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| Chris Bates leads Red 5 at the Artists Quarter |
© Andrea Canter
Spring is
here. Soon. I can tell. It’s not just the pale moon that excites me…or even the
longer days. The quality of light has changed as the angle of the sun moves.
The birds are chirping in more upbeat choruses, undoubtedly anticipating the
return of their “snowbird” cohorts. Even 20 degrees feels somehow warmer than a
few weeks ago. But if the nights are actually growing shorter, the list of
jazz gigs is growing longer. That includes the schedule this week.
Big Gigs This Week
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| JT Bates |
Friday-Saturday, March
1-2. There’s no
better way to set the jazz tone for the month than the return of Chris Bates and Red 5 this weekend at
the Artists Quarter. Shifting into the leader role in early 2012, Bates brought
a bunch of new compositions to a new ensemble, held some public rehearsals, and
went into the studio last spring, emerging with one of the hottest area
releases of the year (or make that the new century), New Hope. More new material is in store for the weekend, as Chris
is joined by brother JT on drums, Adam Meckler on trumpet, Brandon Wozniak on
saxes, and additional saxes from Pete Whitman (Friday) and Chris Thomson
(Saturday).
Saturday, March 2. Two young performers I have gotten
to know separately are now performing together as a piano/bass duo. Not long
ago, Joe Strachan and Ted Olsen led
featured gigs at the Artists Quarter via the TCJS Young Artists Series; now
they are simply performing as young professionals. Joe, who started out at
Lawrence, will graduate this spring from the U of M where he has held the piano
bench for Jazz I throughout his three years on campus; he’s also been seen at
the Dakota, Artists Quarter and Jazz Central with such artists as Jake Baldwin,
John Raymond, Miguel Hurtado and Alicia Steele. Ted attended Luther College
and similarly has appeared around town in various configurations with
up-and-coming talents. They now play every Saturday night at Angelina’s Kitchen
in Woodbury. Ted recommends the pizza! I recommend the music.
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| The Dakota Combo |
Sunday, March 3. It’s the second annual Combo
Festival for high school ensembles at the MacPhail Center
for Music, and the grand finale is a public concert in the gorgeous sound
environment of Antonello Hall. Boston-based trumpeter Phil Grenadier will
follow a day of adjudicating and mentoring with an evening as guest artist,
appearing in the first set with the Dakota Combo, and in the second set with
Adam Linz and JT Bates. Gives Adam a chance to not only show off his legendary
basslines, but his skill as educator, leading the Dakota Combo – this year, an
octet including vibes and violin.
It’s a
special night of music at St. Joan of Arc (Minneapolis), as “Healing With
Feeling” features cancer survivor/guitarist extraordinaire Dean Magraw and an outstanding cast (“The Siblings), including Bruce Henry on vocals, Lidia Berman on
percussion, Bryan Nichols on keys, Dik Headlund on bass, and Pete Johnson on
drums.
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| Connie Evingson |
And it is always a special night if you can spend it with Connie Evingson, taking the stage at the
Dakota. If you like great standards, Frisberg satire, Peggy Lee cool, hot club
swing, Beatles favorites or south of the border samba, you can find it all, and
more, on Connie’s gigs.
Monday, March 4. JT’s
Jazz Implosion brings excitement to the Icehouse every Monday night, and
hopefully improved Facebooking will alert us to the nature of the Implosion in
advance! Tonight, JT is on stage with volcanic percussion partner Dave King in
an opening “Real Bulls” duo; the two then join bassist James Buckley and
vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist James Diers for a truly bullish second set.
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| Dean Magraw |
Wednesday, March 6. Usually the opening act, tonight Steve Kenny and the Bastids get prime
time billing at the Artists Quarter. Joining the veteran trumpeter is his
longstanding band of young lions-- Jesse Mueller on piano, Adam Tucker on bass, and Aaron
Rupar on drums, also known as the “bebop bastids,” with good reason.
Thursday, March 7. A new installment of the Twin Cities Jazz Society’s Young
Artists Series, Audio Cabinet
features a band of mostly Apple Valley High School musicians – Jack Hessburg
(sax), Brandon Caplin (piano), Trevor Aarsvold (bass), and Blair Kelly on
drums, with South High trumpeter Kris Berg ably filling in for the band’s usual
trumpeter…. Standards, original arrangements and perhaps a new composition make
up the set list. This is a free event, starting promptly at 7, followed at 9 by
the always inspiring Brian Grivna Quartet.
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| Nichola Miller |
And
speaking of inspiring, it’s Vocalist Night at Jazz Central, and tonight it’s
that dazzling duo of vocalist Nichola
Miller and pianist Tanner Taylor.
These parents-to-be are glowing for many reasons, but swinging music is high on
the list!
More Jazz Every Night
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. A few more gigs of
note:
Friday, March 1. Irv Willliams, Peter Schimke and
Billy Peterson, Happy Hour at the Dakota; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Tim Patrick
and His Blue-Eyed Band at the Eagles Aerie Club; Charmin Michelle Trio at
Parma; Ticket to Brasil at Faces Mears Park; Harper/Leggett/Foreman Trio at the
Black Dog; Bryan Nichols and James Buckley, dinner set at the Icehouse
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| Debbie Duncan |
Saturday, March 2. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny
Weinbeck Trio at Parma; Viva Brasil, Loring Pasta Bar; Debbie Duncan at Hell’s
Kitchen; Minnesota State University Mankato Jazz Festival, Halling Recital Hall
at Mankato State; James Buckley Trio, dinner set at the Icehouse
Sunday, March 3. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at
the Aster Café; Robert Everest, brunch at Maria’s Café; Bend in the River Big
Band at East Ridge High School, Woodbury (2 pm); Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview
Wine Bar; Jerry O’Hagen Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom
Monday, March 4. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza; Southside Aces at Famous Dave’s (Uptown)
Tuesday, March 5. Joel Shapira at Hell’s Kitchen;
Café Accordion at the Loring Pasta Bar; Beasley’s Big Band at O’Gara’s Bar; Bill
Simenson Big Band at Jazz Central; Jack Brass at the Amsterdam Bar. Note the Artists Quarter is closed for a private party today!!
Wednesday, March 6. Wolverines at Hell’s Kitchen;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; McNally Smith X-Tet,
early show at the Artists Quarter; Triosé at Café Maude (Penn Av); Connie
Evingson’s Jazz in the Lounge with Parisota Hot Club at the Woman’s Club of
Minneapolis
Thursday, March 7. Nicholas Haas at Hell’s Kitchen;
Midnight Serenaders at Wabasha
Street Caves;
Dean Harrington Trio at Barbette
Coming Soon!
.
March 8, Bobby Commodore 60th Birthday Bash, Ginger Commodore
Quartet 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 10-11, Charles Lloyd Sky Trio at the Dakota
. March 12, What Would Monk Do at the Artists Quarter
. March 12, What Would Monk Do at the Artists Quarter
.
March 13, Chris Bates Improv at Jazz Central
.
March 15-16, Debie Duncan at the Artists Quarter
.
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 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
.
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 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 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’s 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 19,
Illicit Sextet at Jazz Central (TCJS Jazz From J to Z)
. June 9,
PipJazz Sundays with John Penny, Will Kjeer
. June
19-20, Ramsey Lewis Trio with Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Dakota
.June
28-30, Twin Cities Jazz Festival with Cyrus Chestnut, Kenny Werner and more TBA
.July 5-7,
Iowa City Jazz Festival with Pharoah Sanders, Fred Hersch, Charlie Hunter,
Lonnie Smith and more
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| Charles Lloyd celebrates #75 at the Dakota, March 10-11 |
