Kelly Rossum photo by Andrea Canter

Upcoming Highlights

July 29, August 12; August 26 (8:30 pm, $5 cover)—The New Standards. "The New Standards" features Chan Poling (of the “Suburbs”) on piano and vocals, John Munson of the local pop band, “Semisonic,” on upright bass and vocals, and Steve Roehm (of “Your Neighborhood Trio”) on vibes, and presents a modern blend of music from the best songwriters of the last half of the twentieth century.

July 30, 8:30 pm ($5 cover)—The Steve Westby Quartet with Marv Dahlgren. Twin Cities drummer Steve Westby issued a well-received recording back in the mid-1990s, Cymbalism; featured on that recording was master vibist/percussionist Marv Dahlgren. It’s been over a decade since that release, but the music plays on with this special appearance at the French Press. Dahlgren, former principal percussionist/assistant timpanist for the Minnesota Orchestra, has a long resume of teaching, performing, and publishing that also includes recordings with Cat Stevens and Leo Kottke, and a number of commercial jingles. A member of the McNally Smith College percussion faculty, a scholarship at the college (formerly MusicTech) has been established in Dahlgren’s honor. Author of noted works for percussion instruction, Dahlgren was recently described by Artists Quarter owner/drummer Kenny Horst (on the celebration of Dahlgren’s 80^th birthday last September) as "one of the foremost percussion instructors in the world."

Photo by Andrea Canter

August 5, 8:30 pm ($5 cover)-- Paul Harper Quartet. This group of innovators explores the music of such legendary composers as John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and Steve Swallow. The Quartet features leader Paul Harper on woodwinds (flute, tenor and soprano saxophones), Joel Shapira on guitar, Michael Gold on bass, and Haralds Bondaris on drums. Paul Harper is a versatile player who is equally at home in jazz and classical settings, as well as in Brazilian, reggae, funk styles, performing for over 30 years in duos, small and large bands, and chamber music ensembles. Joel Shapira is a well-known area freelance guitarists and co-leader of the acclaimed group Triplicate. He also performs regularly in duo with vocalist Charmin Michelle and Paul Harper, among a long list of other artists. Bassist Michael Gold established his career as performer and educator in New York, ran the jazz program at Vasser, and has performed with Lee Konitz, Hank Jones, Warne Marsh, Tal Farlow, Al Cohn, Larry Coryell and John Hendricks. Latvia native Haralds Bondaris began playing drums professionally at age 16, and traverses jazz, Brazilian, and hard rock genres with his busy schedule of area performances.

Photo by Andrea Canter

August 6, 8:30 pm ($5 cover)—Kelly Rossum and Chris Lomheim. Two stellar performers join forces for an evening of inventive and sublime duo jazz. One of the most creative musicians around, trumpter/educator Kelly Rossum has freelanced in rock, swing, jazz and classical ensembles and performed with the Lyra Consort; he is on the faculty of the MacPhail Center for Music as a trumpet and jazz instructor. With his own jazz bands, Rossum released the all-acoustic Party’s Over/Begun (2002, Yebo), and then Renovation (612 Sides), which was named one of the top 20 local albums of 2004 by the Star Tribune and one of the top 10 by City Pages. Noted Courtney Lewis in Minnesota Monthly, Renovation “solidifies what the local jazz scene has come to love about him: studious authority and the knowledge necessary to pull off unconventional compositions and instrumental choices.” A regular performer at the Artists Quarter and Dakota, Chris Lomheim started organ studies at age 7, moved on to piano and was into R&B in the 1980s. He was featured at the West Bank School of Music Composer’s Forum in 1991 and nominated as top pianist in the 1997 Minnesota Music Awards. Jeremy Walker of Brilliant Corners called Lomheim “the most sensitive and romantic player you will hear around the Twin Cities' scene. He has prodigious piano technique and an individual ear for harmony.” Often compared to Bill Evans, Lomheim has made two acclaimed trio recordings, And You’ve Been Waiting? (1994, IGMOD) and The Bridge (2002, Artegra). Put Kelly and Chris together and you have one incredible evening of music!

August 13, 8:30 pm ($5 cover)-- The Dan Kusz Band. Young 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

August 19, 8:30 pm ($5)—The Ascension Quartet. If some of the musicians look familiar, it’s because three-quarters of the Ascension Quartet is three-quarters of the Paul Harper Quartet—woodwind virtuoso Paul Harper, bassist Michael Gold, and drummer Haralds Bondaris (see August 5^th above). Rounding out Ascension is guitarist Kevin Daley, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and veteran of the faculties of St. Mary's College, Bemidji State University, MacPhail Center for the Arts, and the Minnesota Center for Arts Education. Voted best jazz-fusion guitarist at the Minnesota Music Awards in 1988, he was selected as a featured performer for the Twin Cities Jazz Society's concert series in 1993. Working on such diverse projects as Broadway shows at the Ordway, the New Music Theatre Ensemble, and Zeitgeist, as well as with a variety of jazz and pop groups, Daley also currently teaches at McNally Smith College (MuscicTech) in St. Paul. Covering bebop through modern jazz and the Brazilian sounds of samba, bossa nova, and frevo, the Ascension Quartet promises its audience a high spirited, eclectic evening.

Photo by Andrea Canter

August 20, 8:30 pm ($5 cover)—Alicia Wiley. Alicia Wiley is a relative newcomer, dazzling audiences with her piano, voice, and songwriting chops. With a background in classical and jazz piano, and exhibiting a strong pop influence in her compositions, this young (22!) Minnesota Music Award winning artist is making waves—find out why.

August 27, 8:30 pm ($5 cover)—The Park Evans Quartet. Integrating Latin, West African, funk and reggae into their own original music, Peter Vircks (saxophone), Cody McKinney (bass), Greg Schutte (drums) and Park Evans (guitar) promise an evening of exciting music.

The French Press Jazz Café is located at 213 E. 4^th Street, St. Paul; visit www.fpjazz.com

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