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Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Wozniak, Linz and Gravatt at the Artists Quarter, August 17-18

Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor

Saturday, 11 August 2012

Brandon Wozniak©Andrea Canter

In what may prove to be one of the most exciting new ensembles to hit the Twin Cities this year, three of the area’s most inventive jazz artists first came together in June at the Artists Quarter. Now, the still-unnamed trio melding the talents of saxophonist Brandon Wozniak, bassist Adam Linz, and drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt returns to the "scene of the crime" this weekend, August 17-18 following two volcanic Monday nights at the Icehouse.

Saxman Brandon Wozniak previously lived and worked for six years New York City, spent six months in Shanghai, and a year with a rock group in Berlin. Brandon earned his BA from Indiana University under the tutelage of David Baker and has also studied privately with Chris Potter. His performance credits include work with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Nellie McKay, the Four Tops, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Jonathan Kreisberg. Since returning to the Twin Cities in 2006, he has performed with a wide range of local bands, and currently is a member of the Atlantis Quartet, Dave King Trucking Company, Bryan Nichols Quintet and large ensemble, We Are Many, and the Zacc Harris Group. In the past year, Brandon has also performed in a quartet with Dean Magraw, Billy Peterson and Kenny Horst.

Adam Linz©Andrea Canter

Bassist Adam Linz is the coordinator of jazz at the MacPhail Center for Music, where he directs student ensembles including the Dakota Combo. One of the most active musicians on the modern and free jazz scene, the Twin Cities native graduated from Park Center High School in Brooklyn Center and went on to earn degrees in physics at Columbia University and in jazz studies at William Paterson University. Living on the East Coast in the mid to late 90s, he played with an ensemble dedicated to performing the music of Charles Mingus. Adam eventually returned to the Twin Cities, building his reputation as an adroit and innovative bassist with such groups as Gloryland Pony Cat and FKG. Over his career, he’s also appeared with Evan Parker, Stanley Turrentine, Milt Jackson, Dosh, Francois Tusques, Douglas Ewart, and Ten Thousand Things Theatre Company. These days Adam performs internationally with Fat Kid Wednesdays and the Dave King Trucking Company, as well as locally with Bryan Nichols, Adam Meckler and George Cartwright, among others. He’s performed in a bass duo with Chris Bates, and released his second solo recording in 2009.

An alum of Weather Report and the bands of McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Blue Mitchell and others, drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt essentially has had two careers in jazz with a couple decades of separation. Like John Coltrane and long-time associate McCoy Tyner, he is a native of Philadelphia. Originally a conga player, Gravatt taught percussion and music in Philadelphia and Washington, DC in the 1960s. Miles Davis invited him to join his band, but Gravatt turned down the Prince of Darkness to follow Wayne Shorter into Weather Report, with whom he toured and recorded. But Gravatt’s sound was not exactly what WR founder Joe Zawinul had in mind, and after a while Gravatt was replaced in favor of a more “bottom heavy” drummer. He moved on to the fusion band Natural Life (with Bobby Peterson and Bob Rockwell), a move that brought him to the Twin Cities some 30 years ago. Demands of family and a desire for financial stability took Gravatt out of fulltime music and into fulltime work as a guard at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Lino Lakes. “I had kids, and Corrections were the only thing being offered that paid that good, and they had (benefits) you couldn't get in jazz," Gravatt told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Only recently, after retiring from Lino Lakes, has Gravatt returned to his calling, again touring with McCoy Tyner and performing with his band, Source Code. Last weekend he appeared at the AQ with a new ensemble led by Anthony Cox.

Mix these three improvisers together and the only thing you can predict is a night of musical excitement and invention. Catch them Friday and Saturday nights at the Artists Quarter (August 17-18); cover $10.

The AQ is located at 408 St Peter Street, in the lower level of the Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul; www.artistsquarter.com. Sets beging at 9 pm.

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