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The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, December 2-8

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As the year winds down, it seems our music is revving up. There's holiday magic on stages throughout the metro as well as some special nods to icons Ahmad Jamal and George Gershwin, and some pretty amazing visitors including John Raymond and Joey DeFrancesco.

Big Gigs This Week

Saturday, December 3. Still going strong after about 115 weekly shows, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog starts the evening with the 7-piece Yo Jimbo band led by drummer Jimbo Robinson, followed by the headline sets featuring the Steven Hobert 4, with the pianist/composer leading a quartet with saxophonist Pete Whitman, bassist Yohannes Tona, and the amazing young drummer Arthur “LA" Buckner.

You may have divided loyalties Saturday as up the street at Studio Z, young veteran pianist Javi Santiago pays tribute to Ahmad Jamal in a trio setting with bassist Graydon Peterson and drummer Adrian Suarez. Javi—who first played Twin Cities jazz fest gigs in his early teens and went on to shine at the Brubeck Institute, Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead program, and the New School in New York—has been an active bandleader and sideman since returning to the Twin Cities a few years ago, and has long drawn inspiration from Ahmad Jamal. In addition to their concert sets, the trio will hold a “master class" at 6 pm, exploring the career and music of Jamal via demonstration and Q & A.

Sunday, December 4. Holiday shows continue! Patty Peterson brings her infectious joy to the Dunsmore Room with “A Season to Love," while another vocal talent, Kim Fragodt, joins the Bend in the River Big Bandfor a “Swinging Christmas" at the Medina Entertainment Center.

Monday, December 5. Holidays mean homecomings, and tonight, Twin Cities native trumpeter John Raymond is back with his firebrand Real Feels Trio, celebrating the release of their live studio recording (Live Volume One) at the Icehouse. Tracks on the CD were recorded recently at Blu in Akron, OH and at the Blue Whale in LA. John's cohorts, guitarist Gilad Hekselman and drummer Colin Stranahan, are among their generation's leading artists.

If you were not able to get tickets for the sold-out Heights Theater screenings of White Christmas, a show has been added tonight, with Connie Evingson and Rick Carlson providing the live and jazzy entertainment with each screening. And at Jazz Central, the Monday spotlight artist is trumpeter Omar Abdulkarim.

Monday-Tuesday, December 5-6. B-3 legend Joey DeFrancesco was so taken by the Dunsmore Room in September, he was eager to return. Back now for two nights, Joey D celebrates the holidays with his touring trio, Dan Wilson on guitar and Jason Brown on drums. Expect Joey to pull out his trumpet and even burst into song as he salutes the holidays.

Tuesday, December 6. It's First Tuesday, which means Dean Magraw with Eric Gravatt at the Black Dog, and the Bill Simenson Orchestra at Jazz Central. Sometimes predictability is a good thing in jazz!

Wednesday, December 7. Top vocal talents are singing out tonight! Connie Evingson hosts the monthly Jazz in the Lounge at the Minneapolis Woman's Club, this month a holiday show with saxman Dave Karr.Meanwhile, more voices— Debbie Duncan at the Dakota, and Erin Schwabpresents her “Naughty and Nice" holiday show in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners.

Thursday, December 8. Another embarrassment of riches night! The Dakota hosts saxophonist Tim Warfield and his “Jazzy Christmans" ensemble— and it's a group of headliners. Cyrus Chestnut, headliner of the 2016 Twin Cities Winter Jazz Festival, returns on piano, along with vibes master Stefon Harris, drummer Clarence Penn, and more.

At Vieux Carré, the King of Flumpet Steve Kennytakes the stage with his quartet—Javi Santiago, Ted Olsen and Rodney Ruckus, while Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie features the Two Trumpet Band, with unrelated “brothers" Noah Ophoven Baldwin pairing with Jake Baldwin.

At Khyber Pass, Adam Linz's Le Percheron is back!

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