Frank Morgan, photo by Andrea Canter

From its first year as a one-day event in 1999, the Hot Summer Jazz Festival now draws over 75,000 with six days of multi-stage acts spread over a ten-day period. Two pre-festival events will be held on suburban stages (this year in Eden Prairie on June 11^th, and in Wayzata on June 14th). Other special festival events include the annual Visual Jazz art show at Kingman Studios in northeast Minneapolis throughout the festival, and the “Jazz Night Out” club crawl in downtown Minneapolis on the evening of June 22^nd. In addition to new and seasoned musicians, student and youth groups will be showcased on festival stages in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Festival highlights follow; see www.hotsummerjazz.com for a full schedule and updates.

Festival Warm-ups in the Burbs

Eden Prairie hosts its annual big band bash at Staring Lake Park Amphitheater, with six big band sets starting at 3 pm, with the last band at 8 pm. This year’s line-up includes the Stan Bann Big Band, Just Friends Big Band, River City Jazz Orchestra, Good News Big Band, Bend in the River Big Band (also at Mears Park on June 17^th), and the Jazz on the Prairie Big Band. On June 14 at the Depot in Wayzata (402 E. Lake Street), the Swamp Twisters will groove through their Crescent City repertoire from 7-8:30 pm.

Mears Park, St. Paul, June 16-17 (5^th Street East at Sibley)

The Summit Stage in Mears Park, Lowertown St. Paul, will feature a salute to Latin Jazz, and this year an extra evening has been added to extend the fun. Mears Park is a lovely touch of sanity in the midst of urban bustle. The Friday night headliner (6:45 pm), Mose Allison, makes his almost-annual pilgrimage to the Twin Cities, performing a set on the outdoor stage before heading up to the Artists Quarter for a two-night gig. A unique performer with widespread appeal, Allison fuses his boogie-woogie chops with Delta blues and groovin’ bop in support of his vocal satire. His compositions and lyrics have become favorites not only of jazz and blues fans, but of musicians themselves, including Pete Townshend, Van Morrison, and Diana Krall. Other acts Friday night include guitar whizkid Chris Graham and the George Avaloz Band.

Bobby Sanabria

Friday night (June 16), Summit Stage at Mears Park:

• 5:00 pm, Chris Graham

• 6:45 pm, Mose Allison

• 8:30 pm, George Avaloz Band

Saturday (June 17), Summit Stage at Mears Park:

• Noon, Walker West Music Academy

• 1:30 pm, Jesse Kegan

• 3:00 pm, Bend in the River Big Band

• 4:30 pm, Nachito Herrera

• 6:00 pm, Salsa del Soul

• 8:00 pm, Bobby Sanabria

The Minneapolis “House” Musicians

Jerry Weldon, photo by Andrea Canter

For the past several years, Chicago-based pianist Jon Weber has traveled west to spend festival week manning keyboards for multiple musicians as well as providing late night entertainment at the Millennium and a set of his own. A true child prodigy, Weber not only has incredible command of his instrument, but he is a virtual walking (or biking) encyclopedia of musical trivia and history. Joining Weber in several contexts as well as reprising his 2005 appearances will be tenor sax virtuoso Jerry Weldon, a graduate of Captain Jack McDuff’s Heatin’ System. See the full schedule for the duo and individual appearances of these star artists.

Thursday (June 22) in Minneapolis

The festival moves to downtown Minneapolis for the remainder of the festival, June 22-25. And the highlight of Thursday night is the Jazz Night Out club crawl, with Rivertown Trolley’s giving all holders of the Jazz Night Out pin a free ride from one venue to another (pins—aka tickets—are available for $25 to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity and Project Pride in Living). The list of participating clubs and their featured artists will be available online, but usually seven or more venues stretching from downtown to the warehouse district across to the St. Anthony Falls area along the river join the party. Two festival stages are open and cooking hot jazz as well, including the Mercedes-Benz main stage on Peavy Plaza and the indoor lounge at the Millennium Hotel down the block. One of the biggest draws of the night will be Minnesota’s “First Lady of Song” Debbie Duncan on stage at the Dakota with festival “house” pianist Jon Weber.

Peavy Plaza will see a repeat performance of the amazing Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth (MITY) Jazz Band, under the leadership of band director Scott Carter (5 pm), the always ebullient vocalist Ginger Commodore and her quartet (6:30 pm), and smooth jazz sensation, saxist Dan Kusz (8:30 pm). For a nightcap with style, down at the Millennium, catch master of straight-ahead vibraphone Bill Crutcher at 9 pm and the dynamic duo of pianist Tanner Taylor and alto saxman Doug Haining (10:45 pm).

Friday, June 23^rd in Minneapolis

The action starts Friday on Peavy Plaza with one of the biggest of the nation’s big bands, the Air Force Falconaires, followed by two of the festival’s legendary headliners, Frank Morgan and Barbara Morrison.

Frank Morgan was born in Minneapolis and recently returned to his roots with a “welcome home” bash at the Dakota. His energetic alto belies his 70+ years, three decades of heroin addiction and recent health problems. His comeback following years of incarceration in the mid-1980s to regain the highest level of burning bop was nothing short of remarkable. Noted Gary Giddens in the Village Voice (1986), “Morgan's alto sound is supple and lyrical in a way that recalls Benny Carter almost as much as Parker. His tone is fuller in the lower notes than on top, and it can be prim and dry, which makes his frequent use of pinched high notes to pace himself and increase tension all the more effective.” Now “home” 20 years later, Morgan can still blow most younger cats off the stand. “There is no one around who is better on the alto saxophone. What comes out of his horn is soulful, full of fire and timeless” (Wynton Marsalis). Morgan will be joined by young trumpet sensation from Chicago, David Young.

Barbara Morrison, photo by Andrea Canter

Barbara Morrison. She played to a packed house for two nights at the Dakota last January, and you better arrive early to claim a seat near the Mercedes Benz Stage at the festival. For nearly 30 years, Barbara Morrison has performed with a virtual "who's who" in jazz and blues, including Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Ron Carter, Etta James, Jimmy Smith, Johnny Otis, Dr. John, Kenny Burrell, Terence Blanchard, Joe Sample, Cedar Walton, Nancy Wilson, Mel Tormé, Joe Williams, and Tony Bennett. She’s appeared on more than 20 recordings from mainstream jazz to blues to gospel and pop. She can belt out the blues, torch a torch song, and squeeze the soul out of soul, and along the way, she’s a dazzling entertainer and comedienne. Said Rob Adams in the Glasgow Herald, “She makes an audience feel good, like we're all round at her place and she's feeding us in the kitchen.”

Schedule, Friday June 23^rd:

Mercedes Benz Stage (Peavy Plaza, Nicollet Mall & 11^th St)

• 5:00 pm, Air Force Falconaires Big Band

• 7:00 pm, Frank Morgan with David Young

• 9:00 pm, Barbara Morrison

Millennium Hotel Stage (1313 Nicollet Mall)

• 9:00 pm, Twin Cities Hot Club

• 10:45 pm, Dennis Spears with Jon Weber and Peter Snell

Kingman Studios (1901 Grand St NE, Minneapolis)

• 10 pm, Visual Jazz Art Show (opening), music by Chill 7 and others!

Saturday, June 24^th in Minneapolis

The final festival weekend finds music on all four stages on Nicollet Mall. Decisions, decisions! Start times are somewhat staggered and the stages are quite close together, so if you have your running shoes and plenty of sunscreen, you can see most of these talented musicians!

Dewey Redman © Howard A. Gitelson

Dewey Redman follows a repeat performance by the Falconaires and pianist Norman Simmons with his trio on the Mercedes Benz Stage, with Simmons starting things off at 4:30 pm. This will definitely be one of the most adventurous sets of the festival. Now known more as the father of tenor lion Joshua Redman, Dewey is a tenor titan in his own right, a master composer, educator, and performer who spent much of his career on the west coast before joining Ornette Coleman’s quartet (1967-74). He’s also worked with Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Ed Blackwell and more, in straight ahead as well as free jazz contexts. Said the New York Times of Redman’s artistry, “It's poetry, some of the most cliché-free saxophone playing you'll hear today.”

At noon, check out the varied concessions on Peavy Plaza and bring your eats a block down the Mall to the Nicollet Stage (at 10^th Street), where things kickoff with a Trumpet Summit featuring Chicago’s David Young and the Twin Cities’ own Kelly Rossum and Dave Jensen. Young has been turning Chicagoland on its ear, turning down an offer to join Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra to finish his degree at Northwestern. This is an exciting, melodic artist with a 21^st century sound. Kelly Rossum straddles genres as a member of classical, electric, and acoustic ensembles. He’s an expert on the Baroque trumpet as well as one of the most talented performers and composers in Twin Cities jazz. He’s always a treat to hear, with his own edgy quartet or big band. Dave Jensen is a member of the brass quintet The Hornheads, the JazzMN Big Band, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet, and the Kathy J Band. And he blows one of the sweetest horns around. This will be a summit of trumpet talent!

Another Chicago musician appearing in several configurations this year, pianist Norman Simmons is known as an adept accompaniest to vocalists such as Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day and Betty Carter, as well as a consummate soloist, composer and arranger. On the Nicollet Stage he joins forces with renowned MacPhail teacher and area singer Vicky Mountain. Vicky is not on club stages often, so be sure to take advantage of her appearance at the festival if you want a showcase of modern interpretations of great songs. More great music will follow on the Nicollet Stage, from big bands to student all-stars and it all ends with a great big swing dance.

Connie Evingson, Photo by Andrea Canter

On the nearby Skyscape Stage on the Mall at 11^th Street, with an earlier start time (2 pm), you should have no trouble taking in the hot boppin’ sounds of Artists Quarter drummer/owner Kenny Horst and his AQ All-Stars, followed by Jim Marentic’s Coltrane Connection Sextet, Jon Weber and Jerry Weldon, and finishing off the evening with vocal duo Connie Evingson and Debbie Duncan. The latter songbirds bring very different styles to the music, Evingson offering a more mellow approach to a diverse repertoire that emphasizes lyric as much as melody, Duncan more likely to cover the blues with hell-bent passion and, at times, a down-and-gritty soul. Put these together on the same stage and you can cover the history of vocal music with a scat and a smile.

The Millennium Hotel Stage opens on Saturday at 6 pm with a keyboard showcase, featuring Duluth pianist Tom Wegren, our own legend of rag and trad, Butch Thompson, and modern mainstream ace Larry McDonough, with another hot set from Jon Weber and Jerry Weldon closing the evening. Larry McDonough may be less familiar to festival audiences but his artistry at the keyboard, as composer and arranger as well as performer, should be one of the highlights of the weekend. A St. Paulite whose day job is serving as a Legal Aid attorney, Larry has one of the most inventive minds in area jazz, and his chops translate ideas into harmonic and temporal masterpieces.

The Saturday line-up:

Mercedes Benz Main Stage (Peavy Plaza)

Photo by Andrea Canter

• 4:30 pm, Norman Simmons Quartet

• 7:00 pm, Air Force Falconaires Big Band

• 9:00 pm, Dewey Redman

Nicollet Stage (Nicollet Mall at 10^th St)

• Noon, Trumpet Summit

• 1:30 pm, Norman Simmons with Vicky Mountain

• 3:00 pm, IAJE Mid Level State Honor Ensemble directed by Doug Snapp

• 4:30 pm, High School Big Band

• 6:00 pm, Minnesota IAJE All-Stars

• 7:30 pm, Swing Dance with Mood Swing, featuring Laurie Trach

Skyscape Stage (Nicollet Mall at 11^th Street)

• 2:00 pm, Kenny Horst Quartet

• 3:30 pm, Jim Marentic and the Coltrane Connection Sextet

• 6:00 pm, Jon Weber and Jerry Weldon

• 8:00 pm, Connie Evingson and Debbie Duncan

Millennium Hotel Stage (1313 Nicollet Mall)

• 6:00 pm, Tom Wegren

• 7:30 pm, Butch Thompson

• 9:00 pm, Larry McDonough

• 10:45 pm, Jon Weber and Jerry Weldon

Sunday, June 25^th in Minneapolis

JazzMN Big Band, Photo bt Andrea Canter

Another day of music on four stages, the final festival day features a bevy of local talent. The main stage on Peavy Plaza features two of the best in their respective arenas, the JazzMN Big Band at 2:30 pm and another set from Nachito Herrera, this time with a high school big band, at 4:30 pm. A very popular band at area festivals, the JazzMn Big Band is a professional ensemble comprised of a who’s who list of area musicians, including saxophonists Dave Karr, Dave Milne, and Pete Whitman, trumpter Dave Jensen, trombonist Dave Graf, guitarist Dave Singley, bassist Terry Burns, pianist Laura Caviani, drummer Joe Pulice, and more. Led by area educator Doug Snapp, the JazzMN Big Band plays a season of concerts each year with such legendary guest stars as Slide Hampton and Peter Erskine. Expect a set of great Basie and Ellington era standards, jazz classics, and new and original works.

From noon til late afternoon, local talents prevail on the Skyscape Stage, starting with the sweet pure tones of young vocalist Alicia Renee, followed by another young talent, bassist Yohannes Tona, and capped off with a set from veteran drummer Phil Hey and his quartet. The PHQ quartet (with Dave Hagedorn on vibes, Phil Aaron on piano and Tom Lewis on bass) has the excitement of the Modern Jazz Quartet paired with the inventiveness of these 21^st century sonic magicians. They’ll be hot off a weekend of live recording at the Artists Quarter (June 2-3) and will also be on the bandstand at the AQ on June 15th.

With the exceptional exception of another set from Jon Weber and Jerry Weldon at 1:15 pm, the Nicollet Stage will be devoted to the students and teachers of jazz---MacPhail students and faculty, and a final set featuring the recent winners of the 2005 Schubert Club/Dakota Foundation Jazz Piano Competition. Three young men, all still with a year or more of high school, raised plenty of eyebrows during the final performances in front of judges in late May. Hear Jacob Wittenberg (15), Joel Friedman (17), and grand winner Javier Santiago (16) prove that jazz is not only alive, but in good hands for years to come.

The main event at the Millennium Hotel Sunday afternoon (noon- 7 pm) will be the annual Jazz Vocal Coalition Showcase, featuring area vocalists Lila Ammons, Tommy Bruce, Dorothy Doring, Connie Dusseau, Arne Fogel, Maud Hixson, Rhonda Laurie, Connie Olson, Christine Rosholt, Sue Tucker, and Vicky Mountain. A network of area singers devoted to jazz, the Twin Cities JzVOC is one of three affiliates of the national organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of jazz singing. The local chapter has staged monthly showcases at the Dakota in the past year, and includes many of the area’s most accomplished jazz vocalists.

The Sunday schedule:

Mercedes Benz Main Stage (Peavy Plaza)

• 2:30 pm, JazzMN Big Band

• 4:30 pm, Nachito Herrera

Skyscape Stage (Nicollet Mall and 11^th St)

• Noon, Alicia Renee

• 1:30 pm, Yohannes Tona

• 3:30 pm, Phil Hey Quartet

Nicollet Stage (Nicollet Mall and 10^th St)

• Noon, MacPhail Center for Music Jazz Combos

• 1:15 pm, Jerry Weldon and Jon Weber

• 2:30 pm, MacPhail Jazz Faculty

• 3:45 pm, Open Jam, MacPhail Jazz Faculty

• 5:00 pm, Schubert Club/Dakota Foundation Jazz Piano Competition Winners Showcase

Millennium Hotel Stage (1313 Nicollet Mall)

• Noon- 7 pm, Jazz Vocal Coalition Showcase

More!

There’s always more going on throughout the festival. Area artists and merchants will display their wares along Nicollet Mall; concessions ranging from “state fair” traditions like corn dogs to more upscale ethnic fare, ice cream, wine and beer, etc. will be offered on Peavy Plaza. And during the festival and continuing into the following week, area clubs will offer special guests:

At the Dakota (1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; www.dakotacooks.com)

• June 13, The Yellowjackets

• June 16-17, Nachito Herrera (tribute to the Buena Vista Social Club)

• June 18-19, E.S.T

• June 20, Charmin Michelle

• June 21, Brian Grivna

• June 22, Debbie Duncan and Jon Weber (Jazz Night Out)

• June 23, Peterson Family

• June 25, Christine Rosholt and Johnny Frigo

• June 26-27, Kevin Mahogany with Red Holloway

At the Artists Quarter (---St. Peter St, St. Paul; www.artistsquarter.com)

• June 14, How Birds Work

• June 15, Phil Hey Quartet

• June 16-17, Mose Allison

• June 19, Green/Open Poetry

• June 20, B-3 Organ Night (The Tuesday Night Band)

• June 21, Tanner Taylor Trio

• June 23, Alicia Wiley

• June 24, Tuesday Night Band

At the French Press Jazz Café (213 E. 4^th St., St. Paul, www.fpjazz.com)

• June 13, Yohannes Tona Band

• June 14, John Raymond Project

• June 16, Greg Schaefer Trio

• June 23, Ticket to Brasil

• June 24, J. Tyler O’Neill Trio

Check area club listings for updated schedules!

More and updated information about the Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival is available online at www.hotsummerjazz.com. Check back with Jazz Police(www.jazzpolice.com) and JazzINK (www.jazzink.com) for additional coverage and profiles of artists.