Photo by Andrea Canter

St. Paul gets the spotlight first, with the Noon-dark sets at Mears Park in Lowertown on Saturday, June 18^th, followed by Charles McPherson’s second night at the Artists Quarter (he also plays Friday night). But then the festival comes to Minneapolis, and the line-up at the Dakota makes each night a must-see:

Sunday, June 19^th—The Girls (7 pm). Cap off Fathers’ Day with the Girls, and he’ll remember this holiday for years to come. 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. The Girls: 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 McNally Smith College, 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 songstress, 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).

Monday, June 20, Andy Farber (7 pm). Andy Farber is a hard swinging tenor saxophonist with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. A prolific arranger and composer, he has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks, Shirley Horn, Ann Hampton Calloway, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, and Roseanna Vitro; his works have been performed by major orchestras in the U.S. and Europe. The son of a drummer, Farber grew up on Long Island surrounded by music, particularly listening to Art Blakey, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. He studied clarinet, saxophone and oboe, and through an audition for Branford Marsalis, was accepted into The Tri-state McDonalds' Jazz Ensemble. He went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music, where he formed his own quintet, The Hard Bop Repertory Company, which expanded into a 15-piece ensemble. In the early 1990s, Farber became Musical Director, arranger, and saxophonist for the The Jon Hendricks Explosion, later joining the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. In addition to freelancing for many artists and orchestras, Farber now leads his own 9-piece band, Andy Farber & his Swing Mavens, heard on his latest release, Bluesectomy. For his Dakota debut, Farber will be supported by the Twin Cities all-star rhythm section, Laura Caviani on piano, Gordy Johnson on bass, and Phil Hey on drums.

Photo by Howard A. Gitelson

Photo by Howard A. Gitelson

Friday-Saturday, June 24-25, Patty Peterson (8 pm). Daughter of jazz matriarch Jeanne Arland Peterson and sister of recording artists Linda, Billy, Ricky and Paul Peterson, Patty Peterson has performed at nationally renowned jazz venues, including The Vine Street Bar and Grill in Hollywood and at the Dakota here in the Twin Cities. She has received the Minnesota Music Award 7 times for Best Female Vocalist and Best Group, and for "Best Jazz Recording" for her debut CD, The More I See You. In addition to her singing career, she has worked as an actress, print ad model, and national anthem singer, and, for seven straight years, was the number one female radio personality on WCCO radio. Said Jon Bream (Minneapolis Star Tribune), “She can cover anything from Chaka Kahn to Cole Porter with equal authority, exhibiting star quality and drive!" Joining Patty for this festival weekend are the best of the Twin Cities: Mr. Lyricism himself, Chris Lomheim on piano; veteran artist/arranger/ producer Tony Axtell on bass; a model of elegance and time, Michael Pilhofer on drums; and special guest and veteran of the Tonight Show Band, saxophonist Tommy Peterson.

Happy Hour! Come by early and enjoy some great Happy Hour music and bar/kitchen specials. From 4:30-6 pm, on Wednesdays – Sophia Shorai; Thursdays – JoAnn Funk; Fridays, Jazz by Fosse with Irv Williams.