Photo by Andrea Canter

The Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival seems to get hotter by the day. Friday, June 24^th, will sizzle and steam from noon til midnight, on three stages in the middle of downtown Minneapolis. Except for the Dakota’s weekend show, all festival events are free!

Mercedes Benz Main Stage on Peavy Plaza (12^th and Nicollet Mall)

12:45-2:00 pm, Clearwater Hot Club. With young Sam Miltich on guitar, the Clearwater Hot Club has been winning more and more fans of gypsy swing music. Featured on Connie Evingson’s latest recording, Gypsy in My Soul, these guys will make you stand up and dance.

2:30-3:30 pm, Shahin Novrasli. The most exciting import from Azerbaijan, this blazing pianist was a big hit at the 2004 HSJF. Blending his background in classical music with the traditional music of his homeland, Novrasli will thrill you with his passion, melody, harmony and abstract concepts.

4:00- 5:00 pm, Dan Kusz. Young (just 21!) saxophonist Dan Kusz plays tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, mixing rock, pop, r&b, and jazz all in one to create an original sound. Recently on stage at the KBEM Winter Jazz Festival, Kuz works as a studio musician and instructor as well as leader of the official house band of KJZI Smooth Jazz 100.3. He’s been a regular performer since the opening of the French Press Jazz Café in St. Paul.

5:30-6:45 pm, Henry Johnson and the Organ Express. Chicago guitar wizard Henry Johnson got his start in gospel music, inspired by Wes Montgomery to turn to jazz. Working with Jack McDuff, Ramsey Lewis, and Joe Williams paved the way for his own ensembles, including his current McDuff-style project.

7:15-8:30 pm, Jerry Weldon. After his Jazz Night Out sets at the Dakota on Thursday, Weldon is back on stage with his own ensemble, this time as a freebie. This incendiary tenor saxist won many fans a few months ago when he was at the Dakota with Joey DeFrancesco and the Heatin’ System Band. An alum of Lionel Hampton’s Big Band and the original Heating System with Jack McDuff, Weldon combines bop with a strong sense of swing and a soulful horn. (Students and fans, catch Weldon’s open clinic in the McPhail tent on Saturday at 3 pm.)

Jimmy Haslip Photo by Andrea Canter

The Dakota

8:00 pm, Patty Peterson with Tommy Peterson (also Saturday night). Daughter of jazz matriarch Jeanne Arland Peterson and sister of recording artists Linda, Billy, Ricky and Paul Peterson, Patty Peterson 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. This weekend, she will be backed by the all-star band of Chris Lomheim on piano, Tony Axtell on bass, Michael Pilhofer on drums, and special guest, Tommy Peterson (The Tonight Show Band) on sax. Said Jon Bream (Minneapolis Star Tribune), “She can cover anything from Chaka Kahn to Cole Porter with equal authority, exhibiting star quality and drive!" ($10 cover)

Millennium Hotel Lounge (13^th and Nicollet Mall)

4:00-5:30 pm, The Five. This popular ensemble promotes jazz as modern American chamber music, as inspired by the Modern Jazz Quartet, Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and the early bands of Herbie Hancock. The Five include drummer (and Artists Quarter owner) Kenny Horst; trumpeter Steve Kenny (best known as a founding member of the Illicit Sextet); bassist Tom Lewis (regular compatriot of Phil Hey and Phil Aaron); veteran first-call pianist Mikkel Romstad; and master of reeds and flute, Dave Karr (whose Gerry Mulligan tribute band, Mulligan Stew, will also perform during the festival).

Owen Nelson Photo by Andrea Canter

Photo by Amdrea Canter

Photo by Andrea Canter

6:00-7:00 pm, The Eggz. The HSJF promotes young talent and the Eggz are now veterans of at least two festivals. We first heard these guys when they were 13-14 year-olds, and now at the ripe old ages of 16-18, their resumes include gigs at the Dakota and one recording. The Eggz include alto saxophonist Owen Nelson, pianist (and recent winner of one of the Schubert Club/Dakota Foundation Jazz Piano Scholarships) Micah Fitch, bassist Chris Smith, and drummer Miguel Hurtado. Unlike a lot of teen ensembles, this quartet has been together from the beginning and have grown not only as individual talents but as true collaborators.

8:30-10:00 pm, Shahin Novrasli. Once is not enough, if you missed this amazing pianist earlier on Peavy Plaza, or just want another dose, Novrasli will play another set –this time indoors. (See above.)

10:30 pm-12:30 am, Jon Weber and Guests. Unofficially the “house pianist” for the past few festivals, Jon Weber brings not only his outstanding chops but his encyclopedic knowledge of music to the Millennium lounge for the best nightcap in town. You never know who will turn up to join Weber on the bandstand, but you can bet on some of the most talented vocalists and rhythm section artists. After a hot day of jazz, chill out with Jon.

For the full HSJF lineup and schedule, visitwww.hotsummerjazz.com. And don’t forget that there’s jazz across the river this weekend, with How Birds Work on stage at the Artists Quarter (www.mnjazz.org).