The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, June 3-9

Joe Lovano at Sundin Hall, June 5

© Andrea Canter

Can't you just feel it? Jazz Festival season is in the air, and artists and venues seem determined to put us all in a festive mood, with the best of local and national acts scheduled this month and a great sampling this coming week.

Big Gigs This Week

Patty Peterson

Friday, June 3.  One of our favorite voices teams up with one of the stars of contemporary jazz, adding an all-star supporting cast.  From Minnesota's First Family of Music, vocalist/radio host Patty Peterson joins saxophonist Steve Cole for a night of cool and soulful music at the Dakota, with local guitar whiz Cory Wong, Patty's nephew (and Michael Bolton's keyboardist) Jason Peterson DeLaire, Dave Matthews' drummer Clyde Davis, and Brian Culberton's bassist LeMar Jones.

Edmund Catlin

At Jazz Central, Eric Kamau Gravatt returns with Source Code, and a new biweekly late show launches with three college talents led by drummer Edmund Catlin (McGill University), with Charlie Lincoln on bass (Berklee College of Music) and Levi Schwartberg on vibes (U of M). Their series (through August) will feature the music of one Monk album each night.

At Vieux Carre', enjoy some relatively young talents -- and multi-talents. Jazzland Wonderband features the ambidextrous Cameron Kinghorn, adept on trumpet and vocals, along with supersaxman Nelson Devereaux, Keith Hilson (trombone), Andres Crovetti (drums) and Evan Clark (tuba). 

Bruce Henry

Saturday, June 4. For much of his career, vocalist Bruce Henry was a fixture on the Twin Cities jazz scene, growing a fan base as well as critical acclaim for his velvety baritone and bebop leanings.  After he relocated to Chicago about 7 years ago, he's been heard less often in the Metro but still returns regularly, reconnecting with old pals and adding new fans, as he will tonight at The Dakota.

Dave Graf

Saturday Night at the Black Dog finds music back in its original but now renovated space, with a full bar and somewhat larger stage. An expanded dining space provides for table service and a larger menu! Inaugurating the new music space will be the Bone Chance ensemble, headed by trombone master Dave Graf, with pals Peter Schimke, Ron Evaniuk and Eric Gravatt. The James Wallace Group opens. 

Brad Bellows & Friends take over the Boom Island Tap Room in north Minneapolis, launching a weekly gig with one of the area's few masters of valve trombone. Taste some beers, taste some jazz! If traditional jazz is your thing, the Pig's Eye Jass Band is back at the Eagles' Aerie Club with their trad and blues.

Poncho Sanchez

Sunday, June 5. One of the true legends of Latin jazz, Grammy-winning conguero Poncho Sanchez returns to the Dakota with his high-energy ensemble that will have you dancing in the aisles. He was born in Texas, raised in LA, and fully versed in the language of bebop,  but his heart is pure Latin.

Joe Lovano

One of the standout gigs of the year, the Minnesota Chamber Music Society brings in world renowned saxophonist Joe Lovano to pay tribute to his late mentor Gunther Schuller, in the company of Young-Nam Kim on violin, Timothy Lovelace on piano, Anthony Cox on bass, Fred Harris on drums and guest composer, Peter Child, all in the intimate surroundings of Sundin Hall on the Hamline campus. Lovano will also play some of the music on his acclaimed album, Rush Hour. At 4 pm, it's a great time for Sunday jazz, and adults can obtain one free ticket for a K-12 student.

Adam Meckler Quintet

Monday, June 6. Fresh off their midwest/East Coast CD release tour, the Adam Meckler Quintet holds their Minneapolis celebration in the perfect setting of the Icehouse-- young, hip, the audience generally filled with musicians as well as modern jazz fans of all ages. There are only five musicians on stage but, between their soaring talents and the sophisticated charts that Meckler writes for his original compositions, you can hear the harmonies and rich melodies that define the larger Adam Meckler Orchestra. Big music for small ensemble. A late set follows with Davu Seru and JT Bates going drumhead to drumhead.

Teri Roiger

Tuesday, June 7. A native Minnesotan based for many years in New York, vocalist Teri Roiger is known for her inventive interpretations of modern artists like Abbey Lincoln as well as for her original material. Now Teri returns for a home-state gig in the intimate environs of the Dunsmore Room, in the company of husband/bassist John Menegon and Twin Cities' artists Joe Strachan (piano) and Phil Hey (drums). The program is part Pre-Release for Teri's new Billie Holiday 101: A Tribute to Lady Day as well as a chance for Teri to share other gems from her repertoire, including her previous album, Dear Abbey.

Viviana Pintado, Tres Mundos

Tonight marks the return of the Jazz at the Library series of (mostly) pre-festival concerts held in St Paul community libraries to stimulate interest in jazz and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. The first of three in June, Tres Mundos is featured at the St. Anthony Park Library. This trio of international talent features pianist/vocalist Viviana Pintado (Cuba), percussionist Eliezer Freites-Santos (Brazil), and saxophonist/flutist Doug Little (Minnesota). The group’s repertoire spans the musical spectrum of the Americas, including Cuban son, rumba, cha-cha-cha, choros, samba, and jazz.

And it's First Tuesday at the Black Dog, and Dean Magraw and Davu Seru add percussionist Marc Anderson to their monthly night of mayhem.

JT Bates

Wednesday, June 8.  Heading his B-3 organ trio Grain for the past two years, ace drummer JT Bates is proving to be as strong a bandleader as pile-driving pulse-setter and improv music curator -- the latter role one he has filled for about 15 years as the force behind Jazz Implosion, his series born at the Clown Lounge and now running strong at the Icehouse. Grain features organ grinder Kevin Gastonguay and guitarist Zacc Harris, and of course the unending supply of rhythmic devices in JT's arsenal. Come early as accordion giant Patrick Harison offers some intriguing solo music starting at 6 pm.

Young upstarts rule "new music night" at Jazz Central, with Hoaxer on the bandstand. Young bassist Charlie Lincoln is guest host, sitting in for Chris Bates this summer while home from his first year at Berklee College of Music, and tonight he has enlisted a new ensemble with Peter Goggin on sax, Will Kjeer on piano and Edmund Catlin on drums. It's no hoax!

Arturo Sandoval

The Dakota brings in third living legend of Latin jazz in two weeks-- Sergio Mendes last weekend, Poncho Sanchez Sunday, and now Arturo Sandoval! Cuban trumpeter and bandleader Sandoval graduated from Dizzy Gillespie's band to reach the jazz stratosphere on his own, garnering four Grammies, six Billboard Awards and an Emmy along the way --so far!

Vicky Mountain

Thursday, June 9. Vocal jazz nights don't get any better than this--veteran educator and long-time area favorite singer Vicky Mountain joins forces with one of the most celebrated of local pianists, Mary Louise Knutson (JazzMN Orchestra, Doc Severinsen) at Jazz Central. Vicky's sets typically combine songbook standards, jazzy arrangements of pop hits, and her own originals.

Khyber Pass continues its modern jazz Thursdays with Embezzler-- Adam Linz and Paul Metzger. Music for free thinkers!

More Jazz!

There seems to be an endless list of jazz activity around town. See the Live Jazz Calendar posted on the KBEM website, and see more about jazz events at jazzpolice.com --online and on facebook. And tune into the on-the-air edition of the Lead Sheet every Thursday at 4:40 pm, rebroadcast on Fridays at 8:20 am. My guests next week will be Maud Hixon and Rick Carlson, chatting about her new recording, Listening for Your Song.

Coming Soon!

. June 10, Jeremy Walker/Jay Young & the Lyric Factory, Vieux Carre'

. June 10, Debbie Duncan Quartet, Crooners Lounge

. June 10, Pete Emblom/Will Kjeer at Jazz Central

. June 11, Ginger Commodore Quartet at the Dakota

. June 12, Charanga Tropical at the Icehouse

. June 12, Claudia Schmitt and Dan Chouinard, Birthday Club, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 13, Maurice Jacox, Night of Nat King Cole, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 13, Luke Peterson Quartet at Jazz Central

. June 13, Pete Whitman X-Tet at the Dakota

. June 14, Travis Anderson Trio, Dunsmore Room, Crooners Lounge

. June 15, Judi Vinar and the Wolverines at Crooners Lounge
. June 16, What Would Monk Do, Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie

. June 17, David Binney Quartet at Walker West

. June 17, Dean Magraw and Marcus Wise/Edmund Catlin

. June 17, Ginger Commodore Quartet, Crooners Lounge

. June 17, Tord Gustavsen Trio at Mindekirken (Norwegian Lutheran Church)

. June 17, Wozniak-Harris Quartet at Vieux Carré

. June 17, Donald Washington Group at the Black Dog
. June 18, Jazz at Studio Z, Doug Little's Tres Mundos 

. June 18, Patty Peterson at Crooners Lounge
. June 18, Will Schmid Trio/Babatunde Lea Ensemble, Saturday Night Jazz at Black Dog
. June 18, Rosemount JazzBlast (Zacc Harris Trio, Jack Brass Band, more!) at Rosemount Central Park Amphitheater 

. June 18, Jay Young and the Lyric Factory at the Dakota

. June 19, Bradley Greenwald and Dan Chouinard, Birthday Club, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 20, JazzMN Orchestra at Chanhassen Dinner Theater

. June 20, Mike Malone at Jazz Central

. June 20, David Hazeltine and Eric Alexander, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 21, David Hazeltine/Eric Alexander Quartet, Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 21, Connie Evingson and the Vieux Carré Hot Club at Vieux Carré

. June 22, David Hazeltine and Billy Peterson, CD Release in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 22, Katia Cardenas CD Release/Jazzoneando CD Release at the Icehouse

. June 23-25, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Mears Park (Delfeayo Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Joey Alexander, Russell Malone, John Pizzarelli, Michael Franti & Spearhead)

. June 24, Nachito Herrera at the Dakota
. June 24, Patti Austin with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at Orchestra Hall

. June 26, Judi Vinar and Dan Chouinard, Birthday Club in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 27, Charmin Michelle and Rick Carlson in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 28, Twin Cities 7 With Maryann Sullivan at Crooners Lounge

. June 30, Marquis Hill Black-Tet with Makaya Craven at the Dakota
. June 30, Good Vibes Trio, Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie

. July 1-3, Iowa City Jazz Festival (Vijay Iyer Trio, Miguel Zenon, Poncho Sanchez, Allison Miller, David Berkman, Marquis Hill, Edmer Casteneda, Akiko Tsuruga, Phil Hey Quartet)

. July 5, Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade at the Dakota

. July 7, Mindi Abair at the Dakota
. July 8, All Originals, Charlie Lincoln Group at Studio Z

. July 18, John Medeski, Todd Clouser and JT Bates at the Icehouse

. July 24, Rochester (MN) Jazz Festival
. July 29, All Originals, Will Kjeer at Studio Z
. August 8, Marcus Miller at the Dakota
. August 9-10, Estaire Godinez at the Dakota

. August 13, Rebirth Brass Band at the Dakota

. September 25-26, Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman Duo at the Dakota

 

Kenny Horst appears with What Would Monk Do on June 16 at Reverie