Cooler nights are becoming the norm, but in jazz terms, “cool" is always a good thing, and we have plenty of cool coming our way on the Twin Cities Jazz scene—including two opportunities to hear former resident bassist Brian Courage, a visit from Benny Green to honor the new Steinway in the Dunsmore Room, and a reunion of the cast of Joan Griffith's Sambanova. Other favorites pair up for some duo magic.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, October 7. Bassist Brian Courage swings through the midwest this week, and following q quartet big at Reverie last night, he's now joining in at Vieux Carre as part of a ten-piece band led by New York based trombonist Chris Mish Bloxdorf. Also Friday, Eric Kamau Gravatt returns to Jazz Central with Source Code—with Solomon Parham, Dave Graf, Lucia Sarmiento and Ron Evaniuk, it's a little heavier on horns than usual. Source Code is followed by a band led by young saxophonist Mitch Rand and pals from River Falls.
A little more relaxing for a Friday night, songbird Maud Hixson returns to Parma 8200 with Rick Carlson and Gordy Johnson, warming up for her appearance at Rose Hall in New York later this month. And linger over dinner at the Icehouse, as Zacc Harris and Bryan Nichols perform duos for the dinner crowd.
And if you prefer Friday night at the movies, the East Side Freedom Library in St Paul will be screening “What Happened, Miss Simone," on their monthly film series.
Saturday, October 8. The singers of Jazz Alley continue brunch at Golden's Deli, while agile pianist Phil Aaron fills in for JoAnn Funk in the Lobby Bar of the St Paul Hotel.
Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog features the intriguing vibes-cello duo of Steve Kimmel and Greg Byers followed by the Park Evans Quintet. Joining the always-brilliant guitarist will be Evan Benidt on saxophones, Steve Kenny on FLUMPET, Ted Olsen on bass, and Greg Schutte on drums.
Saturday is also the reprise of the jazz festival Singers Scat Off—some of the region's top scat singers (Sarah M Greer, Jana Nyberg, Vicky Mountain, Jason Peterson DeLaire, host Maryann Sullivan) converge at Jazz Central for some vocal gymnastics with a winner decided by audience vote.
Sunday, October 9. Some afternoon delights as Maud Hixson sings from her Listening for Your Song project at the St Paul Central Library in the beautiful Magazine Room. The Dunsmore Room in Crooners Lounge officially unveils its new Steinway D piano by presenting a solo show by internationally renowned pianist Benny Green, one of the top pureveyors of swinging bebop. (I've heard the new piano and it is spectacular.) And Benny will make it sing— note this show starts at 5 pm.
Monday, October 10. JT's Jazz Implosion has a double header with the Brian Courage Quartet and the New York based quartet, The Westerlies. Brian will feature Dean Granros, Noah Ophoven-Baldwin, and JT Bates.
Pianist/vocalist and songwriter Linda Peterson marks the start of five straight nights in Crooners Lounge for Happy Hour, followed tonight by a father and son act with Reuben and Dan Ristrom, guitar and voice with plenty of swing. In the spotlight at Jazz Central is New York-based drummer Yonatan Oleiski and Brooklyn guitarist Key Hutchinson.
Tuesday, October 11is a strong guitar night, with Joan Griffith, Laura Caviani and Lucia Newell recreating some of their Brazilian favorites and more in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners; Joel Shapira and Dean Granros make it a double guitar duo at Vieux Carre' (Chris Lomheim opens on solo piano), and the Chris Olson Project is on stage at the Black Dog with a new trio featuring Peter Vircks on sax and Reid Kennedy on drums. At Jazz Central, Big Band Night features the Cedar Avenue Big Band.
Wednesday, October 12 Musical and life partners Herb Alpert—yes, the great trumpeter we all loved in the 60s— and singer Lani Hall are back in town, this time at the Pantages Theater. At Vieux Carre', vocalist Sophia Shorai opens for the amazing duo of Butch Thompson and Dean Magraw, piano and guitar like none other.
Chris Bates launched a new trio project last winter with pianist Joe Strachan and drummer Matt Buckner, but Buckner has moved to Florida and Chris has signed on a young veteran, Miguel Hurtado. They debut the new configuration at Jazz Central.
Thursday, October 13. Vocalist Emily Jane Davis returns to Jazz Central with the trio Jazz by Fosse (pianist Arne and bassist Ron Fosse with drummer Bill Hottinger), with special guest trumpeter Erez Nirov. At Reverie, the Thursday Night Jazz series presents the Adam Book Hyp-gnosis ensemble, with leader Booker on bass along with Pete Whitman, Zacc Harris, and Jay Epstein. And it's an improvisers string fest at Khyber Pass with oud player Issam Rafea and 12-string guitarist Chris Cunningham—each will play a solo set, ending in a duo.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, October 7. Bassist Brian Courage swings through the midwest this week, and following q quartet big at Reverie last night, he's now joining in at Vieux Carre as part of a ten-piece band led by New York based trombonist Chris Mish Bloxdorf. Also Friday, Eric Kamau Gravatt returns to Jazz Central with Source Code—with Solomon Parham, Dave Graf, Lucia Sarmiento and Ron Evaniuk, it's a little heavier on horns than usual. Source Code is followed by a band led by young saxophonist Mitch Rand and pals from River Falls.
A little more relaxing for a Friday night, songbird Maud Hixson returns to Parma 8200 with Rick Carlson and Gordy Johnson, warming up for her appearance at Rose Hall in New York later this month. And linger over dinner at the Icehouse, as Zacc Harris and Bryan Nichols perform duos for the dinner crowd.
And if you prefer Friday night at the movies, the East Side Freedom Library in St Paul will be screening “What Happened, Miss Simone," on their monthly film series.
Saturday, October 8. The singers of Jazz Alley continue brunch at Golden's Deli, while agile pianist Phil Aaron fills in for JoAnn Funk in the Lobby Bar of the St Paul Hotel.
Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog features the intriguing vibes-cello duo of Steve Kimmel and Greg Byers followed by the Park Evans Quintet. Joining the always-brilliant guitarist will be Evan Benidt on saxophones, Steve Kenny on FLUMPET, Ted Olsen on bass, and Greg Schutte on drums.
Saturday is also the reprise of the jazz festival Singers Scat Off—some of the region's top scat singers (Sarah M Greer, Jana Nyberg, Vicky Mountain, Jason Peterson DeLaire, host Maryann Sullivan) converge at Jazz Central for some vocal gymnastics with a winner decided by audience vote.
Sunday, October 9. Some afternoon delights as Maud Hixson sings from her Listening for Your Song project at the St Paul Central Library in the beautiful Magazine Room. The Dunsmore Room in Crooners Lounge officially unveils its new Steinway D piano by presenting a solo show by internationally renowned pianist Benny Green, one of the top pureveyors of swinging bebop. (I've heard the new piano and it is spectacular.) And Benny will make it sing— note this show starts at 5 pm.
Monday, October 10. JT's Jazz Implosion has a double header with the Brian Courage Quartet and the New York based quartet, The Westerlies. Brian will feature Dean Granros, Noah Ophoven-Baldwin, and JT Bates.
Pianist/vocalist and songwriter Linda Peterson marks the start of five straight nights in Crooners Lounge for Happy Hour, followed tonight by a father and son act with Reuben and Dan Ristrom, guitar and voice with plenty of swing. In the spotlight at Jazz Central is New York-based drummer Yonatan Oleiski and Brooklyn guitarist Key Hutchinson.
Tuesday, October 11is a strong guitar night, with Joan Griffith, Laura Caviani and Lucia Newell recreating some of their Brazilian favorites and more in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners; Joel Shapira and Dean Granros make it a double guitar duo at Vieux Carre' (Chris Lomheim opens on solo piano), and the Chris Olson Project is on stage at the Black Dog with a new trio featuring Peter Vircks on sax and Reid Kennedy on drums. At Jazz Central, Big Band Night features the Cedar Avenue Big Band.
Wednesday, October 12 Musical and life partners Herb Alpert—yes, the great trumpeter we all loved in the 60s— and singer Lani Hall are back in town, this time at the Pantages Theater. At Vieux Carre', vocalist Sophia Shorai opens for the amazing duo of Butch Thompson and Dean Magraw, piano and guitar like none other.
Chris Bates launched a new trio project last winter with pianist Joe Strachan and drummer Matt Buckner, but Buckner has moved to Florida and Chris has signed on a young veteran, Miguel Hurtado. They debut the new configuration at Jazz Central.
Thursday, October 13. Vocalist Emily Jane Davis returns to Jazz Central with the trio Jazz by Fosse (pianist Arne and bassist Ron Fosse with drummer Bill Hottinger), with special guest trumpeter Erez Nirov. At Reverie, the Thursday Night Jazz series presents the Adam Book Hyp-gnosis ensemble, with leader Booker on bass along with Pete Whitman, Zacc Harris, and Jay Epstein. And it's an improvisers string fest at Khyber Pass with oud player Issam Rafea and 12-string guitarist Chris Cunningham—each will play a solo set, ending in a duo.
