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| Jeremy Pelt and the United Trumpet Summit at the Dakota, September 11 |
© Andrea Canter
It's early
for fall harvest, but there's sure a cornucopia of music this weekend and
through the coming week, from the eclectic Concrete and Grass Festival at Mears
Park to a first CD release for one of the area's most exciting new ensembles, a
homecoming for harmonicist Clint Hoover, auditions for the Dakota Combo, a rare
appearance (and free!) by the imaginative ETHEL quartet and a gathering of top
trumpeters.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Clint Hoover returns with East Side |
Friday, September 6. About a year ago, the Twin Cities
lost one of the jazz harmonica players in the region when Clint Hoover moved to
Pittsburgh. The
move also reduced the quartet East Side to a trio, still strong with Reynold
Philipsek (guitar), Matt Senjem (bass) and Michael Bissonnette (percussion).
But thankfully Hoover return for a visit now and
then, and East Side will reign as a full
quartet at the Black Dog tonight. Swinging music with a modern twist. (Note the
band will be at the 318 Café in Excelsior on Saturday night.)
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| Dorothy Doring |
Music continues in the bar/lounge at Parma 8200. Tonight it's
a delightful trio of vocalist Dorothy Doring, bassist/guitarist Joan
Griffith, and pianist Phil Mattson. Reservations in the bar highly
advisable as there is not a lot of tables. A really relaxing way to end the
work week and contemplate the weekend. Joan in particular is not seen enough in
club settings.
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| Graydon Peterson |
Friday-Saturday,
September 6-7.
Versatile bassist Graydon Peterson
stepped out as bandleader about two years ago, with his Quartet building its
repertoire from Peterson's original compositions. Now the band is releasing its
first (self-titled) recording with a bash at the Artists Quarter, and there is
much cause for celebration. Eight compositions cover a wide range of musical
and emotional space and highlight the sturdy chops of each artist-- Peterson,
Adam Meckler, Vinnie Rose and Adrian Suarez.
The annual Lowertown Concrete and Grass Festival
continues (it opened Thursday night) with two more days of diverse music at Mears Park,
celebrating the wide musical tastes of our community. Tonight, start with A Rey
(led by singer/songwriter Alicia Renee), move to Africa
with the infectious rhythms of Marimba Africa, and finish out the night with
the always surprising singer/songwriter Lucy Michelle, without her "Velvet
Lapelles." Instead, her cohorts are New Standards veterans Chan Poling and
John Munson. Saturday brings the jazzy Copper Street Brass, singers from the
Minnesota Opera, the McNally Smith faculty ensemble Sphericals, and the closing
set from Halloween, Alaska
-- a rock-oriented project featuring Dave King.
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| JoAnn Funk |
Saturday, September 7. Jazz returns to the Lobby Bar of the St. Paul Hotel, every Saturday night through November with JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske, piano and bass duo augmented by JoAnn's cool vocals. (In December, they add Friday nights.) JoAnn's repertoire covers a wide swath of jazz, with Blossom Dearie a longtime favorite. Another bar set worthy of note-- in place of the usual Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma tonight, it's popular vocalist Vicky Mountain and her swinging trio.
Not a
public performance but young jazz musicians note the Dakota Combo Auditions will be held today from noon til 4:30 pm at MacPhail Center for Music. If you are a serious
jazz musician in grades 9-12, this is a big opportunity to study with Adam Linz
for a full school year, rehearse and perform with the best young artists in the
area, with all tuition and fees covered by the Dakota Foundation for Jazz
Education. Bring your instrument and show up for the auditions!
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| Pavel Jany |
Sunday, September 8. The annual salute to the end of
summer, Pavel Jany presents the Adieu
Summer Concert at Black Bear Crossing at the Como Park Pavilion a late
afternoon event featuring Jany's Talking Strings, Ticket to Brasil, Lau
Hawaiian Collective, and Bluesion -- a global smorgasbord in one of the
loveliest of our metro parks.
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| Pippi Ardennia |
Another way
to beat the heat outside while reveling in smoldering music is PipJazz Sundays. The September concert
at Landmark Center features series host Pippi Ardennia singing tunes (including
originals) from her forthcoming CD, Love
So Good (It Makes Me Want to Sang). If you have not yet heard the jazzy,
bluesy big voice of PipJazz, you will be blown away. And if you are already a
fan, I don't need to say anything. Pippi's youth guest will be bassist Gavin
Taylor-Stark, a recent grad of Central High; and for his first concert as Youth
Artist in Residence, pianist Will Kjeer will take over the piano bench for the
entire evening, filling in for Peter Schimke. And he won't miss a beat.
Tuesday, September 10.
The thoroughly
modern, amplified string quartet ETHEL
makes a rare Twin Cities appearance tonight in the Janet Wallace Fine Arts
Center of Macalester College. Even more rare, this is a free concert, part of
the New Music Series sponsored by the Rivendell Foundation. ETHEL musicians
(including their newest addition, Twin Cities' violinist Kip Jones) will be
working with MAC students for a couple days before the concert, entitled
"Grace." The performance will include a suite from the score to the
film, "The Mission," by Ennio Morricone, as well as music from other
cultures.
+90205f.jpg) |
| Randy Brecker |
Wednesday, September
11. The Dakota
hosts the United Trumpet Summit, a
special touring ensemble featuring four of the leading trumpet voices on the
American jazz scene-- Randy Brecker, Jeremy Pelt, Eddie Henderson, and relative
newcomer, Leon Jordan, Jr. This should be a fascinating band given the somewhat
different approaches to the horn taken by each musician.
Over at the
Artists Quarter, another unusual evening features vocalist/percussionist Mansur Scott and his Harlem Quartet.
Based in New York and heard throughout Europe, Scott has performed on most Big Apple stages,
subbed for the late Leon Thomas, and recently made a comeback following a
stroke. He's nicknamed "the jazz mayor of Harlem."
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| Phil Hey |
Thursday, September
12. It's always
a great evening when the Phil Hey Quartet
comes into the Artists Quarter. A 21st century "Modern Jazz Quartet,"
the PHQ has outlasted most area ensembles and boasts musicians who should each
be a household name -- Hey on drums, Dave Hagedorn on vibes, Phil Aaron on
piano and Tom Lewis on bass. Their repertoire covers Ornette Coleman, John
Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and the best of post bop as well as original fare.
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, September 6. Todd Harper, early show at the Black
Dog; Lee Engele and James Allen at the Wine Market; Irv Williams and Peter
Schimke (happy hour) at the Dakota; Arne Fogel at Hell's Kitchen; James Buckley
and Bryan Nichols at the Icehouse (early evening)
Saturday, September 7. Retro
Swing Sisters at Social Dance Studio; Joel Shapira Trio at Loring Pasta Bar;
Nachito Herrera at the Dakota; East Side at the 318 Cafe'; Phil Aaron and Chris Bates, early evening at the
Icehouse; James Wallace at the Red Stag
Sunday, September 8. Brio Big Band, Jesse James Days in
Northfield
(noon); Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster Café; Jerry O'Hagan
Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom
Monday, September 9. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza; Headspace at the Artists Quarter; Twin Cities Hot Club at
Famous Dave's (Uptown); JT's Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse, featuring Big Blue Station Wagon; Preston Haining and Friends at Jazz
Central
Tuesday, September 10. Cory Wong Quartet followed by
Brandon Wozniak and Friends at the Artists Quarter; Cedar Av Big Band at Jazz
Central; Chris Olson Project at the Black Dog
Wednesday, September
11. Connie Evingson with Dave Karr and Tanner Taylor, Jazz in the Lounge at the Mpls Woman's Club; Charmin
Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Chris Bates improv night at Jazz
Central; Steve Kenny, early show at the Artists Quarter; Gypsy Mania at
Barbette
Thursday, September
12. Minnesota Jazz Orchestra at Wabasha Street
Caves
Coming Soon!
. September
13-14, Locally Damaging Winds at the Artists Quarter
. September
14, Selby Ave
Jazz Festival (Milton and Selby Av)
. September
14, Franconia Sculpture
Park Jazz Festival (Franconia Park)
. September
16, Doc Severinsen Big Band at the Dakota
. September
17, Phil Aaron Trio at the Artists Quarter
. September
17, Greg Byers at 331 Club
. September
18, JazzMN Orchestra Fundraiser at the Dakota
. September
18, Dave Brattain Quartet at the Artists Quarter
. September
19, Ravi Coltrane Quartet
. September
19, Dave Karr Quartet at the Artists Quarter
. September
19-29, “Belmont Hotel” at the Southern Theater (jazz vocals, dance featuring
Katie Gearty)
. September
20-21, Diane Witherspoon at the Artists Quarter
. September
20-29, "Bedlam Hotel" with Katie Gearty and Collide Theatrical Dance
Company at the Southern Theater
. September
23-24, Bettye LaVette at the Dakota
. September
24, Adam Meckler Orchestra at the Artists Quarter
. September
26, Pete Whitman X-Tet at the Artists Quarter
. September
27, Lila Ammons CD Release at Hell’s Kitchen
. September
27-28, Red Planet at the Artists Quarter
. September
28-29, Prism (Dave Holland, Craig Taborn, Kevin Eubanks, Eric Harland) at the
Dakota
. October
1, Billy Cobham Spectrum 40 at the Dakota
. October
2-3, Gary Burton Quartet at the Dakota
. October
3, Kneebody at the Artists Quarter
. October
5, JazzMN Orchestra with Kenny Drew, Jr at Hopkins HS Performing Arts Center
. October
5-6, Atlantis Quartet at the Artists Quarter
. October
11-12, Bill Carrothers at the Artists Quarter
. October
15-16, Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion at the Dakota
. October
18-19, CD Release, Cory Wong at the Artists Quarter
. October
26, Rhonda Laurie, Jazz @ St Barneys
. November
1, Erik Friedlander and Mitch Epstein at the Walker Art Center
. November
3, Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education Fundraiser featuring Lynne Arriale Trio
at the Dakota
. November
7, Patricia Barber at the Dakota
. November
9, Alan Toussaint at the Dakota
. November
10, PipJazz Youth All-Stars at Landmark
Center
. November
12-13, José James at the Dakota
. November
16, Laura Caviani, Jazz @ St Barneys
. December 6, Reynold Philipsek CD release at 318
Café
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| Doc Severinsen Big Band at the Dakota, September 16 |
