The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, June 23-29
© Andrea Canter It’s the jazziest weekend of the year in the Twin Cities as we move into the final two days of the annual jazz festival, a couple...
2017 Twin Cities Jazz Festival Day by Day: Saturday, June 24
© Andrea Canter Weather notwithstanding (and the forecast at this writing is iffy), 2017 will likely be remembered as one of the best of the Twin Cities Jazz Festivals...
Festival Profile, Mary Louise Knutson: Working the Magic from Solo to Big Band
© Jon Morgan As fortunate as we are to have an opportunity at each year’s Twin Cities Jazz Festival to hear legends like McCoy Tyner or Ellis Marsalis, along...
2017 Twin Cities Jazz Festival Day by Day: Friday, June 23
© Andrea Canter Day Two of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival features two free clinics (Emmet Cohen, Anat Cohen) at McNally Smith College of Music, Anat Cohen and her...
2017 Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Day by Day: Thursday, June 22
© Andrea Canter Officially, the 19th annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival launches in and around Mears Park in St Paul on Thursday, June 22, running through June 24, with...
Festival Profile, Emmet Cohen: Sparks Will Fly (Again) at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, June 22
© Jon Morgan For a modern jazz musician, touring with a working band is something of a paradox. On the one hand, it suggests a venture that is arduous...
Pre-Fest: Cameron Kinghorn, Charanga Tropical, Jordan Anderson, Lee Engele
© Andrea Canter The Twin Cities Jazz Festival officially gets underway June 22, but there’s already been some pre-fest music, continuing this weekend and into the week with performances...
Nancy Harms Returns to the Dunsmore Room, June 18
© Andrea Canter “Other people are trying to be jazz vocalists. Nancy just is a jazz vocalist. She has amazing pitch and really good time, and she never...
How Birds Work, Youth Showcase at the Black Dog, June 17
© Andrea Canter “We all listen to what’s happening moment to moment and try to contribute a part that no one else would think of. When we open it...
The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, June 16-22
© Andrea Canter After a relaxing week in San Francisco and the North Bay (including an evening concert from Joe Lovano and his new “Classic Quartet”), I am happy...
Wayne Horvitz Group At Reverie, June 15
© Andrea Canter On stage at the Icehouse last fall, experimental keyboardist Wayne Horvitz returns to the Twin Cities to perform with Josh Granowski and Davu Seru on the...
The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, June 9-15
© Andrea Canter We have another fine summer week of jazz as we build momentum toward the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, including pre-fest performances, the opening of a new...
Dave King Trucking Company, Hanging Hearts “Implode” at the Icehouse June 12
© Andrea Canter Part of the Icehouse Fifth Anniversary celebration, JT’s Jazz Implosion offers a double-header on Monday, June 12, featuring two of the hottest bands in the Midwest–...
Connie Evingson With Jon Weber at “Duke’s Place” June 11 — New Season of Jazz at the Jungle
© Andrea Canter Some musical partnerships were just meant to be. Twin Cities vocalist Connie Evingson and New York-based pianist and honorary Twin Citian Jon Weber paired up during...
Doug Haining, Jax Ravel Lead Bands at the Black Dog, June 10
© Andrea Canter Nearing three years of weekly presentations of the most talented jazz artists in the Twin Cities and beyond, Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog continues...
Chris Bates’ Good Vibes Trio Returns to Reverie, June 8
© Andrea Canter “Collectively the trio burns with a group mindset that showcases the maturity, musicality and virtuosity of each #8221; –Chris Bates Longtime favorite sideman, in the past...
Bill Simenson Orchestra Celebrates Five Years at Jazz Central, June 6
© Andrea Canter “Mixing splash and sophistication in a manner akin to ’50s swing-bop ensembles, Simenson canvasses a dynamic range of moods and textures over the course of a...
Will Kjeer Summer Band at Jazz Central, June 5
© Andrea Canter He’s one of the youngest headliners at major jazz venues around the Metro but he’s been performing on these stages since his mid-teens. Now, with the...
Kenny Werner Brings “Third Stream” to St Paul, June 4
© Andrea Canter One of the most prolific composers and recording artists in modern piano jazz, Kenny Werner performs on Sunday, June 4 at 4 pm in Sundin...
Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog: No Room for Squares, Paul Harper’s Show and Tell on June 3
© Andrea Canter For nearly three years, Steve Kenny has presented two bands per Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog in St Paul’s Lowertown. This weekend (June...