•"Silent Night" in a rolling 5/4 time with haunting minor harmonies,
•"Little Drummer Boy" as a slow acoustic funk with Vince Guaraldi harmonies,
•"Simple Gifts" in minor 7/4
•"We Three Kings" in upbeat 5/4 time with Middle Eastern rhythms,
•"Angels We Have Heard on High" in 7/4 time,
•"Jingle Bells" as a Guaraldi ballad,
•"Ode to Joy" as a Bill Evans waltz, and
•"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as a Paul Desmond-Dave Brubeck light swing

It's an Off Beat Holiday with the Larry McDonough Quartet

Thu. Dec. 23, 7-11 pm.
Free Holiday Show
Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant
1010 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis (612-332-1010)
www.DakotaCooks.com

Jazz Pianist and Singer Larry McDonough
Minnesota Book Award Recipient Richard Terrill on Saxes
Bassist Craig Matarrese, and Drummer Chaz Draper

Back from performing with legendary saxophonist and composer Benny Golson and trumpeter Duane Eubanks, and playing at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Delaware, McDonough also will perform selections from his CD, "Tuscarora: Short Stories for Jazz Piano," which contains original music, as well as arrangements of jazz, popular, religious, and historical music in different times signatures and harmonies.  It is dedicated to the memory of Paul and Sheila Wellstone and benefits Wellstone Action.  Released locally in 2003, it now is in its national and international release, playing from around the country, and from Australia to the Netherlands.

They also will perform pieces from the group's upcoming CD, "Simple Gifts," including "Dame la Mano" (Red River Valley) and "Simple Gifts," both in 7/4, Aja by Steely Dan and My Favorite Things, both in 5/4, and "Elie's Theme" and others pieces from the Fingersteps Project, in which McDonough has written jazz pieces based on melodies written by children with disabilities, including McDonough's daughter Rosie, using adaptive computer hardware and software. 

•    "Wonderful, Herbie Hancock-Bill Evan-ish."  Leigh Kamman, The Jazz Image, Minnesota Public Radio 91.1 FM
•    "Larry McDonough is an original much in the tradition of  Dave Brubeck, and McDonough's piano stylings are intimate and innovative." Lee Prosser, Jazz Review.