 |
| JazzMN Orchestra, Fundraiser at the Dakota on September 18th |
© Andrea Canter
Two outdoor
festivals bring jazz to community audiences this weekend, while a bunch of
trombones make for "locally damaging winds" at the Artists Quarter
and Tito Puente is the subject of a salute and workshop as Jazz at Studio Z
returns for a third season. Doc Severinsen again launches his Midwest
tour at the Dakota, where the JazzMN Orchestra holds a fundraiser and the Ravi
Coltrane Quartet spend an evening. All
in all, not a bad week of live jazz in the Twin Cities!
Big Gigs This Week.
 |
| George Cartwright |
Friday, September 13. It's a jazzy weekend at the Black
Dog, and things kick off tonight with the return of Merciless Ghost, with George Cartwright, Josh Gronowski and Davu
Seru. This is one of the most creative of free jazz ensembles, and they don't
come together that often. Part of the Community Pool/Deep End series.
A unique
and worthy collaboration, vocalist Lila
Ammons teams up with guitarist Joan
Griffith and pianist Phil Mattson
in the bar/lounge at Parma
8200. Lila is seldom seen locally outside of Honey, and Joan is simply not seen
enough, period. Add in the accompanist to the stars, Phil, and you have a
lovely evening in a most relaxing venue.
 |
| Dave Graf and Brad Bellows |
Friday-Saturday,
September 13-14.
Once in a while, some of the area's top trombonists get together with a rhythm
section to create Locally Damaging Winds.
The bones at the Artists Quarter this weekend belong to Dave Graf, Brad
Bellows, Pete Enblom and Wade Clark, with Bryan Nichols, Tom Pieper and Mac Santiago
providing ample backing. Note Enblom turns up again as featured artist at Jazz
Central on Monday night.
Saturday, September
14. The city
mouse and country mouse each have jazz festivals in their environs: The annual Selby Avenue Jazz Festival takes place
at the intersection of Selby and Milton in St Paul, with contemporary jazz
stars headlining the final sets-- raging saxophonist Damon Brown and keyboard
monster Marcus Johnson. The also annual Heritage Showcase, Dick and Jane's Big
Brass Band, Walker West Legends ensemble, the Lex-Ham Big Band, and Yohannes
Tona Band round out the line-up of this neighborhood and family-friendly, free
event. Out toward Taylor's Falls at Franconia Sculpture Park,
it's the final Music @Franconia event
of the season, a free jazz festival boasting Trio Pika (Adam Linz, Bryan
Nichols, Phil Hey), the Atlantis Quartet, Sophia Shorai, Lucia Newell and
Debbie Duncan.
 |
| Rey Rivera |
After all
that outdoor activity, you might enjoy some indoor jazz. Tonight is the opening
of the third Jazz at Studio Z season,
curated by Zacc Harris. The subject is
Tito Puente, and the teacher is percussionist Rey Rivera, who will present a short workshop on Puente and then
bring his ensemble to the Studio Z stage for some live demonstrations. Should
be over in plenty of time to get to action at the Artists Quarter or Black Dog.
 |
| Doc Severinsen |
Monday, September 16. His term on the Tonight Show is long gone but Doc Severinsen continues to lead a big
band on national tours. Over the past few years he has used the Dakota to launch
his Midwest Tour, typically taking a few of our local heroes with him-- Mary
Louise Knutson on piano, and often Michael Nelson on trombone, Adam Rossmiller
on trumpet, and perhaps more. Catch the
always-energetic Doc and company tonight, two sets.
 |
| Phil Aaron |
Tuesday, September 17. Triosé is one of the newer and more exciting small jazz bands
around the Cities. With Vinnie Rose, Jeremy Boettcher and Adrian Suarez, the
trio takes charge on Foodie Night at the Dakota. Meanwhile, the ever-sublime
pianist Phil Aaron bring his trio
into the Artists Quarter for an evening of bop standards and some originals are
also likely to make it on the set list.
Wednesday, September
18. Young Will Kjeer will be so busy tonight he
might miss curfew. The 17-year-old piano whiz starts the evening at the Artists
Quarter with Steve Kenny's Group 47
for the early show (this is a reconfiguration of the old Bastids); and he stays
on the bench for the Dave Brattain
Quartet in prime time.
 |
| Doug Snapp, Mary Louise Knutson of JazzMN |
Across
town, the Dakota hosts a special fundraising gig for the JazzMN Orchestra's Educational Outreach Fund, which allows the band
to visit area schools and provide performance and learning opportunities for
student ensembles. It;s always a bit tight when a big band takes over at the
Dakota, but it's also one of the most enjoyable ways to hear a big ensemble.
Thursday, September
19. It's been a
few years since Ravi Coltrane came to
town, and about 8 years since he appeared at the Dakota. He's back with his
touring quartet, featuring Luis Perdamo on piano, Drew Gress on bass and E.J.
Strickland on drums, a collaboration spanning about a decade and several hot
recordings.
Tonight is
the opening of Belmont Hotel, the
latest collaboration between vocalist Katie
Gearty and the CoLLide Dance Theater at the Southern Theater. Gearty is
evolving into the jazz theater diva, and is joined by a band including bassist
Graydon Peterson along with one of the area's most inventive dance companies.
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 13. Irv Williams and Peter Schimke, Happy Hour at
the Dakota; Retro Swing Sisters at the Village (Mendota Heights); Classic Big
Band at the Bloomington Knights of Columbus Hall; Sophia Shorai at Hell's Kitchen
Saturday, September 14. Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar
(St Paul Hotel); Mary Louise Knutson at Spirit United
Methodist Church;
Phil Aaron and Brian Courage, dinner sets at the Icehouse
Sunday, September 15. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster Café;
Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Patty and the Buttons at the Dakota
Monday, September 16. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
JT's Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse; Pete Enblom at Jazz Central; the Fantastic Merlins at the Black Dog
Tuesday, September 17. Cory Wong Quartet, early set at the
Artists Quarter; Agster/Haining
Explosion at Jazz Central; Greg Beyer (solo cello) at the 331 Club
Wednesday, September
18. Charmin
Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Wolverines Trio with Maud Hixson
at Hell's Kitchen; Chris Lomheim Trio at Jazz Central
Thursday, September 19. Lee Engele and Reynold Philipsek
at Farmers Market, Centennial
Lakes (4 pm); Dave Karr
Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Jazz Central Vocal Night
Coming Soon!
. September
20-21, Diane Witherspoon at the Artists Quarter
. September
20-29, "Belmont 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
6, Marcus Roberts 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
 |
| Bettye LaVette returns to the Dakota on September 23-24 |
