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| Maud Hixson sings the songs of Mickey Leonard |
© Andrea Canter
Memorial
Day Weekend is sort of the kickoff to summer – even if the weather doesn’t
always cooperate. But one thing’s for sure—there will be plenty of hot music,
from the return of the Bryan Nichols Quintet at the Artists Quarter to shows
from Joe Krown and Patty Peterson at the Dakota, a new installment of Off the
Cuff at the Aster Café, and more coming midweek with Maud Hixson’s much
anticipated CD release at the Dakota and the monthly edition of Pete Whitman’s
X-Tet at the AQ. And there’s a lot more.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Bryan Nichols., Mike Lewis, Brandon Wozniak |
Friday-Saturday, May
24-25. It’s
been a few months since Bryan Nichols
brought his stellar quintet into the Artists Quarter, and a holiday weekend
seems perfect for this reunion. With
the two sax
frontline of Mike Lewis and Brandon Wozniak, the quintet features two of the
most inventive horn players in the region, with Brandon typically on tenor and Mike switching
between tenor and soprano. But the horns are only part of the story, as the
rhythm section boasts more innovators in bassist James Buckley and drummer JT
Bates… and of course Bryan Nichols himself.
Over at the
Icehouse, the early dinner show presents two generations of magic when ace
pianist Phil Aaron and young bass
sensation Brian Courage get together.
It’s a relaxing way to start the evening, and early enough to make it a
double-header by heading to the Dakota, Artists Quarter or elsewhere for a
nightcap.
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| Patty Peterson |
Saturday, May 25. It’s always a holiday when Patty Peterson and Friends show up at
the Dakota. One of Minnesota’s favorite singers and radio personalities, Patty
comes to the stage tonight with some of her favorite “Friends,” with guitarist
Billy Franze, keyboardist Tommy Barbarella, drummer Bobby Vandell, saxophonist
Steve Cole, and brothers Paul (bass) and Ricky (B-3). Expect some samples of
Patty’s latest recording, The Very
Thought of You.
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| Graham O'Brien, Off the Cuff |
Sunday, May 26. A few months ago, young bassist
Andrew Foreman launched a new series of eclectic improvised music at the Aster
Café, dubbed Off the Cuff. This will
be the fourth installment, and features two quartets, each featuring two
drummer. Set one includes Pete Hennig and Davu Seru, with guitarist Karl
Koopman; set two includes Peter Leggett and Graham O’Brien on drums, with
saxophonist Max Corcoran; Foreman handles the bass in both sets. The Aster is a
pleasant St. Anthony Main venue with some good eats to supplement the music.
And with Off the Cuff, the music is always a surprise.
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| Adam Meckler Orchestra |
Tuesday, May 28. If it is Tuesday, it must be Big
Band night at Jazz Central, and this week’s gig is the Adam Meckler Orchestra. With some of the best of a new generation
of jazz performer, the orchestra generally covers original music written
especially for this band. Enjoy big band up close, but not quite in your face
and surprisingly not overpowering your ears despite the close quarters of the
studio.
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| Tuesday Night Band-- On Tuesday night! |
And for 15
years, Tuesday meant the Tuesday Night
Band and B-3 Organ Night at the Artists Quarter. Although they disbanded
more than a year ago, TNB reunites once in a while, and rarely on a Tuesday
night! Downtown Bill Brown, Billy Franze and Kenny Horst can still bring it to
the stage, set fire to it, and fan the flames of organcentric bop. These three
veterans follow young upstarts—the Cory Wong Quartet, which plays for no cover
every Tuesday at 7 pm.
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| Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson |
Wednesday, May 29. Maud Hixson
started out just over a decade ago, singing at area clubs and then with the
Wolverines and Arne Fogel. Along came a grant from the Minnesota Arts Board to
attend the Yale Cabaret Conference, and her musical direction expanded as she
discovered the songs of Michael Leonard. A few trips back to New York put her in the company of
pianist/arranger Tex Arnold, bassist Steve Laspina, and cornetist Warren Vache,
and on the stage singing mostly obscure songs by Leonard. The plan to record an
all-Leonard tribute became a reality with a successful Kickstarter campaign,
and now Maud will hold her Minnesota
release celebration tonight at the Dakota with her local team headed by husband
Rick Carlson with Gordy Johnson and Phil Hey. It’s the first all –Leonard recording and the first time some of
these tunes have appeared on any recording. Best of all – Don’t Let a
Good Thing Get Away is one wholly satisfying recording. Hear it live
tonight.
Phil Mattson has become a household name in local vocal music, leading his Phil Mattson Singers and providing piano accompaniment for a long list of area vocalists--which only makes sense given his extensive background as vocal coach, choir director, choral music arranger, and director of a number of national vocal events. But his piano chops are seldom on display in a leading role. Tonight at the Artists Quarter, he shows his stuff with quartet of heavy hitters--saxophonist Dale Mendenhall, bassist Tom Lewis, and drummer Nathan Norman.
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| Phil Mattson |
Thursday, May 30. Where are all the jazz musicians
tonight? Ten of the best are at the Artists Quarter for the nearly monthly
reunion of the Pete Whitman X-Tet. And it is one of the true steals in local entertainment
-- $8 for ten artists of the highest caliber? That’s less than one dollar per
musician! Don’t put this off til next month!
More Jazz Every Night
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. Also find a growing
number of events on the Jazz Near
You site, a service of All About
Jazz. A few more gigs of note:
Friday, May 24. Peter Schimke and Irv Williams,
happy hour at the Dakota; Maud Hixson Trio at Parma; Erin Schwab at Hell’s
Kitchein; Joe Krown Trio at the Dakota; Todd Harper Birthday Bash followed by Rhizosphere
at the Black Dog; Triosé at Shanghai Bistro (Hudson, WI)
Saturday, May 25. Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma; JoAnn Funk and
Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel)
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| Jerry O'Hagan with Charmin Michelle |
Monday, May 27. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Zack Lozier at Jazz Central; JT’s Jazz Implosion at
the Icehouse (Artists Quarter closed)
Tuesday, May 28. Cory Wong Quartet, early show at
the Artists Quarter
Wednesday, May 29. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the Bastids (no cover) followed by
the Phil Mattson Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Wolverines at Hell’s Kitchen;
Ted Olsen, Joe Mayo and Miguel Hurtado at Jazz Central
Thursday, May 30. Trio Bossa Nova at the Black Dog
Coming Soon!
. May 31,
Talking Strings at the Black Dog
. May 31-
June 1, Happy Apple at the Artists Quarter
. June 6,
Rebirth Brass Band at the Dakota
. June 7,
Reynold Philipsek CD Release at the 318 Café
. June 7,
Nicole Henry at the Dakota
. June 8,
JazZen, “Weaving of Traditions” at Sundin Hall (Hamline University)
. June 9,
PipJazz Sundays with John Penny, Will Kjeer
. June 9,
Dan Musselman CD Release at McNally Smith
. June 11,
Hugh Masekela and Larry Willis at the Dakota
. June 13,
Albare at the Dakota
. June 16,
Sidewalk Café (Jazz in the Library), St
Paul Central Library
. June
18-19, Reid Anderson, Liquid Music at 408 (SPCO)
. June 19,
George Maurer Group (Jazz in the Library), Merriam Park
Library
. June
19-20, Ramsey Lewis Trio with Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Dakota
. June
23-24, David Murray Infinity Quartet with Macy Gray at the Dakota
. June 26,
Salsabrosa (Jazz in the Library), Riverview Library
. June
27-29, Twin Cities Jazz Festival with Cyrus Chestnut, Kenny Werner, Matt Slocum,
Ariel Pocock, JazzMN Big Band, Jon Weber and more
. July 5-7,
Iowa City Jazz
Festival with Pharoah Sanders, Fred Hersch, Charlie Hunter, Lonnie Smith and
more
. July 8,
Milo Fine Free Jazz Ensemble at Homewood
Studios
. July 14,
PipJazz Sundays with Barbara LeShoure at Landmark Center
. July 23,
Badi Assad at the Dakota
. July 27, Dakota Street Fest
(Nicollet Mall)
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| Mike Lewis, at the Artists Quarter with Bryan Nichols this weekend, with Happy Apple next weekend |
