The Tiptons

“…They unleashed powerhouse unisons, hammering riffs, contrapuntally controlled chaos, fierce counterpoint and sharp solos on a program that ranged from Carla Bley to Los Lobos, from Klezmer to Sun Ra." --Paul De Barros, Down Beat 

The Tiptons are unique among brass ensembles—an all-woman band featuring a quartet of saxophones plus percussion; and a repertoire ranging from New Orleans “second - line” to jazz, Afro-Cuban to Balkan, Klezmer and beyond. On Thursday, April 24th, the Tiptons will bring their wildly exciting musicianship to the Dakota in downtown Minneapolis. 

The Tiptons include Amy Denio (alto sax and vocals); Jessica Lurie (alto and tenor sax, vocals); Sue Orfield (tenor sax and vocals); and Tina Richerson (tenor and bari sax, vocals). Originally founded as the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet in 1992, the Tiptons have gained an international reputation following the release of two recordings, Tsunami in 2004 and DRIVE in 2005. They’ve since performed at festivals throughout North America and toured through Europe four times. 

Jake Shimabukuro

“…all the more remarkable for his ability to imply richer voicings than are actually possible with only four strings.” – John Kelman, All About Jazz 

When Hawaii native Jake Shimabukuro debuts at the Dakota on April 27th, he’ll introduce the Minneapolis audience to a lot more than another accomplished performer and composer. Jake will bring a resume that might generate envy among other musicians barely in their 30s—a list of national and international festival dates, tours with Jimmy Buffett and Bela Fleck, sideman credits on a Grammy-winning recording, appearances on The Late Show With Conan O’Brien and NPR’s Morning Edition, seven CD releases, a film score. As a young master of his chosen instrument, he is in fast company with such rising stars as saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, pianist Taylor Eigsti, trumpeter Sean Jones, drummer E.J. Strickland, and vocalist Sophie Millman. But Jake’s chosen instrument puts him in solitary confinement among his acclaimed peers as one of the world’s few ukulele virtuosos, one spanning genres of jazz, blues, funk, classical, folk, rock and anything else defined as music. 

Meet Jake Shimabukuro

Think ukulele and it’s hard not to remember Tiny Tim. Think ukulele and Hawaii, and one conjures images of Don Ho on a Waikiki beach or Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii. Think Jake Shimabukuro and the image becomes multi-dimensional, multi-cultural. A far cry from “Tiny Bubbles” or “Aloha Oe,” Jake’s repertoire covers everything from traditional island folk roots to Schubert, from Chick Corea to Lennon and McCartney, from Cyndi Lauper to Errol Garner, from Led Zepplin to Harold Arlen—and of course, Jake Shimabukuro himself. The instrument has never had a more effective ambassador. 

Arne Fogel ©Andrea Canter

On May 2-4, the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame—formerly the Minnesota Rock and Country Hall of Fame—will induct five living legends of Minnesota Jazz. Honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards at festivities at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina, MN will be vocalist Arne Fogel, drummer Kenny Horst, vocalist Carole Martin, pianist Jeanne Arland Peterson, and tenor saxophonist Irv Williams. Each has contributed years of performance as well as knowledge and advocacy to Minnesota jazz. The Hall of Fame started out on a small scale about ten years ago and has grown in stature and artistic scope in recent years. Annually, the HOF recognizes individuals who have devoted much of their lives to the support and continuation of the music, bands, ballrooms and clubs. This year’s recipients also include Dick Shapiro, Peter Lang and the original Candy Floss writing team: Barry Thomas Goldberg, Gary Paulak, Dale Menten and Peter Steinberg.

The Inductees

Ray Brown

Few bassists in jazz have had the influence of the late Ray Brown. His collaborations extended from Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald to the early edition of the Modern Jazz Quartet and his long tenure with the late Oscar Peterson. Among his many accomplishments as performer and manager were his efforts to promote the careers of young lions such as fellow bassist Christina McBride, pianist Benny Green and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. McBride, Green and Hutchinson celebrate the life and music of Ray Brown with a three-night stand at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis on April 20-22 (two shows per night at 7 and 9:30 pm).

Soul Cafe with frequent guest Lucia Newell©Andrea Canter

“It’s sound-art, both word and song, performed in the moment, playful, moving and surprising.” –Steve Blons, Soul Café 

The imaginative collaboration of three stellar local artists--Laura Caviani (piano), Steve Blons (guitar), and Brad Holden (alto sax), Soul Café has brought jazz and poetry together for the past five years, usually in the Gallery of the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. Nearly monthly Sunday evening performances have developed a theme or presented a pairing of poet and composer. On April 20th, Soul Café closes out its run of regularly scheduled dates, presenting the poems e.e. cummings with favorite jazz selections. Leader Steve Blons assures faithful followers that there will be some special reunions in the future. 

The merging of jazz with poetry and spiritual passions has an extensive history. From Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts to Coltrane’s Love Supreme to the many weekly jazz services at local churches, from the rich gospel heritage that spawned generations of great jazz artists from Nat King Cole to Cyrus Chestnut, jazz has been a natural medium of religious expression. And the merger of jazz and poetry has similarly been explored, from the presentations of the late Steve Lacy to Fred Hersch’s Leaves of Grass to Patricia Barber’s recent reinvention of Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Mythologies), and locally from Prudence Johnson’s Millay Project to the weekly open poetry night at St. Paul’s Artists Quarter. And for the past five years in the Twin Cities, jazz, poetry and spirit have found a very successful partnership through Soul Café, a project originally funded by the Hennepin Foundation of the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.

Jeanne ASrland Peterson©Andrea Canter

One of the true legends of Twin Cities’ jazz, Jeanne Arland Peterson will perform a rare club gig at the Artists Quarter with offspring Patty and Billy Peterson on April 18-19. AQ owner/drummer Kenny Horst will round out the quartet.

Although she began playing the piano at age three, Jeanne Arland Peterson did not take a formal lesson until she was 15—shortly before she had her first paying gig.  From then on, her career as a pianist/vocalist was on star trajectory, her approach heavily influenced by the great Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. She spent 22 years performing on WCCO radio as well as around town on club stages and in recording studios. She was the organist for the Minnesota Twins from 1969-71, and built a resume that included work with Perry Como, Bob Hope, Dianne Carroll, Sonny Stitt, Roy Eldridge, Bud Shank, and George Benson. Along with Judy Garland, Jeanne is one of only two women in the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, and two Minnesota governors—Rudy Perpich and Arne Carlson--declared days in her honor. Additionally, Jeanne was the first woman to receive the prestigious Arts Midwest Jazz Masters Award for excellence in jazz musicianship (1977) and in 2005 was named a Minnesota Jazz Legend at the KBEM Winter Jazz Festival. On May 3rd, Jeanne will be inducted into the Mid-American Music Hall of Fame. Almost as amazing as her 70-year career in music is Jeanne’s role as head of Minnesota’s “First Family of Music.” She now heads three generations of talented musicians who perform locally and nationally. It’s hard to find a gig or recording in the Twin Cities that does not include at least one Peterson. And Jeanne is not content to sit back and enjoy the talents of her family—she is still gigging and arranging.