© Andrea Canter
Big Gigs This Week
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Todd Clouser |
Friday, December 20. Last month, Jazz Central launched a
monthly series of Friday night jams led by students dubbed the Young Beasts. On the stage tonight -- The Farmington Quintessential Quintet; The Eau Claire Ice
Bergh Combo; and The Will Kjeer Combo, followed by an open jam. Over in St Paul,
guitarist/composer Todd Clouser comes
back to town to celebrate his latest recording, The
Naked Beat, which does have more of a rock bent than much of his earlier
work. He brings his national touring edition of A Love Electric (bassist Aaron
Cruz and drummer Hernan Hecht) to the Amsterdam Bar, part of a rockish triple
bill.
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Eric Alexander |
Friday-Saturday,
December 20-21.
On their own, both Eric Alexander and
David Hazeltine are worthy of SRO in any club, and over time they have
found strong support for their gigs at the Artists Quarter. But this weekend
they perform together as the countdown to the AQ's closing continues as the
final note draws ever closer. With Billy Peterson and Kenny Horst filling out
the rhythm section, tenor sax titan Alexander and piano virtuoso Hazeltine make
this one of jazz's top "going out of business" gigs.
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Maud Hixson |
Saturday, December 21. No one celebrates the holidays with
more flair than songbird Maud Hixson.
At Bloomington's
Schneider Theater, Maude and the Wolverines Trio (Rick Carlson, Steve Pikal and
Jendeen Forberg) "Let It Snow" with vintage film clips and carols.
Adding to Maud's journey through the holiday songbooks of the 1930-w-50s are
rare films from the famed collection of Bob
DeFlores.
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Patty Peterson |
With a
family that knows how to hold a holiday party on stage, singer Patty Peterson finds plenty of support
from more Petersons and friends for a "Jam Before Christmas" show at
the Dakota. Patty will be joined by sister Linda, brothers Ricky and Paul, and
nephew Jason DeLaire, along with usual cohorts Billy Franze, Bobby Vandell,
Cory Wong and more.
Sunday, December 22. A few days after his St Paul celebration of Angels,
Kings, My Favorite Things, pianist/vocalist/composer Larry McDonough comes to Minneapolis
for a reprise at the Icehouse. The new recording is trademark McDonough, with
new compositions and arrangements that highlight quirky time signatures,
off-beat harmonies and fine ensemble interplay.
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Karrin Allyson |
Sunday-Monday,
December 22-23. Enroute to international acclaim, vocalist/pianist Karrin Allyson stopped in the Twin
Cities for a few years to hone her chops.
Recently voted Top Rising Star Female Vocalist by Downbeat, the honor
seems a bit late given the acclaim from critics for her dozen or so albums and
her four Grammy nominations to date. Well, perhaps you are a rising star until
you release a holiday album? Karrin is in town at the Dakota to celebrate her
new Yuletide Hideaway, which should
confirm her rightful place among the "stars." Joining her will be
long-time friend Laura Caviani, who will be on the piano bench --except for
those songs on which Karrin chooses to accompany herself. Some all-time
favorites will be interspersed with original and seldom-heard tunes.
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Jake Baldwin |
Monday, December 23. Jazz Central continues its series
of interesting artist combinations with "Jake Vs B-3" night. Young
trumpeter Jake Baldwin goes
head-to-bridge with Tanner Taylor,
who tonight shows off his organ chops with some help from drummer Mac Santiago. Meanwhile, the Icehouse as always on Mondays
hosts JT's Jazz Implosion, tonight featuring house favorites, Fat Kid Wednesdays with Mike Lewis, Adam
Linz and JT himself. If these two venues seem to have competing agendas
tonight, remember Jazz Central begins at least an hour earlier..... and they
are not that far apart.
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The Bad Plus |
Thursday, December 26. It's the first night of the Bad Plus residency at the Dakota, with
the trio's "usual" nights of mayhem offered Thursday through
Saturday. But they will stay around an
extra day this visit to reprise their 2012 Rite of Spring next Sunday.
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Phil Hey |
At the
Artists Quarter, the Phil Hey Quartet
ends a run that began on Jackson
Street and continued in the Hamm Building,
as they have one last gig at the AQ. For Phil, the November gig was a comeback
after illness kept him off the band stand for a couple months this fall, and
wow--did he come back! Now it's one more blast for Phil and pals Phil Aaron,
Tom Lewis and Dave Hagedorn before the AQ shuts down, and this gig promises to
be the most incendiary of the PHQ's long tenure.
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, December 20. Irv Williams and Peter Schimke,
happy hour at the Dakota; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul
Hotel); Vicky Mountain at Parma 8200; Bryan Nichols and Brian Courage, dinner
sets at the Icehouse; The Brad Bellows/Donald Washington Quartet at the Black
Dog; Vic Volare at Hell's Kitchen; James Wallace at the Red Stag
Saturday, December 21. Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Zacc
Harris Trio at Merlin's Rest; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske with Gary Schulte and
Steven Marking at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Chris Lomheim and Jeremy
Boettcher, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Jana Nyberg Group followed by Jason
Weisman at Hell's Kitchen; Debbie Duncan Christmas Benefit for We Care
Performing Arts at Jazz Central
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Jana Nyberg Group |
Sunday, December 22. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at
the Aster Café; Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Larry McDonough CD Release
at the Icehouse; Zacc Harris Trio at Eat Street Social; Nova Jazz Orchestra at
St. James Lutheran Church (West St Paul); George Winston at the Fitzgerald
Theater; Charmin Michelle with Vic Volare, Swinging Holiday at Jax Café
Monday, December 23. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Triosé at Barbette
Tuesday, December 24. Joel Shapira, brunch at Hell's
Kitchen
Wednesday, December 25. The Steeles at the Dakota
Thursday, December 26. Maurice
Jacox, brunch at Hell's Kitchen; Connie and Herb at The Bean (Andover)
Coming Soon!
. 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
29, Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar
. December
30, JT's Jazz Implosion with Anthony Cox/Chris Bates' Red 5 at the Icehouse
. December
30, New Year's Eve Eve Jam and Party at Jazz Central
. December
30, New Standards at the Dakota
. December
31, Maud Hixson and the Wolverines Trio at Parma 8200
. December 31,
Joann Funk Trio at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel)
. 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
5, Larry Coryell Trio at the Dakota
. January
6-7, Roberta Gambarini at the Dakota
. January
7, Dean Magraw and Davu Seru at the Black Dog
. January
10, Arne Fogel at Parma
8200
. January
11, Lee Engele, Jazz @ St. Barneys
. January
11, Adam Meckler Orchestra, Jazz at Studio Z
. January
13, David Grisman Folk Jazz Trio at the Dakota
. January
14, Chris Olson Project at the Black Dog
. January
16, Michelle Weir and Phil Mattson at Jazz Central
. January
17, Maud Hixson at Parma
8200
. January
20, Fantastic Merlins at the Black Dog
. January
24, Katie Gearty at Parma
8200
. January
31, Thomas Bruce at Parma
8200
. February
13, Kurt Elling at the Dakota
.
February15, Koplant No at the Icehouse
. 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,
JazzMN Orchestra with New York Voices (matinee) at Hopkins High School
Auditorium
. 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
. April 10,
Delfeayo Marsalis at the Dakota
. May
15-17, Ragamala Dance Company and Rudresh Mahanthappa at the Walker
. June
26-28, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Mears
Park (St Paul)
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Final Ten Days |