A salute to our jazz elders highlights the weekend, while welcome visits from veteran and up-and-coming artists keep jazz in high gear all week.
Jazz This Week
Friday, April 22. They call the trio at Jazz Central tonight “Father Son Pancake Breakfast," and there really is a father and son team— pianist Javi Santiago and drummer, dad Mac Santiago, along with world class bassist Anthony Cox. Caterer Vanessa will be there with some dinner treats, but it's unlikely she's bringing pancakes. And you can swing all night at Vieux Carré, with Dan Newton and his accordion starting off the evening, followed by the South Side Aces and their own brand of New Orleans music. The very cool duo of Bryan Nichols and Zacc Harrisplay for dinner hours at the Icehouse, while Debbie Duncan returns to Hell's Kitchen for a sweet and sassy evening. Ace pianist/composer Steven Hobert and Syrian oud player Issam Rafea play the first of two shows this weekend, tonight a Powderhorn house concert at 3346 17th Ave S. Minneapolis (see Steven's websitefor more information). At Parma 8200, a relative newcomer to local gigging, vocalist Kim Fragodt and her trio will entertain in the lounge.
Saturday, April 23. The afternoon music series at Hosmer Library in south Minneapolis brings the second opportunity to hear Steven Hobert and Issam Rafea, in a free concert.
On SaturdayNight Jazz at the Black Dog, Javi Santiago turns up again, this time leading an inventive trio including Dan Carpel on bass and Miguel Hurtado on drums, following an opening set from keyboardist Steve Kimmel's trio with Margo Breivik on bass and Trevor Haining on drums.
At Vieux Carre', there's a rare prime time double header. Jack Lionis a trio from my home town of Iowa City, with keyboards, bass, percussion and electronics coming together in an opening set before they turn it over to the Adam Meckler Quintet's CD release. Recorded live in three venues last August, the result—Wander—is both edgy and sublime, as one would expect of Meckler's original compositions and arrangements.
It's the season finale for the JazzMN Orchestraat the Hopkins High School Auditorium, where they're putting their guests “Slide by Slide"— that's two trombones who top the LA jazz scene, Andy Martin and Bob McChesney. Andy and Bob will play with the big band throughout the program, and vocalist Charmin Michelle joins in on a couple of tunes.
JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske have another month of Saturdays in the Lobby Bar of the Saint Paul Hotel before their summer break, and the Benny Weinbeck Trio continues its Saturdays in the lounge at Parma 8200. In Osseo, the funky jazz of the Kronick Quintet rocks the house at the NOLA Bistro.
Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24. At the Capri Theater, get reacquainted with the music of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder as interpreted by bassist Jay Young and The Lyric Factory, with Ian Young, Scott Fultz, Kevin Washington, Eric Gravatt, Ernest Bisong, and vocalists Yolande Bruce, Heather McElrather and Linda Sloan. They perform two shows of “Superstitious Thriller".
Sunday, April 24. Patty and the Buttons continue their weekly swing brunch at the Aster. And this afternoon, celebrate some local jazz history with some of the legendary elders of the Twin Cities jazz scene, in a show sponsored by KBEM and hosted by Patty Peterson at the Minnesota History Center theater. Elders in the spotlight include saxman Dave Karr, jazz and gospel vocalist Tom Tipton, bassist Clyde Anderson, pianist and singer Nancy Lovegren Lewandoski, and drummer Dick Bortolussi. And If you can't hear it live, a segment will be recorded for later broadcast, and include elders Herb Pilhofer and Jimmy Hamilton.
Sunday evening, legends in the making—vocalist Lucia Newell and pianist Phil Aaron are “in the crook" of the piano in the Dunsmore Room, with music covering some originals, some Brazilian, and perhaps some surprises. Off Loring Park in the Hennepin Ave Methodist Church, Soul Cafe welcomes Syrian oud master Issam Rafea, who joins the core trio of Steve Blons, Brad Holden and Steven Hobert. The music and poetry will address the theme, “Body and Soul" (so we can guess at least one tune on the setlist).
Monday, April 25. The cliché “small town girl makes good" could not be more apt in describing New York-based vocalist and former Twin Citian, Nancy Harms. The Big Apple is a long way from Nancy's home town of Clara City, MN, and Nancy has come a long way since her first gigs on our jazz scene. Her third recording, Ellington at Night, grew out of a handful of shows starting in New York's Metropolitan Room with her frequent piano partner, Jeremy Siskind, with production shared with mentor Arne Fogel. After releasing the CD to a sold-out crowd at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, she has been on tour, working her way to tonight's Minnesota release party at the Dunsmore Room with Siskind and local pals Gordy Johnson and Jay Epstein. First show is sold out but tickets remain (at the moment) for the 9 pm show. Yes, you have heard plenty of Ellington, but no, you probably have not heard some of the obscure tunes on this recording, and Nancy's approach is fresh and original.
A drummer as well as social activist on the New York scene now based in the Twin Cities, Vinson Valega makes his Jazz Central debut tonight, followed by the usual Monday Night Jam—everyone welcome.
City Pages just named drummer JT Bates as the area's “Jazz Artist of the Year," in no small way due to his curatorial talents in running the Jazz Implosion series for the past two decades, first at the Clown Lounge and over recent years at the Icehouse. Tonight, he teams up with guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker for an opening set before bringing on Lars-Erik Larson's Mancrush, unofficially the Minneapolis release of their Authentic Midwestern.
Monday-Tuesday, April 25-26. The Dakota welcomes back the prototype jazz vocal ensemble, the Manhattan Transfer. This will be the band's first visit with Trist Curliss, and without founder Tim Hauser, who passed away in 2014.
Tuesday, April 26. New York-based trumpeter John Raymond is back in town to play with local pals in the Dunsmore Room; Bryan Nichols is on piano, JT Bates on drums. (John turns up again on Thursday)
Wednesday, April 27. The Crooner at Crooners! Arne Fogel sings with his trio in the lounge at Crooners. At Vieux Carré, it's time for New Shoes—former members of Prairie Home Companion's “Guy's All-Star Shoe Band," Richard Kriehn (fiddle and mandolin), Gary Raynor (bass), Joe Savage (pedal steel guitar) and Peter Johnson (drums).
Thursday, April 28. The second season of Jeremy Walker's Jazz in the Target Atrium closes at Orchestra Hall with “Wild Midwest," new compositions by Jeremy and Bryan Nichols performed by various configurations of the Atrium Jazz Ensemble, with Jeremy and Bryan joined by John Raymond on trumpet, Chris Thomson and Brandon Wozniak on saxophones, Jeff Bailey on bass and JT Bates on drums.
Jazz This Week
Friday, April 22. They call the trio at Jazz Central tonight “Father Son Pancake Breakfast," and there really is a father and son team— pianist Javi Santiago and drummer, dad Mac Santiago, along with world class bassist Anthony Cox. Caterer Vanessa will be there with some dinner treats, but it's unlikely she's bringing pancakes. And you can swing all night at Vieux Carré, with Dan Newton and his accordion starting off the evening, followed by the South Side Aces and their own brand of New Orleans music. The very cool duo of Bryan Nichols and Zacc Harrisplay for dinner hours at the Icehouse, while Debbie Duncan returns to Hell's Kitchen for a sweet and sassy evening. Ace pianist/composer Steven Hobert and Syrian oud player Issam Rafea play the first of two shows this weekend, tonight a Powderhorn house concert at 3346 17th Ave S. Minneapolis (see Steven's websitefor more information). At Parma 8200, a relative newcomer to local gigging, vocalist Kim Fragodt and her trio will entertain in the lounge.
Saturday, April 23. The afternoon music series at Hosmer Library in south Minneapolis brings the second opportunity to hear Steven Hobert and Issam Rafea, in a free concert.
On SaturdayNight Jazz at the Black Dog, Javi Santiago turns up again, this time leading an inventive trio including Dan Carpel on bass and Miguel Hurtado on drums, following an opening set from keyboardist Steve Kimmel's trio with Margo Breivik on bass and Trevor Haining on drums.
At Vieux Carre', there's a rare prime time double header. Jack Lionis a trio from my home town of Iowa City, with keyboards, bass, percussion and electronics coming together in an opening set before they turn it over to the Adam Meckler Quintet's CD release. Recorded live in three venues last August, the result—Wander—is both edgy and sublime, as one would expect of Meckler's original compositions and arrangements.
It's the season finale for the JazzMN Orchestraat the Hopkins High School Auditorium, where they're putting their guests “Slide by Slide"— that's two trombones who top the LA jazz scene, Andy Martin and Bob McChesney. Andy and Bob will play with the big band throughout the program, and vocalist Charmin Michelle joins in on a couple of tunes.
JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske have another month of Saturdays in the Lobby Bar of the Saint Paul Hotel before their summer break, and the Benny Weinbeck Trio continues its Saturdays in the lounge at Parma 8200. In Osseo, the funky jazz of the Kronick Quintet rocks the house at the NOLA Bistro.
Saturday-Sunday, April 23-24. At the Capri Theater, get reacquainted with the music of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder as interpreted by bassist Jay Young and The Lyric Factory, with Ian Young, Scott Fultz, Kevin Washington, Eric Gravatt, Ernest Bisong, and vocalists Yolande Bruce, Heather McElrather and Linda Sloan. They perform two shows of “Superstitious Thriller".
Sunday, April 24. Patty and the Buttons continue their weekly swing brunch at the Aster. And this afternoon, celebrate some local jazz history with some of the legendary elders of the Twin Cities jazz scene, in a show sponsored by KBEM and hosted by Patty Peterson at the Minnesota History Center theater. Elders in the spotlight include saxman Dave Karr, jazz and gospel vocalist Tom Tipton, bassist Clyde Anderson, pianist and singer Nancy Lovegren Lewandoski, and drummer Dick Bortolussi. And If you can't hear it live, a segment will be recorded for later broadcast, and include elders Herb Pilhofer and Jimmy Hamilton.
Sunday evening, legends in the making—vocalist Lucia Newell and pianist Phil Aaron are “in the crook" of the piano in the Dunsmore Room, with music covering some originals, some Brazilian, and perhaps some surprises. Off Loring Park in the Hennepin Ave Methodist Church, Soul Cafe welcomes Syrian oud master Issam Rafea, who joins the core trio of Steve Blons, Brad Holden and Steven Hobert. The music and poetry will address the theme, “Body and Soul" (so we can guess at least one tune on the setlist).
Monday, April 25. The cliché “small town girl makes good" could not be more apt in describing New York-based vocalist and former Twin Citian, Nancy Harms. The Big Apple is a long way from Nancy's home town of Clara City, MN, and Nancy has come a long way since her first gigs on our jazz scene. Her third recording, Ellington at Night, grew out of a handful of shows starting in New York's Metropolitan Room with her frequent piano partner, Jeremy Siskind, with production shared with mentor Arne Fogel. After releasing the CD to a sold-out crowd at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, she has been on tour, working her way to tonight's Minnesota release party at the Dunsmore Room with Siskind and local pals Gordy Johnson and Jay Epstein. First show is sold out but tickets remain (at the moment) for the 9 pm show. Yes, you have heard plenty of Ellington, but no, you probably have not heard some of the obscure tunes on this recording, and Nancy's approach is fresh and original.
A drummer as well as social activist on the New York scene now based in the Twin Cities, Vinson Valega makes his Jazz Central debut tonight, followed by the usual Monday Night Jam—everyone welcome.
City Pages just named drummer JT Bates as the area's “Jazz Artist of the Year," in no small way due to his curatorial talents in running the Jazz Implosion series for the past two decades, first at the Clown Lounge and over recent years at the Icehouse. Tonight, he teams up with guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker for an opening set before bringing on Lars-Erik Larson's Mancrush, unofficially the Minneapolis release of their Authentic Midwestern.
Monday-Tuesday, April 25-26. The Dakota welcomes back the prototype jazz vocal ensemble, the Manhattan Transfer. This will be the band's first visit with Trist Curliss, and without founder Tim Hauser, who passed away in 2014.
Tuesday, April 26. New York-based trumpeter John Raymond is back in town to play with local pals in the Dunsmore Room; Bryan Nichols is on piano, JT Bates on drums. (John turns up again on Thursday)
Wednesday, April 27. The Crooner at Crooners! Arne Fogel sings with his trio in the lounge at Crooners. At Vieux Carré, it's time for New Shoes—former members of Prairie Home Companion's “Guy's All-Star Shoe Band," Richard Kriehn (fiddle and mandolin), Gary Raynor (bass), Joe Savage (pedal steel guitar) and Peter Johnson (drums).
Thursday, April 28. The second season of Jeremy Walker's Jazz in the Target Atrium closes at Orchestra Hall with “Wild Midwest," new compositions by Jeremy and Bryan Nichols performed by various configurations of the Atrium Jazz Ensemble, with Jeremy and Bryan joined by John Raymond on trumpet, Chris Thomson and Brandon Wozniak on saxophones, Jeff Bailey on bass and JT Bates on drums.
