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| Cecile McLorin Salvant with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, December 2 at Orchestra Hal |
© Andrea Canter
Star-bright
visitors help usher in a month of holiday delights this week, while some local
heavyweights kick off the weekend. Don't let Black Friday chaos keep you from
enjoying some outstanding music!
Big Gigs This Week
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| Graydon peterson |
Friday, November 28. Off the map for a while this fall,
the Graydon Peterson Quartet roars
back at Jazz Central tonight. Trumpeter Adam Meckler is back from his European
tour with Youngblood Brass, adding his horn to the leader's basslines and
dynamic contributions from guitarist Vinnie Rose and drummer Adrian Suarez.
Original fare keeps your ears on edge.
At the
Black Dog, Saturday Night Jazz takes a break and instead we have a jazz feast
tonight with three creative "chefs"-- Steve Kenny, Chris Bates and Davu Seru. Pretty much anything can
happen.
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| Dave King at the Icehouse |
A
multi-night "Dave King
Take-Over" at the Icehouse has its jazziest set tonight with the Dave King Trucking Company filling any
late-night gaps in entertainment. Brandon Wozniak, Erik Fratzke and Adam Linz
play original compositions, with Dave's more punk-flavored Gang Font (with
Fratzke, Bryan Nichols and Greg Norton) playing an even later set. (Rock and roots bands Loves Cars and Red
Daughters close out the Take Over tomorrow.)
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| Patty and the Buttons (press photo) |
Saturday, November 29. It's hard to imagine more family
fun at a jazz gig than the CD Release Party for Patty and the Buttons' latest, The
Mercury Blues. The early afternoon celebration takes place at the historic
Heights Theater, complete with the Wurlitzer organ, silent film clips, and a
special appearance by Davina ("and the Vagabonds") Sowers and Zack
Lozier. The new recording features a raft of originals and appealing vocals
from accordion master Patrick Harison, along with a handful of early 20th
century blues and swing covers.
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| Emerson Hunton |
Perhaps as
opposite as you can get in one day, drummer Emerson
Hunton takes a brief break from studies at Oberlin to bring a band to Jazz
Central, part of the bimonthly Jazz Police Young Artists Showcase. It's a band
that truly merges Emerson's past local exploits and his current influences at
Oberlin-- he's featuring two Oberlin pals, Noah Gershwin (guitar) and Nathan
Rice (saxophones), along with young rising star trumpeter Jake Baldwin and
former mentor, bassist Adam Linz. The set list includes original music from the
musicians as well as some newly arranged covers. Definitely from the 21st century.
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| Miguel Hurtado |
Late Night
at the Dakota will present the current version of what was originally
Courageous Endeavors. But with the "Courageous" moniker outdated with
Brian Courage's move to New York
last fall, the remaining "Endeavors"
(Miguel Hurtado, Nelson Devereaux and Joe Strachan) are updating -- so expect
some surprises.
Sunday, November 30. Former Twin Cities resident now
based in Omaha,
Luke Polopnik is in town for a bit
and will mix it up in a free improv trio at the Black Dog early this evening
with the always inventive saxman George
Cartwright and percussion/electronics wizard Tim Glenn.
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| Joey D |
Monday, December 1. With his first holiday album
released last month, B-3 prodigy-turned-legend Joey DeFrancesco returns to the Dakota for a night of seasonal
gems, with guitarist Jeff Parker and drummer George Fludas filling out the
trio. Likely Joey will pull out the trumpet for a couple tunes too.
Check out
up-and-coming talents when the Minnesota
Youth Jazz Band holds its fall show at Famous Dave's in Uptown, with a
special appearance from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Jazz I ensemble
opening for the high school stars. A number of UW-EC musicians got their start
with MYJB. Bandleader/educator Dave Mitchell has helped launch many careers!
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| Corey Healy |
At the
Icehouse, Luke Polopnik celebrates a
CD release as the duo Type Type with
drummer Cory Healey and introduces local audiences to his Omaha-based organ
trio with Mitch Town (B-3) and Dana Murray (drums); rounding out a triple-set
"Jazz Implosion" is the quartet Mancrush
(Lars-Erik Larsen, Zacc Harris, Brandon Woziak and Bryan Nichols).
Tuesday, December 2. It's First Tuesday which usually means it's
Dean Magraw and Davu Seru at the
Black Dog. Dean's on the road, so tonight Davu pairs up with flautist Faye Washington for what should prove to be a very interesting evening of flute/percussion adventures.
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| Wynton Marsalis |
The holiday
season gets a big boost as Orchestra Hall presents Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with
special guest vocalist, Cecile McLorin
Salvant. Wynton and JACLO are no strangers to Orchestra Hall, and each
visit typically is a season highlight. But add to the mix the most celebrated
vocalist of the past two years, one who captured Best Vocalist, Best Album and
Best New Artist Awards from various critics' polls in 2013 and 2014, as well as
winning the 2010 Thelonious Monk Vocal Competition at age 20. Salvant has
incredible range both vocally and conceptually, enticing audiences with songs
from Bessie Smith through Ella and her own originals that seem to spring out of
a Betty Carter/Abbey Lincoln songbook.
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| Jeremy Walker |
Following this show, stick around for
the inaugural Jazz in the Target Atrium
event, curated by Jeremy Walker and tonight featuring several horns of JACLO
(Ted Nash, Marcus Printup and Vincent Gardner) with Walker's "Bootet" (Anthony Cox, JT
Bates).
Wednesday, December 3. It's beginning to be a monthly
event on a Foodie Night: The Travis
Anderson Trio swings again, hard, with bassist Steve Pikal and drummer
Nathan Norman supporting a young master of swing and stride piano. Travis and
friends will swing you into oblivion and have a lot of fun along the way. No
cover -- it's Foodie Night!
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| Phil Mattson Singers |
Thursday, December 4. The Phil Mattson Singers return to vocal night at Jazz Central, with a
change or two in personnel but no change in their spot-on harmonies that recall
the great vocal ensembles and feature a book of familiar and less familiar
tunes. Phil himself lends orchestral accompaniment from a single piano.
At Khyber Pass, Thursday night music continues with the
spotlight on percussionist Davu Seru.
This is one of the most intimate settings for jazz in the Twin Cities -- and
where else can you order Afghani chutneys and tea with your avant garde jazz?
More Jazz This Week!
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, November 28. Todd
Harper at the Black Dog; Irv Williams and Steve Blons, happy hour at the
Dakota; Tony London Trio at Parma 8200, Luke Polopnik and James Buckley, dinner
sets at the Icehouse
Saturday, November 29. Maurice Jacox, brunch at Hell's
Kitchen; Frankhouse at Hell's Kitchen; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby
Bar (Saint Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Nachito Herrera at
the Dakota
Sunday, November 30. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at
the Aster Cafe; Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, December 1. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg
at Fireside Pizza; Zack Lozier at Jazz Central
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| Denny Malmberg |
Tuesday, December 2. Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz
Central; Beasley's Big Band at O'Gara's
Wednesday, December 3. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Parisota Hot Club at The Tangiers; Connie Evingson
with Adi Yeshaya and Gordy Johnson, Jazz in the Lounge at the Minneapolis Woman's Club; Three Loud Trio at
Cafe Maude
Thursday, December 4. Moonlight Serenaders with Lee Engele at Wabasha
Street Caves; Patrick Harison at Cafe Maude; Gypsy Mania at Hell's Kitchen;
Katia Cardenas with Dave Martin at the Driftwood CharBar
Coming Soon!
. December
5-8, White Christmas with Maude
Hixson and Rick Carlson at the Heights Theater
. December
5, Larry McDonald Holiday Show at The Nicollet
. December
6, Atlantis Quartet at the Black Dog
. December
6, Babatunde Lea Quintet, Jazz at Studio Z
. December
6, Dan Newton's Cafe Accordion, Jazz @ St Barney's at St Barnabas Lutheran
Church
. December
6, Katia Cardenas Quartet, Late Night at the Dakota
. December
7, Century Jazz Ensemble Holiday Show at Century College
. December
8, Thomas Strommen at Jazz Central
. December
9, Maryann Sullivan and Corner Jazz at The Nicollet
. December
11, Charles Lazarus "Merry and Bright" at Wayzata Community
Church
. December
12, Connie Evingson with Rick Carlson at Parma
8200
. December
13, PipJazz Holiday Concert at Maplewood Community Center Theater
. December
13, Red 5 at the Black Dog
. December
14, Maudi Hixson, Wolverines, Bob DeFlores films, "Let It Snow" at
the Capri Theater
. December
14, Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood at First Avenue
. December
15, Larry McDonough Holiday Show at the Icehouse
. December
15-16, Roberta Gambarini at the Dakota
. December
16, Adam Meckler Orchestra at Jazz Central
. December
18, Mike Lewis solo at Khyber Pass
. December
19, Barbara Meyer and Phil Mattson at the 318 Cafe
. December
19 & 21, Doc Severinsen with the Minnesota
Orchestra at Orchestra Hall
. December
20, Twin Cities Jazz Sampler at Jazz Central
. December
20, Peterson Family "Jam Before Christmas" at the Dakota
. December
21-22, Karrin Allyson Holiday Show at the Dakota
. December
25-28, The Bad Plus at the Dakota
. December
27, Big Band Christmas, Jazz @ St Barneys at St Barnabas Lutheran Church
. December
27, Fat Kid Wednesdays at the Black Dog
. December
27, Aaron Hedenstrom, Jazz at Studio Z
. December
27, Laura Caviani and Bob Bowman at Jazz Central
. December
31, Jazz Awards Night at Jazz Central
. January
9, Joel Shapira/Dean Granros CD Release at the Black Dog
. January
10, Bill Carrothers Trio, Jazz at Studio Z
. January
17, Joan Griffith and Reuben Ristrom at Hosmer Library
. January
20-21, Jose James at the Dakota
. January
22, David Berkman at Orchestra Hall (Target Atrium)
. January
25, Leigh Kamman Memorial Tribute at the Saint Paul Hotel (Ballroom)
. January
25, Chris Potter Quartet at the Dakota
. January
27-28, Dianne Reeves at the Dakota
. February
13, The Assad Brothers with Romero Lubambo at the Dakota
. March 9,
David Sanchez Quartet at the Dakota
. March 12,
Jack DeJohnette at Walker
Art Center,
McGuire Theater
. March 15,
Jazz Mn Orchestra with Pete Christlieb at Hopkins High School
Auditorium
. March
25-26, Delfeayo Marsalis (Southern Gentleman) at the Dakota
. March 29,
Tierney Sutton and Mark Summer at the Dakota
. April 16,
Anthony Cox and Jeremy Walker, "Rage of Achilles" at Orchestra Hall
(Target Atrium)
. April 25,
JazzMN Orchestra with Bob Mintzer at Hopkins
High School Auditorium
. May 2,
2015, Jason Moran and Robert Glasper at Walker Art Center, McGuire Theater
. May 8,
Ron Miles at Orchestra Hall, Target Atrium
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| Babatunde Lea brings his quartet to Jazz at Studio Z on December 6 |
