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| Ari Hoenig returns to the Artists Quarter, October 12-13 |
© Andrea Canter
Surely one
of the biggest gigs of the year at the Artists Quarter (Ari Hoenig Trio with
Bill Carrothers and Chris Bates) and I will be in Chicago this weekend? And Saturday is the
opening of a new season of Jazz at Studio Z? What was I thinking when I booked
this trip? Fortunately I will be back in
time for Cassandra Wilson and Bela Fleck with Marcus Roberts at the Dakota,
Chris Bates’ Good Vibe Trio and the Todd Clouser Quartet at the AQ, the opening
of the Third Floor, and more. You do not need to leave town to find great jazz.
So stick around.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Bill Carrothers |
October 12-13. The first time I saw Ari Hoenig
(with Jean-Michel Pilc) I was struck by his acrobatic flailings at the trapset
as much as by the sounds he coaxed from the kit. This will be his third visit
to the Artists Quarter in the past five or six years, most recently in 2009
with a trio featuring guitarist Gilad Hekselman and local bassist Adam Linz.
Hoenig returns now to the AQ, driving the engine of a trio that could top
charts anywhere in the world—with Bill Carrothers on drums and Chris Bates on
bass. Come with open ears and open eyes!
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| Zacc Harris |
October 13. Guitarist Zacc Harris is one of
those musicians who leads a lot more than jazz ensembles. He’s also proven to
be an effective curator and grant writer. Saturday he launches his second
season of Jazz at Studio Z, a monthly series (through spring) that will feature
a stellar ensemble performing in the evening, following a free public workshop
in late afternoon. The series is supported by a grant to Harris from the
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC). Harris’s Atlantis Quartet is in the
leadoff spot, and their workshop (5 pm) will focus on Collective Improvisation
and Collaborative Composition, taking the audience through the phases of
composition, from improvised fragments through refinement and ending in a
complete work. Attend the workshop and you get a $2 discount on the evening’s
gig with one of the metro’s most exciting bands.
October 14-15. One of the most lauded singers of
her generation, Cassandra Wilson is unlike anyone else in modern jazz, blending
blues, folk and country with a jazz resume that includes Steve Coleman’s M-Base
and Wynton Marsalis’s Blood on the Fields.
She’s accumulated two Grammies (so far) and numerous other honors, boasting one
of the most eclectic discographies among jazz vocalists. Either this is her
Dakota debut or her first visit in years.
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| Zack Lozier |
October 15. Zack Lozier is, by himself, a
Festival of Trumpet, playing it all from New
Orleans trad to 21st century rad, from
Southside Aces to Chris Bates’ Red 5. It’s time to see him in the spotlight at
Jazz Central, where he probably will mix it up with Tanner Taylor and Mac
Santiago, the owners and hosts of this underground studio.
October 16. Chris Bates’ Good Vibes Trio is
only in its first year but this should be a long-lasting partnership. The “good
vibes” belong to Dave Hagedorn, and there’s no one better among current mallet
virtuosi. Phil Hey manages the drumkit, and of course he is along-time
collaborator with Hagedorn from their years together with Phil’s quartet and
the Pete Whitman X-Tet. Put bass master Bates in the middle and the vibes have
to be good! (And the tacos too –it’s Tuesday, so this must be $2 taco night!)
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| Babatunde Lea |
October 17. Last weekend I had the great honor
to hear Babatunde Lea and his quartet at the Artists Quarter. Lea is a broadly
gifted percussionist whose work cuts across global and American music. Tonight
he will be joined by Zacc Harris and Adam Linz at Café Maude (the original in
southwest Minneapolis).
String and things that go bump in the night!!
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| Marcus Roberts |
October 17-18. Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts
Trio at the Dakota? Is it a stretch to conceive of these artists as collaborators?
Fleck of course is the legendary banjoist, leader of The Flecktones, and known
for other not-so-obvious collaborations such as his 2007 project with Chick
Corea (The Enchantment). Roberts
makes “mainstream” jazz an ultimate compliment, one of the finest purveyors of
modern swing and interpreters of standard repertoire from Gershwin to
Ellington. Their collaboration began at the Savannah Music Festival a couple
years ago, when Fleck stayed late to listen to Roberts’ jam session, adding his
unique voice to the trio, featuring Rodney Jordan on bass and Jason Marsalis on
drums. Their collaboration continued with the release of Across the Divide last spring, but that divide seems pretty easy
for each artist to cross.
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| Maryann Sullivan |
October 18. When Jeremy Konecny closed The
Nicollet earlier this year due to insufficient revenues, he vowed to find
another way to bring jazz to the people in an affordable package. Today he
officially opens the Third Floor, 2 flights above the Chocolate Chateau in the
old Vintage mansion on Selby in St
Paul. Maryann Sullivan is on hand to cut the ribbon
(at least figuratively) and will welcome a host of friends, surely including
husband Doug Haining. It’s a unique setting—Victorian St Paul—with a menu sure
to please—micro beers, wine, chocolate, and jazz. $5 cover gives you a $2 drink
credit.
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| Todd Clouser |
Another
nice thing about the Third Floor—early jazz hours. The shows will run 7:30
-9:30 pm, meaning you can make most of the first set at the Artists Quarter,
just a short ride downtown. Tonight, Todd Clouser brings a new quartet to the
AQ, part of his two-week residency in the Twin Cities with varying combinations
of friends. Tonight he joins forces with Park Evans, Brian Courage and Jay
Epstein—that’s a double guitar quartet!!
More Jazz
What’s going
on in the Twin Cities? Never wonder about live jazz- check out live jazz
calendars on Jazz Police and KBEM sites. Some more suggestions:
Friday, October 12. Steven Hobert and Jim Chenoweth,
dinner show at the Icehouse; Fathom Lane CD Release at the Icehouse (late show)
with Todd Clouser; Patrick Harrison Duo at Café Maude Loring Park; Lee Engele
and Reynold Philipsek at Pardon My French
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| Joel Shapira |
Saturday, October 13. Connie Evinsgon, Jazz @ St Barneys
(St Barnabus Church); Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul
Hotel); Arne Fogel with Kristin Sponcia at The Lexington; New Standards at the
Dakota; Joel Shapira Trio at Café Maude Loring Park; Jon Pemberton Trio at
Loring Pasta Bar
Sunday, October 14. Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine
Bar; PipJazz Sundays with Steve Faison at Landmark Center
Monday, October 15. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Jazz Implosion at the
Icehouse
Tuesday, October 16. Frankhouse at Hell’s Kitchen; Cory
Wong Quartet (7 pm) at the Artists Quarter; Doug Haining/Scott Agster Big Band
at Jazz Central
Wednesday, October 17. Wolverines at Hell’s Kitchen; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at
Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the Bastids followed by the Dave Karr Quartet
at the Artists Quarter; Robb Henry Trio at the Red Stag; James Buckley at
Barbette
Thursday, October 18. Illicit Sextet at the Artists
Quarter (7 pm)
Coming Soon!
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October
19, Reynold Philipsek CD Release at the 318 Café
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October
19, Patty Peterson CD Release /Bobby Peterson CD Release at the Dakota
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October
19-20, Dave King Trio CD Release at the Artists Quarter
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October
23, Kurt Elling at the Dakota
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October
25, Charmin & Shapira at the Third Floor
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October
26-27, Eric Kamau Gravatt and Source Code at the Artists Quarter
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October
29, Charmin & Shapira and Friends at the Dakota
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October
30-31, Maria Schneider Orchestra at the Dakota
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November
1, Arne Fogel (new vocal series) at Jazz Central
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November
4, Spiral Visions (Milne, Hagedorn, Aaron, Lewis, Hey) at Landmark Center
(TCJS Jazz From J to Z)
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November
5, Charlie Hunter at the Dakota
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November
10, Dave Karr at Studio Z
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November
11, PipJazz Sundays Youth Showcase at Landmark Center
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November
12-13, Bettye LaVette at the Dakota
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November
17, JazzMN Orchestra Tribute to New Orleans, Hopkins High School
Performing Arts Center
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November
17, Sidewalk Café at Jazz @ St Barneys (St Barnabus Church)
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November
25, Meshell Ndgeocello at the Dakota
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November
26-27, Karrin Allyson at the Dakota
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December
7-8, Manhattan
Transfer at the Dakota
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December
9, PipJazz Sundays Holiday Showcase at Landmark Center
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December
12-13, John Pizzarelli at the Dakota
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December
14-15, Reid Anderson, Jeff Ballard, SPCO, Liquid Music at SPCO Music Room
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December
21-22, A Hot Christmas (Lee Engele, Joan Griffith, Reynold Philipsek, Gary
Schulte), Bloomington
Center for the Arts Black
Box Theater
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December
27-29, Bad Plus at the Dakota
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| Dave Hagedorn, with Spiral Visions at Landmark Center, November 4th |
