Local Connections

Photo by Andrea Canter
December 2 (7 pm).  East meets West, and beautifully, with the partnership of pianist Yukiko Isomura and bassist Tony Axtell. Isomura, born and raised in Japan, creates meditative, flowing compositions that reflect both her Eastern heritage and classical training, tinged with Western influences. Minnesota native Tony Axtell is an accomplished bassist, keyboardist, drummer, guitarist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and producer with roots in contemporary jazz and R&B. The recent collaboration of these two musicians has resulted in beautiful compositions, just the right antidote for holiday hassles.

December 3-4 (8 pm).  Estaire Godinez is back in town! Having established her reputation as one of the premier performers of Latin music in the Twin Cities, percussionist/vocalist Godinez moved back to LA, and has been touring with George Benson. For a brief homecoming celebration, she reassembles her band of local stars, including pianist Peter Schimke, sax man Eric Leeds, bassist Serge Akou, and drummer Stokely Williams. Wrote Matt Peikin in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, "Over Afro-Cuban romps and bossa novas with mambo beats, Godinez's lyrics leapfrog English to Spanish to Portuguese... she launches into a quick verse and chorus, opens the door for everyone to solo and then scats around the edges."

December 5 (7 pm). Need to relax a bit after the hot Latin rhythms of Estaire Godinez? Have yourself a calmly sophisticated Sunday evening with chanteuse Vicky Mountain, celebrating the release of her new CD, Don't Go to Strangers. An instructor at the MacPhail Center for Music, Mountain teaches jazz improvisation technique, vocal performance and theory, as well as private voice instruction. As a performer, she has entertained audiences from South American concert halls to small clubs; her 1994 recording Birds of a Feather was an acclaimed collection of standards and original compositions that demonstrated her impressive vocal range and fleet scatting. The supporting band for Vicky Mountain's CD Release party includes bassist Tony Axtell, pianist Chris Lomheim, drummer Greg Schutte, trumpeter Kelly Rossum, and sax man Greg Keel. "Her warm tone and love of the lyric are especially suited to interpreting timeless standards and her penchant for scatting brings originality and excitement to many arrangements" (Twin Cities Jazz Society). Don't go to strangers, come relax with Vicky Mountain.

December 10-11 (8:30 pm). Every month at the Dakota, we can count on the blistering Afro-Cuban piano grooves of Nachito Herrera. A child prodigy who studied classical music in Havana, Herrera went on to serve as music director for several bands before leading Cubanissmo! His travels to the US caught the eye of potential sponsors, including the Dakota's Lowell Pickett, and with some wrangling with state department redtape, this amazing musician found himself in Minnesota. After his inaugural band Puro Cubano recorded Live at the Dakota, Herrera developed another great ensemble featuring Cuban musicians (The Cuban All-Stars) who converge in Minneapolis for this monthly gig. Heavy on percussion and vocals (often featuring young Mirdalys Herrera), this band is so hot that it challenges the Dakota's "no smoking" policy. Noted Michael Dumbrow (Urban Pioneer), "His hands move at a blinding pace over the keys, trilling not only with his dominant hand but with both, turning the piano keys into an extension of his very self."  Where classical structures merge with native Cuban rhythms, where dexterity and fluidity merge with passion and joy, this is the intersection that is home to Nachito Herrera.

December 16 (7 pm).  Singer/songwriter Leslie Ball is well known in the Twin Cities for her distinctive vocals and her long-running open mic cabaret at the Southern Theater. Tonight she brings a "best of the best" of local jazz artists to the Dakota stage, including master pianist Peter Schimke, guitar virtuoso Dean Magraw, nationally acclaimed bassist Anthony Cox, and the ever-innovative drummer Kevin Washington. Anything can happen!

Photo by Andrea Canter
December 21 (7 pm). Another rare treat is the return of internationally acclaimed pianist Bill Carrothers. The Minnesota native has been garnering rave reviews throughout Europe for his latest recording, Armistice 1918; now he's back for one night in the company of top-gun bassist Gordy Johnson and the maniac of percussion, Dave King. In his 20-year career, Bill Carrothers has played throughout the U.S. and Europe, and in 2000 headlined the prestigious Rising Star Tour throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. As a sideman he has appeared with Joe Beck, Scott Colley, Buddy DeFranco, Dave Douglas, Curtis Fuller, Billy Higgins, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Dewey Redman, Charlie Rouse, and Toots Thielemans, among others, and has released 9 acclaimed recordings. We don't get to hear this keyboard monster very often—don't miss this opportunity.

December 23 (7 pm). St. Paul attorney Larry McDonough has a great night job, composing and playing piano around the Midwest, often in the company of his quartet, featuring saxman Richard Terrill, bassist Craig Matarrese, and drummer Chaz Draper. Larry started out with a degree in music education, performing solo and in duos and trios throughout the 1970s and 80s, including regular gigs at the old Night Train and Jax Restaurant.  He's performed with a long list of Twin Cities musicians, including the Wolverines, Patty Peterson, Phil Hey, Vicky Mountain, and Bozo Allegro. A former high school band director, his day job is with Minneapolis Legal Aid as a tenants' attorney. Larry has released several recordings, including his solo CD (Small Steps), his tribute to Paul and Sheila Wellstone (Tuscarora), and his duo with Chaz Draper, A Rose for Two. Noted Tom Surowicz (Star Tribune), McDonough is "a thoughtful, provocative pianist who... turns familiar tunes inside out."  And regarding the pianist's penchant for uncommon meters, Rob Hubbard (St Paul Pioneer Press) observed that "he often lets each hand take a separate turn in the spotlight, making for engaging keyboard conversations."

December 26 (7 pm). Jazz is synonymous with fun when The Girls are on stage! This quartet of Twin Cities' divas (and MusicTech instructors) has been pleasing audiences with their infectious blend of stellar voices, magnificent piano, and hilarious banter, a recipe for high flying synergy. Pianist/vocalist Lori Dokken has been entertaining Twin Cities' audiences for over 20 years. An award-winning songwriter and in-demand arranger, she is one of the area's most popular cabaret performers. Head of the Vocal Music Department at MusicTech, Judi Donaghy has an eclectic list of credits in opera, musical theater, jazz, folk, country, gospel, pop, and R&B, including appearances with Moore By Four, the Mixed Blood Theater, Yo Yo Ma, Carole King, Janis Siegel, Garrison Keillor, and Marilyn McCoo. Perhaps the best known local diva, Debbie Duncan has a background rich in jazz, gospel and Motown. Duncan has opened for Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Stephane Grapelli, and won the Minnesota Music Award for "Perpetually Outstanding Performer." As a musical theatre performer, Erin Schwab portrayed Tina in Hey City Theater's long-running production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding and performs with The Bellcats, the Wolverines, and Metro Jam. Together, The Girls have recorded Requests (Swedish Girl Music) and entertain on a regular basis at local venues, including The Times and the Dakota. "Lori thunders away on the keys, Debbie sings low and sassy, Erin and Judi croon with thundering energy. They mix and match duets, trios, and full-blown quartets throughout the evening, but whatever combo you get, it'll definitely impress" (The Rake, July 2004).

December 30 (7 pm). For sparkling interpretations of the American Songbook, you can't beat an evening with Arne Fogel and the Wolverines Trio (Rick Carlson on piano, Steve Pikal on bass, and Jendeen Forberg on drums). Arne Fogel has been called "...one of the Twin Cities' most interesting people -- a singer, musician, actor, composer, writer, producer, music-film-comedy and entertainment historian, collector and oral encyclopedia" (Bob Protzman, St. Paul Pioneer Press). A well-known radio personality in the Midwest, for 12 years he produced and hosted his own series of special Arne Fogel Presents, as well as a number of other radio productions. Fogel appears with many area vocalists and ensembles, has a long list of recording credits, and opened for Rosemary Clooney at Orchestra Hall in December 2001. He also has recorded over 1500 singing jingles, and has acted in commercials and local stage productions. An evening with Arne Fogel --it's almost like having New Year's Eve twice.

Jazz Yet to Come

As we close out one incredible year of jazz, we also can look ahead to another. In the near future, look to the Dakota schedule for young vocal sensation Erin Bode (January 3-4); one of the most gifted pianists of her generation who also happens to have a monster reputation as a singer/composer, Patricia Barber (January 11-12); and new CD release parties from two local jazz heroes,  soulful vocalist Bruce Henry (TBA) and intrepid bassist Gordy Johnson (January 16). And there's a rumor of piano legend Randy Weston....

For the full Dakota calendar, online reservations, and additional information, see www.dakotacooks.com. The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, (612) 332-1010. Parking is available (cheap!) at the adjacent Target Ramp.