A native of San Francisco, Little graduated from Macalester with a degree in political science and French, studied with Joe Lovano and conducted music research in Cuba, including studies at the National School of Arts in Havana. Director of the Twin Cities Jazz Workshop since 1996, he has received support from the American Composers Forum (as their youngest and only jazz scholarship recipient), the Jerome Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, the Minneapolis Arts Commission, the McKnight Foundation, the Bush Foundation, and was recently selected to participate in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra’s Artist in the Schools Program.

Doug Little is busy leading his quartet and composing, as well teaching: In 1991, he co-founded the popular sextet, Motion Poets, and has made several recordings with this group, with the I.C.E. (Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble), and the Big Walter Smith blues band in addition to Subtle Differences. He has taught master classes at the Oberlin Conservatory, Northern Illinois University, University of Missouri, Drake University, and Amherst College, as well as serving as an instructor through the TC Jazz Workshop. Jazz critic Tom Surowicz described Little’s "smart post-bop writing, impeccable bandleading and taut, tasty soloing. Whether blue-grooving over a supple fleet beat or whipping out his bass clarinet for a romantic reverie, Little is in complete command and in great company." Of Subtle Differences, reviewer Vickie Casey noted, “ Little’s originals are thoughtful, gliding affairs that carefully highlight solos rich in rhythm and melody, while his arrangements of the standards ‘Tangerine’ and ‘Charade’ are nuanced pieces whose wafting notes exhale vast expanses of colored air” (Minneapolis Star Tribune).

Although locally he usually plays with the best of Twin Cities keyboardists, for the Dakota gig this week Little will be joined by Italian piano sensation Giacomo Aula. A native of Lagonegro, Italy who now lives in Berlin, Aula has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Lee Konitz, Ernie Watts, James Newton and many of Europe’s hottest jazz artists. In addition to tours in Europe and the U.S., he has performed at major jazz festivals and venues including Vicenza Jazz 2000, Estate Musicale Sorrentina, The Walker Arts Center, Reutlingen JazzTage, and Catanzaro Jazz Fest.

Long-time member of the Doug Little Quartet, St. Paul native Jeff Bailey has played acoustic and electric bass with world-renowned artists including Jack McDuff, Terrell Stafford, Bill Carrothers, Eric Garvat, Dave Pietro, Hannibal Peterson, Fred Ho, Craig Taborn, and James Carter. A founding member of Motion Poets, Bailey has also released three CDs on the Lifescape label and is well known to Twin Cities audiences

Handling drum duties for the quartet, Kevin Washington was only five years old when he played his first jazz festival in his native Detroit. Son of musicians Faye and Donald Washington, Kevin studied at the New School for Social Research in New York and taught at the Harlem School for the Arts. He has performed with Reggie Workman, Roscoe Mitchell, Rodney Whitaker, Bob Hurst, Antonio Hart, Chico Freeman, James Carter, Fred Wesley, Roy Brooks, Marcus Belgrave, David Murray Big Band, Fred Ho, Craig Taborn, and James Newton. Locally he works with Moveable Feast and Anthony Cox as well as the Doug Little Quartet.

Expect a combination of marvelous takes on standards and engaging original compositions when the Doug Little Quartet takes the stage at the Dakota this Friday night (June 18^th) for two sets, starting at 9 pm. For information, see www.dakotacooks.com