We all have spring fever! Or maybe by now it is just summerfever? Whatever is going on with our climate, we can't complain about the jazzclimate in the Twin Cities. This week is no exception.
Highlights This Week
March 23: About a year ago I first encountered a group of studentmusicians from UW-Eau Claire working as the Tyler Anderson Quintet. Leader andsaxophonist Tyler not only had a lot of musical talent, but sufficiententrepreneurial spirit to land a few gigs in Twin Cities clubs despite hisyouth and limited experience. A few months later, he returned to the TwinCities with a quartet dubbed The Coriolis Effect, winning overfans at the Artists Quarter and Jazz Central before taking his fellow UW-ECstudents on the road, visiting Midwest venuesand providing workshops at area high schools. Armed with a “new" drummer (TwinCities hot new commodity, Miguel Hurtado), Anderson returns to Jazz Central tonight withbassist Jordan Jenkins and keyboardist Cody Peterson. Their EP shows off theirskills as composers as well as improvisers. Definitely a band to watch!
March 23-24: Nomatter how often Bruce Henry returns to the Twin Cities (and he was scheduledfor at least three gigs in March), I never tire of his marvelous baritoneenergy and creative twists on songs from swing to bop, from Gershwin toColtrane, from hip to gospel. But for all of his return visits since relocatingto Chicago in2008, he's not been at the Artists Quarter in a long time. The weekend makes upfor his absence, and he (as always) brings along a simpatico group ofcollaborators, this gig featuring Peter Schimke, Jay Young and KevinWashington, long-standing colleagues who enhance any performance.
March 24: The Midtown Global Market may have had its ups and downs, but these days the indoor feast of international food and crafts is bustling, and on Saturday afternoon, you can usually hear live music in the Atrium while you ponder that African stew, tamale plate or giant cookie. This afternoon, catch pianist Mary Louise Knutson (hot off her tour with Doc Severinsen) as she brings some joyful bop and original fare to the Market. And if you miss her in the afternoon, you can enjoy her in good company in the evening (10:30) at Vincent's, in the loft above the bar with Le Jazz Cool All-Stars, featuring the MN Orchestra's Charles Lazarus on steamy trumpet.
March 25: Jazz Central hosts the third of three “Open Sessions"with the Chris Bates Quintet, and this one will include a fullrun-through of the compositions slated for an upcoming studio recording. Theopportunity to observe and interact with the artistic process—-from themusician's first look at a composition outline through the complete performance—isvaluable to audience and musician alike. Hopefully this marks a new avenue for venueslike Jazz Central, where collaboration is not limited to the bandstand.
March 25-26: Maturing into her 30s but maintaining the youthfulenergy and boundless imagination that has marked her career for the pastdecade, pianist Hiromi returns to the Dakota with her Trio Project. Actuallyher career has largely focused on trio magic, with the addition of guitaryielding her quartet SonicBloom. In the past few years she has also stepped outin duo with Chick Corea, as sidewoman with Stanley Clarke, and alone with her2010 solo tour and recording. But last year she reconstituted her trio,recording with Anthony Jackson (bass) and Simon Phillips (drums). Jackson joined her alongwith Steve Smith at the Dakota last summer, and now she returns with theoriginal Trio Project for two nights of elegant mayhem.
March 29: Some of his earliest professional gigs were at theDakota, so it fits that now- New York-based trumpeter John Raymond returns tohis hometown venue to celebrate the release of his new recording, Strength and Song. He'll bring along a Minnesota ensemble withBryan Nichols, Vinnie Rose, Jeremy Boettcher and Miguel Hurtado. None less thanJon Faddis serves as producer as well as mentor, and the compositions—mostly Raymondoriginals, serve notice that this is a rapidly maturing artist with his ownartistic vision. (John stays around tohost a workshop and performance on April 2nd at Jazz Central.) Across town, the PeteWhitman X-Tet returns to their monthly time slot at the Artists Quarter,and it is a welcome return given the stature of the ten artists and the levelof musicianship that circles the stage whenever they play.
More Jazz
Never a night without jazz in the Twin Cities! Check onlinelive jazz calendars propelled by Bebopified; also posted on Jazz Police. Moreideas for the week:· Friday,March 23: Joann Funk and Jeff Brueskein the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at D'AmicoKitchen (Le Meridien/Chambers Hotel); Joel Shapira at Ingredients Café; LilaAmmons Trio at Three Crows (Delano); Patty Peterson and Friends andFamily (School II Bistro); Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson at theCannon River Winery (Cannon Falls)· Saturday,March 24: Joann Funk and Jeff Brueskein the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at D'AmicoKitchen (Le Meridien/Chambers Hotel); Patty Peterson at The Lexington; JamesAllen and Tom Pieper at First Course Bistro
Highlights This Week
March 23: About a year ago I first encountered a group of studentmusicians from UW-Eau Claire working as the Tyler Anderson Quintet. Leader andsaxophonist Tyler not only had a lot of musical talent, but sufficiententrepreneurial spirit to land a few gigs in Twin Cities clubs despite hisyouth and limited experience. A few months later, he returned to the TwinCities with a quartet dubbed The Coriolis Effect, winning overfans at the Artists Quarter and Jazz Central before taking his fellow UW-ECstudents on the road, visiting Midwest venuesand providing workshops at area high schools. Armed with a “new" drummer (TwinCities hot new commodity, Miguel Hurtado), Anderson returns to Jazz Central tonight withbassist Jordan Jenkins and keyboardist Cody Peterson. Their EP shows off theirskills as composers as well as improvisers. Definitely a band to watch!
March 23-24: Nomatter how often Bruce Henry returns to the Twin Cities (and he was scheduledfor at least three gigs in March), I never tire of his marvelous baritoneenergy and creative twists on songs from swing to bop, from Gershwin toColtrane, from hip to gospel. But for all of his return visits since relocatingto Chicago in2008, he's not been at the Artists Quarter in a long time. The weekend makes upfor his absence, and he (as always) brings along a simpatico group ofcollaborators, this gig featuring Peter Schimke, Jay Young and KevinWashington, long-standing colleagues who enhance any performance.
March 24: The Midtown Global Market may have had its ups and downs, but these days the indoor feast of international food and crafts is bustling, and on Saturday afternoon, you can usually hear live music in the Atrium while you ponder that African stew, tamale plate or giant cookie. This afternoon, catch pianist Mary Louise Knutson (hot off her tour with Doc Severinsen) as she brings some joyful bop and original fare to the Market. And if you miss her in the afternoon, you can enjoy her in good company in the evening (10:30) at Vincent's, in the loft above the bar with Le Jazz Cool All-Stars, featuring the MN Orchestra's Charles Lazarus on steamy trumpet.
March 25: Jazz Central hosts the third of three “Open Sessions"with the Chris Bates Quintet, and this one will include a fullrun-through of the compositions slated for an upcoming studio recording. Theopportunity to observe and interact with the artistic process—-from themusician's first look at a composition outline through the complete performance—isvaluable to audience and musician alike. Hopefully this marks a new avenue for venueslike Jazz Central, where collaboration is not limited to the bandstand.
March 25-26: Maturing into her 30s but maintaining the youthfulenergy and boundless imagination that has marked her career for the pastdecade, pianist Hiromi returns to the Dakota with her Trio Project. Actuallyher career has largely focused on trio magic, with the addition of guitaryielding her quartet SonicBloom. In the past few years she has also stepped outin duo with Chick Corea, as sidewoman with Stanley Clarke, and alone with her2010 solo tour and recording. But last year she reconstituted her trio,recording with Anthony Jackson (bass) and Simon Phillips (drums). Jackson joined her alongwith Steve Smith at the Dakota last summer, and now she returns with theoriginal Trio Project for two nights of elegant mayhem.
March 29: Some of his earliest professional gigs were at theDakota, so it fits that now- New York-based trumpeter John Raymond returns tohis hometown venue to celebrate the release of his new recording, Strength and Song. He'll bring along a Minnesota ensemble withBryan Nichols, Vinnie Rose, Jeremy Boettcher and Miguel Hurtado. None less thanJon Faddis serves as producer as well as mentor, and the compositions—mostly Raymondoriginals, serve notice that this is a rapidly maturing artist with his ownartistic vision. (John stays around tohost a workshop and performance on April 2nd at Jazz Central.) Across town, the PeteWhitman X-Tet returns to their monthly time slot at the Artists Quarter,and it is a welcome return given the stature of the ten artists and the levelof musicianship that circles the stage whenever they play.
More Jazz
Never a night without jazz in the Twin Cities! Check onlinelive jazz calendars propelled by Bebopified; also posted on Jazz Police. Moreideas for the week:· Friday,March 23: Joann Funk and Jeff Brueskein the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at D'AmicoKitchen (Le Meridien/Chambers Hotel); Joel Shapira at Ingredients Café; LilaAmmons Trio at Three Crows (Delano); Patty Peterson and Friends andFamily (School II Bistro); Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson at theCannon River Winery (Cannon Falls)· Saturday,March 24: Joann Funk and Jeff Brueskein the Lobby Bar (St Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio at D'AmicoKitchen (Le Meridien/Chambers Hotel); Patty Peterson at The Lexington; JamesAllen and Tom Pieper at First Course Bistro
