Thanksgiving weekend marks the beginning of the holiday shopping, music, and festive season, and jazz options are certainly on the upswing. From stellar visitors to “takeovers" and showcase events, you'll find your favorites and perhaps some new ones as well.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, November 25. There'sGood Trouble at Jazz Central— that's a band of past and current Lawrence University jazz students making their JC debut, while out at Crooners Lounge, vocalist and KBEM host Patty Peterson and Friends brighten up the weekend. (Don't miss the new cool mural on the west side of the building—can you identify these jazz icons?)
Dinner sets at the Icehouse tonight feature Javi Santiago on piano with James Buckleyon bass. Might hear some Ahmad Jamal as Javi warms up for his December 3rd Studio Z tribute to the great pianist. At Vieux Carre', guitar whiz Zacc Harris warms up the club for Dan Newton's Cafe Accordion Orchestra.
Friday-Saturday, November 25-26. The Icehouse hosts the second and third “Dave King Takeover" gigs— Friday he brings in his powerhouse Dave King Trucking Company (with Brandon Wozniak, Chris Speed, Erik Fratzke) and on Saturdayhe's back at the Icehouse with the too-seldom-heard, long-running Happy Apple with pals Eric Fratzke and Mike Lewis. JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske are in a holiday mood in the Lobby Bar at the St Paul Hotel.
Saturday, November 26. Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog features the monthly JazzINK Youth Showcase with the Riley Swain Trio— this is a band of Southwest High School jazz students led by alto/baritone saxophonist Riley. They should warm up the stage plenty for the Atlantis Quartet, one of the most prolific and lauded ensembles in the metro—with Zacc Harris, Brandon Wozniak, Chris Bates and Pete Hennig.
In a totally different vein, swinging Patty and the Buttons presents is annual vaudeville show at the Heights Theater. And great strings— Talking Strings led by Pavel Jany at the Loring Pasta Bar, while Tim Sparks and James Buckley warm up to Happy Apple at the Icehouse.
Sunday, November 27. The Dunsmore Room hosts the return of pianist Geoffrey Keezer and vocalist Gillian Margot. Keezer of course is the Eau Claire native who held the final piano chair for Art Blakey before he was out of his teens, now highly acclaimed on the international scene leading his trio, solo shows, a long list of recordings, touring with Chris Botti and Diane Reeves, etc. His show with Gillian a few months ago introduced us to a sublime, elegant pairing.
Guitar buffs can enjoy an acoustic guitar showcase brunch at the Icehouse with Ben Abrahamson, Park Evans and Elgin Foster, then head down to the Black Dog for a late afternoon of solo guitar with Joel Shapira. And if that's not enough guitar, Zacc Harris and his trio perform in their weekly slot at the Riverview Wine Bar in the evening. Monday, November 28. Leader of the Minnesota Hard Bop Collective, drummer Jesse Simonperforms on the Spotlight series at Jazz Central, while regional icon, pianist George Maurer celebrates the holidays with his small ensemble (featuring vocalist Ann Michaels) at the Dakota. At Hell's Kitchen, enjoy world jazz vibes from Axis Mundi, with Glen Helgeson on guitar, Gary Schulte on violin, Cody McKinney on bass, Dave Stanoch on drums and Michael Bissonnette on percussion.
Monday-Tuesday, November 28-29.A vibrant singer and entertaining, Jennifer Grimm holds her holiday show in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge. She's joined by family and friends- Reed Grimm, Sophie Grimm, Trey Grimm, Colleen Raye and Joe Cruz!
Monday-Friday, November 28-December 2.It's a rare multi-venue, week-long CD release celebration for guitarists/bassists David Martin and his Portland OR cohort Mike Doolin, starting at the Icehouse (11/28) and then moving on to the Black Dog (11/29),Vieux Carre' (11/30), the Driftwood (12/1) and Jazz Central (12/2). The duo will be joined throughout the week by Jim Chenoweth on bass, Pete Hennig on drums and Shai Hayo on percussion (except for the Black Dog gig). Dave and Mike will also present a guitar repair workshop at the St Paul Guitar Center on December 3. The recording, Dark Star, features original compositions and highlights Dave and Mike's talents moving among acoustic and electric guitars and basses.
Tuesday, November 29. Whenever there's a fifth Tuesday in the month, Jazz Central presents an addition big band beyond the regular rotation. Tonight, it's the Aaron Hedenstrom Big Band led by saxophonist and composer Aaron and featuring a who's who list of area jazzers.
At Vieux Carre', Chris Lomheim delivers solo piano finery, followed by veteran guitarist Paul Renz and his trio.
Wednesday, November 30. Young vibes master Levi Schwartzberg and his quartet are featured at Jazz Central. In his third year now at the U of M, Levi is in familiar company with similarly prodigious talents— Patrick Adkins on piano, Drew Stinson on bass, and Tariq Abdelqadar on drums.
In the Dunsmore Room, we get our first opportunity in the Twin Cities to hear Swedish jazz vocalist and recent runner-up in the 2016 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition, Sinne Eeg. Eeg's 2014 recording, Face the Music, earned her the Danish Music Award (Denmark’s Grammy) for Best Jazz Vocal CD, along with the Ben Webster Prize, for which Sinne was the sole female recipient for the last 30 years, and the Prix du Jazz, awarded by France’s Academie du Jazz. In reviewing her performance in the Vaughan competition, Jazz Times reviewer Allan Morrison noted that, “After counting off with absolute authority, she did two things better than anybody else: interpreted the lyrics, milking every bit of humor out of them; and executed an effortless-sounding scat solo with structure, shape and musical imagination, one that only a mature jazz artist could produce."
At the Dakota, contemporary jazz doesn't get any better—- Jeff Lorber on keys, Marlon McClain on guitar/vocals, Shaun LaBelle on bass, and Stokely Williams on drums/vocals.
Thursday, December 1. Long-time percussionist with the Minnesota Orchestra, Peter Kogan has turned to jazz in his “retirement," and his Quintet at Vieux Carre' includes some of region's best, including Pete Whitman on sax and Phil Aaron on piano.
Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie presents the Joe Mayo Quartet. Saxophonist Joe joins forces with some of the best in town—Zacc Harris on guitar, Chris Bates on bass, and Pete James Johnson on drums.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, November 25. There'sGood Trouble at Jazz Central— that's a band of past and current Lawrence University jazz students making their JC debut, while out at Crooners Lounge, vocalist and KBEM host Patty Peterson and Friends brighten up the weekend. (Don't miss the new cool mural on the west side of the building—can you identify these jazz icons?)
Dinner sets at the Icehouse tonight feature Javi Santiago on piano with James Buckleyon bass. Might hear some Ahmad Jamal as Javi warms up for his December 3rd Studio Z tribute to the great pianist. At Vieux Carre', guitar whiz Zacc Harris warms up the club for Dan Newton's Cafe Accordion Orchestra.
Friday-Saturday, November 25-26. The Icehouse hosts the second and third “Dave King Takeover" gigs— Friday he brings in his powerhouse Dave King Trucking Company (with Brandon Wozniak, Chris Speed, Erik Fratzke) and on Saturdayhe's back at the Icehouse with the too-seldom-heard, long-running Happy Apple with pals Eric Fratzke and Mike Lewis. JoAnn Funk and Jeff Brueske are in a holiday mood in the Lobby Bar at the St Paul Hotel.
Saturday, November 26. Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog features the monthly JazzINK Youth Showcase with the Riley Swain Trio— this is a band of Southwest High School jazz students led by alto/baritone saxophonist Riley. They should warm up the stage plenty for the Atlantis Quartet, one of the most prolific and lauded ensembles in the metro—with Zacc Harris, Brandon Wozniak, Chris Bates and Pete Hennig.
In a totally different vein, swinging Patty and the Buttons presents is annual vaudeville show at the Heights Theater. And great strings— Talking Strings led by Pavel Jany at the Loring Pasta Bar, while Tim Sparks and James Buckley warm up to Happy Apple at the Icehouse.
Sunday, November 27. The Dunsmore Room hosts the return of pianist Geoffrey Keezer and vocalist Gillian Margot. Keezer of course is the Eau Claire native who held the final piano chair for Art Blakey before he was out of his teens, now highly acclaimed on the international scene leading his trio, solo shows, a long list of recordings, touring with Chris Botti and Diane Reeves, etc. His show with Gillian a few months ago introduced us to a sublime, elegant pairing.
Guitar buffs can enjoy an acoustic guitar showcase brunch at the Icehouse with Ben Abrahamson, Park Evans and Elgin Foster, then head down to the Black Dog for a late afternoon of solo guitar with Joel Shapira. And if that's not enough guitar, Zacc Harris and his trio perform in their weekly slot at the Riverview Wine Bar in the evening. Monday, November 28. Leader of the Minnesota Hard Bop Collective, drummer Jesse Simonperforms on the Spotlight series at Jazz Central, while regional icon, pianist George Maurer celebrates the holidays with his small ensemble (featuring vocalist Ann Michaels) at the Dakota. At Hell's Kitchen, enjoy world jazz vibes from Axis Mundi, with Glen Helgeson on guitar, Gary Schulte on violin, Cody McKinney on bass, Dave Stanoch on drums and Michael Bissonnette on percussion.
Monday-Tuesday, November 28-29.A vibrant singer and entertaining, Jennifer Grimm holds her holiday show in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge. She's joined by family and friends- Reed Grimm, Sophie Grimm, Trey Grimm, Colleen Raye and Joe Cruz!
Monday-Friday, November 28-December 2.It's a rare multi-venue, week-long CD release celebration for guitarists/bassists David Martin and his Portland OR cohort Mike Doolin, starting at the Icehouse (11/28) and then moving on to the Black Dog (11/29),Vieux Carre' (11/30), the Driftwood (12/1) and Jazz Central (12/2). The duo will be joined throughout the week by Jim Chenoweth on bass, Pete Hennig on drums and Shai Hayo on percussion (except for the Black Dog gig). Dave and Mike will also present a guitar repair workshop at the St Paul Guitar Center on December 3. The recording, Dark Star, features original compositions and highlights Dave and Mike's talents moving among acoustic and electric guitars and basses.
Tuesday, November 29. Whenever there's a fifth Tuesday in the month, Jazz Central presents an addition big band beyond the regular rotation. Tonight, it's the Aaron Hedenstrom Big Band led by saxophonist and composer Aaron and featuring a who's who list of area jazzers.
At Vieux Carre', Chris Lomheim delivers solo piano finery, followed by veteran guitarist Paul Renz and his trio.
Wednesday, November 30. Young vibes master Levi Schwartzberg and his quartet are featured at Jazz Central. In his third year now at the U of M, Levi is in familiar company with similarly prodigious talents— Patrick Adkins on piano, Drew Stinson on bass, and Tariq Abdelqadar on drums.
In the Dunsmore Room, we get our first opportunity in the Twin Cities to hear Swedish jazz vocalist and recent runner-up in the 2016 Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition, Sinne Eeg. Eeg's 2014 recording, Face the Music, earned her the Danish Music Award (Denmark’s Grammy) for Best Jazz Vocal CD, along with the Ben Webster Prize, for which Sinne was the sole female recipient for the last 30 years, and the Prix du Jazz, awarded by France’s Academie du Jazz. In reviewing her performance in the Vaughan competition, Jazz Times reviewer Allan Morrison noted that, “After counting off with absolute authority, she did two things better than anybody else: interpreted the lyrics, milking every bit of humor out of them; and executed an effortless-sounding scat solo with structure, shape and musical imagination, one that only a mature jazz artist could produce."
At the Dakota, contemporary jazz doesn't get any better—- Jeff Lorber on keys, Marlon McClain on guitar/vocals, Shaun LaBelle on bass, and Stokely Williams on drums/vocals.
Thursday, December 1. Long-time percussionist with the Minnesota Orchestra, Peter Kogan has turned to jazz in his “retirement," and his Quintet at Vieux Carre' includes some of region's best, including Pete Whitman on sax and Phil Aaron on piano.
Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie presents the Joe Mayo Quartet. Saxophonist Joe joins forces with some of the best in town—Zacc Harris on guitar, Chris Bates on bass, and Pete James Johnson on drums.
