Never Too Old for the Spotlight: Irv Williams at Jazz Central, February 8
A number of years ago, tenor saxophone legend Irv Williams hinted at retirement in his liner notes for That’s All (2004), but clearly that was premature. Three CDs later,...
Mardi Gras! Jazzy Fat Tuesday Celebrations in the Twin Cities
Mardi Gras, aka “Fat Tuesday,” is perhaps the biggest party in New Orleans, capping two weeks of parades, costumes, and of course, traditional NOLA music. Even “Fat Monday” has...
When Music Is the Magic
Much of the Twin Cities metro area was simply closed on Tuesday night. While it was hardly the worst snowstorm in history–not even close, by midafternoon driving was treacherous...
Scofield and Lovano: Past Meets Present at the Dakota, February 8-9
“Most saxophones are out of Coltrane. Joe knows Coltrane too, but his roots are older than that. He can swing. He can play ballads. He can burn. I love...
Highlights of Twin Cities Jazz: Fifteen + in 2015
Looking back on 2015, it was truly a good year for the Twin Cities jazz scene, from the overflowing crowd that paid tribute to the late Leigh Kamman back...
Free and Cheap Jazz in the Twin Cities: Plentiful and Easy to Find (2018 Update)
[Updated May 27, 2018] Too often I hear complaints from would-be jazz fans that it’s too expensive to go out and hear live music in the Twin Cities. Or...
Colors of the Soul (2015): The Dean Sorenson Sextet
Long-time jazz educator, head of Jazz Studies at the University of Minnesota, renowned arranger for the Glenn Miller Orchestra and more, Dean Sorenson is also an accomplished trombonist and...
Colors of His Soul — Dean Sorenson’s Sextet at the Black Dog, February 6
Long-time jazz educator, head of Jazz Studies at the University of Minnesota, renowned arranger for the Glenn Miller Orchestra and more, Dean Sorenson is also an accomplished trombonist and...
Eric Gravatt and Source Code at Jazz Central, February 5
“He had bounce in his rhythm that would bounce off the floor and carry the music up to the ceiling. He had this ethnic sound – the continent of...
Friday Night Jazz at Reverie: The Steven Hobert Quartet, February 5
Another ensemble of area heavyweights makes its debut on the Friday Night Jazz at Reverie (The Nicollet) series on Friday, February 5. The Steven Hobert Quartet features an exciting...