Pippi Ardennia has been singing publically since she was 13 years old, and has performed at many of Chicago's historic jazz venues, including the Burning Spear, High Chaparral, Capitol Theater, Mr. Kelly's, Rosebud on Rush, Redhead, Green Dolphin, Tavern Club and Symphony Center, as well as the Taste of Chicago. In Minneapolis, Pippi has performed at the Dakota Jazz Club, FACES, and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. She’s sung for President Clinton, Chicago’s Mayor Daley, Tony Bennett and Liza Minnelli, and shared the stage with Freddie Hubbard, George Freeman, Billy Branch, Johnny Taylor and more. “I used to think of myself as a ‘song stylist,’ rather than a jazz singer,” says Pippi. “I was a storyteller more than a technical singer. But after forty years, I think of myself as a real singer. But it’s about the emotion, the feeling.” Pippi was recently featured on Town Square Television’s Girl Talk and WCCO’s Almanac, and is looking forward to the spring 2012 release of Love So Good which features her original compositions and lyrics as well as a wide assortment of covers.

 

Trumpeter Solomon Parham began his music career in Detroit at age 12, joining his middle school band and later participating in all aspects of instrumental music in high school. Solomon began his college education at Kentucky State University Kentucky State University, serving as Assistant Drum Major and directing and arranging the music for the marching band. Ultimately he completed studies at Wayne State University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music Education. He then became Director of Bands in the Lansing (MI) School District. He also served as mentor/member of the Civic Jazz Orchestra (CJO), a jazz education youth outreach program funded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and led and directed by Solomon’s personal mentor, Marcus Belgrave. Solomon has performed at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge in Detroit, with Delfeayo Marsalis’ Jazz for Kids, " Jazz and Jasmine Meets the Jazz Band," Wess Anderson, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Dakota and Jazz Central. He currently teaches and directs jazz ensembles at Walker West Music Academy.

 

Student guest artist Alex Grothe (trumpet) is a senior at St. Paul Central High School. He has studied at Walker West Music Academy since elementary school and leads the Alex Grothe Sextet, which performed last year at the Artists Quarter through the Twin Cities Jazz Society’s Young Artists Series. He was a featured soloist last year with Ticket to Brasil at their TCJS Jazz From J to Z concert at Central. Alex performs with the Central and Walker West jazz ensembles.

 

Weyerhauser Auditorium is located in the lower level of Landmark Center at 75 W. 5th Street in downtown St. Paul. More information and tickets at www.pipjazz.com