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| Snowblind at the Artists Quarter |
Baby, it’s
cold outside, but we have our jazz to keep us warm! And on the move, given the
number of venues offering temptations this week. The weekend starts off with
another local CD release party; one of the greatest jazz singers of all time
stops in Minneapolis
Sunday night; and as always, there’s one gig after another throughout the week.
Highlights This Week
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| Dorothy Doring |
Friday, January 18. Two veteran performers, one a
long-time resident, one a recent transplant, join forces to highlight the
songwriting magic of Duke Ellington, celebrating the release of their duet
recording at the Artists Quarter. Vocalist Dorothy
Doring and pianist/arranger Phil
Mattson found plenty of magic in the songs that Duke wrote with Billy
Strayhorn and others, and those who have heard Dorothy’s “big voice” might be
surprised by the gentility of Compositions
by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. With Phil’s tasteful comping,
Dorothy brings her softer side to the recording, although she notes that the CD
Release Party will have a more diverse playlist.
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| Reid Kennedy of Snowblind |
Saturday, January 19. Often a mid-week gig, the brass
ensemble Snowblind plays a rare
weekend show at the Artists Quarter. Comprised of a handful of rising stars
(Shilad Sen, Scott Agster, Adam Rossmiller, Graydon Peterson and Reid Kennedy),
Snowblind features playful and energetic original compositions and some
inventive reworkings of great jazz covers. Each of these musicians keeps busy
with a long list of other projects, but when they come together, brass is boss!
Sunday, January 20. NEA Jazz Master and 17-time Grammy
winner Tony Bennett makes a rare Twin
Cities appearance at the State Theater. And if you don’t already have tickets,
you may be out of luck. Dubbed “the best in the business” by Frank Sinatra,
Bennett’s career seems to have peaked twice.. and the second peak is a high
plateau of the past 2 decades. Now 86, Bennett continues to tour and record
with no plans for retirement.
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| Brian Courage |
Monday, January 21. I loved the name of this band from
its debut gig. Courageous Endeavors
is an ensemble of some very young, very talented jazzmen, including recent
Lawrence U graduate Brian Courage on bass and his “Endeavoring” mates, Nelson
Devereaux on sax, Joe Strachan on piano, and Miguel Hurtado on drums. All in
their early 20s, these guys define the next decade of jazz in the Twin Cities.
Tuesday, January 22. I am not going to try to define
José Feliciano as a jazz musician, but let’s just say that anyone with some affinity
for guitar knows that his gig at the
Dakota is both rare and very special. Now in his mid-60s, Feliciano continues
to dazzle no matter what language or style.
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| Miguel Hurtado |
Wednesday, January 23. You can hear one of the fastest
rising stars in area jazz when Miguel
Hurtado appears in a second configuration this week, this time leading his
own quartet at the Artists Quarter. The Manhattan School of Music trained
drummer has been hanging out with the best lately, including Jeremy Walker’s
Boot Camp and with Walker, Kelly Rossum and Michael O’Brien. Heavy company but
Miguel is clearly ready for the challenge. And he’s already proven to be steady
in the driver’s seat.
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| Thomas Bruce |
Thursday, January 24. Singer Thomas
Bruce came to gigging rather late – in his 50s. But his roots ran deep, brother
of the late Roberta Davis and uncle of Moore
by Four’s Yolande Bruce. A hairdresser by day, Thomas gets out often in the
evening, polishing his tenor chops that at times sound uncannily like Chet
Baker. Tonight he pairs up with pianist Phil
Mattson for a sublime evening at Jazz Central Studios, part of the weekly
Vocalists series.
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 18. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Maryann Sullivan at the Wine Market; Alden Ikeda
Trio at Café Maude (Loring Park); Ticket to Brasil at Faces Mears Park; James
Buckley and Bryan Nichols, dinner set at the Icehouse; Kavanessence at 318 Cafe; Paul Renz’ Caterwaul and
Night Owl Band at the Riverview Wine Bar
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| Sophia Shorai |
Saturday, January 19. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Phil Aaron and Chris Bates, dinner set at the
Icehouse; Maryann Sullivan at the Eagles Aerie Club; Lila Ammons Jazz Quintet
at Honey; Alden Ikeda Trio at Café Maude (Loring Park); Sophia Shorai at the
Red Stag
Sunday, January 20. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the
Aster Café; Robert Everest, brunch at Maria’s Café; Mouldy Figs at Mainstreet
Bar and Grill (Hopkins); Charmin Michelle and the Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra at
Cinema Ballroom; Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar; Dan Musselman Trio at
the Red Stag
Monday, January 21. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; JT’s Jazz Implosion at
the Icehouse (Embezzler with Metzger, Linz and Bates); Twin Cities Hot Club at
Famous Dave’s (Uptown)
Tuesday, January 22. Cory Wong Quartet followed by Dean
Magraw and Friends at the Artists Quarter; Haining/Agster Explosion at Jazz
Central
Wednesday, January 23. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the Bastids, early set at the
Artists Quarter; Connie Evingson at the Dakota
Thursday, January 24. Cassondra Lea CD Release at the
Artists Quarter; Lee Engele and Reynold Philipsek at the Red Stag; Emily Davis
and Robert Bell at Barbette
Coming Soon!
.
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 29, José James at the Cedar
.
January 29, Adam Meckler Orchestra at Jazz Central
.
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 13, Jeremy Walker's Boot Camp at the Artists Quarter
. February 13, Jeremy Walker's 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 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 16, Mimi Fox, Minnesota Guitar Society at Sundin Hall, Hamline
. March 16, Mimi Fox, Minnesota Guitar Society at Sundin Hall, Hamline
.
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 13, Charanga Tropicale at Studio Z
·
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 27, Eric Marienthal with the JazzMN Orchestra at the Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center
. April 27, Eric Marienthal with the JazzMN Orchestra at the Hopkins High School Performing Arts 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)
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| Jose' James, coming to The Cedar on January 29 |
