 |
Steve Kenny -- this week at Jazz Central and the Black Dog |
© Andrea Canter
You can
find jazz in all sorts of venues this week, from classic club settings to hotel
lounges to the tiniest gallery space.
And you can also find some jazz memorabilia to reinforce your memories
of perhaps the most beloved venue of all.
Big Gigs This Week
 |
Patty Peterson |
Friday, January 24. Whenever Patty Peterson is on stage, it is a "big gig," and
tonight, this savvy singer "and friends" take over the Dakota. And
it's truly more friends than family this time, as nephew Jason Peterson DeLaire
joins Aunt Patty and Donnie LeMarca, Bobby Vandell, Tony Axtel and Geoff
Bouchier.
 |
Katie Gearty |
Parma 8200 offers a chance to hear
chanteuse Katie Gearty in a relaxed
setting with strings--guitarist Zacc Harris and bassist Matt Peterson. You
might want to make a reservation --the bar/lounge can fill up fast, and Katie
has a broad following given her talents crossing jazz, blues and R&B.
 |
Arne Fogel |
One of the
biggest names in one of the smallest spaces -- crooner Arne Fogel, with pianist Chris
Lomheim, makes his debut at the Even Break Gallery across the street from
Broder's in southwest Minneapolis.
The second floor gallery -- probably smaller than your living room--has been
trying out music on Saturday mornings, but this is their first evening gig.
It's cozy and owners Gretchen and Patches will make you feel like you really
are in your living room with some talented friends providing the music.
Saturday, January 25. The annual LaCrosse Jazz Festival gives you good reason to head to Wisconsin today. Clinics
and performances abound throughout the day, with the evening concert featuring
guest clinician and all-star bassist Michael
Janisch and his touring quintet, featuring some of the hottest artists on
the international scene -- Patrick Cornelius, Matt Stevens, Philip Dizek, and
Clarence Penn. The quintet blew us away last Thursday at Studio Z.
A somewhat
rare pairing of pianist Phil Aaron
and bassist Steve Pikal should make
for a fun and swinging evening at the Icehouse, as the duo performs the dinner
sets at this south Minneapolis
hotspot. It can be noisy but if you get a table between the bar and stage, you
should be able to enjoy the music as well as some interesting and tasty fare
from the kitchen. Save room for dessert.
 |
Charmin & Shapira |
Saturday-Sunday,
January 25-26.
Another jazz festival this weekend: In White Bear, Century College
hosts famed drummer Butch Miles for
Saturday night and Sunday afternoon concerts, with the Century College Jazz Ensemble; voice/guitar duo Charmin and Shapira perform at the
opening night reception on Saturday.
Sunday, January 26. Miss the Artists Quarter? Want a
piece of it? Sale
at the empty club this afternoon (1-4 pm) of CDs from visiting artists and live
recordings; posters; photos plus David Wilson's private book collection.
 |
Fat Kids at the Icehouse |
Monday, January 27. In the past few years, you could always find
trumpeter Steve Kenny at the Artists
Quarter -- every Wednesday he led the Bastids, and more recently, Group 47. And
less often, you could find him with the revived Illicit Sextet. Tonight is a great opportunity to hear Steve as he takes the spotlight at Jazz Central. It's
anyone's guess what will happen when Steve cuts loose, but for sure it will be
a sonic feast. At the Icehouse, the
always surprising Fat Kid Wednesdays
-- Mike Lewis, Adam Linz, JT Bates-- is back on their home stage. Never a dull
moment.
 |
Rick Carlson |
Tuesday, January 28. An early Mardi Gras at the Dakota
tonight as New Orleans pianist Tom
McDermott shares the bill with the Twin Cities' Patty and the Buttons, headed by accordion monster Patrick Harison
and featuring clarinetist Tony Balluf, guitarist Mark Kreitzer and bassist
Keith Boyles. Cafe Maude tonight hosts Minnesota's answer to
Count Basie, pianist Rick Carlson.
Dinner and swing -- what could be better for a midweek break? Over in St. Paul, Zacc Harris and Friends will bring a
more experimental bent to the intimate space at the Black Dog.
Wednesday, January 29. Connected through Century College,
the CC Septet has been engaging
audiences with their special blend of brass and rhythm since 2006. They have
three CDs to their credit, and as Big Band guru Jerry Swanberg notes, the band
"swings
like crazy and performs with enormous energy." Catch them tonight at
Jazz Central.
 |
Steve Kenny's Group 47 |
Thursday,
January 30. Twice in one week? Yes,
if you missed Steve Kenny at Jazz Central, tonight he brings his Group
47 to the Black Dog. Inaugurated about six months ago as the Wednesday
Night early gig at the Artists Quarter, Kenny's latest ensemble puts him in the
role of elder statesman and mentor for bassist Adam Tucker, college students
drummer Alex Burgess and saxophonist Thomas Strommen, and still-in-high-school pianist Will Kjeer. But close
your eyes and you will hear a much more experienced band at work, one that just
laid down tracks for its debut recording.
 |
Debbie Duncan |
In Minneapolis,
you can't help but have fun with Debbie Duncan at Hell's Kitchen. She
can bring you to tears with a ballad, and the next minute have you in stitches
with banter and blues.
More Jazz Every Night
Friday,
January 24. Irv
Williams and Peter Schimke, happy hour at the Dakota; Todd Harper, solo
piano at the Black Dog; Paula Lammers and the Nightingale Jazz Combo at the Fred
Astaire Dance Studio (Eagan); Mississippi Hot Club at the Red Stag
Saturday,
January 25. JoAnn Funk and Jeff
Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200;
Dean Brewington Trio at Loring Pasta Bar; Epstein/Harris/Bates at Merlin's Rest
Sunday,
January 26. Robert Everest (brunch)
at Maria's Cafe; Patty and the Buttons (brunch) at the Aster Café; Doug Little Quartet with Chris Lomheim at Eat
Street Social; Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema
Ballroom; Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar; T-Collective at the Icehouse; Off the Cuff (experimental music series) at the Aster Cafe'
Monday,
January 27. Charmin Michelle and
Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Tuesday,
January 28. Rick Carlson at Cafe
Maude; Nova Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central; Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar;
Jason Weisman at Hell's Kitchen
Wednesday,
January 29. Andrew Foreman and
Friends at the Black Dog; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Thursday, January 30. Adam Levy's Rose Room at the Dakota; Vinnie Rose at Adagio Pizza Factory
Coming Soon!
. January
31, Thomas Bruce at Parma
8200
. January
31, East Side at Hell's Kitchen
. February
3, Dave Karr and Adam Linz Trio at the Icehouse (Jazz Implosion)
. February
5, Joel Shapira CD Release with Dean Granros at the Black Dog
. February
7, Jazz Police Young Artists Showcase at Jazz Central (Southside Jazz Combo)
. February
7, Twin Cities Jazz Festival "Winter Jazz Break" at the St Paul Hotel
(JoAnn Funk, Jon Weber)
. February
13, Kurt Elling at the Dakota
. February
15, Koplant No at the Icehouse
. February
16, Gregory Porter 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
22, "The Envelope Please" with Arne Fogel and Maud Hixson, Bloomington Center for the Arts
. February
22-23, "Girl Talk" (Pippi Ardennia, Charmin Michelle) at the Capri
Theater
. February
24-25, Terence Blanchard Quintet at the Dakota
. February
26, Bobby Watson and Horizon at the Dakota
. February
28, Jack Brass Band Mardi Gras at Schneider Theater, Bloomington Center
for Arts
. March 2,
Dave King Trucking Company at Antonello Hall, MacPhail Center for Music
. 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
9-10, Matt Slocum Trio CD release at Weyerhaeuser Auditorium of Landmark Center
. April 10,
Delfeayo Marsalis at the Dakota
. April 27,
Jazz Noir with John Penny, live broadcast on KBEM from the Dakota
. April 28,
Joe Lovano Us Five 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)
 |
Joel Shapira, CD release February 5 at the Black Dog with Dean Granros |