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The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, September 23-29

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What a jazzy week we have in the Twin Cities! Some pretty amazing talents coming into town, including Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman and Pat Metheny, and the always-amazing talents of our local artists, including a reprise night with the Jazz Women All Stars at the Dakota.

Big Gigs This Week

Friday, September 23. Pianist, vocalist and composer— and attorney— Larry McDonough brings his long-standing quartet to the All Originals Jazz series at Studio Z. Curated by Steve Kenny for a third summer season, this series focuses on original compositions, something Larry and his band typically present at every show. Larry is known for using odd meters like 11/4, and for this show, bassist Greg Stinson adds some of his original works. Richard Terrill on sax and Dean White on drums round out the quartet, which is taking a break from two big shows of the past year, honoring the music of Miles Davis/Chet Baker, and Bill Evans/Tony Bennett.

If you are looking for some vocal jazz to start the weekend, check out Parma 8200 in Bloomington for songbird Maud Hixson with Rick Carlson and Keith Boyles. At Jazz Central, sax titan Pete Whitman leads an ensemble on the Masters series, while swing is the thing at Vieux Carré with the Southside Aces, following some creative piano from Jeremy Walker.

Friday-Saturday, September 23-24.Providing music over dinner that is decidedly a dozen notches above the usual “background" fare, Bryan Nichols and James Buckley perform at the Icehouse. Even better for those who want to listen to two sublime inventors.

Saturday, September 24. Start your day with brunch in Lowertown, as Jazz Alley serenades at Golden's Deli. Prompted by the success of the jazz festival Scat Off in June, singers Maryann Sullivan, Katia Cardenas and Sarah M. Greer started the midday gig at Golden's in early August and are booked now through October, weather permitting as they sing in the alley outside the deli.

On the Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog series, now into its third year, the warm-up act is anything but. It's still billed as Merciless Ghost, the experimental improvising trio headed by saxophonist George Cartwright with bassist Josh Granowski, but usual drummer Davu Seru is sending in a sub like no other—Dave King! That's the opening set, followed by a band that got its start at the old Artists Quarter—What Would Monk Do, with Steve Kenny, Peter Schimke, Billy Peterson and Kenny Horst, exploring works written by or inspired by Thelonious Monk.

At the Dakota, two sets from the Jazz Women All-Starspromise that this band will be an ongoing ensemble, which debuted at the 2016 Twin Cities Jazz Festival under the direction of KBEM's own Patty Peterson. Expected to be an annual festival performance, you can hear them tonight in a club setting: Mary Louise Knutso (piano), Linda Peterson (piano and vocals), Joan Griffith (bass), Sheila Early (drums), Arizona-based Mary Petrick (saxophones), Debbie Duncan and Patty (vocals).

One woman who will likely reach all-star status soon, young vocalist Katia Cardenas performs Saturday night in Crooners Lounge.

Sunday, September 25. Get your dancing shoes and come to Cinema Ballroom in St. Paul for a night of ballroom dancing to the sounds of the Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra with songstress Charmin Michelle.

Sunday-Monday, September 25-26. Two of the brightest jazz artists on the planet get together at the Dakota. Saxophonist Joshua Redman teams up with pianist Brad Mehldau, and if their sets at the Dakota are anything like their new duo recording (Nearness, on Nonesuch), we're in for two nights of totally exquisite music.

At the Black Dog early evening Sunday, and at the Icehouse late on Monday for JT's Jazz Implosion, its another intriguing duo, this time oud and piano ("Oudyano"), with Syrian native oud master Issam Rafea and pianist Steven Hobert. The pair have been performing together over the past year and the collaboration is stunning. Monday, September 26. A touch choice on Monday, as about a mile from the Dakota and Redman/Mehldaul, the Dakota sponsors guitar god Pat Metheny at The Guthrie. Pat's quartet includes British pianist Gwilym Simcock, rising star bassist Linda Oh, and Metheny's long-time drummer Antonio Sanchez, performing a wide range of works covering Pat's career.

At Jazz Central, the relatively new ensemble Ashen Fir takes the spotlight. This is a modern jazz quartet featuring Jack Barrett on keys, Greg Byers on cello, Charlie Bruber on bass and Peter Quirsfeld on drums. The band debuted earlier in the summer at the Day Block Brewing Company.

Tuesday, September 27. At Vieux Carré, ever-sublime pianistChris Lomheim opens solo, followed by drummer JT Bates' Grain — his organ trio with Kevin Gastonguay on B-3 and Zacc Harris on guitar. On Big Band Night at Jazz Central, enjoy the sizzling rhythms of the Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra.

Wednesday, September 28. At Jazz Central, the spotlight shines on one of the unsung heroes of local jazz, drummer Pete Hennig. Pete's efforts are never in the background with such bands as the Atlantis Quartet, Fantastic Merlins and Zacc Harris ensembles.

At Vieux Carré, singing pianist Linda Petersonprovides the early evening entertainment with covers and original songs, while at Crooners Lounge, Arne Fogel gives legitimacy to the club's name.

Thursday, September 29. Swing is always in fashion with the Twin Cities Seven, a long-running ensemble led by Doug Haining and on stage tonight at Vieux Carré. Across town at the Dakota, with a hot club swing and accordion-centric vibe, the Cafe Accordion Orchestra led by Dan Newton celebrates a new CD release. Switching gears dramatically, enjoy the percussion antics of Phil Hey in a rare solo set, followed by a trio with Adam Linz and Paul Metzger at Khyber Pass.

Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie features the Rodney Ruckus Group, led by one of the busiest young artists in the metro. Since arriving on the jazz scene about two years ago, Ruckus has led several bands and backed a long list of area musicians, including a headline set on the main stage at the 2016 Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

The Icehouse hosts a rare Twin Cities appearance of The Tiptons, an internationally renowned all-female sax quartet plus drums. Performing for nearly 30 years, the band features Seattle, New York and Eau Claire-based saxophonists playing “world soul" with strong jazz, blues and pop influences. Band members include founder Amy Denio, Jessica Lurie, Tina Richerson, and Eau Claire's Sue Orfield on saxophones and other reeds, along with drummer Tarik Abouz, the lone male in the band.

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