Jack Brass has many traditional elements, but this
is not your grandpa’s trad band. Think of it as jazz roots with 21st
century fertilizer.
 |
| Dean Magraw |
Tuesday-Wednesday,
January 8-9. If
it was a Dave Hagedorn weekend, it is a Dean Magraw week at the Artists
Quarter. Dean hosts four consecutive Tuesday nights at the AQ as “Dean Magraw
and Friends,” a frequently recurring theme which finds the standout guitarist
collaborating with the likes of Billy Peterson, Chris Bates, Phil Aaron,
Brandon Wozniak and Kenny Horst. And
this week, there’s a double dose of Dean as his Red Planet trio returns to the
AQ (Wednesday), with Chris Bates and Jay Epstein. This ensemble has been
presenting innovative interpretations of Coltrane and Shorter as well as
original works for the past decade, and they keep evolving, stretching into the
far reaches of universe with every gig.
Wednesday, January 9. The Cedar Cultural
Center hosts a Local World Music Showcase tonight,
featuring three top ensembles – Ticket to Brasil (led by guitarist/vocalist
Pavel Jany), the Lau Hawaiian Collective, and the Robert Everest Expedition.
You can pretty much cover the globe in one evening.
 |
| Omer Avital |
Thursday, January 10. It’s not exactly a music venue, but
the St Paul Jewish Community Center has an outstanding track record for
presenting the leaders of modern Israeli jazz. Past performances have included
the great guitarist Roni Ben-Hur and pianist Omer Klein. Now, one of the rising
stars of jazz bass in the U.S.,
Israeli native Omer Avital brings his
acclaimed Band of the East project to
St. Paul.
Drawing influences from a
diverse musical and cultural landscape (Israeli folk songs, Yemenite Jewish
liturgical music, Arabic and Mediterranean popular music, Ashkenazi and
Sephardic songs and prayers, European art music, Western popular music and
American jazz and blues), members of Band of the East touring the U.S. this
winter include Avital (bass and oud), Greg
Tardy (tenor saxophone), Nadav Remez (guitar), Jason Lindner (piano and
keyboards), and Daniel Freedman (drums). Locally, we’ve recently seen Lindner
and Freedman with Anat Cohen; Greg Tardy has performed at the Artists Quarter
and with Bill Frisell at the Dakota. I caught Avital last spring in Davenport with pianist
Lynne Arriale and am eager to see him in a leading role. (Special alert to area
bass instructors—buy a $20 ticket and
your students can get a $5 student ticket.)
 |
| South Singer Showcase |
Tonight is the annual South Singers Showcase at Minneapolis South High School.
It’s always a treat to see what these young musicians – both the singers and
the accompanying jazz band—have accomplished. And it is also encouraging to see
the turnout of family and friends who support the always-stellar South High
music program. Guest vocalist Vicky
Mountain gilds the lily.
More Jazz Every Night
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. A few more gigs of
note:
Friday, January 4. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at D’Amico Kitchen (Le Meridien
Hotel); Bryan Nichols and James Buckley, dinner set at the Icehouse; Charmin
Michelle and the Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra at the Medina Ballroom; Todd Harper
followed by Pirates of Possibilities followed by Midnight Choir at the Black
Dog; Sean Carey/Jeremy Boettcher/Vinnie Rose at Shanghai Bistro
Saturday, January 5. JelloSlave at the Aster Café; Bryan
Nichols and James Buckley, dinner set at the Icehouse; Joann Funk and Jeff
Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at D’Amico
Kitchen (Le Meridien Hotel); Parisota Hot Club at the Loring Pasta Bar; Glen
Helgesen and Gary Schulte at the 318 Café; Nachito Herrera at the Dakota
Sunday, January 6. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at
the Aster Café; Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Mouldy Figs at
Mainstreet Grill (Hopkins)
Monday, January 7. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; JT’s Jazz Implosion (Fat Kid Wednesdays) at the Icehouse
Tuesday, January 8. Cory Wong Quartet, early show at
the Artists Quarter; Café Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Bill Simenson
Orchestra at Jazz Central; Nick Haas at Hell’s Kitchen
Wednesday, January 9. Steve Kenny and the Bastids, early
show at the Artists Quarter; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside
Pizza; Parker Paisley at Café Maude (Penn Av);Twin Cities Hot Club at the Red
Stag; Wolverines Trio at Hell’s Kitchen
 |
| Dave Karr |
Thursday, January 10. Illicit Sextet followed by the
Dave Karr Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Southside Aces at the Eagles Aerie
Club; Acme Jazz Company at the Shorewood
Coming Soon!
. January 11, Bruce Henry at the Dakota
. 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 Center for the Arts
.
January 15, Latin Jazz All-Stars (Steve Turre, Pete Escovedeo) at the Dakota
.
January 17, Suihkonen/Hunton/Wildenauer Trio at the Artists Quarter (TCJS Young
Artists)
.
January 18, Dorothy Doring/ Phil Mattson CD Release at the Artists Quarter
.
January 19, Snowblind at the Artists Quarter
.
January 20, Tony Bennett at the State Theater
.
January 22, Jose Feliciano at the Dakota
.
January 25, Kenny Horst’s 70th Birthday Bash at the Artists Quarter
.
January 23, How Birds Work at the Artists Quarter
.
January 26, Maud Hixson, Jazz @St Barneys
·
January 27-28, Dave Holland Quintet at the Dakota
.
January31, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet at the Artists Quarter
.
February 1-2, Lynne Arriale Trio at the Artists Quarter
.
February 8-9, Bryan Nichols Quintet at the Artists Quarter
.
February 10, Tuck and Patti at the Dakota
.
February 12-13, Stacey Kent at the Dakota
.
February 15-16, Bill Carrothers at the Artists Quarter
·
February 22, Bill Frisell at Macalester (Janet Wallace Auditorium)
.
February 22-23, Estaire Godinez 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 19, SF Jazz Collective at the Dakota
.
April 1, Bela Fleck and Chick Corea at the Dakota
. April 2-3, Madeleine Peyroux 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
. June
27-29, Twin Cities Jazz Festival at Mears
Park
. July 5-7,
Iowa City Jazz Festival (Iowa City, U of I Pentacrest)
