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| John Raymond with Jeremy Boettcher and Miguel Hurtado, CD release at the Dakota |
© Andrea Canter
Another
steamy weekend heading our way – of course I mean the jazz, not the weather,
although the Dog Days of July can’t be ignored. Find a cool club or concert
space and chill out this week with some great music.
Highlights This Week
July 13-14. Speaking of hot, one of the
hottest young musicians in New York
these days is Twin Cities native John Raymond, blowing his trumpet at
such revered spaces as Cornelia Street Café and Smalls in the wake of his
spring release of Strength and Song,
his first full-length recording. The
fact that it was produced by mentor Jon Faddis tells you something about the
quality of this effort, largely filled with John’s own compositions. This
weekend John celebrates his first prime time gig as leader at the Artists
Quarter, and he has a band of local hotshots at his disposal---pianist Bryan
Nichols, guitarist Vincent Rose, bassist Jeremy Boettcher, and drummer Miguel
Hurtado. Don’t miss the sophistication of the compositions as well as the
virtuosity of these musicians.
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| Chris Lomheim |
It’s a fine
weekend for jazz piano. Downtown, Benny Weinbeck and cohorts Gordy
Johnson and Phil Hey continue (through July) their back-to-back nights
of inspiring straight-ahead fare at D’Amico Kitchen; in south Minneapolis, Chris Lomheim and James Buckley
offer highly sophisticated “dinner music” at the new Ice House. Maybe entrée
downtown, dessert south on Nicollet? Or vice versa?
And it’s a
fine weekend for vocal jazz, with Charmin Michelle commanding
attention Friday and Saturday nights at The Lexington. Phil Mattson handles the
keys.
July 15. Drummer and teacher Elliot
Fine passed away in May, and his art and legacy will be celebrated at
the Artists Quarter. Music and comments will be provided by colleagues at
McNally Smith College of Music, long-time cohort Marv Dahlgren, son Milo Fine,
student and colleague Dave Stanoch and more. Dave is coordinating the event,
and posted a personal and informative commentary on Pamela Espeland’s blog. In closing, Dave noted
that Elliot’s “legacy will live on through the countless number of drummers
worldwide he influenced through his life’s work. It is a group that includes
masters of the art from right here in our own Twin Cities and worldwide as
well. Those of us fortunate to have shared in his many gifts personally are all
better for it. He was one of a kind.”
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| Fat Kid Wednesdays at a Jazz Implosion gig |
July 16.
Both Jazz Central and the Ice House continue to offer cutting edge jazz
on Monday nights. Really, you can do both clubs—music starts earlier at Jazz
Central (8:30 pm) while the Ice House boasts later sets (9:30 and 11:30).
Mondays at the Ice House are reserved for “JT’s Jazz Implosion” – a revival of
JT Bates’ Clown Lounge bookings and featuring the area’s top improvisers.
This week, bassist Adam Linz figures into two different sets of music, starting with a sax trio. The late set introduces his new Quintet, featuring young lions Joe Strachan (piano) and Noah Ophoven Baldwin (trumpet) with veterans Brandon Wozniak (sax) and JT himself on drums.
Mondays at Jazz Central generally feature one of the area’s top musicians in a new context—with new or seldom affiliated collaborators. This week’s featured artist is trumpeter Geoff Senn, often seen with such large ensembles as the Cedar Ave Big Band. Catch Geoff in a chamber jazz setting tonight, followed by the weekly jam session.
Mondays at Jazz Central generally feature one of the area’s top musicians in a new context—with new or seldom affiliated collaborators. This week’s featured artist is trumpeter Geoff Senn, often seen with such large ensembles as the Cedar Ave Big Band. Catch Geoff in a chamber jazz setting tonight, followed by the weekly jam session.
 |
| Maud Hixson |
It’s not a
new pairing but a new venue as Maud Hixson joins Robert
Bell at Barbette for a late night serenade. They’ve worked together
before, particularly with the French 75 ensemble, but tonight it’s just voice
and guitar. And that little French touch of Barbette.
July 17. Café Maude continues to book the
top jazz artists in the region, and tonight is no exception with the Zacc
Harris Quartet (Bryan Nichols, Chris Bates, JT Bates). Reserve for
dinner, ask to be seated in the “music area” and enjoy innovations from the
stage and the kitchen. For a night cap, cross the river to the AQ and enjoy
another new collaboration—this time trumpeter Zack Lozier teams with
the Chris
Lomheim Trio. Most anything can happen with that combination!
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| Brad Bellows (Valve) |
July 18. Vacationing from her home base in
LA, pianist/vocalist Linda Peterson makes a rare club
appearance in the Twin Cities, tonight at School II Bistro in Chanhassen. We
don’t get many chances to hear this member of the Peterson clan outside of
family holiday shows! Downtown at the
Dakota, the Jana Nyberg Group brings its fresh takes on jazz and pop
classics to “Foodie Night.” They’re hot off their annual Door County
tour. Over at the AQ, the popular Valve Meets Slide ensemble
demonstrates the versatility and depth of the trombone, be it slide (Dave Graf)
or valve (Brad Bellows).
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| Todd Clouser, Chris Bates (A Love Electric) |
July 19. A grand double header for
club-hoppers in St Paul.
Start at the Amsterdam Bar early evening for the exciting, rock-infused vibe of
Todd
Clouser and A Love Electric (Adam Meckler, Bryan Nichols, Chris Bates,
Greg Schutte), then head down the street to the Artists Quarter for a more
sublime encounter with visiting pianist Dan Cavanagh and his former teacher,
vibes master Dave Hagedorn. The pair have an elegant recording to their
credit (Horizon), while Cavanagh just
released a masterful trio date (Heart of
the Geyser). Clouser will rev your engine, Cavanagh and Hagedorn will make
it sing.
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| Rhonda Laurie |
Back at
Barbette, Robert Bell returns for another night with another songbird,
this time Rhonda Laurie. Rhonda and Robert have teamed many times before,
particularly through Rhonda’s “Happy Days Are Here Again” project, still
touring Minnesota
libraries and concert halls.
More Music!
Through
July, you can find a comprehensive listing of area jazz gigs on Pamela’s
calendar, posted on Bebopified
and on Jazz Police. Also check out KBEM
and KFAI radio, the Friday edition of the Strib, and TCJS’s CODA for gig
listings. Some more recommendations:
Friday, July 13. Nachito Herrera at the Dakota; sHorn hortZ (Larry
McDonough Quintet) at The Art Preserve (Woodbury); Altimar Coelho, Josh Alfaro and Dan Musselman at Rodizio Grill (Maple Grove)
Saturday, July 14. Willie August Project
at the Red Stag
Sunday, July 15. TBP Organ Trio
(Tanner Taylor, James Buckley, Joey Van Phillips), brunch at the Ice House;
Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Charmin Michelle and the Jerry
O’Hagan Orchestra at Cinema Ballroom; Viva Brasil at the Dakota
Monday, July 16. Charmin Michelle
and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Head Space at the Artists Quarter; George
Cartwright with Michelle Kinney and Andrew Broder at the Black Dog
 |
| Jack Brass Band |
Tuesday, July 17. Cory Wong Quartet,
early set at the Artists Quarter; Jack Brass Band at the Driftwood Charbar;
Stew Frog (Scott Fultz, Dean Granros, Steve Goldstein) at the Black Dog; Lee
Engele with Reynold Philipsek, Matt Senjem at the Band Shell in the Commons
(Excelsior)
Wednesday, July 18. Charmin Michelle
and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Connie Evingson with Reynold Philipsek, Jeff
Brueske and Michael Bissonnette at the Village (Mendota Heights); Steve Kenny
and the Bastids, early show at the Artists Quarter; Leisure Valley at the Nomad
World Pub
Thursday, July 19. Debbie Duncan at
Hell’s Kitchen; Tony London at The Lexington
Coming
Soon!
·
July
20, Matt Turner at the Black Dog
·
July
20-21, Pete Whitman & Laura Caviani at the Artists Quarter
·
July
21, Jeremy Siskind with Nancy
Harms and Lucas Pino at Jazz Central
·
July
22, Nachito Herrera and Friends at the Watertown
Art Center
·
July
23, Minnesota Jazz All-Stars at the Old Log Theater (led by Cliff Brunzell,
Jeanne Arland Peterson)
·
July
23, Michael Nelson at Jazz Central
·
July
26, Pete Whitman X-Tet at the Artists Quarter
·
July
27-28, Jay Young & the Lyric Factory at the Artists Quarter
·
July
29, James Carter Organ Trio at the Dakota
·
July
30, Brandon Wozniak at Jazz Central
·
July
31, Adam Meckler Orchestra at Jazz Central
·
August
1-2, Tribute to Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery with Joey D’Francesco, Larry
Coryell & Jimmy Cobb at the Dakota
. August 2, Bloomington Jazz Festival (Normandale Lake Park)
. August 2, Bloomington Jazz Festival (Normandale Lake Park)
·
August
3, Pat Mallinger at the Artists Quarter
·
August
8, Tribute to Blossom Dearie with Joann Funk at the Artists Quarter
·
August
11, PipJazz Sundays with Yolande Bruce at Landmark Center
·
August
18, Burnsville
Art and All That Jazz Festival
·
September
4-5, Pat Metheny Unity Band at the Dakota
·
September
8, Selby Avenue
Jazz Festival
·
September
9, Dakota Combo Auditions at MacPhail
Center for Music
·
September
11-12, Marcus Miller at the Dakota
·
September
14-15, Chris Bates Quintet CD Release at the Artists Quarter
·
September
18, John Scofield Trio at the Dakota
·
September
26-27, Chick Corea and Gary Burton at the Dakota
·
September
30, Esperanza Spalding’s Radio Society at the State Theater
·
October
30-31, Maria Schneider Orchestra at the Dakota
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| John Scofield comes to the Dakota September 18th |
All photos by Andrea Canter
