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The Tuesday Night Band, one last Saturday Night at the AQ, December 14 |
© Andrea Canter
The
holidays are nearly here, and some of our local favorite are celebrating with
original music, new arrangements, and gigs this week.
Big Gigs This Week
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Laura Caviani |
Friday, December 13. No such thing as bad luck on this
Friday the 13th. At the Artists Quarter, Laura
Caviani joins forces with Gordy Johnson and Joe Pulice to celebrate Holly, Jolly and Jazzy. Laura originally
arranged these dozen familiar carols for playback at Target Stores; producer
--- soon had the music playing during the holiday season at outlets of Marbles:
The Brain Store. Five years later, the trio went back to the studio to record
the music again, this time for public distribution. Imaginative, accessible, and swinging, this
is one of the best local recordings of the year, and a sonic highlight of the
local holiday season.
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Lucia Newell |
Saturday, December 14. The Jazz at Studio Z series
continues with its first vocalist-- Lucia
Newell. After a free open workshop on song and lyric writing, Lucia and her
quintet (Zacc Harris, Phil Aaron, Jeff Bailey and Joe Pulice) . Over at the Artists Quarter (starting up
about the time Lucia finishes her gig), it may be the last reunion of the
Tuesday Night Band, or at least the last at the current edition of the club.
Making this extra special is the longevity of the TNB, leading B-3 Organ Night
at two AQs for 15 years before ending their weekly run in early 2012.
"Downtown" Bill Brown, Billy Franze and Kenny Horst know how to
party!
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Larry Neumann, CC Septet |
Sunday, December 15. The CC
Septet doesn't play often, but when they do, it's always worthwhile. All
tied to Century College, the septet makes a rare
appearance at Jazz Central, and you can count on some holiday fanfare as well
as original music. (Note this show starts early, at 7 pm.) At the Dakota, jazz meets gospel as Ginger Commodore and Robert Robinson hit
the stage for their version of a holiday bash. That's two of the most powerful
voices in the Twin Cities pooling their amazing resources. Over at the Amsterdam, 12 Days of
Christmas Blowout gets underway with the Atlantis
Quartet.
Monday, December 16. Principal timpanist for the group
formerly known as the Minnesota Orchestra, Peter
Kogan has taken advantage of the classical ensemble hiatus to polish his
jazz skills and brings to the Dakota tonight an all-star cast: Pete
Whitman on saxophones, Keith Hilson on
trombone, Tanner
Taylor on piano, Cory Wong on guitar, and Brian
Courage on bass.
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Brian Roessler, Fantastic Merlins |
Back for an
evening of pure mayhem, the Fantastic
Merlins take the stage at the Black Dog. As noted on the Black Dog website,
"Listening to
Fantastic Merlins is like walking down an alley in a film noir: shadowy
characters, ambiguous motives, and cliffhanger moments abound." In this
case the shadowy characters include saxman Nathan Hanson, bassist Brian
Roessler and drummer Pete Hennig.
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Steve Kenny's Group 47 |
At Jazz
Central, one of the Artists Quarter regulars comes west for a special evening. Steve Kenny's Group 47 picked up where
his earlier band, The Bastids, left off --- high energy bebop-infused covers
and originals. Trumpeter Steve plays the old veteran in this ensemble, which
includes Bastids' bassist Adam Tucker plus three talented students --
saxophonist Thomas Strommen and drummer Alex Burgess from the U of Wisconsin
River Falls , and 17-year-old pianist Will Kjeer, still looking ahead to his
college career.
Adding to
the tough choices tonight, JT's Jazz Implosion at Jazz Central starts off with Body Omara CD Release and concludes with the Bryan Nichols Quintet. That's a hefty
portion of area talent for one night.
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Bryan Nichols |
Tuesday, December 17. It's Explosion time! Doug Haining/Scott Agster's Explosion Big
Band wreaks havoc at Jazz Central, while Bryan Nichols and Friends give their all at the Artists Quarter.
Meanwhile, the Dakota again presents the edgy innovators of the Atlantis Quartet, no cover for Foodie
Night, making this the free pick of the week. Or month.
Wednesday, December 18. For what is likely their last gig
at the Artists Quarter, Snowblind makes
the most if it, saluting the music of Dave Holland and expanding the quintet to
sextet with special guest Dave Hagedorn (in the role of Steve Nelson, Holland's
long-time vibes man). The ensemble is brass-heavy, with Adam Meckler now
sitting in the trumpet chair along with saxophonist Shilad Sen and trombonist
Scott Agster, along with bassist Graydon Peterson and drummer Reid Kennedy. At Jazz Central, youth wins out with Courageous Endeavors, with basist Brian
Courage, drummer Miguel Hurtado, pianist Joe Strachan and one or two of the
young guns of brass.
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Charles Lazaurs |
Thursday, December 19. Two inventive musicians each have
a holiday CD party tonight, miles apart. At the Wayzata Community
Church, locked out
Minnesota Orchestra trumpeter Charles
Lazarus exercises his jazz chops again with the release of Merry and Bright, featuring Tommy
Barbarella, Jeff Bailey, Dave Schmalenberger and "the Lazarus Brass."
Special guests are vocalists Tonia Hughes and Bruce Henry. It's Brassy and
Bright, Lazarus blowing his horn with a European elegance and American swing. A
couple hours later, at the Artists Quarter (and again next Sunday at the
Icehouse), pianist Larry McDonough
celebrates Angels, Kings, My Favorite
Things, deconstructed and rebuilt holiday standards and beyond.
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 13. Irv Williams and Peter Schimke,
Happy Hour at the Dakota; Sophia Shorai at Hell's Kitchen; Joann Funk and Jeff
Brueske in the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Bryan Nichols and Adam Wozniak at the
Icehouse; Rhonda Laurie Trio at Parma 8200; St Peter Street Stompers at the Red
Stag
Saturday, December 14. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Erin Schwab at Hell's Kitchen; Rick Carlson and Adam
Wozniak at the Icehouse; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Jon Pemberton at
Loring Pasta Bar
Sunday, December 15. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's;
Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster; John Devine/JT Bates at Harriet Brewing Tap Room (3 pm); Butch Thompson Holiday Show, 4 pm
at Sundin Hall (Hamline University); Thomasina Petrus, holiday concert at the
Southern Theater; Jack Brass Band Birthday Party for leader Mike Olander at the Amsterdam Bar (family friendly night); Doug Little Quartet at Eat Street Social
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Doug Little |
Monday, December 16. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Tuesday, December 17. Nick Haas Trio at Hell's Kitchen;
Patty and the Buttons at Cafe Maude; Cory Wong Quartet, early set (free) at the
Artists Quarter
Wednesday, December 18. Steve Kenny Group 47, early (free)
set at the Artists Quarter; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside
Pizza; Robert Bell and Naomi Uyama at Barbette
Thursday, December 19.
George Maurer
Big Band Holiday at the Dakota; Keith Karnes
Big Band at Jazz Central
Coming Soon!
. December
20-21, Eric Alexander and David Hazeltine at the Artists Quarter
. December
20, Vicky Mountain
Trio at Parma
8200
. 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, holiday jam at the Dakota
. December 21, Jana Nyberg Group at Hell's Kitchen
. December 21, Jana Nyberg Group at Hell's Kitchen
. December 22-23,
Karrin Allyson "Yuletide Hideaway" 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
30, JT's Jazz Implosion with Anthony Cox/Chris Bates' Red 5 at the Icehouse
. 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
. 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)