© Andrea Canter
Music from
all over the map defines Twin Cities Live Jazz this weekend and into next week.
From the oddball instrumentation of Lulu’s Playground to the enduring songs of
Jimmy Van Heusen, from the original works of Chris Bates and Red 5 to the
exciting rhythms of the Latin Jazz All-Stars and the youthful energy of some
South High alums, there’s certainly something for everyone in Jazzland.
Highlights This Week
 |
| Bruce Henry |
Friday, January 11. Long-time Twin Cities resident Bruce Henry returns briefly from Chicago to light up the
night at the Dakota with his magnificent baritone voice, putting jazz into
Motown and a hint of Motown into the music of Parker and Coltrane. Bruce has
one of the most wide-ranging repertoires in the business but he’s otherwise
focused on using his voice as an instrument of self expression. Always a
stunning show.
Friday-Saturday,
January 11-12.
When I first heard Lulu’s Playground,
I was intrigued by the instrumentation alone—cello, accordion, guitar and
trumpet? Then I was hooked on the sound itself, a blend at times eerie, at
times humorous, at times simply gorgeous. That blend is in full bloom on their
debut CD, Shadow Voices,
celebrated this weekend at the Artists Quarter and presented by Adam Meckler,
Steve Hobert, Evan Montgomery and Cory Grossman, with spoken word from poet
Lisa Brimmer who contributes two works to the recording.
 |
| Vicky Mountain with Jim Chenoweth |
Saturday, January 12. Seems almost everyone labeled a
“jazz singer” in the Twin Cities can trace at least some of his or her
education to Vicky Mountain. But aside from being one
of the most active jazz educators in town, Vicky is also a veteran jazz singer
who easily covers the Great American Songbook as well as interpretations of
hits of the 60s and on. Tonight she’s put together an exciting show
highlighting the songwriting talents of Jimmy Van Heusen. She’ll be “Swinging
on a Star” at the Black Box Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts with
such local standouts as Chris Lomheim, Jim Chenoweth, Reuben Ristrom and Reid
Kennedy, and with special guests Arne Fogel and Phil Mattson.
 |
| Chris Bates |
Writing his
own songbook, Chris Bates put together a quintet last winter and composed new works
to highlight their talents. The resulting band, Red 5, and recording, New Hope,
quickly gained a wide following and accolades from within and beyond the jazz
community, even making it onto the Strib’s
Best CDs of the Year list. The band brings New Hope
to Studio Z, following an open workshop (5 pm) by Bates on the fine art of
composing for three horns, something he is clearly qualified to teach!
Today is
the annual Winter Jazz Blast (aka
Roseville Jazz Blast), now hosted by McNally Smith College of Music and
culminating in an evening performance by the JazzMN Orchestra in the adjacent History Theater. A long list of
area high schools and middle schools will participate throughout the day in
clinics and performances before the public concert by one of the top large
ensembles in the Midwest. Or beyond.
 |
| Nathan Hanson's Saxophone Choir |
Sunday, January 13. About a year ago, saxophonist and
composer Nathan Hanson brought
together an octet of saxophones for a show on the Twin Cities Jazz Society’s
Jazz From J to Z series. Now the Saxophone Choir is at it again, this time at
the Cedar Cultural Center, featuring a who’s who of modern jazz sax: George Cartwright, Scott Fultz, Pat Moriarty, and Donald
Washington and of course Hanson, with backing from Brian Roessler and Pete
Hennig. It might not qualify as “safe sax” but it will be fun!
 |
| Pete Escovedo |
Tuesday, January 15. The Dakota hosts the return of the
aptly named Latin Jazz All-Stars,
filling the club with energetic rhythms from the tropics and points south,
featuring true all-stars Steve Turre, Pete Escovedo, Nestor Torres and more. If
your feet don’t leave the floor, better check your pulse.
They’re
always cool and always entertaining – Jack
Brass Band performs tonight at the Amsterdam Bar in St Paul. New Orleans
goes to Amsterdam?
The big stage at the Amsterdam is perfect for
Jack Brass, the closest thing to a Second Line we have in Minnesota.
 |
Thursday, January 17. They are only a semester out of South High
School but Joe
Suihkonen, Emerson Hunton and Sam Wildenauer have already appeared multiple
times on the stage at the Artists Quarter as members of the Dakota Combo and in
various combinations of their own. The trio (trumpet, bass, drums) performs
tonight (7 pm) on the Twin Cities Jazz Society’s Young Artists Series. Joe and
Emerson are on break from studies at the Oberlin Conservatory, while Sam has
been making his way through the Twin Cities jazz scene, most often in the
company of Milo Fine and other free improvisers. Stick around for veteran
saxman Brian Grivna and his Quartet
at 9 pm.
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 11. Lee Engele and Reynold Philipsek at
the Wine Market; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel);
Benny Weinbeck Trio, last weekend at D’Amico Kitchen (Meridien Hotel); Patrick
Harison and Josh Granowski, dinner set at the Icehouse; “Centennial Celebration of Music Masters”
(including a set from Vicky Mountain) at MacPhail Center for Music; Minnesota
Jazz Orchestra (swing dance) at Wabasha Street Caves; Charmin Michelle at House
of Pizza (Sartell, MN); Community Pool/Deep End with Hanson, Roessler, Fratzke,
Hennig and Leggett at the Black Dog
 |
| Joel Shapira |
Saturday, January 12. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio, last weekend at D’Amico Kitchen
(Meridien Hotel); Patty Peterson and Friends at Schoolhouse II Bistro; Parker
Paisley at Café Maude (Loring Park);
Seru, Hanson, Roessler and Anderson at the Black Dog; Joel Shapira Trio
at the Loring Pasta Bar
Sunday, January 13. Debbie Duncan, brunch at Famous
Dave’s (Uptown); Robert Everest, brunch at Maria’s Café; Patty and the Buttons,
brunch at the Aster Café; Maurice Jacox
and Bobby Eckstrand at Eat Street Social (1 pm); Zacc Harris Trio at the
Riverview Wine Bar; George Maurer Group at the Dakota; Mouldy Figs at the
Shamrock; Charmin Michelle and the Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra at Cinema Ballroom;
Jazz on the Prairie Big Band at Edinborough Indoor Park; Jon Pemberton at the
Red Stag
Monday, January 14. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
JT’s Jazz Implosion (Paul Metzger, Adam Linz, JT Bates followed by Jeremy
Ylvisaker, Jacob Hanson and JT Bates) at the Icehouse; Charmin Michelle and
Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Tuesday, January 15. Cory Wong Quartet followed by Dean
Magraw and Friends at the Artists Quarter; Cedar Avenue Big Band at Jazz
Central; Patty and the Buttons at Café Maude (Penn Av); Café Accordion at the
Loring Pasta Bar
 |
| Graydon Peterson |
Wednesday, January 16. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the Bastids followed by the Graydon
Peterson Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Alden Ikeda Trio at Café Maude (Penn
Av)
Thursday, January 17. Patrick Harison, dinner set at the
Icehouse; Beasley’s Big Band at Wabasha Street Caves; Jazz on the Line (Mira and Tom Kehoe) at Mai Village; Frankhouse at Hell’s Kitchen; St Peter Street
Stompers at the Red Stag; Lee Engele and Joan Griffith at Barbette
Coming Soon!
.
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 23, Connie Evingson at the Dakota
.
January 25, Kenny Horst’s 70th Birthday Bash at the Artists Quarter
.
January 26, How Birds Work at the Artists Quarter
.
January 26, Maud Hixson, Jazz @St Barneys
·
January 27-28, Dave Holland Quintet at the Dakota
.
January 31, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet at the Artists Quarter
.
February 1-2, Lynne Arriale Trio at the Artists Quarter
.
February 8-9, Bryan Nichols Trio 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 16, Lease/Moriarty Quintet at Studio Z
·
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 9, Fat Kid Wednesdays, Jazz at Studio Z
.
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)
 |
| Dorothy Doring, CD release at the Artists Quarter on January 18th |
