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Chris Potter, Adam Rogers (Undergroud), at the Dakota February 2-3 POSTPONED DUE TO EAST COAST STORM |
© Andrea Canter
Our January thaw is
apparently over, but live jazz continues at a simmering level as we head into
February. Steve Kenny continues to book jazz on Saturdays at the Black Dog (Dean
Granros Quartet this weekend), and has just announced similar intentions for
Fridays at The Nicollet in Minneapolis starting in March; What Would Monk Do surfaces at Jazz
Central; Chris Potter brings his quartet to the Dakota after a long absences on
that stage as a leader; Matt Otto comes to town and mixes it up with the
Fantastic Merlins at the Icehouse; Dean Magraw is back in town and ready to
co-host the First Tuesday gig with Davu Seru at the Black Dog, and of course
there's more. NOTE: Potter snowed in in NYC, Feb 2 show postponed, check with the Dakota re Feb 3 show.
Big Gigs This Week
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What Would Monk Do? |
Friday, January 30. What Would
Monk Do? As unpredictable as was the famed and eccentric composer/pianist,
he most likely would have spent tonight at Jazz Central enjoying the
interpretations of four Twin Cities veterans--Steve Kenny, Peter Schimke, Billy
Peterson and Kenny Horst. On the "Bridge" series, what could be
better than four of the old Artists Quarter's favorites collaborating to find
new twists on Monk tunes as well as Monkish inspiration for some new
compositions?
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Chris Lomheim |
The Icehouse continues to
present some of the finest jazz in the Twin Cities,
usually on Monday nights and weekends. Most weekends during dinner service, you
can find a duo, usually bass with piano or guitar. Tonight, unwind with pianist
Chris Lomheim and bassist James Buckley, two of the area's best,
and enjoy some of the west metro's most creative (and tasty!) dinner and snack
options, as well as a great drink list. (Come back tomorrow night when guitar
wizard Tim Sparks joins Buckley).
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Dean Granros |
Saturday, January 31. Saturday Night at the Black Dog continues (as it
will through 2015), tonight featuring veterans on both ends. The opening set
highlights the too-seldom heard talents of saxophonist Dave Brattain and his quartet (Kevin Daley, Billy Peterson, Dave Schmalenberger), followed by the increasingly heard
virtuosity and inventiveness of guitar master Dean Granros, returning with cohorts Zacc Harris, Chris Bates and
Jay Epstein. Modern jazz just does not get better - or more accessible - than
this, and the intimate space of the Black Dog focuses attention on every note.
It will be a soulful evening
at the Dakota tonight when smooth-as-silk saxophonist Steve Cole returns with good friends Ricky, Paul and Patty
Peterson. Expect an eclectic mix of jazz, R&B, gospel and pop.
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Butch Thompson |
In the west burbs, Jazz @ St
Barneys continues its monthly-plus series of concerts with trad legend Butch Thompson leading a most swinging
trio with clarinetist Tony Balluff and bassist Steve Pikal. If they can't get
your toes tapping.... you might want to check with a podiatrist.
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Pharoah Sanders |
Want to hear a living legend
in one of New York's
hottest jazz spots without leaving town? Pillsbury House Theatre (partnering
with KBEM radio) presents a live Jazz at Lincoln Center
webcast of legendary jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, broadcast in HD at 8:30 p.m. utilizing
Pillsbury House Theatre’s sound system for superior audio quality. Tickets are
free but reservations are needed: Call 612-825-0459 or
email info@pillsburyhousetheater.org. Watch
for more of these live broadcasts --Pillsbury House is a JALC Micro Network
partner this season.
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David Berkman, Target Atrium |
Or if you want to hear some
red hot modern jazz without even leaving home tonight, tune into KBEM at 9 pm
for the broadcast of the January 22 Jazz
in the Target Atrium concert (Orchestra Hall), with New York-based pianist David Berkman collaborating with local
heroes Brandon Wozniak, Anthony Cox and JT Bates.
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Zach Schmidt |
Monday, February 2. The Jazz Central spotlight tonight shines on drummer
Zach Schmidt and his quartet
featuring Park Evans, Ted Godbout and Andrew Foreman. Expect standards and new
compositions from these formidable musicans.
Kansas-based saxophonist Matt Otto comes to town, playing tonight
on JT's Jazz Implosion series at the Icehouse. He's joined by a trio of
insatiable improvisers, the Fantastic
Merlins-- Nathan Hanson, Doan Brian Roessler and Pete Hennig. Otto is
co-founder of the Los Angeles Jazz Collective and notably has performed with
Anthony Wilson and Alan Ferber.
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Chris Potter |
Monday-Tuesday, February 2-3. THIS SHOW (2/2) POSTPONED DUE TO EAST COAST STORM. STEVE KENNY QUINTET AT THE DAKOTA 2/2. It's been nearly a decade since ace saxophonist Chris Potter led an ensemble in the Twin Cities -- his then-new
Underground quartet performed here in 2006. Potter has returned a couple times
with the Dave Holland Quintet, but still was long overdue here. Like the
Holland band, Underground has gone through a few changes over the years, but
still ranks as one of the most intriguing and effective ensembles in modern
jazz. With bass now replacing keyboards, Potter's Underground will bring us
four sets over two nights of original music, with tenorman Potter joined by his
current touring band of Adam Rogers on guitar, Fima Ephron on bass, and Nate
Smith on drums. Potter is also celebrating the late January release of his
expanded Underground Orchestra's Invisible
Cities (ECM).
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Dean Magraw |
Tuesday, February 3. Back from some road trips, guitar magician Dean Magraw is again co-hosting First Tuesdays at the Black Dog with masterful percussionist Davu Seru. Magnificent mayhem!

Thursday, February 5. Now into its second year, Vocal Jazz Night at Jazz Central brings in The Sound Doctors. A vocal a cappella quintet, the "doctors" include Dorian Chalmers, Dennis Curley, Greg Eiden, Geoff Thompson and Sheridan Zuther, with such credits as the Phil Mattson Singers, Shoop!, Five by Design, Pizazz Band and more. They'll perform original arrangements of jazz and pop standards. Nothing but good health from these docs!
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Arne Fogel |
Speaking of a sound doctor,
there is none with a better cure rate than vocalist Arne Fogel, crooning his magic tonight at Hell's Kitchen!
More Jazz All Week!
Keep up with the live jazz
scene in the Twin Cities -- check out calendars at Jazz
Police, KBEM, Rhythm and Grooves and Jazz Near You, as well as here on the
blog. More jazz to tickle your ears:
Friday, January 30. Irv Williams and Steve Blons, happy hour at the
Dakota; Todd Harper, happy hour at the Black Dog; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske
in the Lobby Bar, Saint Paul Hotel; Jason and the Q at Parma 8200; John Paulson
with Swing, Inc. at Signatures (Winona, MN); Mississippi Hot Club at Bryant
Lake Bowl; Connie Olson at the Cellar at Scusi
Saturday, January 31. Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; LaVelle Jazz
Cats at Crooners Lounge; Tim Sparks and James Buckley, dinner sets at the
Icehouse; Harrelson Trumpet Night at Jazz Central; Katia Cardenas at The
Nicollet; Joel Shapira solo guitar at Ingredients Cafe'
Sunday, February 1. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster; Zacc
Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, February 2. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside
Pizza; BZ3 Organ Trio at the Narrows Saloon;
Benny Weinbeck Trio at Crooners Lounge
Tuesday, February 3. Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Bill Simonsen
Orchestra at Jazz Central; Patrick Harison at Cafe Maude; Acme Jazz Company
with Arne Fogel at Crooners Lounge; Patrice Michaels,
"Jazz Meets Classical" at Macalester College, Mairs Hall; Beasley's
Big Band at O'Gara's
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Andrew Walesch |
Wednesday, February 4. Connie Evingson's Jazz in the Lounge with Benny
Weinbeck, Gordy Johnson and Dave Karr; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at
Fireside Pizza; Wolverines Trio at Hell's Kitchen; New Music Night at Jazz
Central; Jazz at the Tangiers; Andrew Walesch Quartet at Crooners Lounge
Thursday, February 5. John Paulson Trio, Noon at the Garden View Cafe at
Mayo (Rochester, MN);
John Devine and Friends at Loring Pasta Bar; Moonlight Serenaders at Wabasha Street Caves;
Larry Dunsmore at Crooners Lounge
Coming Soon!
. February
7, Kenny Horst and Friends at the Black Dog (Opening - Jon Pemberton Trio)
. February
7-8, Bruce Henry, Legends series at the Capri
. February
9, Firebell at the Black Dog
. February
9, Solomon Parham at Jazz Central
. February
10, Sean McMahon and Adi Yeshaya, Live at 5 at McNally Smith
. February
12, Jack Brass Band at the Amsterdam
. February
13, The Assad Brothers with Romero Lubambo at the Dakota
. February
14, Paul Harper Quartet (Opening - Central Standard Time) at the Black Dog
. February
14, Maud Hixson, Rick Carlson "Bad for Each Other" at the Icehouse.
. February
15, Longfellow Concert and fundraiser, Laura Caviani, Pete Whitman and more (3
pm) at Christ Lutheran
Church (Minneapolis)
. February 17-18, David Sanborn at the Dakota
. February
21, Studio Z Winter Jazz Festival (Adam Meckler Orchestra, Endeavors, Atlantis
Quartet, Mancrush, Nichols/Bates/Bates, Graydon Peterson Quartet)
. February
21, Glen David Andrews at the Dakota
. February
21, Good Vibes Trio at the Black Dog (Opening - Central Standard Time)
. February
21, U Wisconsin River Falls Jazz Ensemble with Donny McCaslin, William
Abbot Concert Hall at UW-River
Falls
. February
22, Lulu's Playground at Jazz Central (3 pm)
. February
25, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium
. February
28, U of M Jazz Festival with guest Pat Mallinger (evening concert)
. February
28, Zacc Harris Group at the Black Dog (Opening - Central Standard Time)
. February
28, Arne Fogel & Jennifer Eckes, “What The World Needs Now: The Songs of
Burt Bacharach & Hal David” at the Bloomington Center
for the Arts
. February
28, Minnesota State
University Mankato
Jazz Mavericks, with Mike Stern and Kenni Holmen in Halling Recital Hall, MSU Mankato
. March 3,
Rene Marie at the Dakota
. March 6,
Eric Gravatt and Dean Magraw at The Nicollet
. March 6,
"Raisin’ Cane: A Harlem Renaissance
Odyssey"
with Jasmine Guy and the Avery Sharpe Trio at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium
. March 7,
DD7 at the Black Dog (Opening - Charles Lincoln Group)
. March 9,
David Sanchez Quartet at the Dakota
. March
10-11, Cassandra Wilson
at the Dakota
. March 12,
Jack DeJohnette at Walker
Art Center,
McGuire Theater
. March 13,
Foreign Motion at The Nicollet
. March 13,
Peter Vircks Quartet at Jazz Central
. March 14,
Chris Botti at Orchestra Hall
. March 15,
Jazz Mn Orchestra with Pete Christlieb at Hopkins High School
Auditorium
. March 20,
Jake Baldwin Quintet at The Nicollet
. March
23-24, Steve Tyrell at the Dakota
. March
25-26, Delfeayo Marsalis (Southern Gentleman) at the Dakota
. March 27,
How Birds Work at The Nicollet
. 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 16,
Bettye LaVette at the Dakota
. April 17,
Ann Hampton Callaway at Orchestra Hall
. April 25,
JazzMN Orchestra with Bob Mintzer at Hopkins
High School Auditorium
. April
25-26, Irv Williams, Legends concert at The Capri
. May 2,
Jason Moran and Robert Glasper at the Walker
. June
25-27, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Mears
Park and beyond
. July 2-4,
Iowa City Jazz Festival (Charles Lloyd, Dave Douglas, Rudresh Mahanthappa,
Julian Lage, Brian Charette, Atlantis Quartet, Becca Stevens, COLOSSUS)
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Firebell comes to the Black Dog, February 9th |