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"Mr Smooth" Irv Williams Celebrates 95 and yet another new recording |
Whenever
you schedule a vacation, you just have to anticipate some terrific events will
fall during the period to make you question your plans. There are a few such
jazz gigs that I just have to cover my ears and miss. But you don't! I will catch Irv Williams' 95th birthday
celebration and CD release this weekend, and the LP release from Steve Kenny's
Group 47 on Monday. And I will not have to choose between Red Planet and
Tierney Sutton with Mark Summers since I will miss both; as well as the last
(at least for a while) gig of the No Coast Quintet which means missing one of
Brian Courage's last gigs as a Minnesotan, several of which take place in the
next two weeks. Jazz Central continues to present live music at least five
nights per week; Studio Z hosts All Originals every Thursday through
mid-September; and the Black Dog seems to offer more and more jazz in its
schedule of eclectic music. Note summer is when most concert series announce
their new schedules.
Big Gigs Coming!
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Laura Caviani |
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Ted Olsen |
Always a
fun evening -- Patty Peterson and Friends
returns to the Dakota tonight, this time featuring special guest, brother Ricky
Peterson. The rest of the cast includes Billy Franze,
Bobby Vandell, Cory J. Wong and Kevin Gastonguay -- and that's quite a crew of
"Friends." Meanwhile, sister Linda
Peterson will be busy herself, singing and playing the piano with her trio
at Parma 8200.
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Faye Washington conducts Capri Big Band |
Saturday,
July 26. I've lost track of Irv
Williams' retirement parties and "final" CD releases. Now the
word "final" seems to have been taken out of the equation as Irv
prepares for his 95 birthday (early August) and the release of a new studio recording,
aptly titled after the tune "Then Was Then, This Is Now." Back then,
Irv was a swinging, soulful tenorman who could play any tune in any key and who
backed the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams and Billy Eckstine
before settling in the Twin Cities in the 1940s.
Now Irv has released a pile of
recordings in the past decade, and still gigs weekly for Happy Hour at the
Dakota, currently with guitarist Steve Blons and long-time pal Billy Peterson
on bass. Discussing a possible archival collection of his recordings with Wells
Piano co-owner and producer Jason Rupert, Irv decided it was time to record
again, taking Blons into the studio for some informal musical conversations,
and bringing in Peterson to add some basslines. The result is what you would
expect from Mr. Smooth -- sweet! Celebrate with Irv tonight --if tickets
remain-- at The Museum of Russian Art, with Steve and Billy.
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Sunday,
July 27. A new venue, The Torch in Uptown, hosts a striking trio with
Brian Courage, Erik Fratzke and Davu Seru. These three can take music anywhere,
and they will.
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Group 47 |
Tuesday,
July 29. Fifth Tuesdays are special on the Big Band series at Jazz
Central -- it's time for the Acme Jazz
Company! With one of the largest sets of original charts among U.S. bands,
Acme honors the famed big bands of the past with their own modern twist. The
band, launched in 2008, is directed by saxophonist Doug Rasmussen, usually at
O'Gara's on the first Mondays of the month. Their credits include the Twin
Cities Jazz Fesival, Jazz on the Prairie Festival and a number of area parks
and performance centers.
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Jake Baldwin |
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Tierney Sutton |
At Jazz Central, another vocalist we hear far too seldom, Judi Donaghy Vinar joins forces with swinging pianist Rick Carlson for a night of pure delights.
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Red Planet |
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Brian Courage |
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Nathan Hanson |
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Noah Ophoven-Baldwin |
Monday, August 4. JT's Jazz Implosion tonight
features a stellar quartet of Chris Thomson, Bill Bergman and the brothers
Bates (Chris and JT).
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Davu Seru |
Wednesday, August 6. Two veteran singers who know their
way around a jazz band are on stage tonight: Sue Oatts engages with the Wolverines
Trio at Hell;s Kitchen, while Lila
Ammons and her trio take off at Tangiers.
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Dorothy Doring |
A special
treat at the Dakota tonight-- pianist Benny
Weinbeck and his renowned trio (Gordon Johnson and Phil Hey) take a break
from their Saturday night gigs at Parma
to come downtown for an evening of inspired standards and more.
More Jazz Every Night
Keep up
with the live jazz scene in the Twin Cities -- check out calendars at Jazz Police, KBEM, and Rhythm and Grooves as well as here on
the blog. More jazz to tickle your ears:
Friday, July 25. Irv Williams Trio, Happy Hour at the
Dakota; Kronick Quartet at the Black Dog; Bryan Nichols and Brandon
Wozniak, dinner sets at the Icehouse; East Side at Hell's Kitchen
Saturday, July 26. Charmin & Shapira in the Midtown
Global Market (12:30 pm); Adam Meckler, Jana Nyberg and Chris
Bates (Audible Improv), 2 pm at FunArt Studio (Stillwater); Benny Weinbeck Trio at
Parma 8200; Peter Susag Trio at Loring Pasta Bar; Bryan Nichols and Mike Lewis,
dinner sets at the Icehouse
Sunday, July 27. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's;
Charmin Michele with the Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra at Cinema Ballroom; Zacc
Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar; Robert Robinson at the Dakota
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Cory Wong |
Tuesday, July 29. Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar
Wednesday, July 30. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza; New Music night at Jazz Central (TBA); Arne Fogel Trio at
Hell's Kitchen; Sophia Shorai at the Dakota
Thursday, July 31. Charmin Michelle and the Jerry
O'Hagan Orchestra, Swing Night at the Caves (Wabasha Street Caves); Nick Haas
Trio at Hell's Kitchen; Alicia Renee and Chris Lomheim, Jazz @ Christo's (Union
Depot); Bend in the River Big Band at Lake Harriet Bandshell
Friday, August 1. Irv Williams Trio, Happy Hour at
the Dakota; Tommy Bruce at Parma 8200; Chris
Bates and Todd Clouser, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Kevin Washington Quartet,
Late Night at the Dakota
Saturday, August 2. Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200;
Jake Baldwin Quartet, Late Night at the Dakota; Pigs Eye Jass Band at Eagle's
Aerie Club; Jake Baldwin Quartet, Late Night at the Dakota
Sunday, August 3. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's;
Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, August 4. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza
Tuesday, August 5. Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz
Central; Beasley's Big Band at O'Gara's
Wednesday, August 6. Wolverines Trio at Hell's Kitchen;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Thursday, August 7. Swinbeat Big Band at the Como Park
Lakeside Pavilion; Moonlight Serenaders at Wabasha Street
Caves
Coming Soon!
. August
11, Aaron Hedenstrom/Brian Claxton Quintet at the Icehouse
. August
14, All Originals Jazz series, Chris Lomheim Trio at Studio Z
. August
14, Adam Linz solo bass/Joe Suihkonen & Noah Baldwin trumpet duets at Khyber Pass
. August
18, Phil Hey Quartet at the Icehouse
. August
18, Evan Montgomery and Brian Courage at Jazz Central
. August
21, Steve Kenny's Group 47 at Studio Z
. August
25, Dave Martin/Mike Doolin CD release at Icehouse followed by Brian Courage
Farewell Party
. August
28, Atlantis Quartet at Studio Z
. August
29, Reynold Philipsek, live documentary taping at 318 Cafe
. August
29, Maud Hixson at Parma
8200
. September
11, Adam Meckler Orchestra at Studio Z
. September
13, John Raymond, Jazz at Studio Z
. September
13, Selby Avenue
Jazz Festival (Selby and Milton Av, Saint
Paul)
. September
16, Meshell Ndgeocello at the Dakota
. September
17, Nellie McKay and the Turtle
Island Quartet at the Dakota
. September
20, Mary Louise Knutson Trio, Jazz @ St Barneys, St.
Barnabas Lutheran Church
. September
21, Ticket to Brasil, Adieu Summer Concert at Como Park
. September
24, Chick Corea and Vigil at the Dakota
. September
25, The Cookers at the Dakota
. September
26, Pablo Ziegler Tango Project at the Dakota
. September
29-30, Larry Coryell/Victor Bailey/Lenny White at the Dakota
. October
11, JazzMN Orchestra with Dave Weckl at Hopkins High School
Auditorium
. October
12, Laura Caviania and JazzAX at Carleton
College (3 pm)
. October
18-20, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall at the Dakota
. November
6, Terri Lynne Carrington's Mosaic Project (with Rachel Z) at O'Shaughnessy
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Chris Lomheim Trio previews new album at Studio Z, August 14 |