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Brian Courage plays his last sets as a MN resident Monday night at the Icehouse! |
© Andrea Canter
This week
we are in the midst of the State Fair, the start of the school year in most
area districts, and the end of the vacation season for most Minnesotans. That
means there's a boom in street repair, garden harvests, and trips to Target.
The only way to manage all these "countdown to winter" activities is
to set aside time for some live music. And there's plenty to choose from --even
some jazz at the State Fair! This week
we say good-bye and good luck to one of our honorary Minnesotans who managed to
either start up or become an essential part of numerous bands in his two years
on the local scene (Brian Courage); we celebrate the release of a guitar duo CD
featuring another transplant (David Martin) with multiple gigs; we have one
more opportunity to hear an ensemble that keeps the Twin Cities on the
international jazz map (Phil Hey Quartet); and there's a lot more to keep our
ears well oiled as we head into the Labor Day holiday weekend. And if you are
heading to the Chicago or Detroit Jazz Festivals next weekend, local music this
week will help rev up your jazz motors.
Big Gigs This Week
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Phil Hey |
Friday, August 22. Did you hear the Phil Hey Quartet last Monday at the
Icehouse? If so, you want an encore. Did you miss it? Then surely you don't
want to miss this veteran band again! On the Bridge Series at Jazz Central
tonight, you not only get a couple sets from one of the truly great quartets in
modern jazz, you can also stick around for a one-of-a-kind late set with former
resident tubist Stefan Kac. Currently
based in Los Angeles,
Kac gathers up some old pals to play some new music -- Geoff Senn, Shilad Sen,
and Pete Hennig as "Band on the Run."
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Maryann Sullivan |
The Black
Dog has seldom presented a jazz vocalist, but why not start with Maryann Sullivan? Maryann with guitarist
Robert Bell, clarinetist Tony Balluff and bassist Jim Chenoweth bring a new
slant to Friday night music at the Dog, featuring songs from the trad and swing
eras as well as some of Maryann's favorites.
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Lulu's Playground |
Saturday, August 23. Big music in small places-- and for
this Saturday afternoon, it's playful music in an even more playful setting as Lulu's Playground hits the patio at the Fun Art Gallery in Stillwater.
Just the instrumentation makes you smile-- accordion, cello, trumpet and
guitar, with Steven Hobert, Cory Grossman, Adam Meckler and Ben Abrahamson. In case of rain, the music moves into Tim
Nyberg's studio/gallery which resembles an oversize garage with wall to wall
whimsical paintings -- seems like a perfect fit for Lulu's music!
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Pavel Janey |
Sunday, August 24. Alexis Bailey Vineyards has hosted "Jazz
in the Vineyard" on Sundays throughout the summer, and this afternoon you
can enjoy guitarist Pavel Janey and the
Talking Strings (violinist Gary Schulte and bassist Dan Weston). Almost any
tune is fair game for their jazz/global music interpretations.
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Jazz Central All-Stars |
Monday, August 25. It's an all-star night on many
levels. You can start your evening at Jazz Central where the Jazz Central All-Stars make their first
appearance on their home turf. Organized with support from Jefferson Lines and
the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, this sextet of JC regulars (Dave Graf, Doug
Haining, Zack Lozier, Tanner Taylor, Graydon Peterson and Mac Santiago) has
toured throughout Greater Minnesota this summer and helped open the festival in
June with a gig in Highland Park.
Since Tanner moved to Iowa
last month, this will be his first return visit to Jazz Central.
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David Martin |
JT's Jazz
Implosion at the Icehouse will be a triple-header tonight, starting a little earlier
than usual (9 pm) with the first of several CD release gigs from guitarists
David Martin and Portland, Oregon guitarist Mike Doolin. The recording, Tough Commute, would help ease the
frustration of any commute!
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Brian Courage |
Up next is
the two-part Brian Courage Farewell Party,
with the first set featuring Brian with Mike Lewis and JT Bates, and the
quartet Courageous Endeavors coming
on for the late set, with Joe Strachan, Nelson Devereaux and Miguel
Hurtado. And speaking of
"courageous endeavors," be sure to come hear Brian tonight on his
last local gigs before heading to the Big Apple. We know he will do fine in New York -- we just hope
he comes back now and then as he has made a significant impact on Twin Cities
jazz in the two years he has spent with us.
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Geoff Senn |
Tuesday, August 26. Under the
leadership of trumpeter Geoff Senn and drummer Mac Santiago, the Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra
launched early in 2014 and has been holding down a monthly slot on the Jazz
Central Big Band night ever since. They also performed at this summer's Twin
Cities Jazz Festival, showing off a corps of the best of local jazz artists.
Not much room to dance at Jazz Central-- but plenty of up-close-and-personal
opportunities to appreciate Latin jazz.
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Davu Seru |
Wednesday, August 27. Usually heard at the Black Dog,
tonight percussion monster Davu Seru
brings a quartet to the New Music night at Jazz Central, featuring Scott Fultz,
Tom Reichard and Josh Granowski. Seru is both an aural and visual delight to
witness as he flails at the drums and whatever else is in reach.
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Arne Fogel |
Thursday, August 28. Two popular artists on both sides of the river
tonight: Veteran crooner and vocal jazz encyclopedia Arne Fogel takes over Vocal Jazz Night at Jazz Central, bringing
his interpretations of Bing, Frank and more. This is a great chance to hear him
in an intimate space filled with folks who listen!!
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Atlantis Quartet at Studio Z |
Over at Studio Z, the Atlantis Quartet (Zacc Harris, Brandon Wozniak, Chris Bates and
Pete Hennig) fills the slot for the All Originals concert series, performing
original compositions, both new and some favorites from past recordings.
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Dean Granros |
It's a
rather odd spot for music, perhaps, but the Khyber Pass Cafe near the
Macalester campus is serving up more than korma and chai. Thursday nights, the
dining room becomes a small jazz club with some of the most inventive
performers in town. This week, guitar magician Dean Granros is featured-- a rare occurrence these days regardless
of venue.
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 22. Todd Harper solo piano at the
Black Dog; Irv Williams and Steve Blons, happy hour at the Dakota; Bryan
Nichols and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Andrew Walesch at Parma
8200; Vic Volare at Hell's Kitchen
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Irv Williams and Steve Blons |
Saturday, August 23. Charmin & Shapira at Midtown
Global Market (12:30 pm); Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200
Sunday, August 24. Charmin Michelle, Denny Malmberg
and Steve Pikal at the State Fair, Musician's Union Booth at the AFL-CIO
Pavilion (4:30 pm); Zacc Harris, Chris Bates and Pete Hennig Trio at State Fair, Mn Wine Country Pavilion (6:30 pm); Jerry O'Hagan
Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom; Moonlight Serenaders at
Como Park Pavilion; T-Collective at the Icehouse
Monday, August 25. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Tuesday, August 26. Annie Lawler, Jazz on the Patio at Burger Mo's;
Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Rick Carlson Trio at Cafe Maude; David Martin/Mike Doolin CD Release at the 318 Cafe
Wednesday, August 27. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza; Jazz Night at The Tangiers; John Devine and Friends at
Loring Pasta Bar; Dave Martin/Mike Doolin CD Release at the Black Dog; Lori
Dokken at Cafe Maude
Thursday, August 28. Siama Matuzungidi with Scott Fultz at the Black Dog;
Coming Soon!
. 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 30, Foreign Motion with Patty Peterson at the Icehouse
. August 30, Foreign Motion with Patty Peterson at the Icehouse
. August
31, Connie Evingson and Jon Weber, Best of the Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks at
Jungle Theater (matinee and evening)
. September
1, Dave Martin/Mike Doolin, CD Release (brunch) at Hell's Kitchen
. September 2, Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz Central
. September 4, Nichols/Bates/Bates at Studio Z
. September 4-6, Concrete and Grass Lowertown Music Festival at Mears Park
. September 2, Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz Central
. September 4, Nichols/Bates/Bates at Studio Z
. September 4-6, Concrete and Grass Lowertown Music Festival at Mears Park
. September
10, Evan Christopher at the Dakota
. September
10, Lila Ammons at The Tangiers
. September 10, Enormous Quartet at Jazz Central
. September 10, Enormous Quartet at Jazz Central
. September
11, Adam Meckler Orchestra at Studio Z
. September 11, Jack Brass Band at the Amsterdam
. September 11, Jack Brass Band at the Amsterdam
. September
11, Colleen Raye at Jazz Central
. September 12, Dean Granros Quartet at Jazz Central
. September 12, Dean Granros Quartet at Jazz Central
. September
13, John Raymond Trio with Gilad Hekselman and Colin Stranahan, Jazz at Studio
Z
. September
13, Selby Avenue Jazz Festival featuring Harvey Mason (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 20, Joel Harrison Trio at Jazz Central
. September 20, Joel Harrison Trio at Jazz Central
. 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
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
5-6, Hiromi Trio Project at the Dakota
. November
6, Terri Lynne Carrington's Mosaic Project (with Rachel Z and Lizz Wright) 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
. March
25-26, Delfeayo Marsalis (Southern Gentleman) at the Dakota
. May 2,
2015, Jason Moran and Robert Glasper at Walker Art Center, McGuire Theater
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Eric Gravatt and Source Code, coming to Jazz Central on August 29 |