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| Benefit for Jeremy Walker at the Dakota, July 25th |
© Andrea Canter
As I write this, I’m listening to the KBEM “Upgrade A Thon”, 24 hours of live programming to help raise money for some essential technology upgrades at Minnesota’s only jazz radio station. One of the last in the country, for that matter. Some of today’s in-studio performers are on the A-List for jazz in the coming week—Laura Caviani (at the Artists Quarter) and Maud Hixson (at Parma). The eclectic Badi Assad brings her unique Brazilian guitar to the Dakota, where there will be a star-studded benefit for composer, bandleader and jazz entrepreneur Jeremy Walker at the end of the week.
Big Gigs This Week
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| Maud Hixson with Rick Carlson |
Friday, July 19. One of the newest “jazz venues” in the metro is Parma 8200, a new D’Amico spot in Bloomington boasting live jazz every Friday and Saturday night in the bar/lounge. The Benny Weinbeck Trio is firmly planted on Saturday nights (picking up where they left off at the former D’Amico Kitchen); on Fridays, there’s been a revolving cast of mostly vocalists. Tonight Maud Hixson, Rick Carlson and Gordy Johnson return for a perfect end-of-the-week cool-down. Very likely we’ll get a few Mickey Leonard songs from Maud’s stunning new release, Don’t Let a Good Thing Get Away. Don’t let this gig get away, either.
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| Laura Caviani |
Friday-Saturday, July 19-20. It’s always worth the cover when pianist Laura Caviani returns to the Artists Quarter, and this weekend she brings along two roaring young lions on the Twin Cities jazz scene, bassist Brian Courage and drummer Lars-Erik Larson. Of course the cover ($10) is pretty low anyway, but at any price, it will be a treat, especially given the promise of “new originals, old standards, and dipping into some new transcriptions.”
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| Bryan Nichols |
Saturday, July 20. I finally got to the “dinner show” at the Icehouse recently and highly recommend it for music, ambience and menu. Often a bass/piano combination, tonight it’s James Buckley and Bryan Nichols, two of the area’s most inventive musicians. Make a reservation that puts you in the stage area (between stage and bar) for good sight and sound, check out those short ribs and house-made ice creams, great bar list and enjoy. (Great solo and duo jazz every Friday and Saturday from 6:30 to about 10 pm, no cover.)
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| Badi Assad |
Tuesday, July 23. Brazilian artist Badi Assad comes by her guitar chops naturally – her brothers Sergio and Odair tour as the Assad Brothers, recently dazzling a full house at the Dakota this past spring. You might remember Badi’s last appearance here – with John Abercrombie and Larry Coryell for an unforgettable guitar blowout at the Dakota in about 2005. She’s here on her own at the Dakota tonight.
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| Phil Hey |
You can hit the early set at the Dakota and get to the Artists Quarter in plenty of time for Phil Hey and “Friends." With his quartet's pianist (Phil Aaron) unavailable, Phil has put together a "Harmolodic Night" with Chris Thomson, Pat Moriarty, Tom Lewis and Dave Hagedorn. This might be a one-off of the highest order or the birth of a new ensemble. Either way, don't miss it.
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| Graydon Peterson Quartet |
Wednesday, July 24. Jazz Central reserves Wednesdays for an eclectic mix of area ensembles and improvisers. Tonight, it’s one of the fast-rising groups of youngish “veterans” – the Graydon Peterson Quartet, fresh off a Jazz Festival set at the Amsterdam last month. Bassist Peterson is also an accomplished composer; his cohorts are also multi-talented—trumpeter Adam Meckler, guitarist Vinny Rose, and drummer Adrian Suarez.
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| Ted Nash |
Thursday, July 25. Former club owner (Brilliant Corners) Jeremy Walker launched Jazz Is Now! a couple years before he was forced to give up the saxophone due to a mysterious neurological ailment. Undaunted, Jeremy switched to piano and studied with some of the best in New York (Frank Kimbrough and David Berkman). He kept Jazz Is Now afloat, tested the waters in New York, returned to Minnesota with some stellar new projects (Boot Camp, Box Car, Seven Psalms), but that ailment continued to plague him, and finally he has been diagnosed with late stage Lyme Disease. Treatments are expensive, to say the least, and tonight Jeremy’s friends and colleagues will gather at the Dakota for a benefit to support his medical expenses. The level of music speaks volumes of the respect of our community for Jeremy – New York pals Ted Nash and David Berkman; Boot Camp (with Nash and Bryan Nichols on piano); internationally renowned bassist Anthony Cox with his Happy Spirits; singers from the Minnesota Opera; and writer/comic Joseph Scrimshaw. It will be an amazing night of music in honor of one of our amazing musical talents.
More Jazz Every Night
Be sure to check live jazz calendars on Jazz Policeand KBEM sites. Also find a growing number of events on the Jazz Near You site, a service of All About Jazz. A few more gigs of note:
Friday, July 19. Irv Williams and Peter Schimke, happy hour at the Dakota; Donald Washington/Brad Bellows Quartet at the Black Dog; Patrick Harison at the Icehouse; James Wallace at the Red Stag
Saturday, July 20. Twin Cities Jazz Workshop student concert at the Icehouse (1 pm); Nick Haas Trio, Loring Pasta Bar; Benny Weinbeck Trio at Parma; Pavel Jany, Dan Musselman and Dan Weston at Hotel Ivy (Porter and Frye lounge); Lila Ammons Quintet at Honey Lounge
Sunday, July 21. Robert Everest, brunch at Maria’s; Patty and the Buttons, brunch at the Aster Café; "The Summer Knows" with Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson at St. Albert the Great (Minneapolis, 1 pm); Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra, Medina Ballroom (2 pm);
Monday, July 22. Tommy and the Liebermen at the Dakota; Headspace at the Dakota; Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Ben Doherty at Jazz Central; JT’s Jazz Implosion at the Icehouse
Tuesday, July 23. Capri Big Band at the Minnesota History Center; Cory Wong Quartet, early set at the Artists Quarter; Bend in the River Big Band at Como Lakeside Pavillion; Joel Shapira Trio at Hell’s Kitchen; Zack Lozier at Café Maude (Penn Av); Minnesota Jazz Orchestra at Normandale Lake; McDonald All-Star Jazz Ensemble Reunion at Jazz Central
Wednesday, July 24. Charmin Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Steve Kenny and the Bastids, early set, followed by the Dave Karr Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Todd Clouser at Café Maude (Penn Av); Wolverines Trio at Hell’s Kitchen; Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan with Arne Fogel, Patty Peterson and more, Town Green (Maple Grove)
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| Talking Strings at the Black Dog |
Thursday, July 25. Connie and Herb at the Bean (Andover); Brio Brass at Hilde Performance Center; Pete Whitman X-Tet at the Artists Quarter; Kristin Sponcia and Phil Mattson at Jazz Central; East Side at Hell’s Kitchen; the Talking Strings at the Black Dog
Coming Soon!
. July 26-27, Babatunde Lea Quartet at the Artists Quarter
. July 26-27, Dennis Spears as Nat King Cole, with the Wolverines at Chanhassen Dinner Theater
. July 27, Dakota Street Fest (Nicollet Mall)
. July 27, Lowertown Roots Festival at Mears Park
. July 27, Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan with Arne Fogel, Patty Peterson and more, Wolf Park (St Louis Park)
. July 28-29, Kermit Ruffins at the Dakota
. July 29, Scott Agster at Jazz Central
. July 30, Adam Meckler Orchestra at the Artists Quarter
. August 1, Jazz Police Young Artists Showcase (the Suihkonen, Hunton and Wildenauer Trio) at the Artists Quarter (7 pm)
. August 3, Aakash Mittal Quartet, Late Night at the Dakota
. August 4, Aakash Mittal Quartet at the Icehouse
. August 10, Todd Clouser and A Love Electric with Cyro Baptista at the Icehouse
. August 11, PipJazz Sundays Youth Salute at Landmark Center
. August 24, Freedom Jazz Festival, Martin Luther King Park
. August 27-28, Jeff Lorber at the Dakota
. September 6-7, Concrete and Grass Festival at Mears Park
. September 14, Selby Ave Jazz Festival (Milton and Selby Av)
. September 23-24, Bettye LaVette at the Dakota
. September 28-29, Prism (Dave Holland, Craig Taborn, Kevin Eubanks, Eric Harland) at the Dakota
. October 1, Billy Cobham Spectrum 40 at the Dakota
. October 2-3, Gary Burton at the Dakota
. November 1, Erik Friedlander and Mitch Epstein at the Walker Art Center
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| Babatunde Lea, at the Artists Quarter July 26-27 |