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The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, December 4-10

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Interesting dialogue on Facebook regarding the nature of “music" venues (crowd, volume, expectations) and the potential to attract new audiences to jazz. As you venture out this week— and there's plenty to hear—consider your surroundings and how they do or do not contribute to your enjoyment of the music and its survival... as well as the survival of the venue. And check out back-to-back gigs from the Atlantis Quartet; Charles Lazarus with a new “Merry and Bright" at Orchestra Hall; new talents (Jamison Ross) and living legends (Ramsey Lewis) at the Dakota; local legends Butch Thompson and Dean Magraw at Crooners,  the return of the Adam Meckler Orchestra at Vieux Carré... and the beat goes on!

Big Gigs This Week

Friday, December 4. A six-part reunion at the Dakota ushers in the holidays as The Girls reunite—all six of the vocalists who at one time or another performed with the beloved quartet over the past decade-plus. The original core—Lori Dokken, Judi Donaghy Vinar, Erin Schwab and Debbie Duncan were augmented over the years by Patty Peterson and Rachel Holder-Hennig, and now the full sextet brings us “Harmony and Humor" — and you can count on plenty of both.

The very successful Eight O'Clock Jump concert series at Walker West Music Academy finishes the 2015 season with St Paul native pianist and producer Anthony Walker taking a break from duties as Music Director for Ledisi. He'll be joined by a local ensemble headed by drum titan Kevin Washington. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2016 season!

Pianists takes the spotlight at Jazz Central, where Ted Godboutleads a trio with bassist Matt Peterson and drummer Peter James Johnson, followed by an all-star youth quartet headed by pianist Jordan Anderson; and in St. Paul, Jeremy Walker starts off the evening at Vieux Carré.

Trumpeter Charles Lazarus brings his “Merry and Bright" to Orchestra Hall, featuring vocalists Tonia Hughes and Bruce Henry. From Latin to lounge, groove to gospel, the set list moves from “Christmas Time Is Here" to “Frosty the Snowman," NOLA style. The Lazarus Brass (Minnesota Orchestra brass experts) and his jazz rhythm team of Tommy Barbarella, Jeff Bailey and Dave Schmalenberger will be on hand to add to the holiday cheer.

At The Bedlam, percussion ensemble Matra plays their last gig til spring, featuring Andres Crovetti on vibes, Matthew Solace on drum set, Krissy Bergmark on tablas and Jenny Klukken on marimba. A relatively new pairing, guitarist Dean Magraw and pianist Steven Hobert are in perfect alignment, tonight performing at the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church off Loring Park.

 Friday-Saturday, December 4-5. On annual local “Jazz Artists of the Year" lists and ready to head to New York for a studio recording session, the Atlantis Quartet took a short vacation this fall, and are now back and blowing up stages all over town. This weekend, they go back-to-back, from Minneapolis to St Paul, appearing on Steve Kenny's series at both the Nicollet (Friday Night Jazz) and Black Dog (Saturday Night Jazz). Zacc Harris, Brandon Wozniak, Chris Bates and Pete Hennig are each a force of nature on the Twin Cities jazz scene, and together they can seem like a force of the supernatural! At the Black Dog Saturday, they will be preceded by an opening set from saxophonist Tommy Bentzand his quartet with Steve Kenny, Jason McLean and Alex Burgess.

Jazz in the Lobby Bar of the Saint Paul Hotel continues the weekend holiday tradition with JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske covering both Friday and Saturday.

Saturday, December 5. Jazz at St Barneys holds two concerts this month, the first tonight with perennial favorite Connie Evingson, singing with great support from Mary Louise Knutson and Dave Karr. 

In Lowertown, the Bedlam hosts the season-closing PipJazz show, with Pippi Ardennia leading a band of young upstarts, from McNally Smith, the U of M and beyond, with special guest, guitarist John Penny. Proceeds support the PipJazz Foundation (which promotes opportunities for young musicians) and the Bedlam. At Crooners, Patty Peterson and Friends return, with Phil Aaron, Mark Weisburg and Bobby Vandell joining Patty for a night of song and fun. And speaking of crooners, Arne Fogel joins a satanic trio (Steven Hobert, Matt Peterson and Dick Bortolussi) for “December in Hell" — that's at Hell's Kitchen.

The Minnesota Guitar Society's annual Acoustic Jazz Guitar-a-Thon takes place at Sundin Hall at Hamline University, featuring the best of Twin Cities' jazz guitarists—Robert Bell and Gary Schulte Duo, Dean Granros, Joan Griffith, Chris Olson, Liz DeYoe, Tomas Simpson and Soren Schendeman.

At the Icehouse, young lion pianist Javi Santiago joins bassist James Buckley for dinner hour sets.

Sunday, December 6. Jazz Brunch is always a fun addition to the weekend— check out the Aster for Patty and the Buttons and Maria's for Robert Everest. This afternoon, the Century Jazz Ensemble holds its holiday concert at Century College; and the Capri Big Band performs at the Capri Theater. In the evening, hear the MacJazzband under the direction of Joan Griffith at Mairs Concert Hall in the Janet Wallace Fine Arts complex at Macalester. The Zacc Harris Trio holds its weekly seance at the Riverview Wine Bar.

Monday, December 7. A special evening at the Dakota is sponsored by Lawrence University, home to one of the top music conservatories in the Midwest. The LU Jazz Faculty Quartet perform with special guests, Lawrence alums Adam Meckler, Laura Caviani and Mary Louise Knutson. Note tickets are sold by Lawrence and not the Dakota.

At the Icehouse, JT's Jazz implosion will play home to the first annual Rhodes Summit. Bryan Nichols, John C. S. Keston, DeVon Russel Gray and Martin Dosh will play two sets of music on four Rhodes pianos. “Hopefully the stage won't collapse. Some songs, some improv. Mucho Rhodes."

The Acme Jazz Company takes the stage at Crooners, filling the lounge and bar with a raft of original charts. Tuesday, December 8. Tuesday Instrumental Music night at Crooners features a pair of crowd favorites, pianist Butch Thompson and guitarist Dean Magraw, mixing it up with trademark skill and humor.

The inventive Nova Jazz Orchestra is back at the Minnesota Music Cafe for their monthly gig, with special guest, vocalist Tony Demarco. And every Tuesday is Big Band night at Jazz Central, tonight featuring the Cedar Avenue Big Band.

At the Black Dog, second Tuesdays mean the Chris Olson Project, and the project expands greatly tonight to a septet with Zoe Berman (vocals), Andrew Godell (vocals, violin), Jemma Heigis (keyboard), Kristoph Krabbenhoft (drums), Megan Mahoney (bass), Julian Manzara (guitar), and of course Olson on guitar as well as some dance moves.

There's more guitar at Vieux Carré where Joel Shapira and Dave Martin match wits with drummer Pete Hennig in a trio dubbed The Growlers. Chris Lomheim's sublime solo piano kicks off the evening.

At the Dakota, 2012 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drum Competition winner Jamison Ross makes his club debut, not only showcasing his drumming and composing, but also his skills as a vocalist, as featured on his new album, Jamison. Wednesday, December 9. At Jazz Central, new music night presents Framework, one of the most creatively ambitious string trios around, with Chris Olson on guitar, Chris Bates on bass and Jay Epstein on drums. At Crooners, the Debbie Duncan Quartet will make you forget the cold and damp.

Wednesday-Thursday, December 9-10. Keyboard icon Ramsey Lewis has appeared at the Dakota several times over the past few years, and now returns with his special holiday dazzle and his acoustic band— featuring Henry Johnson on guitar, Joshua Ramos on bass, and Charles Heath on drums. Two nights, four sets. Hang on, Santa!

Thursday, December 10. Vocalist and vocal instructor Vicky Mountain gets out of class early enough for a gig at Jazz Central tonight with trio-mates Chris Lomheim and Jim Chenoweth, while at The Nicollet, it's vocalist Karen Quiroz and Samba Meu, exploring acoustic Brazilian roots and pop with noted jazz artists Dave Martin (guitar), Tim O'Keefe (percussion) and special guest, Pat O'Keefe, on clarinet.

Vieux Carré welcomes back the Adam Meckler Orchestra, 18 of the finest young jazz artists in the region playing original charts from bandleader and trumpeter Adam. Come early for a duo of similarly fine young jazzers, pianist Joe Strachan and bassist Ted Olsen.

In St. Paul, The Yeggs take the floor at Khyber Pass, with Adam Linz and Paul Metzger weaving their respective strings, followed by a solo set from young trumpeter Noah Ophoven-Baldwin.

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