Lee Engele©ANdrea Canter

The Jazz Vocalists of Minnesota announce a new slate of officers for 2008: President, Gregg Marquardt; Vice President, Lee Engele; Secretary, Andrea Canter; Treasurer, Jackie Moen. The JVM is an organization of singers, educators, students and jazz enthusiasts dedicated to the promotion of vocal jazz. In the past year, JVM has presented several “Singers Showcase” events and held its first public workshop in September 2007. The 2008 season has been busy already with Showcase events at the Artists Quarter in February and at the Twin Cities Winter Jazz Festival on March 2nd. Gigs for JVM members this month: 

Jaleel Shaw © Andrea Canter

“Mr. Shaw’s sound on alto saxophone can variously suggest Cannonball Adderley, Jackie McLean or his mentor, Bobby Watson—it’s brawny and full-bodied, but capable of quick silver actions—and his improvisational method is surefooted and exploratory,” – Nate Chinen, New York Times

Whenever drum legend Roy Haynes comes to town, he brings with him his Fountain of Youth—not only the name of his quartet, but also an apt description of the musicians and the music. Through Haynes, we were introduced a few years ago to the keyboard phenom Martin Bejerano and the soon-to-be highly acclaimed tenor saxophonist, Marcus Strickland. When Haynes’ last visited St. Paul in January 2006, we had our first encounter with pianist Robert Rodriguez, filling in for Bejerano. And with Strickland busy leading his own ensembles, the sax chair had been filled by young altoist, Jaleel Shaw. Proving his chops with the Mingus Big Band, Roy Hargrove, and Arturo Sandoval as well as in his continuing role with Haynes, Shaw was also earning accolades leading his own group and for his debut recording, Perspective. In April 2007, Jaleel debuted as leader at the AQ, and furthered his reputation locally. Now, this weeknd (March 7-8), he returns to the Artists Quarter with the best of the Twin Cities—Chris Lomheim on piano, Billy Peterson on bass, and Kenny Horst on drums.

Ravi Coltrane

Jazz legends, their legacies and their protégés will be well represented when two of the most energetic jazz ensembles share the bill as part of the Northrop Jazz Series on March 6th at Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis. The Ravi Coltrane Quartet, featuring Louis Perdamo, Drew Gress and E.J. Strickland, will offer the sounds of modern jazz in the context of an ensemble of young lions. The second set features the tireless percussion of 82-year-old Roy Haynes as he leads his young cohorts (Martin Bejerano on piano, David Wong on bass, and fast-rising star Jaleel Shaw on alto sax) through swinging covers of the bop masters as well as original compositions from band members.

The Ravi Coltrane Quartet

As the son of John and Alice Coltrane, Ravi Coltrane has managed to fight off comparisons to his father even while exploring John Coltrane’s music and making a career playing the same instrument. Now past 40, the younger Coltrane has become a major force on tenor and soprano sax as a performer, an acclaimed bandleader and composer, and founder of an independent record label, RKM. His resume includes work with Elvin Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Rashied Ali, Wallace Roney, Geri Allen, Kenny Barron, Cindy Blackman, Joe Lovano, Joanne Brackeen, and particularly Steve Coleman. His latest release as leader is the acclaimed 2005 CD, In Flux, on Savoy Jazz.

Tuck and Patti©Osamu Tio Suzuki

There’s something for every musical taste this month at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis.  From funky sax master Maceo Parker and soulful pop stars Tuck and Patti to the veteran songstress Mary Stallings and Brazilian hip of Vinicius Cantuaria, from Canadian chanteuse Holly Cole to the New Orleans sounds of Irvin Mayfield and the Bouttes, national acts cover the waterfront (the river, the Gulf). Meanwhile, such local headliners as Nachito Herrera, Charmin & Shapria, Doug Little, JD Steele and Christine Rosholt and more prove that national acts are only part of the reason that the Dakota is regarded as one of the best joints for jazz in the country. And remember the “prime time” is also only a part of the Dakota’s draw, with hot jazz for Happy Hour on Thursdays and Fridays, and always the best in creative new music takes the stage after hours on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Irv Williams©Andrea Canter

At the Artists Quarter in St. Paul, the transition weekend—February 29/March 1—features one of the oldest (or the oldest?) performing jazz artists in town, with 88-year-old “Mr. Smooth” Irv Williams on the bandstand celebrating his latest CD release. Just a week later, the AQ hosts barely 30-year-old Jaleel Shaw, and the following weekend it’s a quartet led by local teen jazzsters Javier Santiago and Chris Smith, in town with cohorts from the Brubeck Institute.  The veterans return to close out the month, with weekend gigs featuring Carole Martin and Phil Hey. In between, there’s jazz from all corners of the spectrum of style and experience, guarnanteeing a month of red hot music in the funky cool surroundings of St. Paul’s renowned jazz venue. 

Saxophone©Andrea Canter

“A superb quintet” – Tom Surowicz

Drummer Dave Stanoch describes the upcoming CD release of the Ellen Lease/Pat Moriarty Quintet as “hot fun in the dead of winter.” And he should know, as Dave mans the trapset for one of the most interesting, innovative jazz ensembles in the Twin Cities. In addition to Stanoch, the band includes leaders Ellen Lease (piano) and Pat Moriarty (sax and other “aerophones”), trumpeter Kelly Rossum and bassist Chris Bates. Celebrating their first release -- Chance, Love, Logic (Innova Records), this dream team of avant garde music will perform at Studio Z in St. Paul on Saturday, March 1st.

The current quintet has been working together for over ten years, leading critics to describe the ensemble as the “best unrecorded band out there.” Noted Avant Music News, “Through the consistency of personnel and a stable but expanding repertoire, the quintet has developed a high level of group interplay and risk-taking within the structures of the tunes. Although comparisons to the musics of Steve Lacy, Charles Mingus, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago are well taken, this band definitely has its own sound and conception.”