Just a week ago it was way below zero; now it's all melting. I think some of the credit goes to the hot jazz in the Twin Cities! And it will be hot enough to keep things above freezing as we head into another week filled with great jazz from one end of the metro to the other, from local heroes to visiting artists. And it's all a warm-up for the Twin Cities Winter Jazz Festival at the end of the month.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, January 20. They're half of the unique band Lulu's Playground, but a trumpet/cello duo is unique in its own right, and especially if the musicians are Adam Meckler and Cory Grossman—on stage at Jazz Central. And if you need to either celebrate or commiserate in response to today's inauguration, the band Headspace will hold an Inauguration Blowout atSt. Paul
At the Icehouse, Bryan Nichols and James Buckley provide some pretty sophisticated piano/bass duo music during the dinner hours, while Amethyst Three (Park Evans, Josh Granowski and leader Byron Johnson-Blanchard) add to the spicy menu at Bistro LaRoux.
Saturday, January 21. Bryan Nichols is all by himself tonight on the Jazz at Studio Z series. Expect to hear some of his compositions from his 2016 solo release Looking North as well as some new material. And he'll start the evening an hour before the concert with a live recording of a conversation in the new podcast series moderated by curator Zacc Harris. (The first podcast with Chris Bates and the Good Vibes Trio is now available via itunes.)
A double header is in store just a block away as Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog starts out with the JazzINK Youth Showcase. This time it's an ensemble of “older youths"—led by high school seniors, drummer Simon Petrick and guitarist Adam Astrup, plus college musicians who play a lot around town: vibraphonist Levi Schwartzberg, bassist Drew Stinson, and trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson.
In prime time, Chris Bates' Red Five returns, with Bates on bass, brother JT on drums, and a front line of Jake Baldwin on trumpet, Chris Thomson and Brandon Wozniak on saxophones, JC Sanford on trombone, and Thomas Nordlund on guitar. And yes, Red Five is now Seven. At least this weekend.
McNally Smith College of Music hosts its annual Winter Jazz Blast, with clinics throughout the day for area high school students and a free public concert in the evening featuring the JazzMN Orchestra and the McNally Smith Fusion Ensemble.
Also on Saturday— Charmin and Shapira and Friends entertain at the Normandy Kitchen; the Benny Weinbeck Trio is in the lounge atParma
Sunday, January 22. Dan Chouinard continues his Birthday Club gigs in the Dunsmore Room with special guest, vocalist Ginger Commodore. They celebrate singers and songwriters with January birthdays, a format that creates an eclectic array of songs in a very entertaining context. Around town, the Parisota Hot Club are on stage at the Aster Cafe, and the Zacc Harris Trio continue their run at the Riverview Wine Bar.
Monday, January 23. The Turtle Island Quartet returns to the Dakota, putting their stamp on John Coltrane's masterpiece, A Love Supreme, played in full by the jazziest string quartet out there.There have been significant personnel changes in the past few years including the recent departure of cellist Mark Summers, but TIQ manages to keep the ensemble operating at a high level for 30 years under the leadership of founding first violinist David Balikrishnan. One new addition is second violinist Alex Hargreaves, who has recently toured with Danilo Perez.
In the spotlight at Jazz Central, saxophonist Brian Handeland introduces a new quartet with Park Evans, Graydon Peterson and Trevor Haining, playing music from John Scofield, Chris Potter, Steve Swallow and more. The weekly jam follows.
In the lounge at Crooners, the wide-ranging vocalist Dorothy Doring dazzles with pianist Marc Zeigenhagen; come early for an entertaining happy hour with Lori Dokkenon keys and vocals.
At the Icehouse, JT's Jazz Implosion features a Minnesota CD release for JC Sanford's Can You Believe It, featuring his New York Quartet. For the Icehouse celebration, the trombonist enlists his Minnesota Quartet—Zacc Harris and Chris and JT Bates. A Northfield, Minnesota native, JC recently returned after 16 years inNew York
Tuesday, January 24. It should be dubbed “piano night" at Vieux Carre', starting out with the inventive Steven Hobert on solo keys, followed by the elegant Mary Louise Knutson Triowith Adam Linz on bass and Phil Hey on drums— that's a too-rare chance to hear Adam in mainstream trio setting.
Over at the Black Dog, it's raining Katz and Dogs— that's the funky jazzy soulful band headed by bassist Steve Katz, with guitarist Park Evans, saxophonist Peter Vircks and drummer Ken Goldman.
The Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra reigns at Jazz Central. And if you have not yet checked out the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge, here's a chance to enjoy— for no cover— a night of sublime piano trio music from Sean Turner. Learn why this is called one of the best listening rooms in the region with one of the best pianos in the area as well.
Wednesday, January 25. Get your modern jazz fix at noon atLandmark Center , courtesy of the Yohannes Tona Band, with a menu reflecting Tona's native Ethiopia catered by the Red Sea . (Usual deli items from the cafe available as well.) This is a free concert!
Enjoy a unique evening at the Black Dog sponsored by the Leigh Kamman Legacy Project. Legacy Project board member Brad Bellows presents the “Jazz Image Through the Decades"— radio segments, interviews, and music from Leigh Kamman's collection— a sampling of the archive managed by the Legacy Project. This first presentation focuses on Leigh's interviews with Mose Allison, as well as the music.
At Jazz Central, bassist Cody McKinney and sound designer John Keston present “sound/simulacra," their monthly series exploring improvisation as a “faithful and intentionally distorted" process, bringing together local voices to “recreate, distort, and create the hyperreal."
Thursday, January 26 brings Maryann Sullivan and her swinging Corner Jazz back to Jazz Central, while the Wise Quartet resurfaces at Reverie— that's Pete Whitman, Steve Kenny, Jay Young and Phil Hey.
It's all about solo guitar at Vieux Carre', with jazz guru Joel Shapira playing the early sets, followed by the eclectic Pat Donahue. AndKhyber Pass presents the inventive trio of Paul Metzger, Anthony Cox and JT Bates.
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, January 20. They're half of the unique band Lulu's Playground, but a trumpet/cello duo is unique in its own right, and especially if the musicians are Adam Meckler and Cory Grossman—on stage at Jazz Central. And if you need to either celebrate or commiserate in response to today's inauguration, the band Headspace will hold an Inauguration Blowout at
At the Icehouse, Bryan Nichols and James Buckley provide some pretty sophisticated piano/bass duo music during the dinner hours, while Amethyst Three (Park Evans, Josh Granowski and leader Byron Johnson-Blanchard) add to the spicy menu at Bistro LaRoux.
Saturday, January 21. Bryan Nichols is all by himself tonight on the Jazz at Studio Z series. Expect to hear some of his compositions from his 2016 solo release Looking North as well as some new material. And he'll start the evening an hour before the concert with a live recording of a conversation in the new podcast series moderated by curator Zacc Harris. (The first podcast with Chris Bates and the Good Vibes Trio is now available via itunes.)
A double header is in store just a block away as Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog starts out with the JazzINK Youth Showcase. This time it's an ensemble of “older youths"—led by high school seniors, drummer Simon Petrick and guitarist Adam Astrup, plus college musicians who play a lot around town: vibraphonist Levi Schwartzberg, bassist Drew Stinson, and trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson.
In prime time, Chris Bates' Red Five returns, with Bates on bass, brother JT on drums, and a front line of Jake Baldwin on trumpet, Chris Thomson and Brandon Wozniak on saxophones, JC Sanford on trombone, and Thomas Nordlund on guitar. And yes, Red Five is now Seven. At least this weekend.
McNally Smith College of Music hosts its annual Winter Jazz Blast, with clinics throughout the day for area high school students and a free public concert in the evening featuring the JazzMN Orchestra and the McNally Smith Fusion Ensemble.
Also on Saturday— Charmin and Shapira and Friends entertain at the Normandy Kitchen; the Benny Weinbeck Trio is in the lounge at
Sunday, January 22. Dan Chouinard continues his Birthday Club gigs in the Dunsmore Room with special guest, vocalist Ginger Commodore. They celebrate singers and songwriters with January birthdays, a format that creates an eclectic array of songs in a very entertaining context. Around town, the Parisota Hot Club are on stage at the Aster Cafe, and the Zacc Harris Trio continue their run at the Riverview Wine Bar.
Monday, January 23. The Turtle Island Quartet returns to the Dakota, putting their stamp on John Coltrane's masterpiece, A Love Supreme, played in full by the jazziest string quartet out there.There have been significant personnel changes in the past few years including the recent departure of cellist Mark Summers, but TIQ manages to keep the ensemble operating at a high level for 30 years under the leadership of founding first violinist David Balikrishnan. One new addition is second violinist Alex Hargreaves, who has recently toured with Danilo Perez.
In the spotlight at Jazz Central, saxophonist Brian Handeland introduces a new quartet with Park Evans, Graydon Peterson and Trevor Haining, playing music from John Scofield, Chris Potter, Steve Swallow and more. The weekly jam follows.
In the lounge at Crooners, the wide-ranging vocalist Dorothy Doring dazzles with pianist Marc Zeigenhagen; come early for an entertaining happy hour with Lori Dokkenon keys and vocals.
At the Icehouse, JT's Jazz Implosion features a Minnesota CD release for JC Sanford's Can You Believe It, featuring his New York Quartet. For the Icehouse celebration, the trombonist enlists his Minnesota Quartet—Zacc Harris and Chris and JT Bates. A Northfield, Minnesota native, JC recently returned after 16 years in
Tuesday, January 24. It should be dubbed “piano night" at Vieux Carre', starting out with the inventive Steven Hobert on solo keys, followed by the elegant Mary Louise Knutson Triowith Adam Linz on bass and Phil Hey on drums— that's a too-rare chance to hear Adam in mainstream trio setting.
Over at the Black Dog, it's raining Katz and Dogs— that's the funky jazzy soulful band headed by bassist Steve Katz, with guitarist Park Evans, saxophonist Peter Vircks and drummer Ken Goldman.
The Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra reigns at Jazz Central. And if you have not yet checked out the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge, here's a chance to enjoy— for no cover— a night of sublime piano trio music from Sean Turner. Learn why this is called one of the best listening rooms in the region with one of the best pianos in the area as well.
Wednesday, January 25. Get your modern jazz fix at noon at
Enjoy a unique evening at the Black Dog sponsored by the Leigh Kamman Legacy Project. Legacy Project board member Brad Bellows presents the “Jazz Image Through the Decades"— radio segments, interviews, and music from Leigh Kamman's collection— a sampling of the archive managed by the Legacy Project. This first presentation focuses on Leigh's interviews with Mose Allison, as well as the music.
At Jazz Central, bassist Cody McKinney and sound designer John Keston present “sound/simulacra," their monthly series exploring improvisation as a “faithful and intentionally distorted" process, bringing together local voices to “recreate, distort, and create the hyperreal."
Thursday, January 26 brings Maryann Sullivan and her swinging Corner Jazz back to Jazz Central, while the Wise Quartet resurfaces at Reverie— that's Pete Whitman, Steve Kenny, Jay Young and Phil Hey.
It's all about solo guitar at Vieux Carre', with jazz guru Joel Shapira playing the early sets, followed by the eclectic Pat Donahue. And
