A fast-rising star, an internationally renowned veteran, a young lion...not a bad start to another week of jazz in the Twin Cities. Add to that a significant up-turn in our weather and Joy Spring is in the air!
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, March 7. Parma continues its Friday night vocal jazz series with one of the area's favorites, Charmin Michelle. She'll have a bit more room than her Fireside Pizza gigs, and the menu gives you more options, but you still can count on a wide repertoire of standards, ballads, sambas and more as she performs with Mark Asche and Bruce Heine. Another suburban option — sophisticated chanteuse Joyce Lyons brings swing to Delano and the Three Crows Cafe, in the mighty fine company of Phil Aaron and Graydon Peterson. At Jazz Central, it's a special trumpet blast hosted by Harrelson Trumpets. Owner Jason Harrelson is flying in from Denver to perform with Harrelson friends and clients for one night only! This evening will feature performances by Jason Harrelson, Christine Palmer, Mark Bobnick, Todd Tanji, Leighton Tuenge and Greg Zent.
Saturday, March 8. Jazz at Studio Z continues to bring top-notch music to an intimate, serious listening space in Lowertown, and tonight things will explode as Weather Report alum Eric Kamau Gravatt takes the stage with his Source Code ensemble— young hot-shot trumpeter Solomon Parham mixing it up with veterans Dave Graf (trombone) and Ron Evaniuk (bass). And of course there's Gravatt on drums, the role he's played with McCoy Tyner off and on for decades. The band leads an informal workshop at 6 pm, sharing their muses and approaches to their instruments; the performance begins at 7.
While curator Zacc Harris's series goes on at Studio Z, guitarist Zacc Harris is on the stage with fellow explorer Chris Bates for a few hours of dinner-time jazz at the Icehouse. String magic will make it all work out! And speaking of magic, accomplished pianist/accordionist Steven Hobert performs on a rare Saturday night at Jazz Central, part of his Midwest Solo Piano tour.
If you are into Brazilian music, don't miss the annual Carnaval Brasileiro held Saturday afternoon and evening at the Muse Event Center. For over ten years, guitarist/vocalist Robert Everest and his ten-piece group Beira Mar Brasil have hosted this event, which features special guest, Brazilian singer and samba dancer extraordinaire, Dandara Odara, in her eighth straight appearance in Carnaval Brasileiro. Other highlights include samba dancers, two percussion ensembles and a Brazilian martial arts group.
Sunday, March 9. The Dakota hosts the Twin Cities debut of vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvantin what might be the most anticipated jazz gig of 2014. From obscurity at the time she won the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition at age 20 to her current status as a Grammy nominee and Jazz Times Critics Poll winner (New Artist, Female Vocalist), Salvant's status is rising faster than a rocket launch and with promise of much more significant contributions and longevity. She knows her roots inside out, from Bessie Smith to Betty Carter, yet she is not an imitator —this is the real deal. She's performing in front of a piano trio with Adam Birnbaum, Paul Sikivie and Quincy Davis.
Monday, March 10. Flash back a few years and a young UW-Eau Claire saxophonist named Tyler Anderson brought a student quartet to the Artists Quarter for the Young Artists Showcase. Next he released an album with his band, The Coriolis Effect, with original compositions that belied his youth. After graduation he found his way to North Carolina where he studied for a year with Branford Marsalis. And now he's back home making waves in the local jazz community. Tonight he's in the spotlight as the Monday “Featured Artist" at Jazz Central, with Tanner Taylor, Graydon Peterson and Mac Santiago.
Tuesday, March 11. Big Band night at Jazz Central features the long-running Cedar Ave Big Band tonight. Led by Steve Devich, this is one of the busiest in the Twin Cities. They sport a big dance library as well as a full jazz book. Might be hard to dance at Jazz Central but there is always the pool table.
Wednesday, March 12. One of the coolest trios you will ever heard — Mountain King, born at the Artists Quarter a year ago, brings to Jazz Central three acoustic bassists, and that's all! Brian Courage, Jeremy Boettcher and Graydon Peterson need no further augmentation to swing or work their way through original compositions and arrangements. When they play, folks actually do listen to the bass solos!
Thursday, March 13. Postponed due to one of our (many) bad winter driving nights, Dorothy Doring is back on the schedule at Jazz Central for Vocal Night, and brings her recent recording partner along— pianist Phil Mattson. We can expect to hear some of the gems from their CD of Ellington and Strayhorn tunes. (And for fans of Vanessa's tacos at the AQ, note that Vanessa is carrying on catering at Jazz Central —tacos and other delights.) Across town at the Amsterdam Bar, the Jack Brass Band continues celebrating Mardi Gras as only they can!
More Jazz Every Night Be sure to check live jazz calendars on Jazz Policeand KBEM sites. Also find a growing number of events on the Jazz Near You site, a service of All About Jazz. A few more gigs of note:
Friday, March 7.Irv Williams and Peter Schimke, happy hour at the Dakota; Todd Harper, solo piano at the Black Dog; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar, St Paul Hotel; Tanner Taylor and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Tim Patrick and His Blue Eyed Band at the Eagles Club
Saturday, March 8. Charmin & Shapira at Midtown Global Market (12:30-2:30 pm); Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Maurice Jacox at the Black Dog; Viva Brasil at the Dakota
Sunday, March 9. Robert Everest, brunch at at Maria's Cafe; Minnesota Youth Jazz Band at Famous Dave's (Uptown); Fuzzy Math at the Black Dog (4 pm); Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Charmin Michelle with the Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra at Cinema Ballroom; Doug Little Quartet at Eat Street Social
Monday, March 10. Denny and David Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; JT's Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse; Twin Cities Hot Club at Famous Dave's (Uptown); Daddy Squeeze at Barbette
Tuesday, March 11. Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Chris Olson Project at the Black Dog; Nova Jazz Orchestra at the Minnesota Music Café
Wednesday, March 12. Denny Malmberg and David Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Axis Mundi at Hell's Kitchen; Tommy and the Liebermen at the Dakota
Thursday, March 13. Jazz at Christo's with Alicia Renee and Chris Lomheim
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, March 7. Parma continues its Friday night vocal jazz series with one of the area's favorites, Charmin Michelle. She'll have a bit more room than her Fireside Pizza gigs, and the menu gives you more options, but you still can count on a wide repertoire of standards, ballads, sambas and more as she performs with Mark Asche and Bruce Heine. Another suburban option — sophisticated chanteuse Joyce Lyons brings swing to Delano and the Three Crows Cafe, in the mighty fine company of Phil Aaron and Graydon Peterson. At Jazz Central, it's a special trumpet blast hosted by Harrelson Trumpets. Owner Jason Harrelson is flying in from Denver to perform with Harrelson friends and clients for one night only! This evening will feature performances by Jason Harrelson, Christine Palmer, Mark Bobnick, Todd Tanji, Leighton Tuenge and Greg Zent.
Saturday, March 8. Jazz at Studio Z continues to bring top-notch music to an intimate, serious listening space in Lowertown, and tonight things will explode as Weather Report alum Eric Kamau Gravatt takes the stage with his Source Code ensemble— young hot-shot trumpeter Solomon Parham mixing it up with veterans Dave Graf (trombone) and Ron Evaniuk (bass). And of course there's Gravatt on drums, the role he's played with McCoy Tyner off and on for decades. The band leads an informal workshop at 6 pm, sharing their muses and approaches to their instruments; the performance begins at 7.
While curator Zacc Harris's series goes on at Studio Z, guitarist Zacc Harris is on the stage with fellow explorer Chris Bates for a few hours of dinner-time jazz at the Icehouse. String magic will make it all work out! And speaking of magic, accomplished pianist/accordionist Steven Hobert performs on a rare Saturday night at Jazz Central, part of his Midwest Solo Piano tour.
If you are into Brazilian music, don't miss the annual Carnaval Brasileiro held Saturday afternoon and evening at the Muse Event Center. For over ten years, guitarist/vocalist Robert Everest and his ten-piece group Beira Mar Brasil have hosted this event, which features special guest, Brazilian singer and samba dancer extraordinaire, Dandara Odara, in her eighth straight appearance in Carnaval Brasileiro. Other highlights include samba dancers, two percussion ensembles and a Brazilian martial arts group.
Sunday, March 9. The Dakota hosts the Twin Cities debut of vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvantin what might be the most anticipated jazz gig of 2014. From obscurity at the time she won the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Vocal Competition at age 20 to her current status as a Grammy nominee and Jazz Times Critics Poll winner (New Artist, Female Vocalist), Salvant's status is rising faster than a rocket launch and with promise of much more significant contributions and longevity. She knows her roots inside out, from Bessie Smith to Betty Carter, yet she is not an imitator —this is the real deal. She's performing in front of a piano trio with Adam Birnbaum, Paul Sikivie and Quincy Davis.
Monday, March 10. Flash back a few years and a young UW-Eau Claire saxophonist named Tyler Anderson brought a student quartet to the Artists Quarter for the Young Artists Showcase. Next he released an album with his band, The Coriolis Effect, with original compositions that belied his youth. After graduation he found his way to North Carolina where he studied for a year with Branford Marsalis. And now he's back home making waves in the local jazz community. Tonight he's in the spotlight as the Monday “Featured Artist" at Jazz Central, with Tanner Taylor, Graydon Peterson and Mac Santiago.
Tuesday, March 11. Big Band night at Jazz Central features the long-running Cedar Ave Big Band tonight. Led by Steve Devich, this is one of the busiest in the Twin Cities. They sport a big dance library as well as a full jazz book. Might be hard to dance at Jazz Central but there is always the pool table.
Wednesday, March 12. One of the coolest trios you will ever heard — Mountain King, born at the Artists Quarter a year ago, brings to Jazz Central three acoustic bassists, and that's all! Brian Courage, Jeremy Boettcher and Graydon Peterson need no further augmentation to swing or work their way through original compositions and arrangements. When they play, folks actually do listen to the bass solos!
Thursday, March 13. Postponed due to one of our (many) bad winter driving nights, Dorothy Doring is back on the schedule at Jazz Central for Vocal Night, and brings her recent recording partner along— pianist Phil Mattson. We can expect to hear some of the gems from their CD of Ellington and Strayhorn tunes. (And for fans of Vanessa's tacos at the AQ, note that Vanessa is carrying on catering at Jazz Central —tacos and other delights.) Across town at the Amsterdam Bar, the Jack Brass Band continues celebrating Mardi Gras as only they can!
More Jazz Every Night Be sure to check live jazz calendars on Jazz Policeand KBEM sites. Also find a growing number of events on the Jazz Near You site, a service of All About Jazz. A few more gigs of note:
Friday, March 7.Irv Williams and Peter Schimke, happy hour at the Dakota; Todd Harper, solo piano at the Black Dog; JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar, St Paul Hotel; Tanner Taylor and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Tim Patrick and His Blue Eyed Band at the Eagles Club
Saturday, March 8. Charmin & Shapira at Midtown Global Market (12:30-2:30 pm); Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Maurice Jacox at the Black Dog; Viva Brasil at the Dakota
Sunday, March 9. Robert Everest, brunch at at Maria's Cafe; Minnesota Youth Jazz Band at Famous Dave's (Uptown); Fuzzy Math at the Black Dog (4 pm); Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Charmin Michelle with the Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra at Cinema Ballroom; Doug Little Quartet at Eat Street Social
Monday, March 10. Denny and David Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; JT's Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse; Twin Cities Hot Club at Famous Dave's (Uptown); Daddy Squeeze at Barbette
Tuesday, March 11. Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Chris Olson Project at the Black Dog; Nova Jazz Orchestra at the Minnesota Music Café
Wednesday, March 12. Denny Malmberg and David Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Axis Mundi at Hell's Kitchen; Tommy and the Liebermen at the Dakota
Thursday, March 13. Jazz at Christo's with Alicia Renee and Chris Lomheim
