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| The Good Vibes Trio -- CD release April 14th at the Icehouse |
© Andrea Canter
Those
rumors of spring might be true! At least in the jazz neighborhood, it will be a
hot weekend with enough sizzle to keep us in melt-down mode through the week!
And it is an eclectic week ahead-- from CD releases from our "Minnesota
Ellington" and "Magica Improvisado," an
outstanding outstate gig, and an Orchestra Hall return for one of its most
popular visiting bandleaders to a highly anticipated duo at the Jungle Theater
and a Latin Fiesta at the Dakota, with a jazzy icing on the cake when one of
the fastest rising young saxophonists heads a high school band fundraiser. Want more? Read on.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Jeremy Walker |
Friday, April 11. Almost exactly a year ago,
pianist/composer/bandleader Jeremy Walker
premiered a concert-length choral work built around the texts of "7
Psalms." In the tradition of Ellington's sacred concerts, 7 Psalms went
through a few tweaks and is now ready for release on CD. Walker and his cast of
jazzers and vocalists celebrate the CD with a performance at Bethel College
(Benson Great Hall) -- an evening that promises to be uplifting and inspiring.
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| Catherine Russell |
The
Fairmont Opera House might seem like an unlikely venue for a gig with one of
the fastest-rising vocal stars on the national scene, but that's where you have
to go if you want to hear Catherine
Russell, who makes swing, blues, and soul seem like one word. She's on tour
celebrating Bring It Back, already on
my list for top vocal recordings of 2014.
Saturday, April 12. The first and longest-running of
the gypsy hot club ensembles in the Twin Cities, the Parisota Hot Club takes the stage for tonight's installment of Jazz
@ St. Barneys-- alsp a long running event curated by Jeff Whitmill at St
Barnabas Lutheran Church in Plymouth. There's been a revolving cast over the
years of the PHC, with guitarist Robb Henry at the hub. Tonight he's joined by violinist Tom Schaefer, drummer Jay Epstein and bassist Matt
Senjem, playing many Django Reinhardt standards, along with selections from 1960's
movie soundtracks and pop music.
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| Doc Severinsen |
With
the re-opening of Orchestra Hall, we're getting reacquainted with old friends
like Tonight Show alum Doc Severinsen, who leads the Minnesota
Orchestra with his frequent guest vocalists, Vanessa Thomas and Joseph
Wolverton. Doc has appeared at the Dakota with his own big band but this will
be the first time he has directed the MO since his 2011 holiday gig (Jingle
Bell Doc).
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| Connie Evingson |
Sunday,
April 13. Vocalist Connie Evingson
heats up her Jazz at the Jungle (Theater) series with special guest, pianist Jon Weber. Sharing their "Desert
Island Picks," Connie and Jon take us through a diverse songlist of their
favorites from Fats
Waller, Irving Berlin, Peggy Lee, Dave Frishberg, the Beatles, Jobim, Sting and
more. Connie and Jon have paired up before, at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival
and on a European cruise for A Prairie
Home Companion in 2012. They need a bassist, right? Gordy Johnson makes it
a threesome.
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| Chris Bates |
Monday, April 14. JT's Jazz Implosion at the
Icehouse tonight focuses on another Bates -- Chris celebrates the CD release of the self-titled Good Vibes Trio.
One of his first projects as bandleader, Bates first presented Good Vibes at
the Artists Quarter about two years ago, finding a perfect vehicle for
collaboration with Dave Hagedorn and Phil
Hey. After recording last winter, the trio previewed the music at Jazz
Central, inviting area graphic artist Tim Nyberg to paint as the music inspired
him, yielding a stunning and very original cover design. There may be no more sublime
combination than vibes, bass and drums, whether gliding through Mingus and
Coltrane or original compositions from these three jazz giants.
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| Jeff Rinear |
Meanwhile, at
Jazz Central, the Featured Artist tonight is trombone master Jeff Rinear, whom we seldom see in a
leading role. A long-time member of Pete Whitman's X-Tet, Rinear makes it a
quartet with Tanner Taylor, Brian Courage and Mac Santiago.
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| Poncho Sanchez |
Tuesday, April 15. For a good time, call Poncho (Sanchez)! The Grammy-winning, American-born Latin
percussionist covers bebop, soul, rock and funk, all with a pervasive Latin
groove that has made him one of the most popular bandleaders in all of Latin
jazz. The last time Poncho came to the Dakota (2012), he included some special
surprise guests and closed out his sets with dancing in the aisles, so come
prepared. If your tastes run more toward American big band, head over to Jazz
Central tonight for one of the best in the region-- the Explosion Big Band directed by two guys who know big band-- Doug
Haining and Scott Agster. The best local big band artists fill the chairs (and
half the club space)!
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| Dan Musselman |
Wednesday, April 16. A couple years ago, inventive
pianist Dan Musselman released Devotion, a suite of original music
inspired by Biblical texts. Tonight he presents this soul-searching music with
his trio (Andrew Foreman and Zach Schmidt) at the Fridley
Community Center. Hats
off to the local artists who are finding more and new venues to spread jazz
around! Over at Cafe Maude, the Zacc
Harris Trio (with Mattt Peterson and Pete Hennig) gives you some modern jazz
to consider as you enjoy improvisations from the kitchen.
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| Christopher McBride |
Thursday, April 17. After spending the day working
with students in the Eden Prairie
High School jazz band,
up-and-coming saxophonist Christopher
McBride and his quintet will present a concert at the school to help raise
funds to support the school's band program. McBride was in town two years ago
with another young lion, trumpeter Marquis Hill, on the 6th Street stage of the Twin Cities Jazz
Festival -- and I recall he and Marquis continued the fun later in a jam at the
Artists Quarter. This is a great opportunity to not only enjoy a bright talent,
but to help support jazz in our area high schools.
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| Lucia Newell |
The Jazz
Central Vocal Night continues with one of our area's top voices - Lucia Newell, in the fine company of
Phil Aaron, salutes spring with songs of the season. Whenever Lucia sings, it's
spring somewhere! And also continuing -- the weekly Jazz at Christo's (Union
Depot) with a winning pair-- vocalist Alicia
Renee and pianist Chris Lomheim.
They're serenading diners every Thursday night in one of the most elegant
spaces in the region.
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, April 11. Irv Williams and Peter Schimke,
Happy Hour at the Dakota; Phil Aaron and Chris Bates, dinner sets at the
Icehouse; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hotel);
Charmin Michelle at Parma 8200; Stockton Helbing Quartet at Jazz Central;
Eastside at Hell's Kitchen
Saturday, April 12. St. Olaf Jazz Ensemble at
Orchestra Hall (2 pm); Phil Aaron and Chris Bates, dinner sets, followed by
Foreign Motion (Cory Wong) at the Icehouse; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the
Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck at Parma 8200; Nick Haas Trio at
Loring Pasta Bar; Sophia Shorai at Hell's Kitchen
Sunday, April 13. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's;
Fuzzy Math at the Black Dog (2 pm); Doug Little Quartet at Eat Street Social;
Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar; Southside Big Band at Edinborough Indoor
Park
Monday, April 14. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Tim Sparks at Loring Pasta Bar; Twin Cities Hot
Club at Famous Dave's (Uptown); JVP Trio (Joey Van Phillips, Zacc Harris
and Graydon Peterson) at Barbette
Tuesday, April 15. Cafe Accordion Orchestra at Loring
Pasta Bar; River City
Jazz Orchestra at Minnesota
Music Cafe; Patty and the Buttons at Cafe Maude
Wednesday, April 16. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza; Wolverines Trio at Hell's Kitchen; Pete Whitman Presents at
Jazz Central; Orquestra Aragon
at the Dakota
Thursday, April 17. Orquestra Aragon at the Dakota
Coming Soon!
. April 18,
Ramsey Lewis and John Pizzarelli at Orchestra Hall
. April 18,
Ginger Commodore and Dennis Spears at the Dakota
. April 19,
Bobby McFerrin at Orchestra Hall
. April 19,
Cory Healy 4-Tet, Jazz at Studio Z
. April 21,
José James at The Cedar
. April
21-22, Steve Tyrell at the Dakota
. April 24,
Charmin & Shapira at Jazz Central
. April 25,
Tommy Bruce at Parma
8200
. April 26,
Miguel Zenon with the JazzMN Orchestra, Hopkins High School
. April 27,
Jazz Noir with John Penny, live broadcast on KBEM from the Dakota
. April 27,
Earth Day Concert, Dave Milne's One World Consort at Lake Harriet
Spiritual Community
. April 28,
Joe Lovano Us Five at the Dakota
. April 30,
Dan Musselman Quartet at the Black Dog
. May 3,
PipJazz "Women in Jazz" workshop and concert at Maplewood Community Center
. May 7,
Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge at the Dakota
. May 8,
Jazz Thursdays with the Dakota Combo at Antonello Hall (MacPhail Center
for Music)
. May 9,
Jazz Police Youth Showcase featuring Will Kjeer's Blue Haven at Jazz Central
. May 9,
Courageous Endeavors at the Icehouse
. May 10,
Yohannes Tona with Geoff LeCrone and Demetrius Mabry, Jazz at Studio Z
. May 13,
Jane Monheit at the Dakota
. May
15-17, Ragamala Dance Company and Rudresh Mahanthappa at the Walker
. May
19-20, Cassandra Wilson
at the Dakota
. May 20,
Adam Meckler Orchestra at Amsterdam Bar
. May
26-27, Victor Wooten at the Dakota
. May 29,
Bill Charlap Trio at the Dakota
. June 8,
Jazz in the Library, Joan Griffith at St
Paul Central Library
. June 14,
Next Generations, Jazz at Studio Z
. June
16-17, Maceo Parker at the Dakota
. June 18,
Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion at the Dakota
. June 18,
Jazz in the Library, Bryan Nichols Quartet at St Anthony Park Library
. June 25,
Jazz in the Library, Tres Mundos at Arlington Hills Library
. June
26-28, Twin Cities Jazz Festival (Branford Marsalis 6/27; Dianne Reeves 6/28;
and more), Mears Park
(St Paul)
. July 3-5,
Iowa City Jazz Festival (Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano Us Five, Anat Cohen Quartet,
Ingrid Jensen Nordic with Geoffrey Keezer, Jared Gold, Pedrito Martinez)
. July 7-8,
Bill Frisell Quartet (Greg Leisz, Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen) at the Dakota
. July 10,
All Originals Jazz series, The Illicit Sextet at Studio Z
. July 17,
All Originals Jazz series, Courageous Endeavors at Studio Z
. July 24,
All Originals Jazz series, Zacc Harris Group at Studio Z
. July 31,
All Originals Jazz series, Red Planet at Studio Z
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| John Pizzarelli - Coming to Orchestra Hall with Ramsey Lewis, April 18th |
