 |
| Stacey Kent returns to the Dakota |
© Andrea Canter
A busy
weekend for jazz fans, special gigs for Valentine’s Day, and the Electric
Fetus’ semi-annual music sale—plenty of options to keep your ears and toes warm
in mid-February.
Big Gigs This Week
 |
| Reynold Philipsek and Matt Senjem |
Friday, February 8. Although he suggested he was taking
a vacation from recording, extraordinary guitarist/composer Reynold Philipsek is keeping his
performing chops well honed. Tonight he takes the stage at one of his favorite
haunts, the 318 Café in Wayzata, with solos and duets with frequent partner,
bassist Matt Senjem. And with “some original material
never before performed in public,” you have to wonder if another recording is
just around the corner!
One
of my favorites among local “world music” ensembles, Ticket to Brasil kicks up some tropical dust at Faces Mears
Park. And with Carnaval
just around the corner, you can be sure things will be as festive as they are
musical. Any Brazilian rhythm your feet can handle, TTB will offer, led by guitar
virtuoso Pavel Jany.
Taking
things to more extremes, the Community Pool/Deep End series at the Black Dog
lights up with an ensemble of veteran improvisers--Nathan Hanson, Erik Fratzke, Brian Roessler, Peter Leggett and Pete
Hennig.
 |
| Bryan Nichols |
Friday-Saturday,
February 8-9. Bryan Nichols is back at the Artists Quarter with
a new trio – although hardly new cohorts with bassist Chris Bates and his
brother, drummer JT. Both have starred in various configurations with Nichols
over the past four or five years, notably with the Zacc Harris Group and Kelly
Rossum Quartet. Nichols is a master composer and improviser, and with the Bates
brothers, anything can—and surely will—happen. Notes Bryan,
the trio will be “playing new tunes by me and some by
Chris and a bunch of other cool new repertoire that I picked (Henry Threadgill,
Guillermo Klein, Andrew Hill, Charlie Parker, etc.). Should be a blast.” After all, there will be three explosive
blasting caps on stage.
 |
| Chris Thomson |
Saturday,
February 9. One of the bright additions to the Lowertown cultural scene has
been the Jazz at Studio Z concert series. Now in its second year of funding,
curated by guitarist Zacc Harris, each month (second Saturday) brings an
exciting ensemble to the intimate space in the Northwestern Building,
preceded by a free, open workshop presented by the musicians. Tonight, it’s
also a brand new ensemble, led by Harris and saxophonist Chris Thomson as the Thomson-Harris Collective. The group will feature a rotating
cast in the rhythm section. Joining the frontline for their maiden voyage will
be two exciting young players, Brian
Courage on bass and Miguel
Hurtado on drums. Before the concert, Thomson will lead a free workshop
on “Melody Matters Most: Navigating the Common Pitfalls of Jazz Improvisation.”
Stick around for the show and see how the Collective navigates!
Another
special gig in the west burbs, vocalist Joyce
Lyons and pianist Phil Aaron take
over at Three Crows in Delano.
Joyce relocated here a few years ago and quickly made her mark as one of the area’s
most swinging interpreters of standards repertoire; still we don’t hear her as
often as we should. Worth the drive west, especially when Joyce is in such fine
company as pianist Phil Aaron.
 |
| Patti Cathcart |
Sunday, February 10. Longtime partners on and off stage, Tuck (Andress) and Patti (Cathcart) have endurance as well as
talent. With merely two hands, ten fingers, and six strings, Tuck’s multi-part
harmonies, wide arsenal of attack strategies, and elastic dexterity often
conjure a trio or quartet accompaniment for Patti’s equally agile, elegantly
down-home vocals. They return to the Dakota for just one night. Not a bad
prelude to Valentine’s Day!
Monday, February 11. One of the top bone specialists in the region, Dave
Graf lends his sliding talents to an eclectic array of ensembles, from the
JazzMN Orchestra to Salsa del Soul, and of course Valve Meets Slide which he
coleads with Brad Bellows. Tonight he shines in the spotlight at Jazz Central.
 |
| Dave Karr |
Tuesday, February 12. He’s at the AQ just about monthly but never take Dave Karr for granted! He’s back with
his quartet for some hard-hitting bebop, a few jokes, and plenty of soulful
blowing. Around the corner at the Amsterdam Bar, celebrate Fat Tuesday with Jack Brass Band. There will be some Crescent City – inspired menu items but the main
attraction is the musicianship and high energy of these brass specialists. Toss
some beads and don your mask, it’s time for Mardi Gras with JBB.
Wednesday, February 13. Back by popular demand! Jeremy
Walker’s Boot Camp returns to the
Artists Quarter. Now with Brandon Wozniak on saxes, Chris Bates on bass, and
young Miguel Hurtado on drums, pianist Walker leads the ensemble through his
spacious compositions and collaborative arrangements, one of the brightest
musical partnerships in town.
 |
| Phil Hey and Gordy Johnson |
Wednesday-Thursday, February 13-14. What better way to celebrate
Valentine’s Day than with Britain’s top jazz singer, Stacey Kent, and her “North American”
Band, featuring husband Jim Tomlinson on sax and the Twin Cities’ best, Gordy
Johnson on bass and Phil Hey on drums? The American expat has garnered high
praise for her savvy approach to a wide ranging repertoire, prompting the
French Minister of Culture, Christine Albanel to describe her “as a painter of
sentiment, spellbinding, mixing sophistication and sentiment, a luminous and
unique talent.” The Thursday show has an optional romantic dinner or cocktail
package to complement the music.
 |
| Maud Hixson and Arne Fogel |
Thursday, February 14. Is there a better way to spend
Valentine’s Day than with superb songs and sublime accompaniment? A second show
has been added at The Lexington, where Maud
Hixson and Arne Fogel reprise their collaboration for the Lex’s 2012
opening jazz night. Support provided by Rick Carlson on piano and Matt Peterson
on bass. Better make a reservation while you can. Less formal, more intimate,
Jazz Central offers its own romance with vocalist Lila Ammons and pianist Phil Mattson. No dinner, no cocktail hour,
just music up close and personal. And at the Artists Quarter, spend Valentine’s
Day with a series of musical partners (“Music
By Lovers”) --Billy Larson & Lisa Wenger; Phil & Tamara Jo Barnett;
Joe and Roxy Cruz; Todd Olson & Chris Simonson.
 |
| Katie Gearty and Graydon Peterson |
Tonight is the premiere performance of a unique collaboration
at the Southern Theater, “Lot of Living
to Do,” a ColliDe Theater production that brings together great jazz standards (sung by vocalists
Katie Gearty and Jared Oxenborough)
and live dance, telling the story of the struggles and hopes of three young
women, set in the 1930s. Musical partners include Dan Musselman, Graydon Peterson
and Pete Hennig. The show runs through the weekend. Look for the CD of the
music!
More Music, All Week
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. A few more gigs of
note:
Friday, February 8. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Patty Peterson and Friends at Bunkers; Phil Aaron
and Jeff Bailey, dinner set at the Icehouse; Sophia Shorai at Hell’s Kitchen
Saturday, February 9. Joann Funk and Jeff Brueske at the
Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Jon Pemberton at the Loring Pasta Bar; Benny
Weinbeck Trio at Parma; Jason Craft and Jeremy Boettcher, dinner set at the
Icehouse
 |
| Robert Everest |
Sunday, February 10. Robert Everest at Maria’s Café
(brunch); Patty and the Buttons at the Aster Café (brunch); Semi-Conductor
Orchestra at Coffee Grounds (1-3 pm); Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar
Monday, February 11. Headspace at the Artists Quarter;
Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; JT’s Jazz Implosion at
the Icehouse; Neighborhood Trio at Barbette
Tuesday, February 12. Cory Wong Quartet, early set at the
Artists Quarter; Cedar Avenue Big Band at Jazz Central
Wednesday, February 13. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Bryan Nichols and James Buckley at Café Maude (Penn
Av); Steve Kenny and the Bastids, early set at the Artists Quarter; Gypsy Mania
at Hell’s Kitchen; John Paulson Big Band with the Hornheads, Page Theater at St Mary's University (Winona)
Coming Soon!
.
February 15-16, Bill Carrothers at the Artists Quarter
.
February 16, Lease/Moriarty Quintet at Studio Z
.
February 16, Todd Clouser Love Electric CD Release at the Icehouse
.
February 18, Phil Aaron and Dave Brattain at Jazz Central
.
February 19, Explosion Big Band at Jazz Central
.
February 20, International Guitar Night at the Dakota
.
February 20, Chris Olson at Jazz Central
.
February 21, X-tet at the Artists Quarter
.
February 21, Sue Oatts and Tanner Taylor at Jazz Central
·
February 22, Bill Frisell at Macalester (Janet Wallace Auditorium)
.
February 22, Nachito Herrera at the Dakota
.
Februrary 22, Kevin Washington Quintet at the Dakota (Late Night)
.
February 22-23, Estaire Godinez at the Artists Quarter
.
February 23, Patty Peterson at the Dakota
.
February 23, Connie Evingson and Mary Louise Knutson, Jazz @ St.
Barneys (St Barnabas Arts Center)
.
February 27, Valve Meets Slide at the Artists Quarter
.
March 8, Bobby Commodore 60th Birthday Bash at the Dakota
.
March 8-9, Dave King Trio at the Artists Quarter
.
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 10, Bruce Henry, PipJazz Sundays at Landmark Center
.
March 11, Charles Lloyd Sky Trio at the Dakota
.
March 16, Mimi Fox at Sundin Hall (Hamline
University)
.
March 19, SF Jazz Collective at the Dakota
.
March 22-23, Atlantis Quartet at the Artists Quarter
. March 29-30, Dave King Trucking Company at the Artists Quarter
. March 29-30, Dave King Trucking Company at the Artists Quarter
.
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 15-16, 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)
 |
| Bill Carrothers returns to the Artists Quarter in tribute to Bobby Peterson, Feb 15-16 |
