A hit on the Sixth Street Stage of the 2015 Twin Cities Jazz Festival, the veteran No Time For Squares quintet returns to Reverie (The Nicollet) on the Friday Night Jazz series curated by Steve Kenny. Led by drummer Bill Stieger, NRFS features some of the area’s top veterans, including Jimmie Wallace (sax), Jon Pemberton (trumpet), Mikkel Romstad (piano) and Adam Tucker (bass).
Tenor saxophonist Jimmy “Jimmyapolis” Wallace was destined to a life in jazz as the son of a jazz drummer growing up in Philadelphia, where he met John Coltrane and saw Miles Davis on stage. He had a long-standing gig at the Loring Café and is a often heard at the annual Freedom Jazz Festival. Jimmie has performed regularly at Heimie’s Haberdashery, Nick and Eddie’s, Loring Pasta Bar, and is a long-standing member of the Capri Big Band.
One of the most versatile brass players in the Twin Cities as well as an accomplished pianist, Jon Pemberton grew up in Fergus Falls, MN and formed his first combo in high school. Today, Jon’s resume includes performing with the Skatet, Shangoya, the Paul Renz Quintet, George Avaloz, Jim Martentic and more. Leader of his own Pembertones, Trio and larger tributes to Lee Morgan, is comfortable in straight-ahead as well as more avant garde formats. In addition to performing, Pemberton is a dedicated educator, teaching tuba (!) through the Hopkins School District.
Pianist Mikkel Romstad has played and/or recorded with just about every jazz instrumentalist and vocalist in the Twin Cities at one time or another, including Irv Williams, George Avaloz, and Lucia Newell. He was featured in the annual Bobby Peterson Memorial Piano Showcase at the Artists Quarter, and performs with The Five and No Room for Squares.
Bassist Adam Tucker has been playing, recording and producing music for many years on the Twin Cities scene. He’s less known for his substantial jazz chops than as a member of groups like The Sextons, and is the driving creative and technical force behind Signature Tone recording studios, well regarded in the heavy metal community. However, many think of Adam as “the secret weapon” in jazz circles, given his work with the Adam Meckler Orchestra, the Jana Nyberg Group and his long association with Steve Kenny (Bastids, Group 47).
Bill Stieger grew up in St. Paul and attended the University of Minnesota. An English major, he nevertheless made his living playing drums at jazz and rock venues throughout the Midwest. Bill started playing occasional Sunday jazz gigs at what would become the original Artists’ Quarter in Minneapolis and he called Eddie Berger to join him. This association of Bill and Eddie became the famed Eddie Berger All-Stars, leading to a weekly Sunday Jazz Night at the venue, and ultimately, the establishment of the Artists Quarter as a jazz club. From 1999 to 2002, Bill worked as an associate editor with St. Croix Valley Press, and was awarded “Best Feature Story” from the Minnesota Newspaper Association.
Friday Night Jazz at Reverie presents the best instrumental ensembles every week at 9 pm. No cover but tips ($10+) appreciated to support the musicians and the series. Reverie (formerly known as The Nicollet (wine, beer, coffees, cafe menu) is located at 1931 Nicollet Ave South, just south of downtown Minneapolis. http://www.fridaynightjazzatreverie.info/
