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The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, June 3-9

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Can't you just feel it? Jazz Festival season is in the air, and artists and venues seem determined to put us all in a festive mood, with the best of local and national acts scheduled this month and a great sampling this coming week.

Big Gigs This Week

Friday, June 3. One of our favorite voices teams up with one of the stars of contemporary jazz, adding an all-star supporting cast. From Minnesota's First Family of Music, vocalist/radio host Patty Petersonjoins saxophonist Steve Cole for a night of cool and soulful music at the Dakota, with local guitar whiz Cory Wong, Patty's nephew (and Michael Bolton's keyboardist) Jason Peterson DeLaire, Dave Matthews' drummer Clyde Davis, and Brian Culberton's bassist LeMar Jones.

At Jazz Central, Eric Kamau Gravatt returns with Source Code, and a new biweekly late show launches with three college talents led by drummer Edmund Catlin (McGill University), with Charlie Lincoln on bass (Berklee College of Music) and Levi Schwartberg on vibes (U of M). Their series (through August) will feature the music of one Monk album each night.

Saturday, June 4. For much of his career, vocalist Bruce Henry was a fixture on the Twin Cities jazz scene, growing a fan base as well as critical acclaim for his velvety baritone and bebop leanings. After he relocated to Chicago about 7 years ago, he's been heard less often in the Metro but still returns regularly, reconnecting with old pals and adding new fans, as he will tonight at The Dakota.

Saturday Night at the Black Dog finds music back in its original but now renovated space, with a full bar and somewhat larger stage. An expanded dining space provides for table service and a larger menu! Inaugurating the new music space will be the Bone Chanceensemble, headed by trombone master Dave Graf, with pals Peter Schimke, Ron Evaniuk and Eric Gravatt. The James Wallace Group opens.

Sunday, June 5. One of the true legends of Latin jazz, Grammy-winning conguero Poncho Sanchez returns to the Dakota with his high-energy ensemble that will have you dancing in the aisles. He was born in Texas, raised in LA, and fully versed in the language of bebop, but his heart is pure Latin.

One of the standout gigs of the year, the Minnesota Chamber Music Society brings in world renowned saxophonist Joe Lovano to pay tribute to his late mentor Gunther Schuller, in the company of Young-Nam Kim on violin, Timothy Lovelace on piano, Anthony Cox on bass, Fred Harris on drums and guest composer, Peter Child, all in the intimate surroundings of Sundin Hall on the Hamline campus. Lovano will also play some of the music on his acclaimed album, Rush Hour. At 4 pm, it's a great time for Sunday jazz, and adults can obtain one free ticket for a K-12 student.

Monday, June 6. Fresh off their midwest/East Coast CD release tour, the Adam Meckler Quintet holds their Minneapolis celebration in the perfect setting of the Icehouse— young, hip, the audience generally filled with musicians as well as modern jazz fans of all ages. There are only five musicians on stage but, between their soaring talents and the sophisticated charts that Meckler writes for his original compositions, you can hear the harmonies and rich melodies that define the larger Adam Meckler Orchestra. Big music for small ensemble.

Tuesday, June 7. A native Minnesotan based for many years in New York, vocalist Teri Roiger is known for her inventive interpretations of modern artists like Abbey Lincoln as well as for her original material. Now Teri returns for a home-state gig in the intimate environs of the Dunsmore Room, in the company of husband/bassist John Menegon and Twin Cities' artists Joe Strachan (piano) and Phil Hey (drums). The program is part Pre-Release for Teri's new Billie Holiday 101: A Tribute to Lady Day as well as a chance for Teri to share other gems from her repertoire, including her previous album, Dear Abbey.

Tonight marks the return of the Jazz at the Library series of (mostly) pre-festival concerts held in St Paul community libraries to stimulate interest in jazz and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. The first of three in June, Tres Mundos is featured at the St. Anthony Park Library. This trio of international talent features pianist/vocalist Viviana Pintado (Cuba), percussionist Eliezer Freites-Santos (Brazil), and saxophonist/flutist Doug Little (Minnesota). The group’s repertoire spans the musical spectrum of the Americas, including Cuban son, rumba, cha-cha-cha, choros, samba, and jazz.

Wednesday, June 8. Heading his B-3 organ trio Grain for the past two years, ace drummer JT Bates is proving to be as strong a bandleader as pile-driving pulse-setter and improv music curator— the latter role one he has filled for about 15 years as the force behind Jazz Implosion, his series born at the Clown Lounge and now running strong at the Icehouse. Grain features organ grinder Kevin Gastonguay and guitarist Zacc Harris, and of course the unending supply of rhythmic devices in JT's arsenal. Come early as accordion giant Patrick Harison offers some intriguing solo music starting at 6 pm.

The Dakota brings in third living legend of Latin jazz in two weeks— Sergio Mendes last weekend, Poncho Sanchez Sunday, and now Arturo Sandoval! Cuban trumpeter and bandleader Sandoval graduated from Dizzy Gillespie's band to reach the jazz stratosphere on his own, garnering four Grammies, six Billboard Awards and an Emmy along the way—so far! Thursday, June 9. Vocal jazz nights don't get any better than this—veteran educator and long-time area favorite singer Vicky Mountain joins forces with one of the most celebrated of local pianists, Mary Louise Knutson (JazzMN Orchestra, Doc Severinsen) at Jazz Central. Vicky's sets typically combine songbook standards, jazzy arrangements of pop hits, and her own originals.

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