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| Adam Linz and the Dakota Combo at Chippewa Middle School (Mounds View) |
© Andrea Canter
Five cool things in jazz last week:
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| Good Vibes Trio |
Good Vibes Trio CD release at the Icehouse (April 14). A week
after a private gathering to preview his latest recording project, Chris Bates
brought his Good Vibes Trio (with Dave Hagedorn and Phil Hey) into the
often-raucous Icehouse for the official celebration. And what a joy to be in a
venue with a room full of listeners as serious as the musicians on stage. The
lighting was more punk rock but the music was post bop magic, drawn from the
album as well as the out-takes, originals from band members and elegant
arrangements of Mingus, Coleman, Coltrane and more. Good vibes, indeed.
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| Levi Schwartzberg, Dakota Combo |
The Dakota
Combo Annual
School Tour (April 17).
Every year since 2007, the all-star high school ensemble, the Dakota Combo, has
taken a day to visit 2-3 metro-area schools to perform and inform. The touring
day was initiated by Kelly Rossum during his tenure as Jazz Coordinator and
combo director at MacPhail
Center for Music. Since
2009, the Combo has been guided by Adam Linz. By all accounts, the 2014 tour
was the best yet, in terms of audience and young artist enthusiasm as well as
logistical comfort. Many in the three school audiences were only marginally
acquainted with jazz, but asked great questions about the music, the
instruments, practicing, etc. It was a good day selling jazz!
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| Christopher McBride |
Eden
Prairie High School Band
Fundraiser (April 17). It takes a village.... or at least supportive
parents! The jazz program, as well as the entire music department, got a boost
with a day of student clinics and an evening of performance featuring the five
musicians of the Christopher McBride Quintet. Sponsored by parents, the evening
was a fund-raiser for the EPHS band program, and featured three student jazz
ensembles as well as two sets from McBride's band. McBride (alto saxophonist)
himself is a good ambassador for jazz-- his enthusiasm is contagious and his
music is joyful. Hats off to band
director Mike Whipkey, parents, and student musicians.
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| Ragamala ensemble |
Ragamala Dance and Rudresh Mahanthappa, Rehearsal for "Song of the
Jasmine." The only thing more cool than rehearsal will be the
performances May 15-18 at the Walker
Art Center.
Walker
co-commissioned this collaboration between locally based Ragamala Dance and
world renowned saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa, now in rehearsal for
the world premiere performances. Traditional South India
dance melds with jazz improvisation and traditional Carnatic music. My sneak
preview is high on my list of cool things-- for the year. Tickets still
available.
Bobby McFerrin's spirityouall
at Orchestra Hall (April 19). One-time resident Creative Director for
the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, McFerrin now is only rarely on stage in the
Twin Cities, but whenever he's in town, it's like we've been hit with a
lightning rod of invention. McFerrin has found unusual and satisfying ways to
manipulate the human voice -- aptly demonstrated by his multi-voiced solo
rendition of the National Anthem and his delightful duet with local protegé
Judi (Donaghy) Vinar.
