© Andrea Canter
Tired of
Thanksgiving leftovers? Fortunately, there's lots of fresh music coming our way
this week, starting with a slam-bang weekend that includes a double homecoming
at the Artists Quarter in prime time and a couple more at the Dakota on the
late shift, and a Sunday musical fundraiser for one of the few jazz-friendly
radio stations in the region. One of the premiere jazz organists returns to
start off the week, and old (and not so old) friends open up the last month of
music at the Artists Quarter. And smaller venues keep the jazz fires burning
while an award-winning film about the women of jazz returns for a week of
screenings.
Big Gigs This Week
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Talking Strings at the Black Dog |
Friday, November 29. It's quite a Friday night. Start
early at the Black Dog for the Talking
Strings, whose gigs are too far and few between. The Strings include
violinist Gary Schulte, guitarist Pavel Janey, and bassist Dan Weston playing
some of the most interesting music on the Black Dog stage-- and interesting
music is the norm here!
For the
second of his two late night stops this week, former Twin Citian John Raymond finds some new, like-minded
cohorts for tonight's Late Night at the Dakota. The young trumpeter was in top
form earlier in the week at the Icehouse with Bryan Nichols and the brothers
Bates; now he turns up the heat with a chordless quartet, with Chris Thomson, James
Buckley and JT Bates. Worth a sleepy Saturday.
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John Raymond |
Speaking of the Icehouse, and
also on a late night schedule, another option is the Atlantis Quartet. With Zacc Harris, Brandon Wozniak, Chris Bates
and Pete Hennig, you won't have any trouble staying awake as the guys hold the Minneapolis celebration of
their new CD, Expansion.
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Pat Mallinger |
Friday-Saturday,
November 29-30.
Over the past decade, two of the most popular visitors to the Artists Quarter
have been Pat Mallinger and Bill
Carrothers, each a Twin Cities native who relocated after stints at the
University of North Texas. Saxophonist Pat has been based in Chicago
where he is a fixture at the Green Mill; pianist Bill found more recognition in
Europe where he continues to tour frequently from a home base in northern Michigan. But the
holidays typically bring both musicians back to Minnesota, where they occasionally join
together for an incendiary weekend. And as usual, they will be joined by Billy
Peterson and Kenny Horst. Expect
fireworks.
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Screening all week at St Anthony Main |
Friday-Thursday,
November 29-December 5. Back by popular demand, The Girls
in the Band was a big hit at the 2012 Minneapolis-St Paul International
Film Festival, and the documentary about the trials and tribulations of women
instrumentalists in the male-dominated world of jazz returns for a week of
screenings at the St Anthony Main Theater. Vintage clips include Melba Liston,
Clora Bryant and the Sweethearts of Rhythm. Matinee and evening showings each
day.
Saturday, November 30. Jazz keeps popping up in new
places. Take a morning coffee break with Rhonda
Laurie and Joel Shapira at the Even Break Gallery at 50th and Penn (Minneapolis). The songs
will swing.
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Jake Baldwin |
Another
reunion, this time on the Late Night schedule at the Dakota, brings together 4
young jazzers whose paths have criss-crossed as they've evolved into serious
musicians. The "Baldwin Sisters" -- trumpeters Jake Baldwin and Noah Ophoven-Baldwin (no relation!) meet up with
bassist Ted Olsen and drummer Cameron LeCrone. Jake recently returned
to the Twin Cities after finishing his degree at New England Conservatory; Noah
is finishing up his studies at the U of M, while Ted (Luther College) and Cam
(Northwestern U) are in town for the holiday.
Expect an evening (and early morning) of the unexpected!
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Jana Nyberg and Adam Meckler |
Sunday, December 1. Although not limited to jazz, KFAI
Radio's programming includes some serious jazz shows each week, including Larry
Englund's Rhythm and Grooves and Janis Lane-Ewart's The Collective Eye. The nonprofit station holds a fundraiser at the
Amsterdam Bar tonight featuring three groups of top brass-- Jana Nyberg and
Adam Meckler, an ensemble led by Solomon Parham, and the Jack Brass Band. And
for fans of small ensemble jazz, the Zacc
Harris Trio returns to its weekly gig at the Riverview Wine Bar thanks to a
change in zoning that now allows three musicians on stage at one time.
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Joey D |
Monday, December 2. Once a child prodigy, Joey
DeFrancesco lived up to his early promise and then some, now regarded as top
dog jazz organist and a favorite visitor to the Twin Cities. Tonight he's
burning bright at the Dakota with his trio. Another top dog, this time
octagenarian bebopper Dave Karr,
swings his ax (or ax arsenal) as the featured artist for JT's Jazz Implosion at
the Icehouse.
Tuesday, December 3. "First Tuesday" options
on both sides of the metro: Veteran improvisers Dean Magraw and Davu Seru continue their collaboration at the Black
Dog, this month with special guests Louis
Alemayehu (spoken word) and Dorene Waubanewquay Day (vocalist), while
over in southwest Minneapolis, one of the hot young bands, Triosé (Vinnie Rose, Jeremy Boettcher and Adrian Suarez), brings
its unique takes on jazz and pop to Cafe Maude.
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Dakota Combo |
Thursday, December 5. A double-header at the Artists
Quarter features some of the area's youngest artists opening for one of the
area's most revered veterans. At 7 pm, the final Young Artists Showcase at the
AQ introduces the latest edition of the Dakota
Combo, directed by Adam Linz, sponsored by the Dakota Foundation for Jazz
Education in partnership with the MacPhail Center for Music. This septet of high
school juniors and seniors will present some interesting arrangements and
original compositions. Prime time, the Dean
Granros Trio returns to the AQ. It's been a while since guitarist Granros
took the stage here, and very likely it will be the last. Dean is one of the
most inventive artists in the metro, and the AQ has long been "home."
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:
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Irv Williams with Peter Schimke |
Friday, November 29. Irv Williams and Peter Schimke,
Happy Hour at the Dakota; Joel Shapira at Hell's Kitchen; Lee Engele at Parma
8200; James Buckley and Bryan Nichols, dinner sets at the Icehouse; St Peter
Street Stompers at the Red Stag; Patty Peterson and Friends at School II; Words by Ira Gershwin at Park Square
Theater (preview opening weekend)
Saturday, November 30. Mill City Hot Club at Harriet
Brewing (3 pm); Nick Haas Trio at Loring Pasta Bar; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske
at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Patrick Harison and James Buckley, dinner
sets at the Icehouse; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Maryann Sullivan and
Dave Martin at Mendoberri Cafe; George Maurer Group at the Dakota; Sambo Makti
at Hell's Kitchen
Sunday, December 1. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Patty
and the Buttons at the Aster Cafe; Charmin & Shapira & Friends, opening
set at the Dakota
Monday, December 2. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza
Tuesday, December 3. Cory Wong Quartet followed by Zacc
Harris and Friends at the Artists Quarter; Cafe Accordion at the Loring Pasta
Bar; Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz Central
Wednesday, December 4. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny's Group 47 followed by Park Evans,
Brian Courage, Brandon Wozniak and Greg Schutte at the Artists Quarter;
Frankhouse at Hell's Kitchen; Minnesota History Theater's Sample Night Live -
Audience Favorites, including Lee Engele and Maud Hixson.
Thursday, December 5. Gypsy Mania at Hell's Kitchen
Coming Soon!
.
December 6, Reynold Philipsek CD release at 318 Café
.
December 6, Dennis Spears at the Dakota
.
December 6-7, Happy Apple at the Artists Quarter
.
December 7, Jana Nyberg Group CD Release at the Dakota
.
December 8, AQ Fundraiser at the Artists Quarter
. December
8, Bill Frisell's Big Sur Quartet at The Cedar
. Decemver
8, Patty and the Buttons at the Dakota
. December
8, PipJazz Sundays with special guest Nicholas Carter
. December
10, Dean Magraw and Friends at the Artists Quarter
. December
11-12, Dave Karr Quartet at the Artists Quarter
. December
13, Laura Caviani holiday CD Release at the Artists Quarter
. December
14, Lucia Newell, Jazz at Studio Z
. December
14, Tuesday Night Band Reunion at the Artists
Quarter
. December
15, Ginger Commodore and Robert Robinson Holiday Show at the Dakota
. December
16, Peter Kogan jazz ensemble at the Dakota
. December
17, Atlantis Quartet at the Dakota
. December
17, Bryan Nichols and Friends at the Artists Quarter
. December
19, "Merry and Bright" with Charles Lazarus at Wayzata Community
Church
. December
19, Larry McDonough Quartet CD Release at the Artists Quarter
. December
19, George Maurer Holiday Show at the Dakota
. December
20-21, Eric Alexander and David Hazeltine at the Artists Quarter
. December
21, Maud Hixson and the Wolverines Trio, "Let It Snow" at Bloomington Center for the Arts, Schneider Theater
. December
21, Patty Peterson and Friends at the Dakota
. December
22-23, Karrin Allyson Holiday Show at the Dakota
. December
25, The Steeles at the Dakota
. December
26, Phil Hey Quartet at the Artists Quarter
. December
26-29, The Bad Plus at the Dakota (12/29 Rite of Spring)
. December
27-28, AQ Final Weekend Jam at the Artists Quarter
. December
31, Artists Quarter Final New Year's Eve Party with Carole Martin and Friends
. December
31, Dakota New Year's Eve Party with Davina and the Vagabonds
. January
3-4, Nachito Herrera With Strings at the Dakota
. January
11, Lee Engele, Jazz @ St. Barneys
. January
11, Adam Meckler Orchestra, Jazz at Studio Z
. February
13, Kurt Elling at the Dakota
. February
19-20, "Guitars of Passion" (Romero Lubambo, Stanley Jordan and
Sharon Isbin) at the Dakota
. February
22, Connie Evingson, Jazz @ St. Barneys
. February
25-26, Terence Blanchard Quintet at the Dakota
. March 9,
Cecile McLorin Salvant at the Dakota
. March 16,
Pat Metheny Unity Group at the Fitzgerald Theater
. April 8,
Chris Thile and Brad Mehldau at the Walker
. April 9,
Brad Mehldau Trio at the Walker
. May
15-17, Ragamala Dance Company and Rudresh Mahanthappa at the Walker
. June
26-28, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Mears
Park (St Paul)