Another weekend of hard-to-decide choices for live jazz followed by a week of local favorites. Summer is here, and our festival countdown stands at three weeks... actually less counting some popular pre-fest gigs starting June 16. (We'll preview those starting next week!) This weekend some beloved veterans and young lions share the attention, and in some cases, the stage. (What? No jazz is listed in the Strib for the “big gigs" this week? Good thing you are reading this!)
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, June 5. Trombonist, arranger and above all, jazz educator Dean Sorensonis seldom heard outside of the U of M jazz program, making tonight's sextet gig at Jazz Central (8:30 pm) a rare treat. Dean's resume includes playing and arranging for the Glen Miller Orchestra and authoring a stack of books and materials aimed at jazz students and their instructors, as well as heading the jazz studies program at the University of Minnesota where he has helped launch careers of many of our top area musicians. But tonight it is all about performance, and Dean has quite a crew of colleagues—Steve Kenny (trumpet), Dave Milne (tenor saxophone), Chris Lomheim (piano), Tom Lewis (bass) and Phil Hey (drums). Come down to Jazz Central earlier for a 7 pm set featuring McNally Smith guitar student Julian Manzara and trumpeter Robert Reeve. Over at The Nicollet, veteran saxophonist Paul Harperbrings in his Show and Tell quartet (9 pm), with guitarist Mike Cramer, bassist Charlie Riddle and drummer/ Illicit Sextet collaborator Nathan Norman. If you have not ventured into The Nicollet yet, the Friday night jazz series curated by Steve Kenny is a good starting point for music in this south-of-downtown neighborhood along the north end of Eat Street. There's beer, wine, espresso and cafe goodies and ample space to relax while listening to some of the area's finest jazz artists.
And if you want to kickoff the evening with some Happy Hour fun, Irv Williams and Steve Blons usually hold court on the Dakota's patio in nice weather. Between Irv and Steve, there's at least 150 years of jazz (Irv accounting for a lot of those years!), and this sax/guitar duo is as suave and sublime as it gets. How perfect for a Friday night prelude!
Saturday, June 6. It's another Saint's home game Saturday night, but you don't want to miss Lowertown jazz of this caliber. Take the Green Line LRT or drive in early and find parking (check out Union Depot Garage)—deciding where to go should be your only dilemma. Jazz at Studio Z welcomes the band formerly known as Dave King's PBR Street Gang, now dubbed the Vector Families. Don't ask. Just enjoy some of the region's most inventive modern music as created by Bad Plus/Happy Apple drummer King, sax legend-in-the-making Brandon Wozniak, working guitar legend Dean Granros, and internationally acclaimed bassist/cellist Anthony Cox. They'll present a 6 pm (free) master class followed by the concert at 7 pm. Expect to hear music from their upcoming debut recording.
Overlapping the first part of the evening and just a block away, Saturday Night at the Black Dog presents two bands covering about four generations. Opening (7 pm) will be he Ted Olsen Group, led by recent University of Northern Colorado grad, bassist Ted Olsen, backed by an ensemble of slightly older young lions, including saxophonist Joe Mayo and drummer Miguel Hurtado. Prime time (8:30 pm) features a band that has been around a long time yet seldom heard, The Five. Headed by 80-something sax icon Dave Karr, and with young bassist Ryan Hays the only musician under 50, the rest of The Five include Steve Kenny, Mikkel Romstad and Kenny Horst. Bebop never sounded so good!
In downtown Minneapolis, Arne goes to Hell! Arne Fogel, that is, crooning his way through Hades at Hell's Kitchen (6 pm) with a swinging trio of Rick Carlson, Steve Pikal and Dick Bortolussi.
Sunday, June 7. Fans of Big Band have a festival all their own, with the 25th annual Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie (2-8 pm),hosted by the Jazz on the Prairie Big Band at Staring Lake Park in Eden Prairie. The line-up this year, in addition to the host big band, includes Just Friends Big Band, Acme Jazz Company, Bend in the River Big Band, Good News Big Band, and the River City Jazz Orchestra.
Monday, June 8. JT's Jazz Implosion series at the Icehouse presents the ever-elegant creativity of the Chris Bates' Good Vibes Trio, with masters-of-their-axes Dave Hagedorn on vibes and Phil Hey on drums. Always worth staying up to hear (9:30 pm start), with original compositions and interesting arrangements.
Tuesday, June 9. At least for the month of June, The Nicollet is presenting Swing Tuesdays (7:30 pm), and tonight the swingers are Doug Haining and the Twin Cities 7,surely the most swinging “little big band" in town. The swing dance community tends to follow such bands from one end of the metro to the other, so either bring your dancing shoes or sit close to the wall!
Across town to Lowertown, it's Second Tuesday, aka Chris Olson Project at the Black Dog (7 pm). Guitarist Chris usually has one or two guests to join him making some merry mayhem.
Wednesday, June 10. At the Dakota, one of Foodie Night's favorites returns— Charmin and Shapira and Friends (7 pm). An extension of the ever-popular voice/guitar duo Charmin (Michelle) and (Joel) Shapira, this quintet covers standard, bossa and more with a lot of panache and a fair amount of fun as well. “Friends" include saxophonist Paul Harper, bassist Tom Lewis and drummer Nathan Norman.
Chris Bates' monthly Magica Improvisado at Jazz Central brings together a trio of fellow improvisers (guitarist Chris Olson and drummer Adrian Suarez) to reconsider the music of Jimi Hendrix, the Bee Gees, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Lennon & McCartney and more (8:30 pm).
Thursday, June 11. Avant-garde jazz at an Afghani cafe? For more than a year now, Khyber Pass Cafe in St Paul has presented unique improvising ensembles on Thursday nights. Tonight is a double header (9 pm) with some overlapping personnel, with the Levi Schwartzberg Quintet sharing the night with Adam Linz's Le Percheronensemble. Young vibes talent Levi, just starting his second year at the U of M, is the common denominator. His quintet includes recent high school grads and alums of the Dakota Combo — Aidan Sponheim, Peter Goggin, Charlie Lincoln and Benjamin Beyene. Le Percheron, in addition to Linz and Schwartzberg, includes saxophonist Brandon Wozniak and trumpeter (and frequent Khyber Pass artist) Noah Ophoven-Baldwin.
On totally different notes (or planets), Dorothy Doring and Donald Thomas pair up for Vocal Jazz Night at Jazz Central (7:30 pm). Dorothy's range covers it all from jazz standards to pop and blues, while Donald's deep voice offers equal facility and tonal contrast. A long-standing duo appealing to a broad audience.
More Jazz!Keep up with the live jazz scene in the Twin Cities — check out calendars at Jazz Police, KBEM, Rhythm and Grooves and Jazz Near You, as well as here on the blog. More jazz to tickle your ears:
Friday, June 5. Todd Harper Piano Fridays (with Nathan Hanson), early eve at the Black Dog; Bryan Nichols and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Katie Gearty at Parma 8200; Tim Patrick and his Blue Eyed Band at Minnehaha Falls Park bandshell; Classic Big Band and the Nostalgics at Bloomington KC Hall
Saturday, June 6. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Charmin and Shapira at Midtown Global Market (12:30 pm); Talking Strings at Loring Pasta Bar; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Pig's Eye Jass Band at Eagle's Aerie Club; Zacc Harris and Matt Peterson, dinner sets at the Icehouse
Sunday, June 7. Robert Everest, Brunch at Maria's; Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster; Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Jazz Brunch at Crooners Lounge; Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview
Monday, June 8. Minneapolis Police Swing Band at Como Dockside; Southside Big Band at Centennial Lakes Park; Eric Wangensteen at Jazz Central
Tuesday, June 9. Nova Jazz Orchestra at Minnesota Music Cafe; Cedar Avenue Big Band at Jazz Central; Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar
Wednesday, June 10. Debbie Duncan at Crooners Lounge; Good News Big Band at Centennial Lakes Park; Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project at Powderhorn Park
Thursday, June 11. Joel Shapira at Hell's Kitchen; Benny Weinbeck and Gordy Johnson at Parma 8200; Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, swing dance at Wabasha Street Caves
Big Gigs This Week
Friday, June 5. Trombonist, arranger and above all, jazz educator Dean Sorensonis seldom heard outside of the U of M jazz program, making tonight's sextet gig at Jazz Central (8:30 pm) a rare treat. Dean's resume includes playing and arranging for the Glen Miller Orchestra and authoring a stack of books and materials aimed at jazz students and their instructors, as well as heading the jazz studies program at the University of Minnesota where he has helped launch careers of many of our top area musicians. But tonight it is all about performance, and Dean has quite a crew of colleagues—Steve Kenny (trumpet), Dave Milne (tenor saxophone), Chris Lomheim (piano), Tom Lewis (bass) and Phil Hey (drums). Come down to Jazz Central earlier for a 7 pm set featuring McNally Smith guitar student Julian Manzara and trumpeter Robert Reeve. Over at The Nicollet, veteran saxophonist Paul Harperbrings in his Show and Tell quartet (9 pm), with guitarist Mike Cramer, bassist Charlie Riddle and drummer/ Illicit Sextet collaborator Nathan Norman. If you have not ventured into The Nicollet yet, the Friday night jazz series curated by Steve Kenny is a good starting point for music in this south-of-downtown neighborhood along the north end of Eat Street. There's beer, wine, espresso and cafe goodies and ample space to relax while listening to some of the area's finest jazz artists.
And if you want to kickoff the evening with some Happy Hour fun, Irv Williams and Steve Blons usually hold court on the Dakota's patio in nice weather. Between Irv and Steve, there's at least 150 years of jazz (Irv accounting for a lot of those years!), and this sax/guitar duo is as suave and sublime as it gets. How perfect for a Friday night prelude!
Saturday, June 6. It's another Saint's home game Saturday night, but you don't want to miss Lowertown jazz of this caliber. Take the Green Line LRT or drive in early and find parking (check out Union Depot Garage)—deciding where to go should be your only dilemma. Jazz at Studio Z welcomes the band formerly known as Dave King's PBR Street Gang, now dubbed the Vector Families. Don't ask. Just enjoy some of the region's most inventive modern music as created by Bad Plus/Happy Apple drummer King, sax legend-in-the-making Brandon Wozniak, working guitar legend Dean Granros, and internationally acclaimed bassist/cellist Anthony Cox. They'll present a 6 pm (free) master class followed by the concert at 7 pm. Expect to hear music from their upcoming debut recording.
Overlapping the first part of the evening and just a block away, Saturday Night at the Black Dog presents two bands covering about four generations. Opening (7 pm) will be he Ted Olsen Group, led by recent University of Northern Colorado grad, bassist Ted Olsen, backed by an ensemble of slightly older young lions, including saxophonist Joe Mayo and drummer Miguel Hurtado. Prime time (8:30 pm) features a band that has been around a long time yet seldom heard, The Five. Headed by 80-something sax icon Dave Karr, and with young bassist Ryan Hays the only musician under 50, the rest of The Five include Steve Kenny, Mikkel Romstad and Kenny Horst. Bebop never sounded so good!
In downtown Minneapolis, Arne goes to Hell! Arne Fogel, that is, crooning his way through Hades at Hell's Kitchen (6 pm) with a swinging trio of Rick Carlson, Steve Pikal and Dick Bortolussi.
Sunday, June 7. Fans of Big Band have a festival all their own, with the 25th annual Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie (2-8 pm),hosted by the Jazz on the Prairie Big Band at Staring Lake Park in Eden Prairie. The line-up this year, in addition to the host big band, includes Just Friends Big Band, Acme Jazz Company, Bend in the River Big Band, Good News Big Band, and the River City Jazz Orchestra.
Monday, June 8. JT's Jazz Implosion series at the Icehouse presents the ever-elegant creativity of the Chris Bates' Good Vibes Trio, with masters-of-their-axes Dave Hagedorn on vibes and Phil Hey on drums. Always worth staying up to hear (9:30 pm start), with original compositions and interesting arrangements.
Tuesday, June 9. At least for the month of June, The Nicollet is presenting Swing Tuesdays (7:30 pm), and tonight the swingers are Doug Haining and the Twin Cities 7,surely the most swinging “little big band" in town. The swing dance community tends to follow such bands from one end of the metro to the other, so either bring your dancing shoes or sit close to the wall!
Across town to Lowertown, it's Second Tuesday, aka Chris Olson Project at the Black Dog (7 pm). Guitarist Chris usually has one or two guests to join him making some merry mayhem.
Wednesday, June 10. At the Dakota, one of Foodie Night's favorites returns— Charmin and Shapira and Friends (7 pm). An extension of the ever-popular voice/guitar duo Charmin (Michelle) and (Joel) Shapira, this quintet covers standard, bossa and more with a lot of panache and a fair amount of fun as well. “Friends" include saxophonist Paul Harper, bassist Tom Lewis and drummer Nathan Norman.
Chris Bates' monthly Magica Improvisado at Jazz Central brings together a trio of fellow improvisers (guitarist Chris Olson and drummer Adrian Suarez) to reconsider the music of Jimi Hendrix, the Bee Gees, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Lennon & McCartney and more (8:30 pm).
Thursday, June 11. Avant-garde jazz at an Afghani cafe? For more than a year now, Khyber Pass Cafe in St Paul has presented unique improvising ensembles on Thursday nights. Tonight is a double header (9 pm) with some overlapping personnel, with the Levi Schwartzberg Quintet sharing the night with Adam Linz's Le Percheronensemble. Young vibes talent Levi, just starting his second year at the U of M, is the common denominator. His quintet includes recent high school grads and alums of the Dakota Combo — Aidan Sponheim, Peter Goggin, Charlie Lincoln and Benjamin Beyene. Le Percheron, in addition to Linz and Schwartzberg, includes saxophonist Brandon Wozniak and trumpeter (and frequent Khyber Pass artist) Noah Ophoven-Baldwin.
On totally different notes (or planets), Dorothy Doring and Donald Thomas pair up for Vocal Jazz Night at Jazz Central (7:30 pm). Dorothy's range covers it all from jazz standards to pop and blues, while Donald's deep voice offers equal facility and tonal contrast. A long-standing duo appealing to a broad audience.
More Jazz!Keep up with the live jazz scene in the Twin Cities — check out calendars at Jazz Police, KBEM, Rhythm and Grooves and Jazz Near You, as well as here on the blog. More jazz to tickle your ears:
Friday, June 5. Todd Harper Piano Fridays (with Nathan Hanson), early eve at the Black Dog; Bryan Nichols and James Buckley, dinner sets at the Icehouse; Katie Gearty at Parma 8200; Tim Patrick and his Blue Eyed Band at Minnehaha Falls Park bandshell; Classic Big Band and the Nostalgics at Bloomington KC Hall
Saturday, June 6. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Charmin and Shapira at Midtown Global Market (12:30 pm); Talking Strings at Loring Pasta Bar; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma 8200; Pig's Eye Jass Band at Eagle's Aerie Club; Zacc Harris and Matt Peterson, dinner sets at the Icehouse
Sunday, June 7. Robert Everest, Brunch at Maria's; Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster; Robert Everest, brunch at Maria's; Jazz Brunch at Crooners Lounge; Zacc Harris Trio at the Riverview
Monday, June 8. Minneapolis Police Swing Band at Como Dockside; Southside Big Band at Centennial Lakes Park; Eric Wangensteen at Jazz Central
Tuesday, June 9. Nova Jazz Orchestra at Minnesota Music Cafe; Cedar Avenue Big Band at Jazz Central; Cafe Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar
Wednesday, June 10. Debbie Duncan at Crooners Lounge; Good News Big Band at Centennial Lakes Park; Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project at Powderhorn Park
Thursday, June 11. Joel Shapira at Hell's Kitchen; Benny Weinbeck and Gordy Johnson at Parma 8200; Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, swing dance at Wabasha Street Caves
