Charmin Michelle and Joel Shapira©Andrea Canter

Long-time musical partners, vocalist Charmin Michelle and guitarist Joel Shapira, bring their savvy, swinging “Charmin and Shapira” sound to the Dakota for a “Foodie Night” on August 16th. They will be joined by their extended ensemble, including saxophonist Dave Brattain, bassist Tom Lewis and drummer Nathan Norman.

Joel Shapira studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and at the Mannes School of  Music in New York City, as well as with Tal Farlow, Joe Pass, Sharon Isbin, and Anthony Cox. Active in the Twin Cities for many years, he co-leads his own small jazz groups (including Triplicate, Pooch’s Playhouse and the Joel Shapira Quartet) as well as playing classical duets with saxophonist/flutist Paul Harper and providing the instrumental half of Charmin & Shapira.  He has frequently appeared with John Devine, Doug Little, Vic Volare, Larry McDonough, and Lee Engele, among others. His business Joel Shapira Productions provides music for weddings and private events. In addition to releasing two recordings as Charmin & Shapira (including the 2011 release, Dawning and Daylight), Joel recently released his debut quartet album, Open Lines.

Charmin Michelle©Andrea Canter

“Dawning and Daylight”

As on their first duo recording (Pure Imagination), on Dawning and Daylight, Charmin and Shapira mine classics from the Great American Songbook; jazz standards from Wes Montgomery, Horace Silver, Monk, and Ellington; and a beauty from Gordon Jenkins, all augmented by “friends, saxophonist Paul Harper, bassist Tom Lewis and drummer Nathan Norman, and brought to a high sonic standard by engineer Matthew Zimmerman at Wild Sound Studios. The principles similarly give us a high standard of artistry—Charmin’s pitch-perfect, buttercreamed storytelling; Joel’s wide-ranging, fleet-fingered, often delicate gymnastics. See Jazz Police for a full CD review

Foodie Night at the Dakota highlights local music talents and food and drink specials, with no cover! The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Reservations suggested at 612-332-1010; www.dakotacooks.com

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