The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, May 2-8

The Dakota Combo, spring concert at MacPhail on May 8

© Andrea Canter

Old friends, new friends, local heroes and visiting young giants, and the sounds of jazz future make for a busy and enticing week on the Twin Cities jazz scene. Sunshine is nice, too.

Big Gigs This Week

Jay Epstein

Friday, May 2. In Minneapolis, Saint Paul or the burbs, you'll see some familiar faces that should put smiles on your own.  Last minute change at Jazz Central -- Kenny Horst had to pull out of his gig due to a knee injury -- hopefully he will be kicking that drum again soon. In his place, Jay Epstein will man the trapset with a quartet familiar to former AQ patrons--Brandon Wozniak, Zacc Harris and Brian Courage. The Friday Bridge Series was conceived as a way to "bridge the gap" in local jazz with the closing of the AQ... and this quartet certainly fits the bill. (Unlike at the AQ, this music starts at 7:30! But stick around for a late gig with the Byron Johnson-Blanchard Quartet.)

Illicit Sextet

In Saint Paul, there's a great "bridge" from downtown to Lowertown as the Illicit Sextet fills the music space at the Black Dog. Back from a long hiatus, the popular 90s ensemble now is about five years into its second run; their long-awaited second recording (Chapter 11) drew high praise when released last year. Steve Kenny, Paul Harper, David Roos, Chris Lomheim, Tom Pieper and Nathan Norman are among the area's best and surely one of the most cohesive units around. And if you are in the area earlier, Todd Harper expands his usual Friday early evening solo piano sets at the Black Dog with the addition of saxophonist Nathan Hanson.

Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson

And in Bloomington, it's the monthly night with Maud Hixson at Parma 8200. The weekend series of jazz continues in this comfy Italian restaurant and lounge, and tonight Maud brings her very deep repertoire of great songs to the "stage" with Rick Carlson on piano and Gordy Johnson on bass.

Women in Jazz  Workshop (2013)

Saturday, May 3. Where are the women in jazz, specifically instrumental jazz? Young women are often well represented in high school jazz bands -- where do they go after graduation? The typical jazz big band might have one or two women; the typical jazz quartet has none. "Women in Jazz" is the second, hopefully annual workshop/concert sponsored by the PipJazz Foundation in partnership with the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education, aimed at celebrating the history and future of women in jazz -- as performers, composers, bandleaders, educators, etc. Free and targeting middle school through college level students (of both genders!), the celebration begins with a workshop (2 pm) featuring an ensemble of local jazz women (instrumentalists LeAnn Lindgren, Laura Caviani, Joan Griffith and Sheila Earley; vocalists Pippi Ardennia, Charmin Michelle and Patty Peterson; high school student Ebonee Rainwater) who share their own stories and strategies and lead an open jam session; in the evening, the Women in Jazz Ensemble will be the guest artists for the PipJazz Live concert, all held at the Maplewood Community Center.

Charmin Michelle

Monday, May 5. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg have a long-running Monday/Wednesday duo gig (voice and accordion) at Fireside Pizza in Richfield, and tonight they celebrate Charmin's birthday with song and cake. Come early and order a very good flat-crust pizza and save room for dessert! 

Jake Baldwin

You can then head over to Jazz Central where the Featured Artist night turns the spotlight on young trumpet sensation Jake Baldwin, doing a B-3 gig with Tanner Taylor. Since completing studies at the New England Conservatory, Jake has found his home on the Twin Cities scene, leading his own quartet and quintet, and appearing with the Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra and with varying combinations of other locals. He's soon to release his first recording as leader of Ra Ra Ru with pals from the Boston area.

Dean Magraw

Tuesday, May 6. It's the first Tuesday and that means guitar hero Dean Magraw is working some magic at the Black Dog. Tonight his guest is another area legend, drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt, alum of Weather Report and long-time McCoy Tyner cohort.

Julian Lage

Wednesday, May 7. What happens if you take two acoustic guitarists --one a Grammy-nominated jazz titan and the other an award-winning bluegrass king--and put them together a a duo? Julian Lage has been in the spotlight of the jazz community since he was a young teen working with Gary Burton. Now a bandleader himself as well as continuing his gig with Burton and earning a Grammy nomination for his recent recording with Fred Hersch, Lage is exploring new territory with bluegrass artist Chris Eldridge.  Eldridge has a long association with the Grammy-nominated Punch Brothers as well as credits with Fiona Apple, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Del McCoury and more. If you heard the recent Brad Mehldau/Chris Thile duo at the Walker, you know the meeting of jazz and bluegrass can be incendiary. Catch this pair at the Dakota.

Michael O'Brien

At Jazz Central, it's homecoming for one of New York's most talented bassists, Michael O'Brien, back in town long enough to pull together a quartet gig with Jake Baldwin, Tanner Taylor and Mac Santiago. That would be a blazing ensemble anywhere! Since his relocation to New York about ten years ago, O'Brien has been a busy performer and composer on the New York and international scene, including composing a piece performed by ETHEL at Kennedy Center.

Thursday, May 8. It's time for the annual Dakota Combo Spring Concert in the beautiful Antonello Hall at MacPhail Center for Music. Directed by Adam Linz, the Combo is nearing the end of its season (they finish at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival on June 28th), which means the septet is tight and the music sophisticated well beyond the repertoire and arrangements of most teen ensembles. Expect to hear some intriguing arrangements of Coleman, Mingus, and more as well as original compositions from the band. Free, with an informal reception following to celebrate the Combo year.

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:

Irv Williams

Friday, May 2. Irv Williams with Steve Blons and Steve Pikal, happy hour at the Dakota; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hotel); Ticket to Brasil, River Centre (Festival of Nations); St Olaf College Jazz I, The Pause at Buntrock Commons (St Olaf College, Northfield); Jake Hanson and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse

Saturday, May 3. Zacc Harris Duo with Chris Bates at St Croix Vineyards; Pig's Eye Jass Band at the Eagle's Aerie Club; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; JoAnn Funk with Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hote Jake Hanson and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Paul Renz Quartet at Steeple Center (Rosemount); McPherson Gardens Presents Big Trouble at Barbette

Sunday, May 4. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's Cafe; St. Olaf Jazz II and III Spring Concert, The Pause at Buntrock Commons (St Olaf College, Northfield); Charmin Michelle and the Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra, Dance Time at Lakeside Ballroom (Glenwood, MN); Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar

Monday, May 5. Peter Vircks Quartet at the Icehouse; Southside Aces at Famous Dave's (Uptown); Neighborhood Trio at Barbette

Tuesday, May 6. Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Gypsy Mania Jazz Quartet at the Dakota; Beasley's Big Band at O'Gara's; Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz Central

Wednesday, May 7. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Zacc Harris Group at Hell's Kitchen; Charanga Tropicale, Midweek Mambo at Loring Pasta Bar; Patrick Harison at Cafe Maude; Jacob Hanson and Friends at Barbette

Thursday, May 8. Maurice Jacox at Jazz Central; Charmin and Shapira and Friends at the Dakota; Alicia Renee and Chris Lomheim, Jazz@ Christos (Union Depot); Connie and Herb at The Bean (Andover); Minnesota Jazz Orchestra at Wabsha Street Caves

Coming Soon!

. May 9, Jazz Police Youth Showcase featuring Will Kjeer & Levi Schwartzberg Duo at Jazz Central

. May 9, Courageous Endeavors (CD Release) at the Icehouse

. May 10, Yohannes Tona with Geoff LeCrone and Demetrius Mabry, Jazz at Studio Z
. May 10, Steve Kenny's Group 47 at Sweet 317

. May 12, Brian Grivna at Jazz Central

. May 12, Mancrush at the Icehouse

. May 13, Jane Monheit at the Dakota

. May 13, Cedar Av Big Band at Jazz Central

. May 14, Framework at Jazz Central

. May 15, TCJS General Meeting at the Roseville Community Library

. May 15, Laura Caviani at Jazz Central

. May 15-18, Ragamala Dance Company and Rudresh Mahanthappa at the Walker

. May 18, Ellen Lease/Pat Moriarty with Michael Attias at Studio Z

. May 19, Jean Brice Godet with the Fantastic Merlins /Atlantis Quartet at the Icehouse

. May 19-20, Cassandra Wilson at the Dakota

. May 20, Adam Meckler Orchestra at Amsterdam Bar

. May 20, Explosion Big Band at Jazz Central

. May 22, Phil Mattson Singers at Jazz Central

. May 22, Irv Williams CD Release at the Dakota

. May 23, Good Vibes Trio at Jazz Central/Jazz Crew

. May 26-27, Victor Wooten at the Dakota

. May 27, Twin Cities Jazz Orchestra

. May 28, Dean Magraw and the Prairie Rhythm Section at the Dakota

. May 29, Bill Charlap Trio at the Dakota

. May 29, Rhonda Laurie at Jazz Central

. June 2, Tom Rainey and Ingrid Laubrock at the Icehouse
. June 6, What Would Monk Do? (Kenny, Schimke, Peterson and Horst) at the Black Dog

. June 8, Jazz in the Library, Joan Griffith at St Paul Central Library

. June 14, Next Generations, Steve Kenny Group 47 LP Release,  Jazz at Studio Z

. June 15, Billy Hart Quartet with Ethan Iverson at the Dakota

. 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 24, Diane Schuur at the Dakota

. June 25, Jazz in the Library, Tres Mundos at Arlington Hills Library

. June 26-28, Twin Cities Jazz Festival (Branford Marsalis 6/27; Joe Krown, Dianne Reeves with Geoffrey Keezer 6/28; and more), Mears Park and beyond (St Paul)

. June 30, Craig Handy at the Dakota

. July 1, Nels Cline and Julian Lage at the Dakota

. July 2, Pedrito Martinez at the Dakota

. 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

Jane Monheit returns to the Dakota May 13th