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The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, January 24-30

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You can find jazz in all sorts of venues this week, from classic club settings to hotel lounges to the tiniest gallery space.  And you can also find some jazz memorabilia to reinforce your memories of perhaps the most beloved venue of all.

Big Gigs This Week

Friday, January 24. Whenever Patty Peterson is on stage, it is a “big gig," and tonight, this savvy singer “and friends" take over the Dakota. And it's truly more friends than family this time, as nephew Jason Peterson DeLaire joins Aunt Patty and Donnie LeMarca, Bobby Vandell, Tony Axtel and Geoff Bouchier.

Parma 8200 offers a chance to hear chanteuse Katie Gearty in a relaxed setting with strings—guitarist Zacc Harris and bassist Matt Peterson. You might want to make a reservation —the bar/lounge can fill up fast, and Katie has a broad following given her talents crossing jazz, blues and R&B.

One of the biggest names in one of the smallest spaces — crooner Arne Fogel, with pianist Chris Lomheim, makes his debut at the Even Break Gallery across the street from Broder's in southwest Minneapolis. The second floor gallery — probably smaller than your living room—has been trying out music on Saturday mornings, but this is their first evening gig. It's cozy and owners Gretchen and Patches will make you feel like you really are in your living room with some talented friends providing the music.

Saturday, January 25. The annual LaCrosse Jazz Festival gives you good reason to head to Wisconsin today. Clinics and performances abound throughout the day, with the evening concert featuring guest clinician and all-star bassist Michael Janisch and his touring quintet, featuring some of the hottest artists on the international scene — Patrick Cornelius, Matt Stevens, Philip Dizek, and Clarence Penn. The quintet blew us away last Thursday at Studio Z.

A somewhat rare pairing of pianist Phil Aaronand bassist Steve Pikal should make for a fun and swinging evening at the Icehouse, as the duo performs the dinner sets at this south Minneapolis hotspot. It can be noisy but if you get a table between the bar and stage, you should be able to enjoy the music as well as some interesting and tasty fare from the kitchen. Save room for dessert.

Saturday-Sunday, January 25-26.Another jazz festival this weekend: In White Bear, Century College hosts famed drummer Butch Miles for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon concerts, with the Century College Jazz Ensemble; voice/guitar duo Charmin and Shapira perform at the opening night reception on Saturday.

Sunday, January 26. Miss the Artists Quarter? Want a piece of it? Sale at the empty club this afternoon (1-4 pm) of CDs from visiting artists and live recordings; posters; photos plus David Wilson's private book collection.

Monday, January 27.  In the past few years, you could always find trumpeter Steve Kenny at the Artists Quarter — every Wednesday he led the Bastids, and more recently, Group 47. And less often, you could find him with the revived Illicit Sextet. Tonight is a rare opportunity to hear Steve without either of his regular band of cohorts, as he takes the spotlight at Jazz Central with the house rhythm team. It's anyone's guess what will happen when Steve cuts loose, but for sure it will be a sonic feast.  At the Icehouse, the always surprising Fat Kid Wednesdays— Mike Lewis, Adam Linz, JT Bates— is back on their home stage. Never a dull moment.

Tuesday, January 28. An early Mardi Gras at the Dakota tonight as New Orleans pianist Tom McDermott shares the bill with the Twin Cities' Patty and the Buttons, headed by accordion monster Patrick Harison and featuring clarinetist Tony Balluf, guitarist Mark Kreitzer and bassist Keith Boyles.  Cafe Maude tonight hosts Minnesota's answer to Count Basie, pianist Rick Carlson. Dinner and swing — what could be better for a midweek break? Over in St. Paul, Zacc Harris and Friends will bring a more experimental bent to the intimate space at the Black Dog.

Wednesday, January 29. Connected through Century College, the CC Septet has been engaging audiences with their special blend of brass and rhythm since 2006. They have three CDs to their credit, and as Big Band guru Jerry Swanberg notes, the band “swings like crazy and performs with enormous energy."  Catch them tonight at Jazz Central.

Thursday, January 30. Twice in one week? Yes, if you missed Steve Kenny at Jazz Central, tonight he brings his Group 47 to the Black Dog. Inaugurated about six months ago as the Wednesday Night early gig at the Artists Quarter, Kenny's latest ensemble puts him in the role of elder statesman and mentor for bassist Adam Tucker, college students drummer Alex Burgess and saxophonist Thomas Strommen, and still-in-high-school pianist Will Kjeer. But close your eyes and you will hear a much more experienced band at work, one that just laid down tracks for its debut recording.

In Minneapolis, you can't help but have fun with Debbie Duncan at Hell's Kitchen. She can bring you to tears with a ballad, and the next minute have you in stitches with banter and blues.

More Jazz Every Night Be sure to check live jazz calendars on Jazz Policeand KBEM sites. Also find a growing number of events on the Jazz Near You site, a service of All About Jazz. A few more gigs of note:

Friday, January 24.Irv Williams and Peter Schimke, happy hour at the Dakota; Todd Harper, solo piano at the Black Dog; Paula Lammers and the Nightingale Jazz Combo at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio (Eagan); Mississippi Hot Club at the Red Stag

Saturday, January 25. JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Dean Brewington Trio at Loring Pasta Bar

Sunday, January 26. Robert Everest (brunch) at Maria's Cafe; Patty and the Buttons (brunch) at the Aster Café;  Doug Little Quartet with Chris Lomheim at Eat Street Social; Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom; Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar; T-Collective at the Icehouse; Off the Cuff (experimental music series) at the Aster Cafe'

Monday, January 27. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza

Tuesday, January 28. Rick Carlson at Cafe Maude; Nova Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central; Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Jason Weisman at Hell's Kitchen

Wednesday, January 29. Andrew Foreman and Friends at the Black Dog; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza

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