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| Adam Meckler leads his AMO at Studio Z, Saturday |
© Andrea Canter
Downbeat's February 2014 issue includes their annual listing of "The World's Best Jazz Clubs." With the Artists Quarter closed, no Minnesota venue made the list this year. Yet there are still many venues boasting real jazz at least one or two nights per week, and a few newer venues with more regular attention to jazz and improvised music. This week, the artistically upwardly mobile big band, the Adam Meckler Orchestra, hosts a pre-concert workshop and performance at Studio Z; vocalist Lee Engele and an all-string trio bring swing to the west burbs; Tiempo Liebre returns to the Dakota with their hot Latin sounds while guitarist David Grisman comes to the club with his unique "folk jazz"; veterans led by Pete Whitman bring "Mississippi" to Minnesota (Jazz Central) while a similarly distinguished group led by Davu Seru implodes at the Black Dog; visiting vocalist Michelle Weir joins Phil Mattson at Jazz Central. That's for starters.
Downbeat's February 2014 issue includes their annual listing of "The World's Best Jazz Clubs." With the Artists Quarter closed, no Minnesota venue made the list this year. Yet there are still many venues boasting real jazz at least one or two nights per week, and a few newer venues with more regular attention to jazz and improvised music. This week, the artistically upwardly mobile big band, the Adam Meckler Orchestra, hosts a pre-concert workshop and performance at Studio Z; vocalist Lee Engele and an all-string trio bring swing to the west burbs; Tiempo Liebre returns to the Dakota with their hot Latin sounds while guitarist David Grisman comes to the club with his unique "folk jazz"; veterans led by Pete Whitman bring "Mississippi" to Minnesota (Jazz Central) while a similarly distinguished group led by Davu Seru implodes at the Black Dog; visiting vocalist Michelle Weir joins Phil Mattson at Jazz Central. That's for starters.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Arne Fogel |
Friday, January 10. Great night for great voices:
Crooner Arne Fogel entertains in the
lounge at Parma 8200, with enough humor and mellow tones to melt away the stresses
of the week (and a plate of pasta won't hurt!); downtown Minneapolis, the
pairing of Debbie Duncan and Ginger
Commodore will fill the club, the dining room and the mezzanine at the
Dakota with blues, ballads and banter. And a few blocks down on Hennepin, jazz
takes the stage at the Union Rooftop's lounge, as a new series of weekend trios
continues with Zacc Harris, Chris Bates,
Joey Van Phillips --serious music if a less than serious venue. Sometimes
you have to just tune out the bar chatter to hear real jazz.
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| Adam Meckler |
Saturday,
January 11. About six months ago, the Adam Meckler Orchestra had outgrown the
space at Jazz Central and moved to the Artists Quarter, where the crowds
followed and filled the club on the last Tuesdays of the month. With the AQ
closed, where can we hear the always-exciting, ever-evolving AMO? Tonight the
band will assemble on the somewhat larger stage of Studio Z as the monthly
installment of Jazz at Studio Z, complete with a pre-concert workshop on the
art of composing for orchestra. And who better to lead that discussion that
very accomplished AMO composer/leader/trumpeter Adam Meckler?
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| Lee Engele with Reynold and Matt |
West
surbanites and other fans of swinging vocals have an opportunity to enjoy swing
with strings as Lee Engele takes over
Jazz @ St. Barney's monthly concert (St Barnabus Center for the Arts). Lee is
joined by two frequent cohorts, guitarist Reynold Philipsek and bassist Matt
Senjem, with whom she has recorded two albums. Joining in on violin is eclectic
musician Laurie Melting, as the ensemble presents favorites from Lee's long
collaboration with Reynold.
You
can otherwise brave the dinner and bar chatter at the Icehouse for the early
sets with Evanescent pianist Chris
Lomheim and frequent Icehouse pacesetter, bassist James Buckley.
Sunday,
January 12. It's been a few years since the fiery, Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre came to town; they return now to the Dakota with their mix of Latin jazz and Cuban son, and
generally compelling dancing in the aisles.
If that much joy and electricity is too much for your Sunday night,
there's more sublime interactions at the Riverview Wine Bar as the Zacc Harris Trio (with Matt Peterson and
Pete Hennig) offers up their weekly gig.
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| Mike Lewis |
Monday,
January 13. Jazz and bluegrass come together at the Dakota in unique ways
under the leadership of mandolinist David
Grisman, with ample collaboration from guitarist Jim Hurst and bassist Sam
Grisman, as the aptly named Folk Jazz Trio. On the further end of the jazz
spectrum, JT's Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse features probing explorers Erik Fratzke, Michael Lewis and Davu Seru --
two-thirds Happy Apple, one-third high octane percussion-- a unique ensemble in
a unique settting.
Tuesday,
January 14. It's big band night at Jazz Central, and making their monthly
appearance tonight is the highly accomplished Cedar Avenue Big Band, featuring... well, everybody who can fit
into the studio space.
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| Pete Whitman |
Wednesday,
January 15. Amazing ensembles on both sides of the metro tonight: In St Paul
at the Black Dog, "Davu Seru and Friends" brings the percussionist
together not only with frequent pal Dean Magraw, but throw in Happy Apple's
Mike Lewis on sax and internationally renowned (and soon-to-be German resident)
Anthony Cox on bass. Nearly two hours later (see, you can do a double header!)
at Jazz Central, Pete Whitman reassembles Mississippi, a band that debuted a
couple months ago at the Artists Quarter, with Peter Schimke, Jeff Bailey and
Kevin Washington. That should be enough high powered improvisation to melt any Arctic
air mass.
Thursday, January 16. Vocal Night at Jazz
Central has struggled for an audience, which makes no sense given the welcome
intimacy of the studio for lovers of the human voice. Choir arranger, vocal
coach, pianist and renowned vocal music guru Phil Mattson will host and
accompany visiting singer Michelle Weir,
"a truly world-class jazz artist:
singer, arranger, pianist, composer, educator... performing great but
lesser-know standards from
our soon-to-be released CD." Based in Los Angeles, Michelle's arrangements have
been performed by everyone including the Manhattan Transfer. Sounds like a
perfect partner for the multi-talented Mr. Mattson. So go find Jazz Central,
there's a big sign in the window at 407 Central SE, free meters after 6 on the
east side of Central Av. If you can climb the stairs to the basement studio,
you have no excuse.
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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| Bryan Nichols |
Saturday, January 11. Maryann Sullivan and Denny
Malmberg, 10:30 am at Even Break Gallery (Minneapolis); Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Patty Peterson and Friends at
School II Bistro; Jon Pemberton at the Red Stag
Sunday, January 12. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's;
Alicia Wiley, brunch at Hell's Kitchen; Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra with Charmin
Michelle at Cinema Ballroom; T Collective at the Icehouse
Monday, January 13. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Zack Lozier at Jazz Central
Tuesday, January 14. Chris Olson Project at the Black
Dog
Wednesday, January 15. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Thursday, January 16. Alicia Renee at Christo's (Union
Depot); Beasley's Big Band at Wabasha
Street Caves;
Casey O'Brien Trio at the Red Stag
Coming Soon!
. January
17, Maud Hixson at Parma
8200
. January
17, Donald Washington Quartet at the Black Dog
. January
17, Peter Vricks, CD Release at the Republic
. January
18, Winter Jazz Blast at McNally
Smith College
of Music
. January
20, Fantastic Merlins at the Black Dog
. January
20, Drum-Drum, Sax-Sax (Thomson, Lewis, Van Phillips, Bates) at the Icehouse
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| Graydon Peterson Qt at Jazz Central 1/22 |
. January 23, Michael Janisch Quintet,
Jazz at Studio Z
. January
24, Katie Gearty at Parma
8200
. January
27, Fat Kid Wednesdays at the Icehouse
. January
28, Nova Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central
. January
28, Rick Carlson at Cafe Maude
. January
31, Thomas Bruce at Parma
8200
. January
31, East Side at Hell's Kitchen
. 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
25-26, Terence Blanchard Quintet at the Dakota
. February
28, Jack Brass Band Mardi Gras at Schneider Theater, Bloomington Center
for Arts
. 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
. April 27,
Jazz Noir, live broadcast on KBEM from 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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| Fat Kid Wednesdays- coming to the Icehouse, January 27th |
