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| Bill Carrothers, at the Artists Quarter honoring Bobby Peterson |
© Andrea Canter
Extending
Valentine’s Day into the weekend? There’s lots of options, some perhaps more
romantic than others, depending on what revs up your heartbeat! Be it Tin Pan
Alley or garage band grooves, it’s all happening here in the Twin Cities.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, February 15. The Black Dog always hosts
musicians who take an independent spin, regardless of genre, but Friday nights
typically bring an installment of the Community Pool/Deep End series, curated
by Nathan Hanson and Brian Roessler. Tonight Brad Bellows and Donald Washington front an inventive quartet. The
space is small but the ideas are huge.
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| Joann Funk |
If you
missed a romantic evening on Valentine’s Day, or just want more, Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske turn their
usual Friday night at the Lobby Bar of the St Paul Hotel into a special “Isn’t
It Romantic,” with drummer Nathan Norman and special guest, vocalist Steve
Marking. Marking joined Joanne for their Christmas show and is back by popular
demand. Great standards from Gershwin and more.
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| Billy Peterson |
Friday-Saturday,
February 15-16. Honoring the late piano genius Bobby Peterson, another native
genius returns to the Artists Quarter with a reprise of the famed After Hours
Trio. At the core will be Bill Carrothers,
highly acclaimed throughout Europe and now growing a much deserved reputation
in the U.S.
Whether delivering elegant and playful originals or turning covers inside out, Carrothers has the power to evoke
tears, laughter and even confusion with a single phrase from a single
instrument. And in the company of bassist Billy Peterson (Bobby’s cousin) and
drummer Kenny Horst, the possibilities more than triple.
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| Katie Gearty |
Friday-Sunday,
February 15-17.
After a Valentine’s Day opening, the Southern Theater’s jazz ballet, Lot of Living to Do, continues its run.
Featuring great jazz tunes from the 30s, the show melds the vocal talents of Katie Gearty and Jared Oxborough with the
dancers of the ColliDe Theatrical Dance Company, directed and choreographed by
Regina Peluso. The story is inspired by famed St. Paul madam, Nina
Crawford, and portrays the struggles and hopes of three young women who are
thrown into a life of prostitution during the 1930s. Katie gave us a tasty
preview of the music last week at Jazz Central. Other local jazzers on stage
include pianist Dan Musselman, bassist Graydon Peterson, and drummer Pete
Hennig.
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| Robert Everest |
This
weekend marks the annual Carnaval
Brasileiro at the Fine Line, three days of Brazilian music and culture. The
host band, Beira Mar Brasil, is led by local guitar wizard Robert Everest, and
will take you through a variety of traditional music and dance forms. There’s
fun for the whole family, including a Sunday matinee—music, food, masks, and
more. Rio is just down the street.
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| Ellen Lease |
Saturday,
February 16. About twice a year, we get treated to the unique melodies and
harmonies of the Ellen Lease/Pat Moriarty
Quintet. At Studio Z for one show, pianist Ellen and alto saxophonist Pat
engage in some playful mayhem with tenor/soprano saxman Chris Thomson, bassist
Jeff Bailey, and frequent cohort, drummer Phil Hey. Active in the 80s, Ellen
and Pat revived the ensemble about five years ago, released a great recording (Chance, Love and Logic), and have found
a revolving cast of characters that always works.
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| Todd Clouser |
It’s
a birthday party and CD release bash for Todd
Clouser and his Minnesota edition of A
Love Electric, going down at the Icehouse for the night owls (11 pm). A
year ago, Todd made a commitment to release three recordings in a year, and
this is number three (The Naked Beat),
the most rock-influenced yet, intended as a “dance record.” It’s also
guitarist/composer Todd’s recording debut as a vocalist. If you remember the
ambient rock vocals of the late 60s and 70s, this will be familiar territory,
sort of. But there’s significant jazz and funk elements, and with cohorts like
Bryan Nichols, Adam Meckler, Chris Bates and Greg Schutte on stage, it’s going
to be a real meltdown in South Minneapolis!
Monday,
February 18. Pianist Phil Aaron and
saxophonist Dave Brattain will swing
hard and bop long at Jazz Central tonight. Aaron is one of the area’s busiest
musicians, leading his own ensembles and backing just about everyone else,
including anchoring the Phil Hey Quartet. Brattain is heard less often, keeping
busy with a day job heading bands at Wayzata
High School. But when he
comes out to play, he plays as hard as anyone out there.
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| JT Bates |
Heading
south, it’s Monday so that means JT’s
Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse. Often the line-up is announced (on
Facebook) at the last minute, but you can be sure the ensemble of the evening,
often with drummer and curator JT Bates at the helm, will feature the most
adventuresome musicians in town.
Tuesday,
February 19. Pairings of veterans and rising stars dominate Tuesday night. At
Jazz Central, it’s the Explosion Big Band
led by Twin Cities Seven’s sax pro Doug Haining and Snowblind/Jack Brass
trombonist Scott Agster. Big band in a small space? The sound is really
perfect, and it’s a much more personal experience that the usual big band
gig. At the Artists Quarter, the evening
begins with a free early set from the Cory
Wong Quartet, a band of some of the most skillful of the new generation. At
9, it’s another Tuesday night with Dean
Magraw and Friends – the master guitarist has an amazing line-up of friends
to draw from, so no matter what, it will be a great night. With Westside Tacos!
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| Delfeayo Marsalis |
And
what fundraiser would not benefit from the sleek trombone of Delfeayo Marsalis? Raising support for Edina’s A Better Chance
(bringing disadvantaged students to one of the nation’s best high schools), the
Marsalis Quintet will perform at the Dakota, featuring saxophonist Mark Gross,
pianist Richard Johnson, and drummer Winard Harper. You might pay $75 to see
this band at one of the nation’s top clubs or concert halls, so here’s a chance
to spend no more and have it mean a lot more!
And enjoy one of the top jazz ensembles working today.
Wednesday,
February 20. The
“International Guitar Night” tour comes to the Dakota, with founder Brian Gore
(a virtuosic, musical romantic who draws
inspiration from literature and philosophy); Scottish jazzman Martin Taylor
(whose collaborations include Jeff Beck, Diane Schuur and Gary Burton);
dazzling Brazilian Guinga (known as Brazil’s leading songwriter); and
Madagascar native Solorazza. Sounds like the whole world on six strings.
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| Zacc Harris |
And
there’s local guitar! Zacc Harris
seems too young to be dubbed a “veteran” but far too experienced and
accomplished to be considered a “rising” star. So just consider him a terrific
guitarist, bandleader and composer who takes his trio out of its Sunday gigs in
east Minneapolis
to Café Maude on Penn – with Matt Peterson and Pete Hennig.
And you
can never go wrong with Chris Lomheim and his Trio, tonight at the Artists
Quarter. It might be sublime takes on Bill Evans’ canon or some ferocious
bebop…. But it will be very cool.
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| Jana Nyberg |
Thursday,
February 21. For a
fun time… and great swinging music…. Come to the Dakota tonight for the Jana
Nyberg Group. On
vocals and flute, Jana gets to the heart of the matter and stays there, trading
off with one of the best of the younger generations of bands in town – with
Adam Meckler on trumpet, Evan Montgomery on guitar, Matt Peterson on bass and
Zach Schmidt on drums. Reserve – or join the KBEM Restaurant Tour which lands
at the Dakota tonight. Across the river, it’s time for the nearly monthly
gathering of the Pete Whitman X-Tet, ten of the area’s top musicians together
for one hard-blowing night.
At Jazz
Central, it’s Vocal Night, and tonight it’s a cross-generational pairing that
is almost family: Singer Sue Oattes (formerly Tucker) teams up with pianist Tanner
Taylor, her
father’s former protégé in central Iowa
where they both grew up. Maybe they were both raised on Oattes, but have forged
their own individual music paths along the Minnesota jazz scene. Seems a lot of talent
came north on I-35!
More Jazz Every Night
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. A few more gigs of
note:
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| Pavel Janey and Lidia Berman, TTB |
Friday,
February 15. Irv Williams and Peter Schimke, happy hour at the Dakota; Classic
Big Band and the Nostalgics at the KC Hall (Bloomington);
Ticket to Brasil at Faces
Mears Park;
James Buckley and Bryan Nichols, dinner sets at the Icehouse
Saturday,
February 16. Maurice Jacox and Bobby E at Eat Street Social (1 pm); Joanne
Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at
Parma; Zacc Harris Trio at Loring Pasta Bar; Lila Ammons Jazz Quintet at Honey James
Buckley and Bryan Nichols, dinner sets at the Icehouse
Sunday,
February 17. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster Café; Robert Everest, brunch at Maria’s Café; Zacc
Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Charmin Michelle and the Jerry O’Hagan
Orchestra at Cinema Ballroom
Monday,
February 18. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Headspace
at the Artists Quarter; Twin Cities Hot Club at Famous Dave’s (Uptown)
Tuesday,
February 19. Jack Brass Band at the Amsterdam Bar; Patty and the Buttons at
Café Maude (Penn Av)
Wednesday,
February 20. Wolverines Trio at Hell’s Kitchen; Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the Bastids, early set at the
Artists Quarter; Moore by Four, Weyerhaeuser Auditorium at Landmark Center;
Chris Olson at Jazz Central
Thursday, February 21. Beasley’s Big Band at Wabasha
Street Caves; Robert Bell and Maud Hixson at Barbette; Sophia Shorai at the
Aster Café
Coming Soon!
.
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 23, Connie Evingson and Mary Louise Knutson, Jazz @ St.
Barneys (St Barnabas Arts Center)
.
February 27, Valve Meets Slide at the Artists Quarter
.
March 1-2, Chris Bates’ Red Five 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 21, Nate Wooley at Walker
Art Center
(Free Thursdays)
.
March 22-23, Atlantis Quartet at the Artists Quarter
.
March 24, Nova Jazz Orchestra at Studio Z
.
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 13, Jeremy Walker’s Seven Psalms (world premiere) at Benson Great Hall (Bethel College)
.
April 14, PipJazz Sundays with Gary Schulte and Zosha Warpeha
·
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 27, Insurgent at Studio Z
.
April 28, Diana Krall (Glad Ragdoll Tour) at the State Theater
.
May 11, Zacc Harris at Studio Z
.
May 12, PipJazz Sundays with the Women in Jazz Ensemble
. May 19,
Illicit Sextet at Jazz Central (TCJS Jazz From J to Z)
. June 9,
PipJazz Sundays with John Penny, Will Kjeer
. 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
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| Bill Frisell performs solo, free concert on February 22nd at Macalester |
