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Bill Carrothers, in the Dunsmore Room solo on February 16 |
© Andrea Canter
We have a rather dramatic
weekend on the jazz scene, with more than the usual number of theater-based
shows, concerts, and of course Valentine's Day special gigs. And the coming
week brings back hometown hero Bill Carrothers (solo piano!) among other
delights.
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Maud Hixson |
Friday, February 12. It's not yet Valentine's Day but why wait? Make it a
romantic evening at Parma 8200, where vocalist Maud Hixson always offers something new, and tonight has support
from Laura Caviani and Gordy Johnson, while it's more of a swing party at
Crooners Lounge, where Happy Hour features Denny
Malmberg (accordion) and Paula
Lammers (vocals), followed by vocalist Judi
Vinar carrying on with the Wolverines Trio (Rick Carlson, Keith Boyles,
Jendeen Forberg).
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Gary Schulte |
Swing is also in fashion at
Hell's Kitchen, where Axis Mundi
lives up to its name with global music infused with traditional jazz. The band
of veterans includes guitarist Glen Helgeson, "fiddle god" Gary
Schulte, bassist Cody McKinny, drummer Dave Stanoch, and percussion master
Michael Bissonnette.
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Charmin & Shapira |
At Vieux Carré, Charmin and Shapira and Friends --vocalist
Charmin Michelle, guitarist Joel Shapira and their usual stalwart cast--follow
the early set from pianist Jeremy Walker,
two good reasons to come to downtown St. Paul tonight.
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Bill Stieger, No Room for Squares |
Friday Night Jazz at Reverie
(aka The Nicollet) brings back a bebop favorite, No Room for Squares. Led by drummer Bill Stieger, the Squares
include veteran boppers Jimmie Wallace on sax, Jon Pemberton on trumpet, Mikkel
Romstad on piano, and Adam Tucker on bass.
Check out the renovations of late-- a bigger stage, improved
furnishings, new menu. Same great music.
Masters night at Jazz
Central Studios features one of our true keyboard masters, Peter Schimke, leading a trio that should make the basement rafters
shake with delight. The late set features "College Night" with Peter
Shu and his students from North Central
University.
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Debbie Duncan |
And it is the start of a Debbie Duncan weekend as Minnesota's "Perpetually Outstanding Performer"
lives up to her title, starting tonight on the Eight O'Clock Jump series at Walker West
Music Academy.
It's a small concert setting, perfect for enjoying one of the best voices in
the region, along with her talented band--pianist Adi Yeshaya, bassist Jay
Young and drummer Mac Santiago.
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JoAnn Funk |
Friday-Saturday, February 12-13. Featuring popular songbird Ginger Commodore, the Chanhassan Dinner Theater brings us Night Full of Wonder, a tribute to Stevie
Wonder. Ginger is joined by pals Geoff Jones, Chreese Jones, Yolande Bruce,
Bobby Commodore, Deevo, Daryl Boudreaux, Lee Blaske, Kenni Holmen, and a few
surprise guests. And as they do every
weekend through the winter, JoAnn Funk
and Jeff Brueske soothe hearts and souls in the Lobby Bar of the Saint Paul
Hotel, with tunes from decades of great songwriters from Gershwin and Berlin to
Blossom Dearie to Norah Jones.
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James Buckley |
Every weekend is also a time
for some innovative music to accompany the dinner hours at the Icehouse. This
weekend, bassist (and curator) James
Buckley is on stage, Friday with inventive pianist Bryan Nichols, and Saturday with string magician Tim Sparks on guitar. This is not your
mother's dinner music!
Saturday, February 13. If you find
yourself in south Minneapolis
this afternoon, drop into Cub Foods (Nicollet and 60th) for a real treat with
no calories-- Paula Lammers, Reuben
Ristrom and Ray Siegl will inject some old-fashioned swing into your
afternoon.
An unusual (and extra long) Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog brings
jazz improvisation and poetry together as Jazz Word Jazz. Things kick off at 5 pm with LOTRM (Steven Dwyer, Robert Branch, Will
Jensen) followed by MILTD41 (Chris
Bates, Will Jenson, Steve Kenny, Nathan Hanson, Greg Schutte); the opening
music is then followed by three sets of poetry from Richard Broderick, Amy Nash and Jim Larson, with a closing late set
of music. Think of it as a poetry sandwich.
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Badi Assad |
For some family fun as well
as amazing music, check out Carnival
Brasileiro at International Market Square, the annual gathering of all
things Brazilian -- lots of great music from local ensembles, food, dance, and
special guest star, Brazil's eclectic musician Badi Assad. She's been here
before, at the Dakota (where she will appear again tomorrow), wowing audiences
with a hard-to-define blend of voice, guitar, mouth percussion, and body
movements, not exactly dance, not exactly anything else. Thanks to festival
curator Robert Everest for brining Rio to the Minni-Apple every year.
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Dennis Spears |
Debbie Duncan, again, tonight teams up with equally outstanding Dennis Spears for an unforgettable night of song and sass at the
Dakota. This is surely one of the most dynamic pairings in area vocal jazz.
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Maud Hixson & Arne Fogel |
Saturday-Sunday, February 13-14. First staged in Bloomington in 2011 and reprised at
Chanhassan in 2014, The Crosby-Clooney
Story returns this weekend at the Capri Theater. Produced by Arne Fogel who teams up with Maud Hixson, the show brings the
partnership of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney to life with great songs and
commentary. The singers are backed by the Wolverines Trio to ensure every song
does justice to Rosie and Bing.
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Charles Lazarus |
Sunday, February 14. So here it is again, Valentine's Day, and there
seems to be no end to jazzy options for every budget. Start the holiday with a
swing brunch at the Aster Cafe, courtesy of Patty
and the Buttons, then move on to the matinee at Orchestra Hall (if you can
score a ticket!) when the Minnesota
Orchestra joins forces with Charles
Lazarus and his jazz ensemble, augmented by singers Tonia Hughes and Carin
Vagle, taking us on a ride through the great songs of the Big Band era.
(Officially this concert is sold out, but check with the Box Office--there are
always some tickets turned back.)
This matinee is also sold
out but you can still get tickets for the evening performance of Connie Evingson's "This Funny Thing
Called Love," a special Jazz at the Jungle (Theater) production with
Connie's usual cohorts--pianist Jon Weber, saxophonist Dave Karr, and bassist
Gordy Johnson. Songs of love, romance, and wit from the likes of Cole Porter,
The Beatles, Dave Frishberg and more.
Debbie Duncan manages a double-header at Crooners Lounge, starting with an intimate
duo set in the Dunsmore Room with pianist Adi
Yeshaya (officially sold out),
followed by a far less sedate night in the Lounge with her larger ensemble and
a dance floor. No cover for either show tonight, no minimum, but plenty of
choices from the bar and kitchen. No reservation in the lounge-- but come
early!
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DanceTime! Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra |
For even more dance time,
ballroom dancers will enjoy a special night at Cinema Ballroom with Charmin Michelle and the Jerry O'Hagan
Orchestra, complete with free dance lessons ahead of the main event.
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Jana Nyberg Group |
Vieux Carré is not generally
open on Sundays, but tonight is an exception, and exceptional. Enjoy a
three-course dinner served with the dazzling music of the Jana Nyberg Group, covering jazz, blues, pop and original Jana
tunes. And Parma
8200 does not typically present music on Sundays, but tonight is special-- a
special dinner and music from the local king of solo piano, Chris Lomheim.
And fresh off her
performance at Carnival Brasilieros (see Saturday above), Badi Assad comes to the Dakota, first for a dinner show (5
courses!) and later in the evening for a cocktail show. You need reservations,
of course.
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Lucia Sarmiento |
Monday, February 15. Featured artist tonight at Jazz Central is a force
to be reckoned with despite her relative youth. The Monk Saxophone Competition
had Melissa Aldana a couple years back, but we have Lucia Sarmiento, and she could be headed on a similar trajectory. A
native of Peru, Lucia is currently studying jazz saxophone at McNally Smith,
but her talents are hardly as "student" -- she's been leading her own
ensembles around town and at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival for the past couple
years, impressing wherever she lands.
Open jam follows, as always on Mondays.
It's the monthly installment
of the Cherry Spoon Collective at the
Black Dog --a
multi-generational, multi-instrumental group of 15+ improvising local
musician/composers who perform with such ensembles as Zeitgeist, Jelloslave,
Orange Mighty Trio, Coloring Time, etc. Project leaders include members
Michelle Kinney (cello), Nick Guadette (bass) and Patrick O’Keefe (sax).
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Maryann Sullivan and Doug Haining |
In
the lounge at Crooners, enjoy the monthly swingfest with the Twin Cities 7, led by Doug Haining and
featuring spouse Maryann Sullivan on
vocals.

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Bill Carrothers |
Tuesday, February 16. Bill
Carrothers first came to Crooners
Lounge last fall, playing in the lounge which was not quite the listening
setting we had hoped. Then the Dunsmore Room at Crooners opened in December
with the Dave King Trio, featuring Bill on piano. Now he's back for his first
solo gig with the Bosendorfer, and you can be
sure this will be an intimate listening experience. Owner Mary T is not shy
about reminding patrons that "this is a listening room." Make a
reservation, come for dinner and listening... or take your conversation to the
bar.
Big Band Night at Jazz
Central brings the monthly gig of the Explosion
Big Band, a high-energy group of local heavyweights led by Doug Haining and
Scott Agster. At Vieux Carré, Chris Lomheim's solo piano warms the
stage for the Paul Renz Trio
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Davell Crawford* |
Tuesday-Wednesday, February 16-17. Back by popular demand! Last month, New Orleans' pride of piano jazz, Davell Crawford, played two nights at
the Dakota in honor of his mentor, the late Allen Toussaint. Apparently he
raised the roof so high that he just had to be booked again, as soon as
possible. If you missed him last month, better call now for your reservation
before you're shut out again! It's the delayed encore!
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King Fletcher Wood |
Wednesday, February 17. Happy Hour at The Tangiers is a great opportunity to hear one of the area's top jazz voices, Lila Ammons, and Wednesday is her night.
On "new music" night at Jazz Central, hear King Fletcher Woods, the trio of saxman Jeff King, bassist Charles Fletcher, and drummer Eron Woods, offering new compositions.
On "new music" night at Jazz Central, hear King Fletcher Woods, the trio of saxman Jeff King, bassist Charles Fletcher, and drummer Eron Woods, offering new compositions.
Thursday, February 18. One more gig this week from Debbie Duncan-- tonight at Crooners in the lounge with her quartet.
Tonight is a special program paying tribute to the late Natalie Cole. Crooners
is fast becoming Debbie's second home! More fine vocals as well as fleet-fingered guitar from Charmin and Shapira--the original duo with Charmin Michelle and Joel Shapira on vocal night at Jazz Central.
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Kevin Gastonguay, Grain |
More Jazz!
Keep up with the live jazz
scene in the Twin Cities. The most comprehensive jazz calendar can be found at KBEM,
with more listings at Rhythm and Grooves and Jazz
Near You, and of course, here on the Lead Sheet. KBEM and KFAI radio
host jazz programs regularly and provide daily notices of jazz gigs and
concerts; you can find promos of area jazz on the Jazz Police website and Facebook page.
The live edition of The Lead Sheet can be heard at 4:40 pm on Thursdays on
KBEM, rebroadcast at 8:20 am on Fridays (note later time), and recent
broadcasts archived at KBEM on Demand.
Special guest on February 18 will be Maryann
Sullivan, half of the swinging duo Retro Swing Sister (with Rhonda Laurie),
talking about their show on the Jazz @ St. Barney's concert schedule. Venues
and artists are reminded to send information to KBEM (kbar264@aol.com) and print calendars.
Coming Soon!
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Bill Frisell, at the Dakota February 20 |
. February
19, Bruce Henry at Crooners Lounge
. February
19, Graydon Peterson Quartet at Jazz Central
. February
19, JazzINK Youth Showcase with combos from Southwest High School,
Paul Harper's Bardo Quartet, Friday Night Jazz at Reverie
. February 19, UW-River Falls RADD Jazz Series, Matt Wilson with UWRF Jazz Faculty, University Center Falcon Nest
. February 20, UW-River Falls RADD Jazz Series, Matt Wilson with UWRF Jazz Ensemble at William Abbott Concert Hall
. February 19, UW-River Falls RADD Jazz Series, Matt Wilson with UWRF Jazz Faculty, University Center Falcon Nest
. February 20, UW-River Falls RADD Jazz Series, Matt Wilson with UWRF Jazz Ensemble at William Abbott Concert Hall
. February
20, Retro Swing Sister (Maryann Sullivan and Rhonda Laurie) at Jazz @ St
Barneys
. February
20, Bill Frisell "When You Wish Upon a Star" ensemble at the Dakota
. February
20, Solomon Parham/Steve Kenny band, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog
. February 20, Twin Cities Cabaret Artists Network Salon at Town House Bar
. February 20, Twin Cities Cabaret Artists Network Salon at Town House Bar
. February
21, St. Olaf College Jazz Ensemble, fundraiser for Cuba tour at Crooners Lounge
. February
21, Dan Chouinard's Birthday Club with Gwen Matthews, Dunsmore Room at Crooners
Lounge
. February
22, Dave Karr at Jazz Central
. February
22, Ches Smith Trio with Craig Taborn at the Icehouse
February
23, Dean Magraw and Steven Hobert, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. February
23, Connie Evingson at Vieux Carré
. February
24, Arne Fogel at Crooners Lounge
. February
24, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) soloists, Janet Wallace Fine Arts
Center at Macalester
College
. February
25, Rez Abassi with Vijay Iyer and Rudresh Mahanthappa at Walker Art Center
. February
25, Rebirth Brass Band at the Dakota
. February
25, Jazz in the Target Atrium, Atrium Jazz Ensemble with Bryan Nichols at
Orchestra Hall
. February 25, KBEM Jazz 88 Restaurant Tour at Parma 8200 featuring Benny Weinbeck
. February 25, KBEM Jazz 88 Restaurant Tour at Parma 8200 featuring Benny Weinbeck
. February
26, Patty Peterson and Friends at Crooners Lounge
. February
26, Davu Seru Group, Friday Night Jazz at Reverie
. February
26, Augsburg College
Jazz Ensemble with Bria Skonberg, Foss
Center, Augsburg College
. February
27, Shifting Paradigm's Winter Jazz Fest at Studio Z, featuring Red Planet, Bryan Nichols Solo, Adam Meckler
Quintet, JT Bates Solo, and Dean Granros’ Tall Tales
. February
27, Falls Five/Eric Gravatt & Source Code, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black
Dog
. February
28, Dan Chouinard's Birthday Club with Judi Vinar, Dunsmore Room at Crooners
Lounge
. February
29, "In the Crook," Rick Carlson with Dennis Spears, Dunsmore Room at
Crooner's Lounge
. March 1,
Tommy O'Donnell Tribute to Erroll Garner, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. March
2-3, Brian Blade Fellowship at the Dakota
. March 5,
Pete Whitman X-Tet at Hopkins
Center for the Arts
. March 5,
Larry McDonough Quartet, Jazz @St Barneys (St Barnabas Church)
. March 5, Sidewalk Cafe at the 318 Cafe'
. March 5, Sidewalk Cafe at the 318 Cafe'
. March 6,
Andrew Walesch, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. March 7,
Lisa Fischer at the Dakota
. March 7,
Acme Jazz Company with Arne Fogel at Crooners Lounge
. March 8,
Butch Thompson and Pat Donahue, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. March 11,
Stokely Williams at Walker
West Music Academy
. March 13,
JazzMN Orchestra with Tierney Sutton at the Hopkins High School
Auditorium
. March 19,
Zakir Hussain at Pantages Theater
. March 21,
Patty Peterson Presents Tribute to Jeanne Arland Peterson, Dunsmore Room at
Crooners Lounge
. March 23,
Geoffrey Keezer with Gillian Margo, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. March 27,
Dan Chouinard's Birthday Club with Maria Jette, Dunsmore Room at Crooners
Lounge
. March 29,
Billy Peterson and special guest, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. April
3-4, SF Jazz Collective at the Dakota
. April
10-11, David Sanborn at the Dakota
. April 12,
Andres Prado with Mississippi,
Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. April 15,
Atlantis Quartet at Walker
West Music
Academy
. April 18,
Chick Corea and Bela Fleck at the Guthrie Theater
. April 19,
Lizz Wright at the Dakota
. April 23,
JazzMN Orchestra with Bob McChesney and Andy Martin at Hopkins High School
Auditorium
. April 25,
Nancy Harms
with Jeremy Siskind, CD Release, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. April 26,
John Raymond Quartet, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. April 28,
Jazz in the Target Atrium at Orchestra Hall
. May 6,
Tony Bennett at the State Theater
. May 7,
Steve Lehman Octet at the Walker
Art Center
. June 5,
Poncho Sanchez at the Dakota
. June
23-25, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Mears
Park
. July 1-3,
Iowa City Jazz
Festival
* All photos by Andrea Canter except Davell Crawford.