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The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, August 7-13

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Summer means more venues for jazz and music of all sorts. There's festivals, patios, and now even breweries with mini-fests and outdoor stages. All of which means there are more, and harder, choices to be made.  This weekend, the Lowertown Guitar Festival invades Mears Park, bringing guitars of all shapes, sizes and genres. Weekly jazz series continue at Studio Z, The Nicollet and Black Dog; find music, especially jazz, nightly at the Dakota, Vieux Carré, Jazz Central and Crooners Lounge. Almost every micro brewery has some sort of music to offer, and of course this is  triple art festival weekend— Uptown, Powderhorn and Loring Park that boast some live music among the pots, crafts, and paintings. And perhaps the biggest event of all, in terms of its rarity—Irv Williams will celebrate #96 with a party gig at the Dakota on Sunday.

Big Gigs This Week

Friday, August 7.  In what they say will be their last public performance in the Twin Cities until December, the Atlantis Quartet plays Vieux Carré for the first time, promising a couple sets of old favorites before they retire many of their landmark tunes in favor a “new sound." Zacc Harris leads with Brandon Wozniak, Chris Bates and Pete Hennig. The opening band is a Jeremy Walker Duo with Jeff Brueske, warming up for Walker's Trio tomorrow at the Black Dog.

At Jazz Central, veteran Weather Report drummer Eric Kamau Gravattis back with Source Code, usually with Dean Magraw, Solomon Parham, Dave Graf and Ron Evaniuk.  It's the perfect band for the Bridge Series, as Source Code's primary home for years was the old Artists Quarter.

At the Icehouse, hear Patty Peterson and Friends in a venue that seems to be designed for this band - big stage, colorful lighting, versatile sound system, and a big bar.  “Friends" joining the talented vocalist include family—brother Paul and nephew Jason DeLaire—and “friends"—Billy Franze and Bobby Vandell. Jazz and R&B blend seamlessly. Down the street at The Nicollet, jazz makes a left turn with the John Devine-Bill Lang Quartet (with Brock Thorson and Alden Ikeda). Free jazz takes over.

Downtown Minneapolis, Ginger Commodore and her GCQ quartet hit the stage for an evening of blues and gospel tinged standards and pop hits, featuring Ginger's long-time accomplices — Lee Blaske, Mark Weisburg and Bobby Commodore. Another vocalist needing no introduction, Diana Krallreturns to the State Theater, on tour promoting her eclectic recording, Wallflower. Krall probably tours 80% of the year but even in a large theater, she brings intimacy and that “in the moment" verve.

Saturday, August 8. It's the annual Lowertown Guitar Festival presented by McNally Smith College of Music, covering two stages— the main stage in Mears Park, and the adjacent 6th Street Stage. The music runs the gamut, with some sets of particular interest to jazz fans — Dean Granros (2:30 Main Stage), Tim Sparks (4 pm Main Stage), and Park Evans (8 pm 6th Street).

Stay in Lowertown for more jazz — Pippi Ardennia returns with her PipJazz ensemble at the Bedlam. Tonight her focus is on her young protegés, including pianist/composer/arranger Jo Schad, saxophonists Lee Tran and Walter Hampton, bassist Gavin Taylor-Stark, and drummer Dario Parker.  Around the corner at the Black Dog, the piano-bass-drum trio is on full display.  Start the evening with bassist Ted Olsen and his trio (with Javi Santiago and Miguel Hurtado), then stay on for the Jeremy Walker Trio, with Jeff Brueske and Nathan Norman.

Public Kitchen gets into the act tonight with a double-header: The early evening brings in saxophonists Donald Washington and Nathan Hanson, with Doan Roessler on bass and Tim Duroche on drums, followed by a guitar fest postscript— Orchestra for Ants, a playful three-guitar trio with Ben Abrahamson, Park Evans and Nick Chapeau. Sunday, August 9. Andrew Walesch ensures both swing and croon for jazz brunch at Crooners. The big party of the day of course is at the Dakota, where “Mr. Smooth" Irv Williamsslides into another year, celebrating 96 and still blowing sweet. And yes, he still plays at Happy Hour at the Dakota every Friday.

Monday, August 10. The Jazz Central spotlight falls on 18-year-old pianist Will Kjeer. After spending a post-high school year at the Interlochen Academy, Will is packing for college studies at Cal Arts, so this is a good opportunity, and perhaps one of the last for a while, to hear his amazing command of the keyboard and his original compositions.

Always a good time, Charmin and Shapira and Friends hits their monthly Foodie Night at the Dakota. Vocalist Charmin Michelle and guitarist Joel Shapira have a long-standing duo partnership, which about three years ago spawned the quintet edition with Paul Harper, Tom Lewis and Nathan Norman.

At the Icehouse, JT's Jazz Implosion welcomes Minnesota native guitarist Todd Clouser,celebrating the American release of his latest recording, Chant. For the Midwest edition of the band, Todd features two drummers—Greg Schutte and JTBates, along with James Buckley and Jake Baldwin. Guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker later presents a solo set.

Tuesday, August 11. Turning the Ted Olsen Trio inside-out, the same threesome perform as the Javi Santiago Trio at Vieux Carré (with Miguel Hurtado on drums). At the Icehouse, an unusual duo — the Potash Twins— celebrate their first recording. These young men have prodigious talents on the trombone, mentored by Wynton Marsalis, and currently attend college in New York.

Wednesday, August 12. Jazz Central presents “new music" on Wednesdays and what's newer than a new band? Dubbed Claw Machine, the trio is led by bassist Kameron Markworth, a relatively new artist on the local scene, with Trent Baarspul on guitar and Lars-Erik Larson on drums. Judging Markworth by the company he keeps, this will be a great debut at JC.

And speaking of debuts, it's a busy week for Ginger Commodore and her quartet, and tonight they make their debut at Crooners Lounge. If you missed them at the Dakota, here's another opportunity in a different venue.

Thursday, August 13. The All Originals jazz series at Studio Z welcomes Minnesota native bassist Michael Janisch. Janisch grew up in Wisconsin and ultimately landed in London where he performs with his quartet and with the Cloudmakers Trio—recently on the Union Depot Stage during the Twin Cities Jazz Fest. Janisch was also at Studio Z about a year ago with his American quartet. This visit, he teams up with local stars Zacc Harris, Brandon Wozniak and Pete Hennig.

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