Photo by Andrea Canter

Finally, Moore reached Minnesota in 2000, releasing his second recording, To a Tee, and teaching guitar as well as performing with a long list of Twin Cities artists—Anthony Cox, Eric Leeds, Jay Epstein, Terry Burns, Billy Peterson, Gordy Johnson, Jay Young, Phil Hey, and Gordy Knudtson, and backing vocalists such as Christine Rosholt and Debbie Duncan. He also tours with the great Bobby Lyle Trio. The Clay Moore Trio was a popular act at St. Paul’s short-lived Brilliant Corners, and at Dakota, Dixie's on Grand, the Artists' Quarter, Cafe Luxx, Loring Pasta Bar, and Sophia. He’s also had a long-standing Monday night gig at Fireside Pizza in Richfield, is a regular performer at the new French Press Jazz Café in St. Paul, and has been a frequent performer at area jazz festivals. His latest recording, iDemelo, was ranked as one of the top CDs of 2004 by KBEM Jazz Radio.

David Singley is active as a jazz and pop guitarist as well as adjunct faculty member at Carlton College in Northfield, MN. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in jazz composition and arranging from Berkelee College of Music in Boston and a Master’s Degree in jazz studies from Indiana University, his resume includes performances with pop musicians Perry Como, Debbie Reynolds, Gene Pitney, Mary Wells, Rich Little, and Roger Williams; and with jazz artists Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Mintzer, James Moody, Arturo Sandoval, Phil Woods, George Shearing, Jim Snidero, and Tal Farlow. Singley has also worked as a pit musician for such Broadway shows The Lion King, A Chorus Line, Chicago, Fosse, Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donnie Osmond; for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Minnesota Opera Company; and has appeared on National Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion. Locally, Singley appears on numerous commercial jingles and nearly a dozen recordings, including his own debut CD, How My Heart Sings with Tom Lewis and Jay Epstein (who not so coincidentally are his rhythm mates for the Dakota gig). A published composer and arranger, Singley has recently been a member of the Jazz Mn Big Band, and plays and composes for Zona. Among many accolades, David Singley has been described as a “new voice for the jazz guitar” (Leigh Kamman, The Jazz Image); “one of the most tasteful and accomplished guitarists in town” (Tom Surowicz, Minneapolis Star-Tribune); and “one of the up-and-coming jazz musician/composers” (Bob Protzman, St. Paul Pioneer-Press).

Photo by Andrea Canter

Gig organizer Jeff Perry is a native Minnesotan who attended Berklee in Boston and the Academy for Creative Musicians (ACM) in Chicago, where he studied with Bobby Broom. With influences traced to Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, and Mike Stern, Perry has played in a diverse groups from big bands (playing for the Mayor of Chicago), to Mexican bands in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, to hard rock bands opening for the Smashing Pumpkins, to performing in Germany's Freiwield Festival. Locally, you can hear Jeff Perry at the Dakota with his Loose Strings Quartet and with the corporate band, Vanguard. Dubbed “a beautiful composer'” (bassist Dave Holland) and “a fabulous guitarist'” (Dakota Jazz Club), Perry has released his self-produced, The Unbearable Looseness of Strings. Comparing his work to Pat Metheney and John Scofield, the Twin Cities Jazz Society noted, “In the best sense, he is a fusion guitarist who draws from these sources and melds them into a personal voice that encompasses the intelligence of jazz with the emotion of blues and romanticism of Brazilian music.”

Photo by Andrea Canter

The accompanying pulse drivers are certainly up to the task of supporting these virtuoso guitarists: Bassist Tom Lewis is a busy sideman throughout the Twin Cities, a “straight-ahead, hard bop, and bebop bassist and he swings like anything” (Don Berryman, Jazz Police). In addition to regular duties with the Phil Aaron Trio, Lewis is often seen at the Artists Quarter with the Phil Hey Quartet and The Five. Drummer Jay Epstein is seen all over the Twin Cities, often in the company vocalists (Christine Rosholt, Connie Evingson) and top instrumentalists (Gordy Johnson, Benny Weinbeck); he is a regular timekeeper for the Phil Aaron Trio and Red Planet, and recently supported Italian pianist Giacomo Aula as a member of the Midwest Trio. He has released a highly acclaimed recording, Long Ago.

The strings will rule on July 28^th. Don’t miss this rare local “guitar summit” and jam at the Dakota!

The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis; visit www.dakotacooks.com. Clay Moore, Dave Singley, and Jeff Perry will be on stage from 7 pm ($4 cover).