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| Irv Williams celebrates #95 at the Dakota, August 17 |
© Andrea Canter
When the
Artists Quarter closed at the end of 2013, many area musicians had to scramble
to find new venues for their music. Slowly, we're seeing more and more of our
AQ favorites on the schedules of smaller clubs--the Black Dog, Studio Z, Jazz
Central, The Nicollet, Cafe Maude, the Icehouse and more. One of the monthly
delights at the old AQ was the Phil Hey Quartet, turning up twice within a week
of August. The Illicit Sextet was reborn
at the AQ after a long hiatus, and will jam fans into the Black Dog this
weekend. Another AQ "offspring," the far less frequently heard ensemble Mountain King (a three-bass trio), comes to Jazz Central this week. Once an annual AQ party (for birthdays or
premature retirements), a night celebrating Irv Williams is on the Dakota
calendar for Sunday night. Sooner or later, the music finds a home. Let's get
out and hear it.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Illicit Sextet |
Friday, August 15. After earning high praise and popularity through
the mid 90s, the Illicit Sextet took
a break, for about 15 years. Revived in 2009 at the Artists Quarter and putting
out their second recording, Chapter 11,
last year, the IS has made the rounds since the AQ closed, and returns to the
Black Dog tonight with their mid-90s line-up intact---Steve Kenny, Paul Harper,
David Roos, Chris Lomheim, Tom Pieper and Nathan Norman.
Deviating
from the Bridge Series for an extra big band treat, Jazz Central presents Alaska native Keith Karns and his Big Band. Trumpeter-arranger-composer
Karns studied at UW-Eau Claire and currently teaches at the University of North Texas.
Among the locals in the band tonight, note young piano phenom Joe Strachan.
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| George Cartwright |
There's a
new old venue in town presenting music and some jazz-- The Nicollet. An earlier
incarnation presented weekly jazz in a coffeehouse setting and closed about a
year ago. Under new management and with beer and wine license, The Nicollet has
an eclectic line up, tonight featuring one of the most respected of the avant garde
ensembles, George Cartwright's Merciless
Ghost, with Josh Gronowski and Davu Seru. As they describe themselves, the
band is dedicated to "the spirit of group improvisation and the sometimes
agonizing struggle to speak using one’s own voice."
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| Arne Fogel |
Parma 8200 continues to host a stellar
schedule of vocalists on Fridays, and tonight it's our own Bing and Frank
expert, Arne Fogel. Arne's been busy
outside of the Twin Cities, with some work in Los Angeles, but he's back on home turf with
swinging pals Rick Carlson and Keith Boyles.
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| South High students --part of the Jazz Crew |
Saturday, August 16.
Over the past year, late sets on Fridays at Jazz Central typically have
included the Jazz Crew, a core group
of high school musicians hosting a jam for other young artists. Tonight is a
special Jazz Crew, celebrating summer and the "crew" who are heading
off to college programs in a few weeks. South High jazzers have been among the
Jazz Crew leaders, and this is a good opportunity to hear them play before they
start the next phase of their jazz education.
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| Irv Williams Trio |
Sunday, August 17. He's still recording, he's still
holding down the Dakota's Friday Happy Hour gig, and he's probably had three
retirement parties in the last four years. So it seems a safer bet to wish Irv Williams a Happy Birthday rather
than Happy Retirement this weekend as Mr. Smooth celebrates number 95 at the
Dakota. Expect more than a few cast members beyond his usual trio of Steve
Blons and Billy Peterson. His latest CD (Then
Was Then, Now Is Now) is an elegant trio affair and should be available at
the show.
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| Evan Montgomery |
Monday, August 18. It's been a summer of return
visits. Tonight, guitarist Evan
Montgomery leads a quintet at Jazz Central, taking a break from graduate
studies at CalArts. He's joined by former cohort Adam Meckler along with Brian
Courage, Jay Epstein, and fellow guitarist Park Evans. He won't be here for
long so get out and enjoy!
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| Phil Hey |
Finally,
the Phil Hey Quartet makes a club
appearance -- tonight at the Icehouse as the guest artists for JT's Jazz
Implosion. Hey, Dave Hagedorn, Phil Aaron and Tom Lewis have been reading each
other's musical minds for nearly 20 years. (Catch them again next Friday night
at Jazz Central!)
Tuesday, August 19. Warming up for the State Fair
debut next week, the Explosion Big Band,
led by Doug Haining and Scott Agster, fills their monthly slot at Jazz Central.
Big band seems to be making a comeback in the metro, thanks in part to the
creative and original charts from bands like Explosion, which features a who's
who of local jazz.
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| Mountain King |
Wednesday, August 20. Three young area bassists put their
inventive minds together about two years ago and convinced Artist Quarter owner
Kenny Horst to give them a try-- and Mountain
King was born. Three acoustic bassists and nothing else! Not only are their
arrangements clever and playful, audiences seem riveted by the interplay of
Brian Courage, Jeremy Boettcher and Graydon Peterson. The band does not get
together often, and now it might be less often with Courage heading to New York in a few weeks.
Really, you do not want to miss this gig at Jazz Central. Three bassists, no
amps, lots of mischief.
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| Steve Kenny |
Thursday, August 21. Steve Kenny curates the All Originals jazz
concert series at Studio Z on Thursday nights through mid September. Tonight he
brings is own band, Group 47, into
the second floor studio space, still celebrating the recent release of their Straight to Vinyl LP. Kenny heads a band
of young turks -- bassist Adam Tucker and three college/college bound masters,
Thomas Strommen (tenor), Alex Burgess (drums) and the remarkable 17-year-old pianist,
Will Kjeer, who leaves in a few weeks for a year of post secondary study at
Interlochen. What this means for Group 47 is unclear-- Steve might form Group
48 or just plan around Will's vacation schedule. What it means for you is
"go hear these guys tonight." Where else can you hear Thomas'
"Sad Mud" or Will's "Saving Document?"
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| Mary Ann Sullivan and Doug Haining |
Hard-working
jazz curators like Maryann Sullivan
sometimes have to break protocol and schedule a gig themselves! Tonight Maryann
sings (and swings) on the Vocal Jazz Showcase at Jazz Central. Her trio features
hubby Doug Haining on sax, son Trevor Haining on drums, and pal Dave Martin on
guitar.
More Jazz Every Night
Keep up
with the live jazz scene in the Twin Cities -- check out calendars at Jazz Police, KBEM, Rhythm and Grooves and All About Jazz, as well as here
on the blog. More jazz to tickle your
ears:
Friday, August 15. Irv Williams Trio, happy hour at
the Dakota; Todd Harper at the Black Dog;
Jake Hanson and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Axis Mundi
at Hell's Kitchen; Jerry O'Hagen Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at the Medina
Ballroom; Three Loud at The Cellar at Scusi
Saturday, August 16. Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Jake Hanson and James Buckley, dinner sets at
the Icehouse; Debbie Duncan at Hell's Kitchen; Nachito Herrera at the Dakota
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| Debbie Duncan |
Sunday, August 17. Tim Sparks, brunch at the
Icehouse; Bill Duna Quartet with Charmin Michelle, Cool Summer Jazz at Church
of St Albert the Great (Minneapolis); Jazz in the Vineyard, Barbara Meyer Trio
at Alexis Bailey Vineyards (Hastings); Dave Koz at the Minnesota Zoo; Zacc
Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; T Collective at the Icehouse
Monday, August 18. Denny Malmberg and guest at
Fireside Pizza; Davell Crawford at the Dakota; Fantastic Merlins with George Cartwright at the Black
Dog
Tuesday, August 19. Davell
Crawford at the Dakota; Patty and the Buttons at Cafe Maude; Cafe Accordion at
Loring Pasta Bar; River City Jazz Band at Minnesota Music Cafe
Wednesday, August 20. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza; Wolverines Trio at Hell's Kitchen; Zacc Harris Trio at Cafe
Maude; Moonlight Serenaders at Edinborough
Park (Edina); Stew Frog (Scott Fultz, Dean Granros, Steven Goldstein) at the Black Dog
Thursday, August 21. Charmin Michelle and the Jerry
O'Hagan Orchestra, Swing Dance at Wabsha
Street Caves
Coming Soon!
. August
22, Phil Hey Quartet/Stefan Kac at Jazz Central
. August
23, Lulu's Playground, Fun Art Studio (Stillwater,
2-4 pm)
. August
25, Jazz Central All-Stars at Jazz Central
. August
25, Dave Martin/Mike Doolin CD release at Icehouse followed by Brian Courage
Farewell Party
. August
26, Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central
. August
27, Dave Martin/Mike Doolin CD release at the Black Dog
. August
27, Davu Seru Quartet at Jazz Central
. August
28, Atlantis Quartet at Studio Z
. August
28, Arne Fogel at Jazz Central
. August
29, Reynold Philipsek, live documentary taping at 318 Cafe
. August
29, Maud Hixson at Parma
8200
. August
29, Eric Gravatt and Source Code at Jazz Central
. August
30, Dave Martin and Mike Doolin, Guitar Repair Clinic, CD release at Jazz
Central
. August
31, Connie Evingson and Jon Weber, Best of the Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks at
Jungle Theater (matinee and evening)
. September
4, Nichols/Bates/Bates at Studio Z
. September
10, Evan Christopher at the Dakota
. September
11, Adam Meckler Orchestra at Studio Z
. September
11, Colleen Raye at Jazz Central
. 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, Steven Hobert CD Release at Friends
Meeting St Paul
. 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
25, Joan Griffith at Khyber Pass
. September
26, Pablo Ziegler Tango Project at the Dakota
. September
26, Adam Meckler Orchestra at MacPhail (Antonello Hall)
. September
28, French 75 with Maud Hixson, Schneider Theater, Bloomington Center
for the Arts (2 pm)
. September
30-October 1, Larry Coryell/Victor Bailey/Lenny White at the Dakota
. October
5-6, Hiromi Trio Project at the Dakota
. October
11, JazzMN Orchestra with Dave Weckl at Hopkins High School
Auditorium
. October
12, Laura Caviani and JazzAX at Carleton
College (3 pm)
. October
18, Chris Lomheim Trio CD release at Studio Z
. 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
. December
2, Jazz at Lincoln
Center Orchestra with
Wynton Marsalis and Cecile McLorin Salvant at Orchestra Hall
. December
21-22, Karrin Allyson Holiday Show at the Dakota
. March 12,
2015, Jack DeJohnette at Walker
Art Center,
McGuire Theater
. May 2,
2015, Jason Moran and Robert Glasper at Walker Art Center, McGuire Theater
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| Brian Courage plays his final gigs as a MN resident --Farewell gig at the Icehouse on August 25th |
