Jazz Police

A Look Back at September Of course I can only look back at gigs I attended, but I was plenty busy in September. Highlights for me: Maud Hixson’s CD release […]

  For a quarter century, the JazzMN Orchestra has provided the Twin Cities area (and beyond) with the best of classic and modern big band music, presented by some of […]

“I always say that music has saved, saves and will save my life.” –Claudia Medina She grew up in Lima where her father  “transferred his love for music to me.” […]

By Dan Emerson Two-time Grammy winner Kurt Elling is renowned for his formidable vocal instrument which made him an ideal choice to sing and swing with the world-class JazzMN Orchestra […]

By Dan Emerson One of Cuban-born piano virtuoso Ignacio “Nachito” Herrera’s stated ambitions is to combine his wide-ranging musical influences into one music. With the help of violin virtuoso Karen […]

The Twin Cities Jazz Festival brought us some great voices throughout St Paul—Bruce Henry, Lila Ammons, Maryann Sullivan, Ginger Commodore, Connie Evingson… the list goes on. So we’re primed for […]

By Ryan Garmoe A newcomer to Volstead’s Emporium would probably be put off. They would see a line extending from a large metal door located in a back alley behind […]

By Ryan Garmoe Since 2019, something special has been happening every Tuesday evening in Northeast Minneapolis. Jazz musicians gather, share some drinks, and ultimately play tunes from 10pm-1am at Whitey’s […]

By Dan Emerson The popular Saturday Night Jazz series in St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood has found a new home in an “old” location. Uprooted by the recent closing of Lowertown’s […]

“She had huge listening ears and an even bigger heart.”–Wendy Lewis, Twin Cities vocalist  About 17 years ago, I formally met Pamela Espeland and her husband John Whiting after months […]

Seems we are getting back to “jazz normal”, at least a lot closer to it.  Some high powered gigs with local and national heroes/heroines coming up! Crooners keeps three stages […]

Yes, there are bigger events than jazz gigs across the Metro this weekend, generating more ink, more hype, more COVID concerns… like the the State Fair and Immersive Van Goh. […]

Under the leadership of area photographer Steven Peterson, the Upper Midwest Black and White Music Photography Contest is underway!  Launched to support Midwest musicians and venues, the contest also celebrates […]

There’s a lot of great music, including hot jazz, around the metro this week but I need to specifically salute Jazz Central Studios and founder/director/veteran drummer Mac Santiago. Operating the […]

I sort of retired “The Lead Sheet” when COVID shut down live music. And while I am no longer willing to commit to a weekly “heads up” regarding area jazz, […]

The pandemic of 2020 has forced a tsunami of change for everyone in the performing arts. With nightclubs, theaters, and museums closed, or operating at limited capacity, Twin City jazz musicians […]

Adam Linz is a double bassist and an eminent force on Twin Cities jazz and creative music scenes. Linz has been a part of some of the area’s most exciting […]

Adam Linz is a double bassist and an eminent force on Twin Cities jazz and creative music scenes. Linz has been a part of some of the area’s most exciting […]

Good things have a way of sticking around. And few things are better than the music called hard bop which flourished roughly from 1955 to 1965. Luckily for those of […]

Either “the coolest old guy or the oldest cool guy…” — Pioneer Press Like a bobo doll, saxophonist Irv Williams seemed as if he would bounce back for an eternity. […]

[Updated November 1, 2019] I hear these questions a lot: Where does one find live jazz in the Twin Cities? And how do you learn about it? Look no farther! […]