Jeremy Walker, Photo by Andrea Canter

Jeremy Walker, artistic director of the Jazz Is Now! Orchestra and former owner of the late Brilliant Corners jazz club in St. Paul, is curating the new series, the brainchild of Dakota co-owner Lowell Pickett. Seeking to expand the Dakota’s audience as well as its musical scope, Pickett is seeking musicans who will bring a more adventurous bent to the club’s bookings, by offering leading edge jazz at affordable prices at an hour when most entertainment venues are winding down. In other words, Pickett wants to bring a bit of New York jazz life to the Midwest! Notes Walker, “The Dakota is a mythical place for all of us, both as performers and as listeners. The new series gives us a chance to present some of the most exciting music happening on the scene and to open up the Dakota to audiences who might not come up for the earlier shows. Plus, we hope those who catch the main event will stick around to hear what develops.”

Starting Friday night, September 9^th, the music in the late night series will start at 11:30 pm and run til 1:30 am, with a $3 cover. A late night “happy hour will also be added to the Dakota menu, featuring $3 beer and wine and other specials. “This is huge for music in Minneapolis,” says Walker. “As show times get earlier to entice downtown commuters, it leaves a great opportunity for more music later. This has been happening in New York for years and it is perfect that the Dakota is now offering it.”

September offerings include the following:

Photo by Howard A. Gittelson

September 9, Michael O’Brien, Brian Nichols, and Kelly Rossum. Popular trumpeter, composer, educator and bandleader Kelly Rossum takes the stage with former Minneapolis compatriot, bassist Michael O’Brien and pianist Brian Nichols. Anything can happen when these guys get together.

September 10, Fat Kid Wednesdays. With Adam Linz (FKG) on bass, JT Bates (Motion Poets, Kelly Rossum Quartet) on drums, and Mike Lewis (Happy Apple) on sax, sit back and enjoy “unfiltered improvisation” at its finest and edgiest.

September 16-17, Rachel Z. Her “regular” set will start at 10 with the usual weekend cover of $10. But come in late or stick around for “later” with one of the hottest young keyboardists in the country. New Yorker Rachel Nicolazzo—aka Rachel Z—studied with Joanne Brackeen and Richie Beirach and graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music. Influenced by Corea and Hancock, she toured with Najee and Steps Ahead as well as Larry Coryell, Al DiMeola and Special EFX. Rachel also collaborated with Wayne Shorter and recorded a Shorter tribute. Noted JazzReview.com, “To connect with new listeners without selling out or dumbing down, Rachel has found a way to make the age-old piano trio relevant and fresh to younger ears.”

More. Watch for late dates later this fall with St. Paul native/Manhattan School of Music student trumpet whiz Greg Paulus, local stars Kelly Rossum, Jim Anton, Dean Magraw and the Jazz Is Now! Nonet.

For more information and full schedule, visit www.dakotacooks.com or contact Jeremy Walker at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it