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The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, January 15-21

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It's Winter Madness time, referring to both the weather and the music. This weekend finds “masters" at work— at Jazz Central (Peter Schimke), the Black Dog (Donald Washington, Zacc Harris Group), Crooners Lounge (Judi Vinar), Studio Z (Mill City Hot Club), and the Icehouse (John Penny), and continuing into next week as the Twin Cities Seven, Mary Louise Knutson (in the Dunsmore Room) and Arne Fogel all perform at Crooners, and the Explosion Big Band holds their monthly gig at Jazz Central. That's just for starters.

Big Gigs This Week

Friday, January 15. Some fine choices for week-ending happy hour, with Irv Williams still blowing at the Dakota, Lori Dokken tinkling the keys at Crooners Lounge, and Todd Harper's Piano Fridays (this week with Nameless Quartet) at the Black Dog. Stick around at the Black Dog and enjoy the never-ending inventions of Donald Washington, with the baritone/tenor titan mixing it up tonight with valve trombonist Brad Bellows, bassist Dick Studer and percussion master Davu Seru.

A high-energy monster at the piano, Peter Schimke seldom takes a leading role, so be sure to catch his gig (a trio with bassist Anthony Cox) at Jazz Central tonight, followed by the young masters of the Gustavus Jazztet. At Vieux Carré, the early sets feature Dan “Daddy Squeeze" Newton on accordion with virtuoso guitarist Pat Donahue, followed by rising talent, eclectic singer Katia Cardenas in a quartet with Ted Godbout, Graydon Peterson and Zach Schmidt. Note that The Nicollet remains closed for renovations, re-opening next Friday with Friday Night Jazz at the Reverie— new name for the venue and some other changes, but Friday remains jazz night!

Saturday, January 16. Ever wondered what “hot club" music is all about? You can learn a lot about the gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli at the pre-concert master class at Studio Z, presented by guitarist Dean Harrington and his Mill City Hot Club, which will perform on the Jazz at Studio Z series. Dean's usual ensemble includes Mark Kreitzer on the second guitar, Gary Schulte on violin and Matt Senjem on bass.

Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog welcomes the Midwest Saxophone Quartet as the opening band— this is an ensemble of four young saxophonists who are increasingly visible around town— Jared Jarvis- soprano sax, Evan Benidt- alto sax, Joe Mayo- tenor sax, and Gus Sandberg- baritone sax. They warm up the stage for the Zacc Harris Group (Bryan Nichols, Chris Bates, JT Bates), with Zacc himself warming up for a string of gigs in London next week, including three nights at Ronnie Scott's, all with a trio of UK jazzers.

At Crooners Lounge, vocalist and renowned educator Judy Vinar (Donaghy) appears with longstanding bandmates, the Wolverines (Rick Carlson, Steve Pikal, Jendeen Forberg), while Cuban dynamo Nachito Herrera holds his monthly night in Havana at the Dakota.

Sunday, January 17. Sunday morning at the Turf Club? It's a jazz brunch with Bryan Nichols, James Buckley and JT Bates providing the creative menu.

One of the longest-anticipated CD releases is finally here! Guitarist/composer John Penny started recording original tunes with area musicians more than 20 years ago, and now he has mastered the tapes and assembled an eclectic collection that traces his creative development from the 80s through the 90s. John and friends (including vocalist Pippi Ardennia) celebrate the release of Urban Tumble tonight at the Icehouse.

Celebrating Martin Luther King, St. Joan of Arc Church in south Minneapolis presents “On My Way Home," with special guests Bruce Henry and Debbie Duncan with the SJA Choir.

In the Dunsmore Room at Crooners, the Andrew Walesch Trio (Gordon Johnson, Jay Epstein) proves the music is “not just for brunch," putting their magical touch to standards in a room designed for listening.

Monday, January 18. At Crooners Lounge, Doug Haining's Twin Cities Seven features vocalist Maryann Sullivan, while the Icehouse focuses the spotlight on innovative guitarist Park Evans, on the Jazz Implosion series.

Monday-Tuesday, January 18-19. Honoring the late Allen Toussaint, extraordinary pianist Davell Crawford comes to the Dakota for four sets over two nights. Toussaint was a mentor to young Crawford, who is now considered the heir apparent of the great pianist/songwriter.

Tuesday, January 19. Last fall, pianist Mary Louise Knutson performed some knock-out sets in the lounge at Crooners, with trio cohorts Gordon Johnson (bass) and Phil Hey (drums). Now the trio is back, but this time will appear in the new Dunsmore Room, a superb listening room with one of the region's best pianos.

A very different trio, pianist Bryan Nichols heads to Vieux Carré with Chris Bates and Lars-Erik Larson.

Bryan's hot off an inspired evening last weekend with the Bates/Nichols/Bates Trio and more fire can be expected with this configuration. And if fire is on your agenda, things will be ablaze at Jazz Central for Big Band Night, tonight featuring the aptly named Explosion Big Band, led by Doug Haining and Scott Agster.

Wednesday, January 20. Giving substance to the venue name, vocalist, broadcaster, producer and all-around Sinatra and Crosby expert Arne Fogel appears in the lounge at Crooners, backed ably and sometimes hilariously by the Wolverines Trio (Rick Carlson, Steve Pikal, Jendeen Forberg).

Thursday, January 21. Vocalist Sarah M. Greer is connected with several improvisational projects, including the Give Get Sistet, performing “Lift Every Voice" at Jazz Central tonight. This expandable improvisational a cappela women's ensemble will explore the contributions of African American women through songs from slavery to modern times, with “the words of some of America's most prolific activists and artists... to illuminate a side of American history that often goes unacknowledged and uncelebrated."

Vieux Carré focuses on strings tonight, starting with a solo set from guitar star Joel Shapira, leading into the frenzy of Gypsy Mania, with Glen Helgesen and Reynold Philipsek on guitars, Gary Schulte on violin, and Matt Senjem on bass (yes, that is half of the Mill City Hot Club!).

The avant-garde music series at Khyber Pass continues with Munir Kahar and John Vance, melding synthesizer, voice and a variety of instruments “ancient and modern invocation, cyber and visceral tones, digital and analog bodies." Kahar and Jon Middleton play the second set “conjuring forgotten spirits from everyday objects."

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