The Artists' Quarter is located in the historic Hamm Building in Downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, ( 408 St. Peter) near the corner of St. Peter and 7th Place. (651) 292-1359. Pictured is visiting drum icon Roy Haynes on a recent visit to the AQ. For More info, pictures and videos of the club see http://www.mnjazz.com

The Artists' Quarter is a musician owned and operated jazz club that has been a Twin Cities institution since it first opened in Minneapolis in the '70's. It has great sight lines, a great sound system, and a loyal following. The owner and frequent drummer on stage is Kenny Horst who is one of the swingingest, sweetest guys you could meet. Davis Wilson works the door and does the stage introductions for all the national acts. He does a great Lord Buckley impression telling the crowd that: "the AQ is pleased and flipped to have you here tonight." If Kenny Horst is the heartbeat of the Artists Quarter, Davis Wilson is it's soul. Be sure to greet him at the door and he will give you the low-down Click here for a video of Davis introducing an act.

Pete also performs regularly with the JazzMN big band, JAZZAX sazophone quintet, and his own quintet.

Pete Whitman has been actively composing, arranging, and performing for the past 21 years. As a jazz saxophonist he has performed with such artists as Randy Brecker, Jack McDuff, and the Woody Herman Orchestra, and currently leads his own group, The Pete Whitman X-Tet. Whitman attended North Texas State University, where he received his B.M. and M.M. Majoring in Jazz Studies and Minoring in Flute. Currently, Whitman is also teaching at Music Tech, a Minneapolis-based music school where he heads the Woodwind and Brass Department.

Photo by Andrea Canter

Tom Lewis is an excellent jazz bass player who plays in some of the best emsembles around town. A long standing member of the "Jazz All Stars" (local bebop icon Eddie Berger's last band) as well as the well respected Phil Hey Quartet.

Tom can play it all. He is a free-bop, straight-ahead, hard bop and bebop bassist and he swings like anything. He is a frequent sideman at gigs around town and on some of the best local artists' CD's.

Irv has had several retirement parties, but still can be heard gigging around town. The Zander Cafe and Sophias occasionally feature him and he is well worth seeking out. He is also a very nice guy with quite a sense of humor.

Irv settled here after WWII, and following stints with Fletcher Henderson and Mary Lou Williams. He is the beloved elder statesman, the guy who remembers the Flame, the Key Club, Cassius's Bamboo Room, and countless other bygone joints that once dotted a lost, cool Twin Cities nightscape.

Photograph courtesy of Howard Gitelson

He has recorded with Dewey Redman Geri Allen, Arthur Blythe, Mike Cain, Uri Caine and many others. He is pictured at right at the old Dakota Bar and Grill in a photograph courtesy of Howard Gitelson.