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| Bill Frisell, free at Macalester |
© Andrea Canter
Two of the
world’s premiere guitarists happen to be in the Twin Cities at the same time….
At the same price. Free. Both Mike Stern and Bill Frisell turn up on college
campuses this weekend, making this perhaps the best “free” jazz weekend of the
year outside of the Twin Cities Jazz
Festival. But it is only the tip of the iceberg – and given the forecast,
perhaps I mean that literally. This weekend also features multiple gigs with
Estaire Godinez, a stellar Jazz at St Barney’s, yet another original show from
Arne Fogel with songbird Maud Hixson, a reunion of Patty Peterson and Steve
Cole with Patty’s “Friends” at the Dakota, and the inaugural “Off the Cuff”
night of improvisation at the Aster Café.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, February 22. One of the working legends of jazz
guitar, Bill Frisell will be
finishing up a short residency at Macalester with a solo performance in the new
concert space at Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center. Funded through the Rivendell
Foundation, this rare opportunity is free, with no advance reservations. Show
up early (doors open at 7:30). While Frisell has been in town on a number of
occasions in recent years (including his Dakota gig with the All We Are Saying
tour last summer), when was the last time you saw him solo?
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| Mike Stern |
Friday-Saturday,
February 22-23. With
support from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls “RADD
Jazz Series”, Miles Davis alum, guitarist Mike
Stern will perform two free concerts this weekend. Friday night finds him
at the Falcon’s Nest at University Center for the “Jazz Club Cabaret,” showcasing Stern
with a stellar ensemble of River
Falls faculty-- David Milne (saxophone), Mary Louise Knutson (piano),
Eric Graham (bass), and Craig Hara (drums). Come back for more on Saturday
night as Stern is featured in the UWRF Jazz Ensemble Concert in Abbott Concert Hall. Stern has been in the
Twin Cities a few times in the past couple years, including a guest performance
with the JazzMN Orchestra and a gig at the Dakota with the Miles tribute tour
last spring featuring Jimmy Cobb, Buster Williams and Sonny Fortune. And he
will be back in April with John Scofield’s Hollow Body Band. But this weekend,
you get a good dose of Stern –and local standouts—for free.
Once upon a time,
percussionist/vocalist/composer Estaire
Godinez lived in the Twin Cities. Although based now in Los
Angeles, Estaire formed a volcanic band during her Minnesota days, and
that’s the band she’s recorded with (twice) and the band that she’ll reunite
with at two venues this weekend. At the Artists Quarter Friday and Saturday,
Estaire gathers Peter Schimke, Eric Leeds, Serge Akou and Patir Janic for her
special blend of Latin, pop, Afro-Cuban and jazz. In between, she leads a
formidable quartet for a fund-raising gig at the Museum of Russian Art
(sold out) early Saturday evening, featuring Schimke, Billy Peterson and Irv
Williams. Between those two venues, we should get a good sense of the wide
range of Estaire’s talents.
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| Connie Evingson |
Saturday, February 23. Four favorite vocalists perform on three area stages…. Pretty
much at the same time. Tough choices must be made: The monthly Jazz @St.
Barney’s series continues in Plymouth
with Connie Evingson and a favorite
partner, Mary Louise Knutson. Their repertoire for this casual evening will
cover the full gamut of Connie’s songbook—from Peggy Lee to the Beatles, from
samba to swing. In Bloomington,
vocalist/ producer/impresario Arne Fogel
teams with one of his favorite cohorts, Maud
Hixson, for a night celebrating the songs written for and/or performed
famously by Fred Astaire; and the back-up band is no back-up – the Rick Carlson
Trio. And downtown, get ready for another night of jazz/R&B/pop favorites
with singer/radio host Patty Peterson
and Friends at the Dakota. Friends tonight include saxophonist Steve Cole,
brother Ricky Peterson on B-3, nephew Jason DeLaire on keys, and frequent
collaborators Billy Franze (bass) and Bobby Vandell (percussion).
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| Andrew Foreman |
Sunday, February 24. Young bassist Andrew
Foreman has been seen a lot around town, with the Max Corcoran Project,
Trio Bossa Nova, and more. Now Foreman assumes the role of curator to bring a
monthly program of improvised music to the classy Aster Café off Main Street in the
Anthony Main district, dubbed Off the Cuff.
The idea is put some of the most creative musicians (across genres) together
and let the music go wherever…. “off the cuff.” Two sets tonight include
spoken word artist Lisa Brimmer, popular singer/songwriter Alicia Steele, drummer Zach
Schmidt, guitarist Ben Abrahamson, keyboardist Garret Neal, and Foreman. Second set includes rapper Lizzon,
vocalist/words artist Eric Mayson, hip-hop/jazz drummer Graham O’Brien,
electronics and samples artist Big Cats, young keyboard sensation Joe Strachan,
and Foreman. Sounds like a cauldron of ingredients ready to explode.
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| Joel Shapira and Charmin Michelle |
Monday, February 25. Charmin (Michelle) and (Joel)Shapira and Friends –with the
percussion lion Phil Hey filling in on drums—return to the Dakota for some
swinging good fun. Over at Jazz Central, saxophonist Greg Keel takes some time out from teaching to remind us all that
he has great performance chops.
Tuesday, February 26.
Another Tuesday night at the Artists Quarter with back-to-back guitar
wizards, starting with the early show from Cory
Wong and his quartet, and then moving into prime time with Dean Magraw “and Friends.” The friends for the evening will be among the
best and brightest—possibilities include Billy Peterson, Phil Aaron, Kenny
Horst, Brandon Wozniak, Chris Bates…. At Jazz Central, Big Band Night features
the young and the restless, the Adam
Meckler Orchestra. Meckler always brings some new compositions to the band,
which includes a cast ready to take on whatever Adam writes.
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| Valve (Brad) and Slide (Dave) |
Wednesday, February 27. Two trombone masters collaborate
as leaders of a hard boppin’ quintet. Valve
(Brad Bellows) Meets Slide (Dave Graf) at the Artists Quarter for a night
of boney fun. Come early and catch another bebop and beyond master of brass,
trumpeter Steve Kenny and the Bastids.
Thursday, February 28. At the Dakota, an immensely
talented quartet headed by vocalist Sophia
Shorai takes the stage—with Bryan Nichols, Jeremy Boettcher and JT Bates.
That’s a rhythm section any area vocalist would envy.
And at the
Artists Quarter, it’s time for another reunion of the popular 90s ensemble, the
Illicit Sextet. Their debut Chapter One is about to be surpassed by
their long-awaited second recording, Chapter
Eleven. Hear some previews tonight from Paul Harper, David Roos, Steve
Kenny, Chris Lomheim, Tom Pieper and Nathan Norman.
More Jazz Every Night
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. A few more gigs of
note:
Friday, February 22. Second Annual Shirley Witherspoon Expo at the
Dakota (11 am – 5 pm); Irv Williams and Peter Schimke, Happy Hour at the
Dakota; Sophia Shorai with dVRG, Ben Kelly + Alex Young at
the Aster Café; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Pirates
of Possibilities followed by Gnarl at the Black Dog; Nachito Herrera at the
Dakota followed by the Kevin Washington Quintet (Late Night); Ticket to Brasil,
Faces Mears Park; Steve Hobert and Brian Courage, dinner set at the Icehouse
Saturday, February 23. Ticket
to Brasil, Loring Pasta Bar; Phil Aaron and Jeremy Boettcher, dinner set at the
Icehouse; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny
Weinbeck Trio at Parma; U of M Jazz Festival, Ensemble I with Fred Sturm at the
Ted Mann Concert Hall; Twin Cities Hot Club at the Red Stag
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| Charmin Michelle and the Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra |
Sunday, February 24.
Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster Café; Robert Everest, brunch at
Maria’s Café; Charmin Michele with the Twin City Seven, Billie Holiday show at
the First Unitarian Society of Minnesota; Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview
Wine Bar; Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom
Monday, February 25.
JT’s Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at
Fireside Pizza; Headspace at the Artists Quarter; The Neighborhood Trio at
Barbette; Laura Caviani, From Bach to Bop, at Gustavas Adolphus (St Peter)
Tuesday, February 26.
Jack Brass Band at the Amsterdam;
Café Accordion at the Loring Pasta Bar;
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| Graydon Peterson |
Wednesday, February 27.
John Devine at the Loring Pasta Bar; Debbie Duncan at the Dakota; Graydon
Peterson Quartet at Jazz Central; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at
Fireside Pizza; Vital Organ at Hell’s Kitchen
Thursday, February 28.
Patrick Harison at the Icehouse; Dorothy Doring and Phil Mattson at Jazz
Central; Rhonda Laurie at Barbette
Coming
Soon!
.
March 1-2, Chris Bates’ Red Five at the Artists Quarter
.
March 3, Phil Grenadier with the Dakota Combo, MacPhail Faculty at Antonello
Hall (MacPhail Center for Music)
.
March 8, Bobby Commodore 60th Birthday Bash at the Dakota
.
March 8-9, Dave King Trio 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 13, Chris Bates Improv at Jazz Central
.
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 21, Phil Mattson Singers with Richie Cole at the Artists Quarter
.
March 22-23, Atlantis Quartet at the Artists Quarter
.
March 24, Nova Jazz Orchestra at Studio Z
. March 29-30, Dave King Trucking Company at the Artists Quarter
. March 29-30, Dave King Trucking Company 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 5-6, Billy Holloman at the Artists Quarter
. April 5-6, Billy Holloman at the Artists Quarter
·
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 13, Arne Fogel’s “We Love Our Pianos” with Connie Evingson and Nancy
Harms at Hopkins Center for the Arts
.
April 14, PipJazz Sundays with Gary Schulte and Zosha Warpeha
·
April 15-16, Doc Severinsen Big Band at the Dakota
. April 19-20, David Hazeltine at the Artists Quarter
. April 19-20, David Hazeltine at the Artists Quarter
.
April 21, Red Planet at Landmark
Center (TCJS Jazz From J
to Z)
.
April 21, Soul Café at Hennepin
Avenue Methodist
Church
.
April 24, MacPhail Center for Music Annual Music Matters Luncheon (fundraiser)
at Minneapolis Convention Center
·
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 1-2, Bill Frisell Beautiful Dreamers Trio at the Dakota
. May 1-2, Bill Frisell Beautiful Dreamers Trio at the Dakota
.
May 11, Zacc Harris at Studio Z
.
May 12, PipJazz Sundays with the Women in Jazz Ensemble
. May 15-16, Jane Monheit at the Dakota
. May 15-16, Jane Monheit at the Dakota
. 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 (featuring Cyrus
Chestnut, Kenny Werner and more TBA!)
. July 5-7,
Iowa City Jazz Festival (featuring Fred Hersch, Pharoah Sanders, Sachel
Vasandani, Christian Scott, Lonnie Smith, JD Allen, Charlie Hunter)
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| Chris Bates leads Red 5 at the Artists Quarter, March 1-2 |
