An unusual double bill will be presented this weekend at the Dakota in downtown Minneapolis. Featured in the first set will be jazz stars of the future, the Brubeck Institute Sextet. These young masters will be followed by popular vocalist Prudence Johnson and her quartet.

In 2000, jazz piano legend Dave Brubeck and his wife Iola established the Brubeck Institute in conjunction with the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. The Institute is a "living archive" where students study jazz and contemporary music, perform, compose, and share what they learn with future generations. "The idea is to regenerate the same opportunities that Miles, Coltrane, Art Blakey, Dave Brubeck and others had," says Executive Director J.B. Dyas. "The way they developed was by playing with other good players, back when there were jazz clubs on every corner. Now the fellows are playing and talking about jazz in schools.”

The Brubeck Institute focuses on young people, developing artists and audiences for the future through fellowships and summer programs. In association with schools, foundations, and performing arts centers throughout the United States and abroad, the Brubeck Institute also presents highly entertaining and effective programs tailored to the needs of music students, general student populations, family audiences, and specialized audiences. In Minneapolis, at the Dakota this weekend (March 25-26), Twin Cities’ students, families, and jazz patrons will have the opportunity to enjoy the music of the Brubeck Institute Jazz Sextet, as the closing event of their week of clinics and workshops for young area jazz musicians. During their residency, the Institute’s Sextet has “set up shop” in Metro area schools, including South, North and Southwest in Minneapolis, Central in St. Paul, and Central Middle School in Eden Prairie; on Saturday they will be working with the Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands. These sessions have emphasized interaction among the young musicians and not much older visiting artists—exchanging tips and playing music for each other. The Brubeck musicians expressed their pleasure in seeing so much jazz in the schools here and were also impressed by their visit to Radio Station KBEM where they toured the studio and admired the station’s library and vinyl collections.

Area students were also enthused to learn about the Brubeck Institute’s programs and particularly the Summer Colony. As described on the Institute website, the Summer Colony is a “weeklong, full-scholarship program that provides 17 of the country's best young jazz musicians the opportunity to interact with and learn from jazz masters as well as each other. Aimed at exceptionally gifted jazz students between their freshman and senior years of high school, the program creates an inspiring, stress-free environment where serious young players perform, practice and study along with peers who are equally committed to mastering America’s indigenous art form.” The Summer Jazz Colony is supported by a grant from the Herb Alpert Foundation in honor of alto sax legend Paul Desmond, a key member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet in the 1950s.

The core of the Brubeck Institute is its Fellowship Program at the University of Pacific, a one- to two-year full scholarship program designed to facilitate the education of five to seven exceptionally gifted jazz students, ages 18-19, who form the Brubeck Institute Ensemble (two to three horns plus rhythm section).  With acclaimed bassist Christian McBride serving as Artistic Director, internationally renowned jazz musicians serve as artists-in-residence, directing the Ensemble and providing individualized instruction for each student. Additional instruction is provided by Bay area jazz artists, and students take specifically designed courses at the Institute as well as through the Pacific Conservatory of Music. Students have diverse performance opportunities, including playing in the Institute Ensemble.

This year's Institute Sextet includes Scott McGinty on tenor saxophone, Mark Zaleski on alto saxophone, Shawn McGinty on trumpet, Joshua Gallagher on piano, Dominic Thiroux on bass, and Hayden Hawkins on drums, under the baton of J.P Dyas. In addition to the Minneapolis performance, the Sextet will perform at Yoshi’s in Oakland on April 11 as the final night of the Brubeck Festival. Hearing this group of young artists is a golden opportunity to hear the future of jazz!

A bonus for the Dakota audience this weekend will be the second set—vocalist Prudence Johnson and her quartet. One of the most popular songstresses in the Twin Cities, Prudence Johnson has had an eclectic career to say the least. A native of Moose Lake, MN, Johnson’s resume covers coffee houses in St. Cloud to tours of Russia, musical theater, regular appearances on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion, and even a bit role in Robert Redford’s film, A River Runs Through It. A founding member of Rio Nido (with Tim Sparks) in the 1980s, Johnson released several solo albums in the 1990s (including Grammy-nominated Little Dreamer in 1992). Her 2002 recording of Hoagy Carmichael tunes, Moon Country, brought renewed attention to this deserving artist. Wrote Jim Walsh (St. Paul Pioneer Press), “Armed with the timbre and phrasing that comes from years of experimentation, here's the sound of a true artist hitting her timeless stride.” Since then, she has led productions saluting Kurt Weill and Edna St. Vincent Millay and released a recording of Gershwin with pianist Dan Chouinard (‘S Gershwin). On this Dakota gig, Johnson teams with a stellar trio, including pianist Laura Caviani, bassist Gary Raynor, and drummer Joe Pulice.

The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis; visit www.dakotacooks.com. Friday and Saturday night, March 25-26, first set begins at 8 pm. For more information about the Brubeck Institute, visit www.brubeckinstitute.org. Prudence Johnson’s website is at www.prudencejohnson.com

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