For sure, as with most changes of venue, there were some bugs to work out, and owners Lowell Pickett and Richard Erickson rose to the occasion as attentive and creative problem solvers. Noise from the hallway adjacent to the bar has been virtually eliminated with plexiglass in the formerly open partitions, without affecting the aesthetic ambience; if you sit near the partition separating the music from the dining room, you can still occasionally catch some giggles or clanking forks, but the din has been minimized and is noticeable only with the most pianissimo solo. And sure, it seems that often there is that one table of patrons who seem to have wandered into a show without any awareness of the Dakota’s mission of serious listening, seeking only some classy background music to go with the city’s best burger and fries. But in a metro area of disproportionate numbers of jazz venues relative to its population, the Dakota remains one of only two settings (count the Artists Quarter in St. Paul!) where the main event is listening rather than talking. And it remains unique as a destination where both music and food play starring roles. (Is there another bar that serves brie and apple soup, Alaskan spot prawns, walleye and crab cakes, or chocolate crème brulé, while Roy Hargrove or McCoy Tyner groove on stage?)

If the menu alone isn’t enough to lift the Dakota to the top rung of the nation’s jazz clubs, take a look at the weekly calendar. For years, Lowell Pickett has managed to book the very best of local and national musicians, and often both sharing the same stage. The Dakota has proven to be a haven for the most accomplished musicians, and the fact that they know they will be well fed is certainly no small enticement to the Midwest. New York might boast more clubs (of course!) but the Dakota shines in comparison to any in the Big Apple—and it’s all in one place, every night. In its new quarters, the Dakota’s bookings have been stronger than ever, and the upcoming fall schedule is simply phenomenal. We should dub this season the Dakota Fall Jazz Festival, and certainly September alone is enough to make local jazz buffs drool and visiting fans rejoice in their good timing. What’s coming up?

September

Get ready, this will blow you away:

Geoff Keezer Trio (September 12): Wisconsin native wunderkind Geoff Keezer returns to home territory where Dakota audiences have been following the pianist/composer’s progress for more than a decade. Tapped as Art Blakey’s last pianist while still in his teens, Keezer was a protege of Ray Brown, a charter member of the Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, and has a long list of recordings as a leader for Blue Note, Sunnyside, Columbia, and now MaxJazz. Whether deconstructing standards, exploring Hawaiian folk melodies, or developing unique compositions, Keezer infuses an intellectual complexity and lyricism into every note. This three-set gig is a live recording date for MaxJazz; the early (4 pm) set is part of the www.geoffkeezer.com)