The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, July 2017

Pharoah Sanders, coming to the Dakota July 25-26

© Andrea Canter

Ed. note:  The Lead Sheet transitions to a monthly post with frequent updates. Rather than posting a new "sheet" weekly, JazzINK will publish an overview of gigs for the coming month on or before the first of each month, with at least weekly updating as new gigs and concerts are announced. The Coming Soon listing, now dubbed Lead Sheet Calendar, will have ongoing updates, and the text of the Lead Sheet will periodically add more detailed information as well. Please note that the weekly KBEM broadcast of The Lead Sheet will continue through July only.

June certainly ended with a flurry of notes as the 2017 Twin Cities Jazz Festival wrapped up last weekend. But there isn't really any down time in local jazz, and just a few hours away, another fine weekend festival takes place at the start of July -- the Iowa City Jazz Festival. And it's a holiday weekend making for some festive jazz in area clubs and venues, including a visit from Geoffrey Keezer in the Dunsmore Room.  Other highlights coming in July-- Teri Roiger at the Dunsmore Room, Carmen Lunday at the Dakota, the return of the All Originals summer series at Studio Z... and more.

Big Gigs This Month

Iowa City Jazz Festival

Friday-Sunday, June 30-July 2. An easy five-hour drive south, the Iowa City Jazz Festival is one of the nation's finest small festivals. The 2017 line-up includes innovative pianist Kris Davis, sublime vocalist Stacy Kent, all-star band The Cookers, our own Laura Caviani and her trio, as well as  favorite son trumpeter John Raymond with his Real Feels trio, and the masterful saxophonist Donny McCaslin, among others. And we have some of our most promising youth in Iowa City as well, with the Dakota Combo on the Youth Stage and the Adam Astrup Quartet on the college stage-- note Adam and Simon Petrick are also in the Dakota Combo so they have a busy weekend. This is a totally free festival and we always have a solid contingent of Twin Citians there. (Festival exchange artists this year are Laura Caviani and the Dakota Combo going south; Chris Merz and his Christopher's Very Happy Band traveled north to the Twin Cities fest last weekend.)

For more of the Lead Sheet, click here to read the rest on the Jazz Police site! 

The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, June 23-29

The 2017 Twin Cities Jazz Festival continues in St Paulhttps://www.google.com/intl/en/options/

© Andrea Canter

It's the jazziest weekend of the year in the Twin Cities as we move into the final two days of the annual jazz festival, a couple post-fest gigs, and the screening of a documentary about the amazing musical life of one of our local veterans. And of course jazz never ends  -- there's always another gig.

Big Gigs This Week

Anat Cohen headlines tonight, June 23!

Friday-Saturday, June 23-24. There's no point in enumerating the hours of jazz on the stages of over two dozen venues participating in the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. The full schedule is online (with hard copies throughout the festival), and you can read "Day by Day" overviews on the Jazz Police website. Just a few strong recommendations:

·         Friday, 7:30 pm. The late pianist Bobby Peterson was a working local legend, not only as a performer but also as a teacher who greatly influenced the careers of many current A-listers. At Vieux Carre', a tribute to Bobby will fittingly include two of his most frequent cohorts, cousin Billy Peterson on bass and Kenny Horst on drums, as well as a young lion more than worthy of filling Bobby's bench at the piano, 20-year-old Will Kjeer. 

·         Friday, 8:30 pm.  Clarinet virtuoso Anat Cohen returns to the Twin Cities with her Brazilian ensemble, Choro Adventuroso, appearing on the Securian Main Stage at Mears Park. The Israeli-born, Berklee-trained, New York-based Cohen is as comfortable with choro and samba as she is with Benny Goodman.  She's a joy to hear and fun to watch.

·         Friday-Saturday, Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education Youth Showcase covers two days this year, with 8 bands of middle and high school and college level jazz students showing their talents and enthusiasm. On stage at the Starkey Hearing Technologies Stage at Union Depot, music starts at 4 pm Friday and 1 pm Saturday, ending with the annual Dakota Combo set at 5 pm Saturday. 

Youth rule at Union Depot!

·         Saturday, 6 pm. A favorite son returns -- keyboard great Bobby Lyle is back in his home territory, performing on the Main Stage. He's been back at the Dakota and Dunsmore Room but I think this will be his festival debut.

·         Saturday, 8:30 pm. Last year was the first Singers' Scat Off and it was so well received, we'll have another, this time on the indoor stage at TPT.

·         Saturday, 8:30 pm.  The frosting on a tall cake, the closing headline act on the Securian Main Stage at Mears Park brings together a living legend and a legend-in-the-making as NEA Jazz Master McCoy Tyner teams up --for the first time--with 21st century sax titan Joshua Redman. Tyner's rhythm section--bassist Gerald Cannon and festival Artistic Director, drummer Francisco Mela--is the best in the business.

McCoy Tyner

·         Saturday, 9 pm. Laura Caviani and her trio take the spotlight at Vieux Carre', as they will next week in Iowa City when they provide the Minnesota end of the Iowa-Minnesota festival exchange.

·         Saturday, 10/11:30 pm. Will Kjeer is having a busy festival, and his availability during his college break provides an opportunity to reunite with Steve Kenny's Group 47, playing their first gig of 2017 at the Black Dog to shut down the festival. What an ending!

The festival is in the spotlight but there's another option Friday and Saturday as the Django Festival All Stars return to the Dakota for two nights of Django-influenced hot club swing.

Reynold Philipsek

Sunday, June 25. One of the most prolific jazz artists in our midst is guitarist/composer Reynold Philipsek. Now he is the subject of a documentary film, A Life Well Played, screening this afternoon with live music from Reynold and friends at the Schneider Theater in Bloomington.

Another afternoon delight, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson continue their summer months of great song with The Songs of the 30s at St Albert the Great church. And the jazz festival lingers with a post fest performance by violinist Ernest Bisong and his ensemble, at Walker West Music Academy, and a big band swinging affair with Beasley's Big Band at the Como Lakeside Pavilion.

Monday, June 26.  In the spotlight at Jazz Central, hear Ashen Fir, led by cellist Greg Byers with Jack Barrett on keys, Charlie Bruber on bass and Pete Quirsfeld on drums.

Tuesday-Wednesday, June 27-28. Pianist Richard Johnson spent a few years in the Twin Cities before taking on managing jazz clubs in the Middle East. The one-time pianist for both Wynton and Delfeayo Marsalis, Johnson returns to Minnesota for two nights in the Dunsmore Room, Tuesday with his trio and Wednesday with Debbie Duncan.

Brian Courage

Tuesday, June 28. It's normally Big Band Night at Jazz Central but tonight it's a special presentation of the Tributary Quintet, artists with connections to the Twin Cities and midwest (eg, Lawrence University) from a wider swath of the US-- Adam Meckler on trumpet, Aaron Hedenstrom on saxes, Greg Woodsbie on piano, Brian Courage on bass, and Derek Dreier on drums.

Wednesday, June 28. The Leigh Kamman Legacy Project's monthly series at the Black Dog Cafe continues with a broadcast of a Jazz Image radio hour from July of 1993, followed by another showing (by popular request) of the video Jazz Image Evolution: Leigh Kamman Through the Decades.

At Jazz Central, John Keston and Cody McKinney present: sound/simulacra : a monthly series which explores musical improvisation as a “faithful and intentionally distorted” representational process. Sound/simulacra will bring together some of the Twin Cities most unique voices to “recreate, distort, and create the hyperreal”. At the Public Kitchen, there's another opportunity to hear the Richard Kronick Quartet. 

Steven Hobert Quartet

Thursday, June 29. Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie will go on hiatus in August, pending Reverie's relocation, but not before hosting a performance by pianist Steven Hobert and his quartet (Pete Whitman, Yohannes Tona, LA Buckner). Events are scheduled through July and watch for news of a new location.

Larry McDonough

A big hit at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival last week and top pick of the Pioneer Press, the Larry McDonough Quintet reprises its AcoustElectric show at Day Block Brewing. This show pairs the music of Kind of Blue with Return to Forever, the acoustic set followed by the electronic set. But unlike the earlier shows at the Dakota, the Miles Davis trumpet part will transfer to Carol Bergquist on flute--original arrangements indeed. Other acoustic selections will be drawn from Larry's previous shows celebrating Bill Evans, Tony Bennett and Chet Baker.  The electric set pays homage to Return to Forever with some additional hits from Led Zeppelin, Spinal Tap, Sting and Prince.

American Reverie

Zacc Harris's American Reverie trio (with Matt Peterson and Cory Healey) had a very successful CD release last month, earning praise from City Pages as "a collection of smart contemporary jazz interpretations of folk standards...Harris’ eloquent guitar work highlights pointed commentary with a deft array of melodic abstractions, tempo shifts and harmonic changes."  They'll give us another chance to hear it live tonight at Vieux Carre'.   

Did you know the Bad Waitress on Nicollet has jazz every Thursday night? This week features the dazzling duo of Charmin and Shapira. Experimental music at Khyber Pass features Pat Moriarty, Ellen Lease and Noah Ophoven Baldwin, and at Jazz Central, Vocal Jazz Night presents Niny Salem, new on the Twin Cities jazz scene.

Coming Soon!

. June 30, Silverback Trio CD release, Bryant Lake Bowl 
. June 30, Michael Shults with Javi Santiago at Jazz Central

. June 30-July 2, Iowa City Jazz Festival with Donny McCaslin, Stacy Kent, The Cookers, Laura Caviani, John Raymond, Dakota Combo and more
. June 30, Yolande Bruce at Crooners Lounge
. July 1, Mauilotus: Marillyn Allysum Group at Jazz Central
. July 1, Babatunde Lea Quartet/ Drew Stinson Trio, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog
. July 1, Richard Kronick Quintet in the Mudd Room at Lucky 13

. July 1, Jay Young and the Lyric Factory at the Dakota

. July 1, Sheridan Zuther and Steven Hobert at NE Mpls Farmers Market (St Boniface parking lot)

. July 2, Oudyano (Steven Hobert and Issam Rafea) in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. July 3, Geoffrey Keezer solo piano in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge 
. July 4, Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz Central 
. July 4, St. Croix Jazz Orchestra with Andrew Walesch, Pioneer Park in Stillwater (fireworks follow)
. July 6, Acme Jazz Company with Arne Fogel at Crooners Lounge 
. July 6, Josh Granowski and Friends at the Bad Waitress (Nicollet) 
. July 6, "Pool Party" with JT Bates, Jacqueline Ultan and Chris Cunningham at Khyber Pass

. July 7, Illicit Sextet at Studio Z (All Originals)
. July 8, Good Vibes Trio/Cole Mahlum Quartet, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog

. July 10, Teri Roiger in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. July 11, Lila Ammons Duo at Midtown Farmers Market
. July 11, Cedar Avenue Big Band at Jazz Central
. July 12, Fuzzy Math at Jazz Central 
. July 12, Steven Hobert/Tony Balluff Big Three at Vieux Carre'
. July 13, Adam Astrup Group/KBT Trio, Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie

. July 13, George Cartwright and Davu Seru at Khyber Pass
. July 13, Joel Shapira/Jeremy Walker's Songtet at Vieux Carre'

. July 14, Glen David Andrews at the Dakota
. July 14, Connie Evingson, Jazz in the Lounge at the Minneapolis Woman's Club
. July 15, Tall Tales/Sam Miltich Trio, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog
. July 19, Capri Big Band at Minnehaha Falls Park bandshell

. July 20, Carmen Lundy at the Dakota
. July 20, Will Kjeer, Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie 
. July 21, Mary Louise Knutson Trio, pre-concert at Minnesota Orchestra Hall

. July 21-22, New Standards at the Dakota
. July 22, Juli Wood Quartet/Levi Schwartzberg Group, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog

. July 23, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson, Music of the 40s at St Albert the Great (1 pm) 
. July 24, Medeski, Clouser and Bates at the Icehouse
. July 25, Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central

. July 26-27, Pharoah Sanders at the Dakota

. July 27, Lila Ammons Quartet at Hell's Kitchen 
. July 27, Shifting Paradigms Recording Celebration, Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie

. July 28, TBA at Studio Z (All Originals)
. July 29, Chris Bates Red 5/Katia Cardenas, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog

. August 2, Kendra Shank in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. August 7, Chris Thomson Band with John Raymond at the Icehouse

. August 8, Cyrille Aimee at the Dakota

. August 8-9, Kevin Mahogany in the Dunmore Room at Crooners Lounge
. August 12, Lila Ammons Duo at Midtown Farmers Market

. August 16, Ben Sidran at the Dakota

. August 20, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson, Music of the 50s at St Albert the Great (1 pm)
. August 20-21, Lee Konitz with Dan Tepfer in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. August 24, Debbie Duncan Live Album Recording at the Dakota

. August 25, Jazz Word Jazz at Studio Z (All Originals)

. August 30, Dr Lonnie Smith at the Dakota

. September 12-13, Mike Stern Band at the Dakota

. September 18, The Yellowjackets at the Dakota
. September 22, Framework at Studio Z (All Originals)

. October 10-11, Chick Corea Sextet with Steve Gadd at the Dakota

. October 20, Mindy Abair at the Dakota

. October 26-27, Ramsey Lewis Quartet at the Dakota

. October 28-29, David Sanborn at the Dakota

The Iowa City Jazz Festival --June 30-July 2

The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, June 16-22

Twin Cities Jazz Festival gets officially underway on June 22 in Mears Park

© Andrea Canter

After a relaxing week in San Francisco and the North Bay (including an evening concert from Joe Lovano and his new "Classic Quartet"), I am happy to be back in the Jazz Cities as we heat up to the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Young lions and seasoned veterans, locals and visitors,  combine to give us a wide range of modern jazz leading up to Thursdays' official festival opening with Emmet Cohen and Terence Blanchard at Mears Park.

Big Gigs This Week

Adam Booker

Friday, June 16.  At Jazz Central, it's the last chance (for a while at least) to hear UMD bassist Adam Booker before he moves East to a bass faculty position at Appalachian State University. His trio includes Levi Schwartzberg on vibes and Ben Ophoven-Baldwin on drums.

Some cool jazz for dinner sets at the Icehouse brings together Dave Graf and Javi Santiago, trombone and piano, long-lasting veteran and young upstart. And a duo combination seldom heard in jazz.

How Birds Work

Saturday, June 17. Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog brings back an old Artists Quarter favorite, How Birds Work-- that's Dean Granros, Peter Schimke, Chris Bates and Kenny Horst. The only play a few gigs per year so don't miss this one.   

Simon Petrick

Opening at the Black Dog will be the JazzINK Youth Showcase featuring PAW --Simon Petrick (drums), Jordan Anderson (piano) and Tyler Wagner (bass). Simon is heading to the University of North Texas after studies with Phil Hey and JT Bates, and finishing his senior year of high school in the U of M Jazz Ensemble. Jordan just finished his first year at the U of Michigan where he is studying with ace pianist Benny Green. And Tyler will begin his third year at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Joel Shapira

 Also Saturday, guitarist Joel Shapira takes the early slot at Vieux Carre' to celebrate the release of his new solo CD, In Essence. This is a stunning collection of Joel's arrangements of jazz standards. Strings also rule at the Icehouse, with guitarist Zacc Harris and bassist Gary Raynor interacting during dinner hours.

Cameron Kinghorn

The Twin Cities Jazz Festival presents a night of music at the Hennepin Ave United Methodist Church, starting out with the student ensemble Tamberwood, followed by two sets from Cameron Kinghorn and his band, featuring Cameron on vocals.

Debbie Duncan

At Rosemount Central Park, it's the annual Jazz Blast with five bands, including the Twin Cities 7 and Acme Jazz Company. At Public Kitchen, hear the Richard Kronick Quartet, while Debbie Duncan takes over Crooners Lounge.

Sunday, June 18. There's another festival preview on Father's Day afternoon with Doug Little's Charanga Tropical performing in the George Latimer Central Library in downtown St Paul.

Nancy Harms

In the evening, a treat for jazz vocal fans as Nancy Harms--our Clara City MN native-- returns to the Dunsmore Room with great tunes and arrangements from her Ellington at Night recording as well as new material.

Regina Maria Williams

Regina Marie Williams returns to the Dakota with  "American Songbook", and a new venue, 56 Brewing, presents young guns-- Jordan Anderson and his trio.

New venue in Northfield--Imminent Brewing opens this weekend and vibraphone master Dave Hagedorn and friends perform today:  With bassist Kevin Clements and drummer Eric Hanson, the trio is currently nown as TLA but a change is "imminent" based on feedback!

Adam Astrup

Monday, June 19. Young guitar whiz Adam Astrup (newly graduated and heading to college studies at the University of Northern Colorado) leads a band at Jazz Central, filled with some familiar names -- Patrick Adkins on keys, Andrew Tomten on sax, Nick Benish on bass, and Simon Petrick on drums.

At the Icehouse, JT's Jazz Implosion hosts a double feature, starting with Jon Davis' quartet (Davis on bass and woodwinds, Chuck Love on trumpet, flute, melodica and percussion, Bryan Nichols on keys and Greg Schutte on drums). The later set features the George Marich Trio, with Marich on drums, George Cartwright on saxes, and Josh Granowski on bass.

Jane Bunnett & Macqueque

The Dakota hosts a very overdue Twin Cities appearance from Canada's multi-reed star Jane Bunnett with her Cuban all-women ensemble, Macqueque. At Crooners Lounge, Linda Peterson starts her happy hour week, on vocals and piano, with Erin Schwab celebrating her birthday during the evening's prime time.

Jordan Anderson

Tuesday, June 20. Pianist Jordan Anderson (again!) brings a quartet to a jazz fest preview gig at Walker West, with support from Peter Goggin, Charlie Lincoln and Edmund Catlin-- three names we also hear a lot of during summer breaks.

At the Black Dog, guitar giant Dean Magraw pairs up with violinist Zosha Warpeha. Zosha is into her final year at New School in New York, and last summer first performed together with Magraw for some amazing fun and interaction among the strings.

It's Explosion Big Band at Jazz Central tonight, while Vieux Carre' holds a piano night-- starting with Chris Lomheim solo, followed by the Jon Pemberton Trio with Jon here on piano.

Christian Sands

Wednesday, June 21. The Dakota hosts young piano sensation Christian Sands, most recently handling keys for Christian McBride and the Mack Avenue Superband.  

Claudia Schmidt and Dean Magraw

In the Dunsmore Room, vocalist Claudia Schmidt reunites with dazzling guitarist Dean Magraw and the never predictable pianist Bryan Nichols -- a pretty awesome trio.

Vieux Carre' hosts JT Bates and his Grain Trio with Kevin Gastonguay on keys and Zacc Harris on guitar.

And a special event for kids-- Kinderjazz at Landmark Center, a free concert and hands-on experience starting at 10:30 am, music and guidance with Cody McKinney, Pete Hennig and John Keston, complete with instrument "petting zoo." All ages.

Emmet Cohen

Thursday, June 22 is the official opening of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. At Mears Park, Emmet Cohen and his trio are back after wowing audiences at Crooners and Jazz Central in March; Terence Blanchard and his E-Collective finish off the evening on the Main Stage.  

Vieux Carre' has an expanded festival line up this year with Jon Weber solo piano followed by the Mary Louise Knutson Trio, and the Black Dog hosts five bands including the Mac Santiago Quartet--all next Thursday.

Terence Blanchard

Of course there's music throughout Lowertown and beyond through Saturday so check the festival website schedule. (Note that Jazz Central and Reverie will not have music tonight.)

Away from the festival, Khyber Pass presents Stew Frog: Scott Fultz on sax and electronics, Steve Goldstein on lap electronics and percussion, and Dean Granros on guitar and synth. And at the Bad Waitress (on Nicollet), Thursday night jazz continues with Pete Whitman and Peter Schimke, sax and piano duo.

More Jazz!

Jon Weber

There's always more jazz around the Metro every week. See the Live jazz calendar posted on the KBEM website, and see more about jazz events at jazzpolice.com --online and on facebook.  Andrea's guest next week will be our festival house pianist and certainly one of the nation's most talented and most knowledgable jazz artists, Jon Weber Tune in at the usual time to hear Jon's take on the 2017 festival.

Coming Soon!

. June 23, Twin Cities Jazz Festival (Anat Cohen and Choro Adventuroso), Mears Park and beyond

. June 23, Kari Musil & Freedom of Jazz Orchestra at Schmidt  Brewery Artists Lofts

. June 23-24, Dorado Schmitt and Django All Stars at the Dakota

. June 24, Twin Cities Jazz Festival (Bobby Lyle, McCoy Tyner with Joshua Redman), Mears Park and beyond

. June 25, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson, Music of the 30s at St Albert the Great (1 pm)

. June 25, Reynold Philipsek Film Release, "A Life Well Played" at the Schneider Theater

. June 25, Ernest Bisong Group at Walker West (Twin Cities Jazz Festival)

. June 25, Beasley's Big Band at Como Lakeside Pavillion (Twin Cities Jazz Festival)

. June 27-28, Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton at the Dakota

. June 29, Steven Hobert Quartet at Reverie

. June 29, Charmin and Shapira at the Bad Waitress (Nicollet)

. June 30, Silverback Trio CD release, Bryant Lake Bowl

. June 30-July 2, Iowa City Jazz Festival with Donny McCaslin, Stacy Kent, The Cookers, Laura Caviani, John Raymond, Dakota Combo and more

. July 1, Jay Young and the Lyric Factory at the Dakota
. July 1, Sheridan Zuther and Steven Hobert at NE Mpls Farmers Market (St Boniface parking lot)

. July 2, Oudyano (Steven Hobert and Issam Rafea) in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. July 3, Geoffrey Keezer solo piano in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. July 7, Illicit Sextet at Studio Z (All Originals)

. July 10, Teri Roiger in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. July 13, George Cartwright and Davu Seru at Khyber Pass

. July 14, Glen David Andrews at the Dakota

. July 20, Carmen Lundy at the Dakota

. July 21-22, New Standards at the Dakota

. July 23, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson, Music of the 40s at St Albert the Great (1 pm)

. July 26-27, Pharoah Sanders at the Dakota

. July 27, Lila Ammons Quartet at Hell's Kitchen

. July 28, Kenny Horst at Studio Z (All Originals)

. August 2, Kendra Shank in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. August 7, Chris Thomson Band with John Raymond at the Icehouse

. August 8, Cyrille Aimee at the Dakota

. August 8-9, Kevin Mahogany in the Dunmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. August 16, Ben Sidran at the Dakota

. August 20, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson, Music of the 50s at St Albert the Great (1 pm)

. August 24, Debbie Duncan Live Album Recording at the Dakota

. August 25, Jazz Word Jazz at Studio Z (All Originals)

. August 30, Dr Lonnie Smith at the Dakota

. September 12-13, Mike Stern Band at the Dakota

. September 18, The Yellowjackets at the Dakota

. October 10-11, Chick Corea Sextet with Steve Gadd at the Dakota

. October 20, Mindy Abair at the Dakota

. October 26-27, Ramsey Lewis Quartet at the Dakota

. October 28-29, David Sanborn at the Dakota

McCoy Tyner -- at the TC Jazz Festival on June 24

The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, June 9-15

Connie Evingson and Jon Weber, with Gordy Johnson-- launching new Jazz at the Jungle Season on June 11

© Andrea Canter

We have another fine summer week of jazz as we build momentum toward the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, including pre-fest performances, the opening of a new Jazz in the Jungle season, continuing celebration of the 5th anniversary of the Icehouse, another visit from Wayne Horvitz, and a lot more.

Big Gigs This Week

Patty Peterson

Friday, June 9. The weekend kicks off in style with Patty Peterson and mostly Family at Crooners Lounge. Patty joins sister Linda (voice and piano), brother Billy (bass), and almost family Bobby Vandell (drums) for what is sure to be a very entertaining night.

Jon Pemberton

At Vieux Carre', Jon Pemberton opens the evening on piano, followed by the one and only Debbie Duncan, singing at the top of her game as she warms up for a new recording later this summer.

Tim Sparks

The Icehouse continues its fifth anniversary celebration, starting the evening with Tim Sparks and James Buckley, then a double feature late with the high-energy fusion of New Sound Underground--voted best jam band of 2015 by City Pages--and Chicago-based jazz-rock band, Marbin. 

Jazz Central presents some young masters tonight, starting with trombonist Jack Courtight (Eastman School of Music) and friends, followed by the Ben Ehrlich Trio -- Ben (North Texas) on drums, Will Kjeer (McGill U) on piano and Charlie Lincoln (Berklee) on bass. 


And here's a sure bet: Tony Bennett at Mystic Lake Casino! At 90, his voice is past it's prime (and what a prime it was!) but he has not lost his interpretive skills or ability to sell a song at retail. And who knows when he'll be back?

Doug Haining

Saturday, June 10. The Black Dog hosts an opening set from young bassist Jax Ravel and his trio, with Will Kjeer on keys and Blake Hubel on drums, followed by Doug Haining's salute to Horace Silver. Doug's quintet features Steve Kenny on Flumpet, Ted Godbout on piano, Chris Bates on bass and Mac Santiago on drums. Expect some great Silver tunes like "Peace," "Song for My Father", and "Sister Sadie."

Aaron Hedenstrom Trio

At Vieux Carre', have some fun with Kate Lynch and her Most Excellent Fellows. The Normandy Kitchen presents Maurice Jacox. And at Boom Island Brewing, the new Saturday jazz series features the Aaron Hedenstrom Trio. 

Colleen Raye brings a "Rat Pack" era production, "Sinatra and Company," to the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center. Raye, Debbie O'Keefe, and Tim Patrick and his 10-Piece "Blue Eyes Band" present iconic music from the 50s and 60s crooners.  You’ll hear songs from Sinatra, Garland, Ella, Marilyn, Dino, Sammy, Dinah, Rosemary and more - all with the spontaneous feel of a Rat-Pack concert.

Jon Weber and Connie Evingson

Sunday, June 11.  Summer afternoons were made for big bands. The 27th annual Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Praire at Staring Lake Amphitheater (Eden Prairie) presents six of the region's top big bands in fresh air and (hopefully) plenty of June sunshine. Free!

Connie Evingson's Jazz at the Jungle opens a new season with an invitation to "Duke's Place" (at the Jungle Theater). She's joined by New York-based pianist Jon Weber, who has been her cohort for many of the Jungle shows over the past five years, along with Dave Karr on reeds and Gordy Johnson on bass. It's just the start of a new season that will include another show in September and something special for the holidays.

Doug Little, Charanga Tropical

 In the Dunsmore Room, Dennis Spears performs his show, "If Songs Could Talk." With Dennis on stage, those songs really will talk!  Doug Little's Charanga Tropical holds their monthly Sunday afternoon fiesta at the Icehouse; Fuzzy Math returns to the Black Dog; the Zacc Harris Trio performs at the Riverview Wine Bar and the Parisota Hot Club takes its weekly slot at the Aster Cafe.

Dave King Trucking Company

Monday, June 12. JT's Jazz Implosion really implodes at the Icehouse, with the Dave King Trucking Company featuring New Yorker Chris Speed followed by a CD release for Chicago-based Hanging Hearts.

Rachel Holder

Vocalist Rachel Holder performs at Crooners Lounge--and she's there all week for happy hour. Guitarist Jon Wood is at Jazz Central, followed by the weekly jam.

Tuesday, June 13. The monthly Chris Olson Project takes the stage at the Black Dog, while the Cedar Avenue Big Band holds its monthly gathering at Jazz Central.

Candy Dulfer

Tuesday-Wednesday, June 13-14. Smooth jazz sax star Candy Dulfer returns to the Dakota, and the duo of Butch Thompson and Pat Donahue returns to the Dunsmore Room.

Wednesday, June 14. Vieux Carre' presents Rick Carlson for early evening magic followed by Jeremy Walker and his Songtet with Jason Harms.

Dave Karr

Over at Jazz Central, Chris Bates and Davu Seru join forces with visiting pianist Thollem McDonas, while Connie Evingson performs outdoors with Jon Weber and Dave Karr at the Village at Mendota Heights--an official "pre-festival" event.

Lucia Newell

Thursday, June 15. The Kevin Washington Quintet performs outdoors at Rice Park in St Paul, the too-seldom heard Lucia Newell sings with the Wolverines at Crooners Lounge.

Davu Seru

Visiting keyboardist Wayne Horvitz will be at Reverie with Josh Granowski and Davu Seru. It's also a jazz fest preview night with Doug Little's Seven Steps to Havana at the Arlington Hills Library in St Paul.

More Jazz! See the Live jazz calendar posted on the KBEM website, and see more about jazz events at jazzpolice.com, online and on facebook. Tune into the live edition of The Lead Sheet on KBEM 88.5 fm every Thursday at 4:40 pm, rebroadcast on Fridays at 8:20 am. Andrea's guest on June 15 will be guitarist/composer Reynold Philipsek sharing information about an upcoming biographical film and giving listeners a sampling of live music.

Coming Soon!

. June 17, How Birds Work/Simon Petrick Group at the Black Dog

. June 17, Tamberwood Ensemble, Cameron Kinghorn, Twin Cities Jazz Fest Preview Night at Hennepin Ave United Methodist Church (Kinghorn, 2 shows)

. June 17, Joel Shapira CD Release at Vieux Carre'
. June 17, Rosemount Jazz Blast, 5 bands at Rosemount Central Park Amphitheater

. June 18, Charanga Tropical at George Lattimer Central Library, St Paul(Twin Cities Jazz Festival)

. June 18, Nancy Harms in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. June 18, Dave Hagedorn Trio at Imminent Brewing opening event in Northfield

. June 19, Jane Bunnett and Macaque at the Dakota

. June 20, Jordan Anderson Group, Walker West (Twin Cities Jazz Festival

. June 21, Christian Sands at the Dakota

. June 21, Lee Engele, Merriman Park Library (Twin Cities Jazz Festival)

. June 22-24, Twin Cities Jazz Festival (McCoy Tyner with Joshua Redman, Terence Blanchard, Anat Cohen, Bobby Lyle, Emmet Cohen)
. June 23, Kari Musil & Freedom of Jazz Orchestra at Schmidt  Brewery Artists Lofts

. June 23-24, Dorado Schmitt and Django All Stars at the Dakota

. June 25, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson, Music of the 30s at St Albert the Great (1 pm)

. June 25, Reynold Philipsek Film Release, "A Life Well Played" at the Schneider Theater

. June 25, Ernest Bisong Group at Walker West (Twin Cities Jazz Festival)

. June 25, Beasley's Big Band at Como Lakeside Pavillion (Twin Cities Jazz Festival)

. June 27-28, Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton at the Dakota

. June 29, Steven Hobert Quartet at Reverie

. June 30, Silverback Trio CD release, Bryant Lake Bowl

. June 30-July 2, Iowa City Jazz Festival with Donny McCaslin, Stacy Kent, The Cookers, Laura Caviani, John Raymond, Dakota Combo and more

. July 1, Jay Young and the Lyric Factory at the Dakota

. July 3, Geoffrey Keezer solo piano in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. July 7, Illicit Sextet at Studio Z (All Originals)

. July 10, Teri Roiger in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. July 14, Glen David Andrews at the Dakota

. July 21-22, New Standards at the Dakota

. July 23, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson, Music of the 40s at St Albert the Great (1 pm)

. July 26-27, Pharoah Sanders at the Dakota
. July 27, Lila Ammons Quartet at Hell's Kitchen

. July 28, Kenny Horst at Studio Z (All Originals)

. August 2, Kendra Shank in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. August 7, Chris Thomson Band with John Raymond at the Icehouse

. August 8, Cyrille Aimee at the Dakota

. August 8-9, Kevin Mahogany in the Dunmore Room at Crooners Lounge

. August 16, Ben Sidran at the Dakota

. August 20, Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson, Music of the 50s at St Albert the Great (1 pm)

. August 24, Debbie Duncan Live Album Recording at the Dakota

. August 25, Jazz Word Jazz at Studio Z (All Originals)

. August 30, Dr Lonnie Smith at the Dakota

. September 18, The Yellowjackets at the Dakota

. October 10-11, Chick Corea Sextet with Steve Gadd at the Dakota

. October 20, Mindy Abair at the Dakota

. October 26-27, Ramsey Lewis Quartet at the Dakota

. October 28-29, David Sanborn at the Dakota

2017 Twin Cities Jazz Festival, June 22-24