We Three Kings and a Horn Section

A few months ago they released She’s Big in Egypt, a collection of diverse original compositions highlighting the elegance and versatility of brass. Now the CC Septet takes on the holidays, and particularly some of the season’s most beloved songs and carols, rearranged as should-be jazz classics. The Septet celebrates We Three Kings and a Horn Section on a double bill with vocalist Jennifer Grimm at the Dakota Jazz Club on December 15th.

The CC Septet includes musicians connected one way or another to Century College in White Bear Lake: Tim Lackas, piano; Greg Stinson, bass; Brett Smith, drums; Ralph Brindle, trombone; Paul Peterson, tenor sax; Larry Neumann, alto sax; and Scott Snyder, trumpet. And while White Bear Lake might be an unlikely wellspring of jazz chops, the CC Septet has repeatedly defied expectations, largely due to a spirit of team creativity that is fundamental to the septet’s sound and longevity. Unlike their first two albums, We Three Kings is entirely familiar material, arranged by band members as uptempo swing, jazzy ballads, and funky grooves.  

Sisters in Song©Andrea Canter

When three of the Twin Cities’ top vocalists joined together for a night of song at the Dakota County Music Café a few years ago, it was just intended to be a one-time event. Now, many gigs later, Lila Ammons, Dorothy Doring, and Vicky Mountain are regularly booked as Sister in Song, and will present a holiday show on December 12th, at the Dakota County Music Café in Burnsiville. Performing signature tunes of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae, they’ll be supported by an ensemble of accomplished Twin Cities’ musicians, Phil Aaron (piano), Jocko MacNelly (bass) and Reid Kennedy (drums). 

Dorothy explains that “We call ourselves ‘Sisters in Song’ because we get along so well and have a great feeling of sisterhood on stage.” Each of these outstanding vocalists brings her own unique background to their collaboration. 

Charmin Michelle©Andrea Canter

A few years ago, vocalist Charmin Michelle and multi-reedman Doug Haining, along with Haining’s Twin Cities Seven band, brought a new twist on Dicken’s Christmas Carol to the stage of the Dakota Jazz Club. This very hip interpretation has proven to be a popular holiday treat, reprised in 2008 at the Capri Theater in north Minneapolis. “A Copasetic Christmas Carol” returns for 2009 at the Dakota Jazz Club on December 13th.

Laura Caviani©Andrea Canter

What’s holiday jazz without Laura Caviani’s holiday party? And what is a holiday party without a hip Santa and some of the area’s best jazz artists? All will be in abundance at the Artists Quarter on Sunday, December 13th. Joining Laura will be acclaimed artists, multi-lingual vocalist Lucia Newell, saxophonist Pete Whitman, bassist Tom Lewis, drummer Phil Hey, and “Hip Santa” Davis Wilson.

Jane Monheit

Each time I’ve heard Jane Monheit, I’ve wondered what heights she would reach if she ever decided to let her improvisational instincts rule a live performance. Surely she has one of the finest vocal instruments in any genre, and she has added a bit more personal expression to each recording and each local visit. Speculation, for me, ended with Jane’s final set Tuesday night. Sure, that pitch-perfect, honey-roasted voice that first aroused attention at the 1998 Thelonious Monk Competition (where she finished second to the late Teri Thornton) is still intact. But if as a jazz singer Jane once seemed to be an underachiever, today she’s taking that voice on an increasingly liberated journey, joining the ranks of Tierney Sutton, Dee Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, and Roberta Gambarini—purveyors of both standards and popular songs who become instruments in their ensembles, instruments of interpretation and invention. 

"Magraw is a guitarist's guitarist - talented, skilled, adventurous, and never lacking the playful spirit behind his ever-present smile. He sees the threaded connections between all music, threads that might seem disparate to most others. In a world that asks us to define, categorize, and compartmentalize, Magraw (true to form) runs against the grain and simply asks us to listen. And we should." - The Podium

Dean Magraw © Andrea Canter

The Black Dog Cafe in St Paul is holding a benefit CD sale with live music on Sunday, December 6th from noon until 6 p.m. Twin Cities guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer Dean Magraw is an artist of extraordinary ability. Dean is recovering from a bone marrow transplant and has had to cancel all of his performances for the foreseeable future. This is the latest in a number of benefits that have been organized to help raise money for Dean's living expenses. There are nearly a thousand brand new CD's.  Many are hard to find, some have never been available in the U.S before and they represent many different musical genres. You can name your price above the minimum $3 (per CD) donation. Many tshirts, gift certificates for  and other items are sale too. The music line-up includes Gabriel Hilmar, Michael Ziegahn Flamenco guitar with dancers (Dean was Michaels first guitar teacher), Jeff Ray on Slide/blues guitar, Raymond Yates and more to be announced.