Thanksgiving isn't here til late next week yet just the options on Saturday night alone give jazz fans a lot to be thankful for. Or frustrated by. How many of these tempting events can one hit in one night? Think of this weekend as one big jazz buffet! And stick around for the desserts that follow into our holiday week.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, November 21. Making his Jazz Central debut on the weekly “Bridge Series," saxophonist Peter Vircks brings in a stellar ensemble tonight, with Brian Ziemniak on keys, Ron Evaniuk on bass and Kevin Washington on drums. Expect some originals and inventive covers from hard bop and beyond.
At the Black Dog, the new exhibit of artist Ann Elias is celebrated with intriguing music from a group of the Twin Cities' most compelling improvisers — George Cartwright, Michelle Kinney and Davu Seru. They will be followed by the always-worth-finding-parking Donald Washington Quartet with Brian Roessler, Erik Jacobson and son Kevin Washington... who might be late coming from Jazz Central?
More sublime, it's Arne Fogel night at Parma 8200. Enjoy Crosby, Sinatra and more with a steaming bowl of pasta.
Friday & Sunday, November 21 & 23. Led by master educator and vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn, the award-winning jazz ensembles of St. Olaf College present their fall concerts this weekend at the Pause in Buntrock Center on campus. Friday night, Jazz I joins up with visiting percussion duo Brad Dutz and Chris Wabich; on Sunday, Jazz II and III perform (4:30 pm).
Saturday, November 22. Hot gigs from St. Paul to St. Barneys! Moving east to west, start out in Maplewood (Maplewood Community Center) for the annual PipJazz Youth All-Stars concert featuring bluesy soulful singer Pippi Ardennia, a house band with Brian Christianson, Jay Young and Glenn Swanson, and spotlight on young performers Levi Schwartzberg, Ebonee Rainwater, Maggie Kjeer and Jo Schad.
At the Black Dog, enjoy new compositions and music from a new recording from the Chris Lomheim Trio. Lomheim recently teamed up with long-time pals Gordy Johnson and Jay Epstein to produce Timeline, and tonight Andrew Bergmann fills in for Gordy as the trio revisits the October CD release as well as some newer tunes. Opening for this Saturday Night Jazz gig will be virtuoso Joel Shapira on solo guitar.
At Hopkins High School, the JazzMN Orchestra continues its season with a salute to the music of “Little Big Bands" featuring a scaled-down JazzMN performing works written for ensembles of 8-14 musicians. Featured will be vocalist Charmin Michelle debuting two pieces written for her by Adi Yeshaya, and saxophonist Pete Whitman with an original work composed for his X-Tet.
Over in Plymouth, the Jazz @St. Barney's concert tonight features the Phil Mattson Singers, returning to the St. Barnabas Center for the Arts with a raft of songs from the Great American Songbook and beyond, tightly arranged by Phil Mattson to show off the group's impeccable harmonies.
Monday, November 24. The Jazz Central “Featured Artist" is keyboard specialist Brian Ziemniak, who brings in a quintet testing out some new compositions for Brian's upcoming recording. And speaking of new recordings, you can be part of the live audience as the Atlantis Quartet records at the Icehouse for a release later in 2015. More sublime and just as late, vocalist Rhonda Laurie returns to Barbette, a perfect accompaniment for coffee and carrot cake on the late night menu.
Tuesday, November 25. Last February, guitarist Sharon Isbinheaded led “Guitar Passions" at the Dakota with Stanley Jordan and Romero Lubambo. Tonight she's back in duo with Brazilian magician Lubambo, and you can count on an evening of simply gorgeous guitar.
Wednesday, November 26. We don't hear enough from the Enormous Quartet. With Chris Thomson (saxophones), Park Evans (guitar), Chris Bates (bass) and Joey Van Phillips (drums), these creative collaborators enliven the pre-holiday ambience at Cafe Maude. You can make the pie in the morning.
More Jazz This Week!
Keep up with the live jazz scene in the Twin Cities — check out calendars at Jazz Police, KBEM, Rhythm and Grooves and Jazz Near You, as well as here on the blog. More jazz to tickle your ears:
Friday, November 21. Irv Williams and Steve Blons, happy hour at the Dakota; Todd Harper, solo piano at the Black Dog; Augsberg College Jazz Ensemble in Hoversten Chapel; Hamline University Jazz Ensembles in the Anne Smiley Theater (Hamline); Vic Volare at Hell's Kitchen; Bryan Nichols and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse
Saturday, November 22. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hotel); Reynold Philipsek, Matt Senjem and Michael Bissonnette at the 318 Café; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Kronick Quintet at NOLA Bistro (Osseo); Patrick Harison and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; BDP (Kinghorn/Baldwin) at Jazz Central
Sunday, November 23. Gustavas Adolphus College Jazz Lab and Jazz Ensemble at Bjorling Recital Hall (St. Peter, MN); John Paulson Big Band at the Wellington Pub (Winona, MN); Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, November 24. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Tuesday, November 25. Century College Jazz Ensemble at Minnesota Music Cafe; Minnesota State University Mankato Jazz Big Bands at Hailing Recital Hall (Mankato, MN); Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central; Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Jake Hanson and James Buckley at Cafe Maude
Wednesday, November 26. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Lila Ammons Trio at The Tangiers
Thursday, November 27. Connie and Herb at The Bean; Swingbeat Big Band at Wabasha Street Caves
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, November 21. Making his Jazz Central debut on the weekly “Bridge Series," saxophonist Peter Vircks brings in a stellar ensemble tonight, with Brian Ziemniak on keys, Ron Evaniuk on bass and Kevin Washington on drums. Expect some originals and inventive covers from hard bop and beyond.
At the Black Dog, the new exhibit of artist Ann Elias is celebrated with intriguing music from a group of the Twin Cities' most compelling improvisers — George Cartwright, Michelle Kinney and Davu Seru. They will be followed by the always-worth-finding-parking Donald Washington Quartet with Brian Roessler, Erik Jacobson and son Kevin Washington... who might be late coming from Jazz Central?
More sublime, it's Arne Fogel night at Parma 8200. Enjoy Crosby, Sinatra and more with a steaming bowl of pasta.
Friday & Sunday, November 21 & 23. Led by master educator and vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn, the award-winning jazz ensembles of St. Olaf College present their fall concerts this weekend at the Pause in Buntrock Center on campus. Friday night, Jazz I joins up with visiting percussion duo Brad Dutz and Chris Wabich; on Sunday, Jazz II and III perform (4:30 pm).
Saturday, November 22. Hot gigs from St. Paul to St. Barneys! Moving east to west, start out in Maplewood (Maplewood Community Center) for the annual PipJazz Youth All-Stars concert featuring bluesy soulful singer Pippi Ardennia, a house band with Brian Christianson, Jay Young and Glenn Swanson, and spotlight on young performers Levi Schwartzberg, Ebonee Rainwater, Maggie Kjeer and Jo Schad.
At the Black Dog, enjoy new compositions and music from a new recording from the Chris Lomheim Trio. Lomheim recently teamed up with long-time pals Gordy Johnson and Jay Epstein to produce Timeline, and tonight Andrew Bergmann fills in for Gordy as the trio revisits the October CD release as well as some newer tunes. Opening for this Saturday Night Jazz gig will be virtuoso Joel Shapira on solo guitar.
At Hopkins High School, the JazzMN Orchestra continues its season with a salute to the music of “Little Big Bands" featuring a scaled-down JazzMN performing works written for ensembles of 8-14 musicians. Featured will be vocalist Charmin Michelle debuting two pieces written for her by Adi Yeshaya, and saxophonist Pete Whitman with an original work composed for his X-Tet.
Over in Plymouth, the Jazz @St. Barney's concert tonight features the Phil Mattson Singers, returning to the St. Barnabas Center for the Arts with a raft of songs from the Great American Songbook and beyond, tightly arranged by Phil Mattson to show off the group's impeccable harmonies.
Monday, November 24. The Jazz Central “Featured Artist" is keyboard specialist Brian Ziemniak, who brings in a quintet testing out some new compositions for Brian's upcoming recording. And speaking of new recordings, you can be part of the live audience as the Atlantis Quartet records at the Icehouse for a release later in 2015. More sublime and just as late, vocalist Rhonda Laurie returns to Barbette, a perfect accompaniment for coffee and carrot cake on the late night menu.
Tuesday, November 25. Last February, guitarist Sharon Isbinheaded led “Guitar Passions" at the Dakota with Stanley Jordan and Romero Lubambo. Tonight she's back in duo with Brazilian magician Lubambo, and you can count on an evening of simply gorgeous guitar.
Wednesday, November 26. We don't hear enough from the Enormous Quartet. With Chris Thomson (saxophones), Park Evans (guitar), Chris Bates (bass) and Joey Van Phillips (drums), these creative collaborators enliven the pre-holiday ambience at Cafe Maude. You can make the pie in the morning.
More Jazz This Week!
Keep up with the live jazz scene in the Twin Cities — check out calendars at Jazz Police, KBEM, Rhythm and Grooves and Jazz Near You, as well as here on the blog. More jazz to tickle your ears:
Friday, November 21. Irv Williams and Steve Blons, happy hour at the Dakota; Todd Harper, solo piano at the Black Dog; Augsberg College Jazz Ensemble in Hoversten Chapel; Hamline University Jazz Ensembles in the Anne Smiley Theater (Hamline); Vic Volare at Hell's Kitchen; Bryan Nichols and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse
Saturday, November 22. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hotel); Reynold Philipsek, Matt Senjem and Michael Bissonnette at the 318 Café; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Kronick Quintet at NOLA Bistro (Osseo); Patrick Harison and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; BDP (Kinghorn/Baldwin) at Jazz Central
Sunday, November 23. Gustavas Adolphus College Jazz Lab and Jazz Ensemble at Bjorling Recital Hall (St. Peter, MN); John Paulson Big Band at the Wellington Pub (Winona, MN); Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, November 24. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Tuesday, November 25. Century College Jazz Ensemble at Minnesota Music Cafe; Minnesota State University Mankato Jazz Big Bands at Hailing Recital Hall (Mankato, MN); Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central; Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar; Jake Hanson and James Buckley at Cafe Maude
Wednesday, November 26. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Lila Ammons Trio at The Tangiers
Thursday, November 27. Connie and Herb at The Bean; Swingbeat Big Band at Wabasha Street Caves
