Barbara Morrison © Andrea Canter

On Peavey Plaza, Mercedes Benz Main Stage (11^th and Nicollet)

5-6 pm, Air Force Falconaires Big Band. Sponsored by the Twin Cities Jazz Society, the famed Air Force Falconaires Big Band will perform twice during HSJF. For 40 years, the 18-piece Falconaires (one of two premiere Air Force Bands) have thrilled national audiences with their traditional and contemporary charts as well as original tunes and arrangements. Notes trumpeter Bobby Shew, the Falconaires “are one of the finest big bands in the country.” You can catch the “Falcs” again on Saturday night, 7 pm, again on the Main Stage.

Frank Morgan © Andrea Canter

9-10:30 pm, Barbara Morrison. Few artists in recent memory have commanded the attention and adulation of local jazz audiences as has vocalist Barbara Morrison. Her multiple appearances at the Dakota in the past few years were highlighted by a live recording session, released last year on the Dakota Live label. For nearly 30 years, 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 Torme, 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 Adam (Glasgow Herald), “She makes an audience feel good, like we're all ’round at her place and she's feeding us in the kitchen.”

At the Millennium Hotel, 1313 Nicollet Mall

Gary Schulte © Andrea Canter

9 -10:15 pm, Twin Cities Hot Club. Hear four of Minnesota’s hottest of hot club musicians perform the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Guitarists Robert Bell and Reynald Philipsek, violinist Gary Schulte, and bassist Matt Senjem form one of the most popular of area hot club bands. Got dancing shoes?

10:45-midnight, Dennis Spears with Jon Weber and Peter Snell. The baritone voice of Moore by Four and one of the most popular vocalists in the area, Dennis Spears spews blues and velvet, giving you plenty of reason to stay til last call at the Millennium. Joining him tonight will be our own festival “house pianist” (and a walking encyclopedia of jazz trivia) Jon Weber. Based in Chicago, multi-talented Weber has been on the bandstand with many festival artists in recent years as well as fronting his own ensembles. The third member of tonight’s trio is saxophonist Peter Snell, leader of the Jazz Navigators and eclectic performer with area jazz, rock, funk and blues bands.

More Jazz!

Remember, the Hot Summer Jazz Festival runs through Sunday, June 25^th. Highlights of the upcoming weekend include:

Kelly Rossum © Andrea Canter

Saturday, June 24, from Noon—Trumpet Summit (David Young, Kelly Rossum, Dave Jensen), high school stars, Swing Dance, Norman Simmons with Vicky Mountain at the Nicollet Stage; Kenny Horst, Jim Marentic, Jon Weber & Jerry Weldon, Connie Evingson & Debbie Duncan on the Skyscape Stage; Tom Wegren, Butch Thompson, LarryMcDonough, and Jon Weber & Jerry Weldon (again) at the Millennium; and Norman Simmons, Air Force Falconaires, and Dewey Redman on the Mercedes Benz Main Stage.

Sunday, June 25, from Noon—MacPhail students and faculty combos, Jerry Weldon & Jon Weber, Schubert Club Jazz Piano Scholarship winners on the Nicollet Stage; Alicia Renee, Yohannes Tona, and the Phil Hey Quartet on the Skyscape Stage; the Twin Cities Jazz Vocal Coalition’s annual showcase at the Millennium; and the JazzMN Big Band and Nachito Herrera on the Mercedes Benz Main Stage.

Full schedule and more information about the Hot Summer Jazz Festival are available at www.hotsummerjazz.com. The stages are all on Nicollet Mall: Main Stage on Peavy Plaza at 11^th and Nicollet; Skyscape stage across the street at 11^th and Nicollet; Nicollet Stage down the block at 10^th and Nicollet; and the Millennium Hotel Stage at 1313 Nicollet. Visit Jazz Police for daily updates.