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| Kenny Horst celebrates #70! |
© Andrea Canter
A week of
all-star jazz begins with a birthday party at the Artists Quarter for owner
Kenny Horst, continues into the week with a welcome return of the legendary
Dave Holland Quintet, and a homecoming for one of the brightest lights in the
vocal music sky, the eclectic/electric José James. That should be enough to
warm our temps back to a comfortable level!
Highlights This Week
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| Kenny Horst |
Friday, January 25. Self-effacing drummer and Artist
Quarter owner Kenny Horst would never
think to throw himself a birthday party. And undoubtedly it took some fast
talking to convince him to let friends and family plan the celebration of his
70th. But the birthday party of the year honors one of the legends
of the local jazz community, and the line-up of musicians and well-wishers is
long and tall, requiring an earlier-than-normal start (at 8 pm) and likely
going on into the wee hours. Through good times and downturns, through two
relocations, the AQ has never wavered in its support of local jazz musicians,
students, and curious listeners. Truly, this is now the only full-time club
offering an exclusive jazz menu, cited in the February 2013 issue of Downbeat
as the Twin Cities only venue on its list of the world’s “150 Top Jazz Clubs.”
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| Framework |
Friday – Saturday,
January 25-26.
The inventive artists of Framework (Chris
Olson, Chris Bates, Jay Epstein) join forces with fellow members of the Bach
Society of Minnesota for a second annual night of “Baroque ‘n Jazz” at
Patrick’s Caberet. Bassist Bates has been hinting at some altered tunings.
Altered or not, the collision of bop and fugue seems to intriguing to pass up.
To quote Chris Bates on Facebook, “The Framework Boys with Harpsichord, Viola
da Gamba, Violin, Soprano, and drinks.”
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| Maud Hixson |
Saturday, January 26.
Warming up for her New York
recording project, songbird Maud Hixson
presents “Skyscraper Wits” as this month’s installment of Jazz @St. Barneys
(St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Plymouth). With Rick Carlson and Gary Schulte
providing their always-swinging accompaniment, Maud highlights the “tall”
masters of Tin Pan Alley – Noel Coward, Lorenz Hart and Cole Porter. And who
better than Maud—a singer who knows the lyrics inside out, no matter how silly
or complicated.
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| Dave Holland, Steve Nelson |
Sunday-Monday, January
27-28. It’s
been a few years since the Dave Holland
Quintet came to town. Too long to go without another dose of one of the
world’s finest quintets. Maybe the finest? Anything bassist Holland touches turns to gold, but his
mythical stature comes largely from this ensemble and his equally impressive
Big Band (the core of which, not surprising, is the quintet). Although usual
tenorman Chris Potter is taking a leave to focus on some other projects, his
“sub” Mark Turner unquestionably is worthy of the gig, having built his
reputation with the trio Fly. Joining Holland
and Turner at the Dakota are long-time collaborators, vibraphonist Steve
Nelson, trombonist Robin Eubanks, and drummer Nate Smith. I’ll let my friend
Mario Carrington sum up the Dave Holland Quintet, from his review of the 2010
gig at the Dakota: “The musicality of their individual improvisations, which
were impressive, was surpassed by their collective simultaneous improvisations
that defined harmonic rapture… The manner in which Holland orchestrates his
band is ultra cool and you could easily imagine him playing the part of the
most interesting man in the world in those Dos Equis beer commercials—‘stay
musical, my friends’...”
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| Jose' James |
Tuesday, January 29. Just a couple miles apart, two
young talents with unlimited futures take their very different musics to very
different stages. I need to clone myself. At the Cedar Cultural
Center, the man many
consider to be the star male vocalist of the future returns home, celebrating a
much anticipated new CD, No Beginning, No
End. That title might describe the career of José James, although locally we know his beginning was at South
High and Fireside Pizza. His end however will surely be in the stratosphere,
and impossible to predict otherwise. Working hard to shed the label “jazz
singer,” Jose’s current efforts intentionally defy classification- “no
beginning, no end.” And with inspirational sources as diverse as Billie Holiday
and Gil-Scot Herron, and collaborators as divergent as McCoy Tyner and Robert
Glasper, the possibilities are endless.
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| Adam Meckler Orchestra |
Across
campus and down Central Avenue
to Jazz Central, it’s the monthly engagement of the Adam Meckler Orchestra, an 18-piece ensemble headed by one of
busiest and most creative jazz minds in the Twin Cities. He’s not yet on the
national radar but that seems just a matter of time and exposure for
trumpeter/composer/bandleader Adam Meckler. Some of the most exciting young
performers can be found on the bandstand tonight, and we can expect some new
works as well as new arrangements. And you have not really experienced a big
band until you sit with ten feet of the horn section! And no, you do not need
ear plugs. This is an acoustic experience of the best kind.
And the
veterans are on the scene tonight as well, with guitar wizard Dean Magraw and
Friends at the Artists Quarter. Likely friends? Billy Peterson, Brandon
Wozniak, Kenny Horst, Phil Aaron… who knows for sure? It will be very cool
regardless. Dean can certainly mesmerize and audience all by himself.
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| Chris Lomheim |
Wednesday, January 30. It’s always a good night for jazz
when the Chris Lomheim Trio is on
stage, and tonight they return to the Artists Quarter. Relative to area
pianists, Chris is most influenced by the great Bill Evans, and his annual
Evans tributes are always a treat. But his repertoire expands well beyond
Evans, covering the canons of bebop, post bop and some original works as well.
Come early for some energetic arrangements and playful exchanges with Steve
Kenny and the Bastids.
Thursday, January 31. As happens almost monthly, the
Artists Quarter tonight has a monopoly on top jazz musicians – ten of the best
will be on stage (and in front of the stage) with the Pete Whitman X-Tet. Often
building the sound of a big band with the finesse of a trio, the X-Tet guarantees
an evening of intelligent, intriguing, glorious music.
More Jazz Every Night (and Day)
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. A few more gigs of
note:
Friday, January 25. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Todd Harper at the Black Dog; St.
Peter Street Stompers at the Eagles Aerie Club; Ticket to Brasil at Faces Mears
Park; Joel Shapira at Hell’s Kitchen
Saturday, January 26. Sophia Shorai, brunch at Hell’s
Kitchen; Century Jazz Festival with Ed Calle and Charmin & Shapira at
Century College; Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel);
Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma; How Birds Work at the Artists Quarter; Pigs Eye
Jass Band at the Eagles Aerie Club; Paul
Harper Trio at Loring Pasta Bar; James Buckley and Bryan Nichols, dinner set at
the Icehouse; Choro Borealis followed by Rhizosphere at the Black Dog
Sunday, January 27. Patty and the Buttons, brunch at
the Aster Café; Robert Everest, brunch at Maria’s Café; Maurice Jacox and Thom
West at Eat Street Social (1 pm); Century Jazz Festival with Ed Calle and
Charmin & Shapira at Century College; Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine
Bar; Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra at Cinema Ballroom; Maurice Jacox and Friends at
the Red Stag
Monday, January 28. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
JT’s Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at
Fireside Pizza; Brian Grivna at Jazz Central; Patty and the Buttons at the Red
Stag
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| Vinnie Rose (Triose) |
Tuesday, January 29. Milo Fine, Davu Seru and George
Cartwright at the Black Dog; Cory Wong Quartet at the Artists Quarter (early
show); Triose (Vinnie Rose) at Hell’s Kitchen
Wednesday, January 30. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza
Thursday, January 31. Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra at Wabasha Street Caves;
Rhonda Laurie and Robert Bell at Barbette.
Coming Soon!
.
February 1-2, Lynne Arriale Trio at the Artists Quarter
.
February 6, Choro Borealis at the St.
Louis Park JCC
.
February 8-9, Bryan Nichols Trio at the Artists Quarter
.
February 10, Tuck and Patti at the Dakota
.
February 13-14, Stacey Kent at the Dakota
.
February 15-16, Bill Carrothers at the Artists Quarter
.
February 16, Lease/Moriarty Quintet at Studio Z
.
February 16, Todd Clouser Love Electric at the Icehouse
·
February 22, Bill Frisell at Macalester (Janet Wallace Auditorium)
.
February 22-23, Estaire Godinez at the Artists Quarter
.
March 8, Bobby Commodore 60th Birthday Bash at the Dakota
.
March 9, McCoy Tyner Quartet at the Hopkins
Center for the Arts
.
March 9, Randy Brecker with the JazzMN Orchestra at the Hopkins
High School Performing Arts Center
.
March 9, Fat Kid Wednesdays, Jazz at Studio Z
.
March 16, Mimi Fox at Sundin Hall (Hamline
University)
.
March 19, SF Jazz Collective at the Dakota
.
April 1, Bela Fleck and Chick Corea at the Dakota
.
April 2-3, Madeleine Peyroux at the Dakota
.
April 4-6, Eau Claire Jazz Festival, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus and
beyond
·
April 6, John Zorn 60th Birthday at Walker Art Center
.
April 8-9, John Scofield Hollowbody Band with Mike Stern at the Dakota
.
April 12, 2 Cellos at the Dakota
.
April 13, Charanga Tropicale at Studio Z
·
April 15-18, Doc Severinsen Big Band at the Dakota
.
April 21, Red Planet at Landmark
Center (TCJS Jazz From J
to Z)
·
April 26, Craig Taborn at Walker
Art Center
.
April 28, Diana Krall (Glad Ragdoll Tour) at the State Theater
. May 19,
Illicit Sextet at Jazz Central (TCJS Jazz From J to Z)
. June 18-19,
Reid Anderson at Music Space (SPCO), rescheduled from December
. June
27-29, Twin Cities Jazz Festival at Mears
Park
. July 5-7,
Iowa City Jazz Festival (Iowa City, U of I Pentacrest)
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| Lynne Arriale, coming to the Artists Quarter Feb 1-2 |
