 |
| The Adam Meckler Orchestra leads off the Winter Jazz Fest at Studio Z, February 21 |
© Andrea Canter
The Polar Vortex has
returned! But so has the Twin Cities Jazz Vortex! This weekend marks the second
annual Winter Jazz Festival sponsored by Shifting Paradigm Records and Jazz at
Studio Z, along with performances from the Chris Lomheim Trio, Maryann
Sullivan's Corner Jazz, Chris Bates' Good Vibes Trio, Lulu's Playground, a CD
release from East Side, and more.... and then comes another week of music
featuring Mr. Smooth Irv Williams, Chris Bates' (again) Red Five, Bela Fleck...
That should be more than enough to melt whatever ice and snow comes our way.
Big Gigs This Week
 |
| Chris Lomheim |
Friday, February 20. After a long break from recording and composing,
pianist Chris Lomheim returned to the
studio last spring with trio cohorts Gordy Johnson and Jay Epstein to lay down
tracks for Timelines, an
all-originals effort that yielded a sold-out release at Studio Z and several
sparkling gigs at other venues. With backing from Graydon Peterson and Reid
Kennedy, Chris performs tonight on the Bridge Series at Jazz Central. And this
is no thrown-together trio; this threesome has performed and recorded under
Kennedy's leadership and will be releasing a recording (this trio's second)
later this year.
 |
| Maryann Sullivan and Corner Jazz |
At the Black Dog, Maryann Sullivan returns with her Corner
Jazz (Doug Haining, Joe Strachan, Jim Chenoweth, Trevor Haining). There's no
room for swing dancing but foot-tapping and swaying can not be suppressed!
Corner Jazz adds a new sound tonight as young keyboard sensation Joe Strachan
takes the place of the usual guitar.
 |
| East Side |
At Parma 8200, Friday nights are typically
reserved for vocalists, but tonight it's the Joel Shapira Trio, with Joel's guitar serving as the evening's lead
voice. Guitar also is prominently featured at Hell's Kitchen, where the quartet
East Side (Reynold Philipsek, Clint
Hoover, Matt Senjem, Michael Bissonnette) celebrates their CD release, Astoria.
It's a special treat since harmonicist Hoover moved to Pittsburgh a few years
ago and his Twin Cities gigs are few and too far between. The recording
features four compositions from prolific guitarist Philipsek and a pair from Hoover.
 |
| Doug Little |
Doug Little's Seven Steps to Havana is one of the
longest-running (or the longest
running?) Cuban jazz ensembles in town. Tonight they will captivate the
audience at the Dakota with their hot-from-Havana rhythms. Dancing is allowed.
Friday-Sunday, February 20-22. KBEM presents "Captured Currents", a
multi-media production featuring the collaboration of stride pianist Butch Thompson, choreographer Sarah Larose-Holland, and photographer Craig Blacklock at the Lab Theater. The
theme of water brings together music, photography and dance inspired by
Blacklock's landscape photos.
 |
| Zacc Harris |
Saturday, February 21st. There's some
good music throughout the metro today, but if you want the most bang for the
buck and a true festival of jazz without running between venues in zero-degree
weather, just plan on spending your afternoon and evening at Studio Z. Shifting
Paradigm Records and Zacc Harris' Jazz at Studio Z have put together an amazing
line-up for the second annual Winter Jazz
Fest. Starting at 3 pm, you can hear (in order) the many stars of the Adam
Meckler Orchestra; a reconstituted quartet of young lions, now called
Endeavors; a trio of three of the region's most accomplished improvisers--Bryan
Nichols, Chris Bates and JT Bates, dubbed simply Nichols/Bates/Bates; the
ever-creative Atlantis Quartet (Brandon Wozniak, Zacc Harris, Chris Bates, Pete
Hennig); the original harmonies and compositions of the Graydon Peterson
Quartet; and a relatively new ensemble that is making its own waves, Mancrush,
led by drummer Lars-Erik Larson with Harris, Wozniak and Nichols. Tickets a
mere $15 for the full fest.
 |
| Dave Hagedorn (Good Vibes) |
 |
| Robert Everest |
Another festival gets underway at International Market Square, with afternoon and evening events -- the 13th Annual Carnaval Brasileiro. Bigger than ever, this year's event covers three performance stages, hosted by acclaimed guitarist/vocalist Robert Everest and his 10-piece Beira Mar Brasil. Brazilian vocalist Dandara joins Everest, with more music from Brazilian percussion ensembles Batucada Do Norte and Drumheart, and more entertainers.
Out in the western burbs,
its another Jazz at St Barney's night, this time featuring vocalist Maurice Jacox. Winner of the Minnesota Music Academy Jazz Award, City Pages Best Male Vocalist, and the
Blues Society Best Blues Artist, this veteran crooner salutes Nat King Cole.
 |
| Steven Hobert |
Sunday,
February 22. On a rare Sunday afternoon show, two bands headed by old
friends go back to back at Jazz Central. Lulu's
Playground features oddball instrumentation that somehow works-- accordion,
trumpet, cello and guitar (Steven Hobert, Adam Meckler, Cory Grossman and Ben
Abrahamson). Lulu will be followed by the Paul Dietrich Quintet from Chicago, the common
denominator here being Meckler and Dietrich who overlapped their studies at
Lawrence Univeristy. Trumpeter Dietrich earned his Master's at DePaul in Chicago and is currently touring the Midwest
with his ensemble.
 |
| Irv Williams |
Monday,
February 23. It's long overdue-- Irv
Williams will take the spotlight on Featured Artist Night at Jazz Central!
At 95, Irv has managed to maintain his "Mr Smooth" sound, playing
weekly for happy hour at the Dakota and only an occasional gig in-between.
And
you can get your improv fix at the Icehouse tonight, with a double header
"Implosion" that should keep you wide awake. Dubbed the Sweet Quintet
party, the evening starts off (9:30 pm) with Chris Bates and his Red 5
band, with saxophonists Brandon Wozniak and Chris Thomson, trumpeter Zack
Lozier, drummer JT and bassist Chris Bates performing new compositions from
their first album (New Hope) and
beyond. The late set belongs to young drummer Cory Healey and his Beautiful
Sunshine Band-- Wozniak again on sax, Jake Baldwin on trumpet, Zacc Harris
on guitar and Erik Fratzke on bass. Rest
up as you want to be able to hang in for both sets!
 |
| Katia Cardenas |
Tuesday,
February 24. One of the new bright voices in town belongs to Katia Cardenas, who seems as comfortable
with Ella as with Aretha and Carole King. She's on stage for another Dakota
Foodie Night, in the fine company of Kevin Gastonguay, Andrew Foreman and
Trevor Haining. Over at Cafe Maude, Rick
Carlson holds his monthly piano lesson -- everything you want to know about
sophisticated swing.
 |
| Andrew Walesch |
 |
| Bela Fleck |
We
often take standing gigs for granted. Don't make that mistake regarding Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg's
Monday and Wednesday night shows at Fireside Pizza. Fireside will close in a
few weeks for a couple months of renovations, so make sure you get to Richfield
on an upcoming Monday or Wednesday night for a good dose of swinging duo (vocal
and accordion) jazz and a slice (or a whole pie) of some of the area's best
thin-crust.
Thursday,
February 26. The weekly improvised music series at Khyber Pass Cafe
continues with a fascinating double-header. Tuba master Benjamin J. Mansavage Klein presents solo music for tuba,
electronics and mechanical instruments, followed by a duo set with
percussionist Nick Zielinkski.
An
unusual show at the Walker
Art Center,
the Campbell Brothers celebrate the
50th anniversary of Coltrane's A Love
Supreme. With a sound dubbed "sacred steel," brothers Chuck,
Darick and Phil Campbell meld African American gospel with electric steel
guitars and vocals as they revisit one of the masterpieces of jazz --or any
music.
The Underground Music Cafe is a relatively new venue in Falcon Heights. Tonight, the Fireside Jazz Quintet led by U of M trombone prof Tom Ashworth has a very jazz-worthy guest sitting in, saxophonist Pat Mallinger. Based in Chicago, the St Paul native is in town as guest artist for the U of M Jazz Festival (Saturday, 2/28). Other familiar faces in the quintet include Gordy Johnson, Phil Hey, Phil Aaron and Brian Grivna.
 |
| Pat Mallinger |
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, February 20. 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; John Paulson with Swing, Inc. at Signatures
(Winona); Pete Snell and Drew Oliver at Blackwater Bistro (Maple Plain); Steven
Hobert and Firefly Forest at the 331 Club
 |
| Donny McCaslin |
Saturday, February 21. JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar, Saint
Paul Hotel; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Glen David Andrews at the
Dakota; UW-River Falls Jazz Ensemble with Donny McCaslin at William Abbot
Concert Hall (River Fall, WI); Twin Cities Cabaret Artists Network, monthly
salon at Town House Bar; Pavel Janey's Talking Strings at Loring Pasta Bar
Sunday, February 22. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster Cafe;
Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar;
Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom; Cafe
Accordion at the Como Park Conservatory; Off the Cuff featuring Adam Conrad at the Aster Cafe
Monday, February 23. Sheridan Zuther at Crooners Lounge; Denny Malmberg
and Paula Lammers at Fireside Pizza; BZ3 Organ Trio at The Narrows Saloon; Jerry the
Jazz Giraffe at Underground Music Cafe; College of St Benedict Jazz Ensemble,
Escher Auditoriuim (St Joseph, MN)
Tuesday, February 24. Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central;
Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar
Wednesday, February 25. McNally
Smith College
of Music X-Tet at Jazz Central
Thursday, February 26. Swingbeat Big Band at Wabasha Street
Caves; Jazz Showcase with
Tom Ashworth at Underground Music Cafe; Erin Livingston at Jazz Central
Coming Soon!
. February
27, Javi Santiago and Friends at Jazz Central
. 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 2, Minnesota Youth Jazz
Bands Winter Concert at Famous Dave's (Uptown)
. March 3,
Rene Marie at the Dakota
. March 4,
Pedrito Martinez Group at the Dakota
. March 5,
Katia Cardenas at Jazz Central
. 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 28,
Dakota Combo at the Black Dog
. March 29,
Tierney Sutton and Mark Summer at the Dakota
. March 31,
Eliane Elias Trio at the Dakota
. April 1,
Rebirth Brass Band at the Dakota
. April 12,
Anat Cohen Quartet 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 24,
Tuck and Patti at the Dakota
. April 25,
JazzMN Orchestra with Bob Mintzer at Hopkins l High School Auditorium
. April
25-26, Irv Williams, Legends concert at The Capri
. April 26,
KBEM's Jazz Noir at the Dakota
. April 27,
Omar Sosa at the Dakota
. April
29-30, Madeleine Peyroux at the Dakota
. May 2,
Jason Moran and Robert Glasper at the Walker
. May 9,
PipJazz "Women in Jazz" -- afternoon workshop and evening concert at
The Bedlam
. June 3,
Steve Smith and Vital Information, NYC Edition at the Dakota
. June 22,
Kurt Elling at the Dakota
. 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, Dakota
Combo)
 |
| Rene Marie returns to the Dakota on March 3 |
