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| Ramsey Lewis with Joshua Ramos -- Electric Band at the Dakota January 8-9 |
© Andrea Canter
Happy New
Year! If this week is any indication, the jazz scene is off to a good start for
2015. It's cold, so never a better time to come indoors and warm up your ears.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Jeremy Walker |
Friday, January 2. Jazz Central kicks off the 2015 Bridge Series
with composer/pianist Jeremy Walker's
Small City Trio, featuring bassist Jeff Brueske and drummer Tim
Zhorne. Whatever Jeremy has cooked up
for this evening will surely please any fans of modern small ensemble
interaction.
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| Patty Peterson |
At Parma 8200, it's a rare
opportunity to hear vocalist Patty
Peterson in a trio context with just nephew Jason Peterson DeLaire (keys)
and long-time cohort Billy Franze on bass. Patty recently returned from LA
where she wowed the crowd at Catalina's.
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| Bruce Henry |
Saturday, January 4.
It's been a while since former Twin Citian Bruce Henry performed at the Dakota, but the now-Chicago based
singer will be on stage at his old stomping grounds tonight. There's really no
one quite like Bruce in blending be-bop, ballads, and soul.
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| Steve Kenny with Group 47 |
At the
Black Dog, Saturday Night Jazz continues (as it will for the next 52 Saturdays
and hopefully beyond), tonight featuring Steve
Kenny's Group 47 in the headline slot, and young lions Ramtrak (Jake Baldwin, Thomas Nordlund, Lars-Erik Larson) in the
opening set. Group 47 had a busy 2014, shifting from weekly gigs at the Artists
Quarter to a number of performances at Jazz Central, Black Dog, Icehouse, and
Studio Z, and the release of their debut album, Straight to Vinyl. Available on vinyl, of course. With pianist Will
Kjeer spending a year at Interlochen, there have been few opportunities in the
past few months for the band to get together, so take advantage of Will's
winter break tonight! Joining Steve and Will will be saxophonist Thomas
Strommen, bassist Adam Tucker, and drummer Alex Burgess.
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| Pippi Ardennia |
Sunday, January 5. They sang the roof off the Bedlam
last month; now the vocal trio of Pippi
Ardennia, Patty Lacy and Judi Gronseth will rattle the walls at the Dakota,
melding jazz, blues and R&B. There will be a lot of energy among these
ladies and it's likely to be highly contagious.
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| Brian Ziemniak |
Monday, January 6. A new venue for jazz in the
burbs-- welcome to the Narrows Saloon in Navarre, presenting BZ3 organ trio every Monday night. In
the tradition of classic organ trios, BZ3 features local keyboard hero Brian
Ziemniak, with guitarist Troy Norton and drummer Kevin Washington. "The
Twin Cities has had many great organists through the years - Bobby Lyle, Jack
McDuff, Billy Holloman, and Steve Cherewan to name a few," says Brian,
"and we’re just trying to follow in that tradition of playing great soul
and jazz music with the lean, mean lineup of an organ trio." Expect the
foundation of 1960s organ trios translated into 21st century grooves.
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| Casey O'Brien |
Bassist Casey O'Brien holds a CD release party
at the Icehouse with his trio, including saxophonist Nathan Hanson and drummer
Davu Seru. His Ghost Dance is filled
with ethereal harmonies, as one might expect given the album title. It's a
double header on the Jazz Implosion series, with a late set from saxman Chris Thomson.
Tuesday, January 7. First Tuesdays at the Black Dog is
usually hosted by Dean Magraw and Davu Seru. Dean's been out on tour, and
tonight his spot is ably filled by one of the local avant garde elite, AACM
alum Douglas Ewart. Ewart not only
plays a variety of wind and percussion instruments, he makes many of them
himself and/or adds his own artistic touches to color and design. Should be a
very interesting evening with Douglas and Davu.
Another new
venue, Crooner Lounge in Fridley
books great voices in various contexts. Tonight the Acme Jazz Company with Arne Fogel is on stage at the former site of
the Shorewood. Come hear one of the region's finest big bands playing original
charts, along with their frequent cohort, and one who surely belongs on stage
at a place dubbed "Crooners"!
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| Arne Fogel |
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| Ramsey Lewis |
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| Adam Linz |
Thursday, January 9. Launched a couple months ago, Le Percheron is a cross-generational
ensemble featuring Adam Linz, Brandon Wozniak, Levi Schwartzberg and Cory
Healey -- where Adam and Brandon are the elder statesmen! On the Thursday night
jazz series at Khyber Pass, the first set will
be duets, the second set the full band.
It's the
second Thursday -- that means Jack Brass
Band at the Amsterdam, bringing a bit of New Orleans to the
Minnesota Delta!
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 Jazz Near You, as well as here
on the blog. More jazz to tickle your ears:
Friday, January 2. Irv
Williams, happy hour at the Dakota; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby
Bar, Saint Paul Hotel
Saturday, January 3. Bryan Nichols and James Buckley,
dinner sets at the Icehouse; Paula Lammers with the WindWood Trio at Mason Jar (Cupcake); Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Tim Patrick
Trio at Hell's Kitchen; Pig's Eye Jass Band at Eagle's Aerie Club
Sunday, January 4. Mill City Hot Club, brunch at
Hell's Kitchen; Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster Cafe; Parisota Hot
Club at Como Park Conservatory (4:30 pm); Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine
Bar
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| Ted Olsen |
Monday, January 5. Charmin and Shapira and Friends at
the Dakota; Denny Malmberg and guest at Fireside Pizza; Ted Olsen at Jazz
Central
Tuesday, January 6. Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar;
Sophia Shorai at the Dakota; Beasley's Big Band at O'Gara's; Bill Simonsen
Orchestra at Jazz Central; Three Loud Trio at Cafe Maude; Joe Mayo Quartet at The Nicollet; Coloring Time
(improv) at the Icehouse
Wednesday, January 7. Connie Evingson with Benny Weinbeck Trio at the Minneapolis Woman's Club; Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Wolverines Trio at Hell's Kitchen; Thomas Nordlund and Chomsky at Jazz Central; Artists Showcase with Katia Cardenas at Moti-I
Thursday, January 8. Radio Joe Demko at Jazz Central;
Minnesota Jazz Orchestra at Wabasha Street Caves; Joe Strachan at Angelino's
(Woodbury); Southside Aces at Eagle's Aerie Club; Dan Ristrom Trio at Coup d'Etat
Coming Soon!
. January
9, Joel Shapira/Dean Granros CD Release at the Black Dog
. January
9, Arne Fogel at Parma
8200
. January
9, JT Bates Organ Trio at Jazz Central
. January
9, Nachito Herrera Trio at the Dakota
. January
10, Bill Carrothers Trio, Jazz at Studio Z
. January 10, Jazz @ St Barneys with Connie Evingson and Parisota Hot Club at St Barnabas Lutheran Church
. January 10, Jazz @ St Barneys with Connie Evingson and Parisota Hot Club at St Barnabas Lutheran Church
. January
12, Adam Meckler at Jazz Central
. January
13, Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education Fundraiser at the Dakota
. January
15, Larry McDonough at Jazz Central
. January
16, Thomas Bruce at Parma
8200
. January
16, Joyce Lyons at Underground Music Cafe
. January
16, Steve Kenny Quartet at The Nicollet
. January
16, Far Cry at Jazz Central
. January 16-18, Arne Fogel and Maude Hixson "Holiday for Frank" at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater
. January 16-18, Arne Fogel and Maude Hixson "Holiday for Frank" at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, Black Box Theater
. January
17, Joan Griffith and Reuben Ristrom at Hosmer Library
. January
17, Bottomless Pit at the Black Dog
. January
20-21, Jose James at the Dakota
. January
22, David Berkman at Orchestra Hall (Target Atrium)
. January
22, Jennifer Parker at Jazz Central
. January
23, Maryann Sullivan's Corner Jazz at the Black Dog
. January
23, Atlantis Quartet at Jazz Central
. January
24, Illicit Sextet at the Black Dog
. January
24, Dean Brewington at Loring Pasta Bar
. January
25, Leigh Kamman Memorial Tribute at the Saint Paul Hotel (Ballroom)
. January
26, Chris Potter Quartet at the Dakota
. January
27-28, Dianne Reeves at the Dakota
. January
30, What Would Monk Do at Jazz Central
. January
31, Dave Brattain Quartet, Dean Granros Quartet at the Black Dog
. 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
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| Dean Granros and Joel Shapira - CD Release at the Black Dog, January 9 |
