The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, April 4-10

Delfeayo Marsalis, at the Dakota on April 10

© Andrea Canter

I am writing under a Winter storm warning. They are not even calling it a Spring storm warning. Driving might be dicey to start out the weekend, but don't be deterred from your focus on great jazz -- there is plenty this weekend, worth a slow drive, and by Sunday it should be back to normal, right? Good thing as great music jams up the calendar midweek and beyond with two-night extravaganzas with Brad Mehldau overlapping some creative programming with visiting native son Matt Slocum, who overlaps trombone favorite Delfeayo Marsalis at the Dakota. Earlier we have a couple nights focused on young talents, the opening of a new PipJazz Season, back-to-back "bop and bossa" with Charmin & Shapira, and a public workshop and gig with a Latin percussion expert. That's just the headlines.

Big Gigs This Week

Patrick Adkins

Friday, April 4.  Challenging driving will be rewarded! At Jazz Central, it's the Jazz Police Youth Showcase night with a quartet headed by accomplished pianist Patrick Adkins, soon to graduate from Edina High School and head east. Dubbed Sound Skirmish, his quartet also includes vibes master Levi Schwartzberg, bassist Drew Stinson (both from Southwest) and drummer Ben Ehrlich (Wayzata).  

Steve Kenny

 Across the river, and also boasting some young talents, Steve Kenny's Group 47 takes the stage at the Black Dog, previewing music from their forthcoming Straight to Vinyl LP release. Steve is a virtuosic trumpeter -- or rather, flumpeter, playing a hybrid trumpet/flugelhorn, while leading a band of significantly younger lions, with 17 year old Will Kjeer on keys, barely older Thomas Strommen (sax) and Alex Burgess (drums), and a still youngish Adam Tucker on bass. If there is any ice left on the streets, Group 47 will melt it quickly. And if you are in reach of Parma 8200 in Bloomington, a night with beloved crooner Arne Fogel, pasta and cannoli might be what the weatherman ordered.

Friday-Saturday, April 4-5. It's the annual Eau Claire Jazz Festival, and probably not the first one to have snow in the forecast. But it will be hot at Memorial High School Auditorium with Byron Stripling and Wycliffe Gordon as headliners, along with a lot of clinics, student ensembles and more.

The Dakota Combo

Saturday, April 5. Continuing the Young Lions theme of the weekend, singer Pippi Ardennia opens her fourth season with the renamed PipJazz Live concert series featuring the Dakota Combo at the Capri Theater. This septet of high school jazzers is always dazzling, from their arrangements of such heavy modernists as Ornette Coleman and Charles Mingus to their own inventive compositions. Pippi again assembles a terrific house band (tonight with Peter Schimke, Jay Young and Glenn Swanson) and some additional young "artists in residence" -- pianists Will Kjeer and Jordan Anderson, vocalist Maggie Kjeer, saxophonist Ebony Rainwater, and house arranger and songwriter Jo Schad. Note new time (7 pm) as well as the new night and new venues (alternating with the Maplewood Community Center's theater).

Lila Ammons

Another vocalist known most for her boogie woogie chops initiates a new project as Lila Ammons "Presents Voices of Influence, Bessie Smith to Sarah Vaughan" with pianist Ted Godbout and special guest, boogie woogie partner, Austrian pianist Axel Zwingenberger, in the intimate space of Honey.

Charmin & Shapira

Saturday-Sunday, April 5-6.  Vocalist Charmin Michelle and guitarist Joel Shapira have been pleasing wide-ranging audiences for about a decade, recently adding "Friends" as a quintet covering "Bop and Bossa." They bring this repertoire to an intimate concert setting at the Black Box Theater of the Bloomington Center for the Arts with back-to-back shows Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Charmin and Shapira add Paul Harper on sax, Tom Lewis on bass and Nathan Norman on drums for two high-energy shows.

Tyler Anderson

Monday, April 7. Jazz Central Studios present a special opportunity tonight with a 7 pm workshop featuring Puerto Rican percussionist Efrain Toro, whose resumé includes Stan Getz, George Benson, Placido Domingo, Los Lobos, and Kiss! Toro's master class (open to the public) "focuses on rhythm in ways that are uniquely scientific and soulful with information that is truly enlightening for all musicians." After the workshop, Toro will perform a set. But stick around, this is a double-header. At 9:30 pm, the stage is turned over to another young lion, saxophonist Tyler Anderson, soon to go on the road with Delfeayo Marsalis. (Note the Toro workshop fee is $15 and limited to the first 50 or so who can fit into the room!)

Tuesday, April 8. The monthly edition of A Chris Olson Project at the Black Dog finds the ace guitarist/educator presenting ensembles from McNally Smith College of Music. Meanwhile, big band fans will enjoy the monthly gig at Jazz Central with the long-running, star-studded Cedar Avenue Big Band.

Brad Mehldau

Tuesday-Wednesday, April 8-9. Each year, Walker Art Center brings a few highly selective jazz events to the McGuire Theater. This week it's "Intuitive Expressions: A Brad Mehldau Celebration," two amazing nights with the introspective pianist in two very different collaborations. Tuesday night features an exclusive U.S. engagement of Mehldau’s duo with mandolinist/singer Chris Thile (Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek). "Thile is known as one of the most exciting forces working not only in progressive bluegrass but also across the broader folk-pop music realm." The next night, Mehldau takes the stage with his acclaimed Trio (with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, performing "stripped down, emotionally direct ballads with densely packed, abstract compositions." 

Matt Slocum

Wednesday-Thursday, April 9-10. Heading out on tour to celebrate his latest recording, Black Elk's Dream, area native drummer Matt Slocum will spend two nights in the Weyerhaeuser Auditorium of Landmark Center with an array of cohorts from near and far. Wednesday, his trio (with pianist Sam Yahel and bassist Massimo Biolcati) starts off, followed by one of the metro's finest ensembles, the Phil Hey Quartet. On Thursday, pianist Bryan Nichols leads off solo, followed by Slocum's trio and ending the night with the Dave Karr Quartet. There are rumors of a drum battle between Slocum and Hey, the latter also turning up with Karr.  Either night, there's a lot of music for $15!

Thursday, April 10. A Twin Cities favorite returns: Trombonist, record producer and NEA Jazz Master Delfeayo Marsalis is back at the Dakota with his quintet. And joining him tonight and on his Midwest tour will be area native saxophonist Tyler Anderson, hot off a year of studies with Delfeayo's older brother Branford. 

Jana Nyberg

Usually on the bandstand with her quintet (Jana Nyberg Group) or soloing with husband Adam Meckler's Orchestra, tonight at Jazz Central, vocalist/flautist Jana Nyberg presents her music in a more intimate context as part of Jazz Vocal Night.

Need more brass in your life? How about a shot of New Orleans? Jack Brass Band fills the bill tonight at the Amsterdam Bar. Stick around for the late set with the McNasty Band from McNally Smith.

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 4.  Irv Williams and Peter Schimke, happy hour at the Dakota; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hotel); Bryan Nichols and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; St Mary's University Jazz Ensemble, Page Theater (SMU, Winona); Daniel Zamzow/Andrew Foreman Trio at Sweet 317 (St Paul);  Tim Patrick and His Blue-eyed Band at the Eagles' Club

Saturday, April 5. Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hotel); Patty Peterson and Friends (with Jason DeLaire) at School II; Pigs' Eye Jass Band at the Eagles' Club; David Martin, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Maurice Jacox with Bobby E and Tom Wells at Harriet Brewing

Patty Peterson

Sunday, April 6. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar; Doug Little Quartet at Eat Street Social

Monday, April 7. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Southside Aces at Famous Dave's (Uptown); JT's Jazz Implosion (Dave Karr, Adam Linz, JT Bates) at the Icehouse; The Neighborhood Trio at Barbette

Tuesday, April 8. Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Nova Jazz Orchestra at Minnesota Music Café

Wednesday, April 9. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Fall of the House of Usher at Jazz Central

Thursday, April 10. Alicia Renee and Chris Lomheim at Christo's (Union Depot); Jazz It Up  with Steve Cole, Joan Griffith at James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall (University of St Thomas, St Paul); Connie and Herb at The Bean (Andover); Minnesota Jazz Orchestra at Wabasha Street Caves; Roseville Big Band at Central Park Amphitheater (Woodbury)

Coming Soon!

. April 11, Catherine Russell at the Fairmont Opera House (Fairmont, MN)

. April 11, Jeremy Walker, CD Release (7 Psalms) at Bethel College

. April 12, Doc Severinsen and the Minnesota Orchestra at Orchestra Hall

. April 13, Connie Evingson and Jon Weber, Jazz at the Jungle (Theater)

. April 14, Good Vibes Trio, CD Release at the Icehouse

. April 15, Poncho Sanchez at the Dakota

. April 16, New Composer Ruckus Night at Studio Z

. April 17, Christopher McBride Quintet, fundraiser at Eden Prairie High School

. April 17, Lucia Newell and Phil Aaron at Jazz Central

. 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

. 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 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 14, Jazz at Studio Z Next Gen Showcase (3 bands) featuring LP release for Steve Kenny's Group 47

. June 16-17, Maceo Parker at the Dakota

. June 18, Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion at the Dakota

. 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

Chris Bates' Good Vibes Trio, CD Release at the Icehouse on April 14th!