Brian Grivna hit the stage as a Young Artist clarinet soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra when he was just 12. By age 15 was subbing on sax for his teacher in area dance bands. Earning a degree in English literature from Dartmouth, his music career took off after graduation, with work in jazz, commercial, and theater music before joining the Buddy Rich band in 1971. After two years, he became a staff woodwind performer for the Guthrie Theatre, leaving after ten years to freelance and teach. He toured Japan and Europe with Minnesota Orchestra under Eiji Oue and Osmo Vänskä; and the West Coast with Bobby McFerrin and the SPCO. Brian continues to work with the JazzMN Orchestra, SPCO, Minnesota Orchestra, Children’s Theater Company and touring show pit orchestras (clarinet and sax), teaches at the University of Minnesota and in his home studio, and brings his own quartet to such venues as the Dakota and Artists Quarter.

Between Dave and Brian, there’s more than 8 decades of unsurpassed sax, jazz and more. Add in a great rhythm section and you have five reasons to come down to the Artists Quarter this weekend. Come down earlier and enjoy the St Paul Arts Crawl, and finish off the evening artfully at the AQ.

 

The Artists Quarter is located at 408 St Peter Street in the lower level of the Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul; www.artistsquarter.com.