Jazz Police - Jazz Central This Week, September 24-25

Great jazz can be found in small places. Jazz Central Studios in northeast Minneapolis might be short on space (the performance area seats about 50 although folding chairs can expand it somewhat) but it’s proven to be long on talent and innovation among the many area artists who perform there on Monday and Tuesday nights (and sometimes other nights!). The Monday series typically features an accomplished area musician heading a new collaboration put together for Jazz Central. Tuesdays are Big Band nights with a rotating cast offering the unique experience of listening to modern large ensembles in an intimate setting. Jazz Central depends on donations – there is no cover but contributions are gratefully encouraged.

Jazz this week:

Brian Courage©Andrea Canter

Monday, September 24 (8:30 pm), Evan Montgomery and Brian Courage. Two Lawrence University grads pair up for an evening of sublime strings. A composer, arranger, performer, and budding luthier and guitar repair technician in the Twin Cities, Evan Montgomery graduated from Lawrence with a BM in classical guitar with a jazz emphasis. At Lawrence he performed with Benny Golson, Ingrid Jensen, and Kenny Wheeler. In the Twin Cities, he leads his own quintet and performs regularly with the Jana Nyberg group and Lulu’s Playground. He has taught guitar for the past ten years, and released his first CD in 2009, The Insufficiency of Rain. New on the Twin Cities jazz scene since completing studies at Lawrence in spring 2012, bassist Brian Courage has wasted little time proving himself worthy of first-call status. Among his early gigs in town, he held down the basslines for Laura Caviani’s quartet at the Artists Quarter last month.

Tuesday, September 25 (8:30 pm), Doug Haining/Scott Agster Big Band. This new ensemble, headed by two of the area’s top horn players, debuted this summer. Doug Haining is well known for his smaller group, the Twin Cities Seven, most recently on the main stage at Mears Park during the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. A graduate of St. Olaf, Doug is a master of many reeds including alto sax, clarinet and flute. His latest recording is Last Man Swinging, and he recently celebrated the music of Cannonball Adderley with his quintet at the Artists Quarter. Once a student of Tiny Baker, trombonist Scott Agster is an alum of the famed University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band who has pursued doctoral studies at the U of M. His eclectic chops are featured locally with Salsa del Soul, Jack Brass, hip hop group G8, and the Bella Gala Big Band. In his spare time he teaches at the MacPhail Center for Music. Combining their vast artistic resources, Doug and Scott bring together the area’s top musicians for a monthly blowout at Jazz Central.

Jazz Central is a privately run studio, headed by pianist Tanner Taylor and drummer Mac Santiago. Generally there is no cover, but donations are requested to help support the space and the artists who perform there. The studio is located at 407 Central Ave NE (near the intersection of 4th Street and Central Av) in the lower level. Doors open at 8:15. Visit http://jazzcentral.squarespace.com