David Young © Andrea Canter

Nicollet Stage (10^th and Nicollet Mall)

Much of the afternoon will highlight students and faculty from our own MacPhail Center for Music:

• 12-1 pm, MacPhail Jazz Combos

• 2:30-3:30 pm, Jazz Faculty

• 3:45-4:45 pm, Open Jam with Faculty

Jerry Weldon © Andrea Canter

Other events on the Nicollet Stage:

1:15-2:15 pm, Jon Weber and Jerry Weldon. Together yet again, this will be their third and final collaboration of the HSJF.

Javier Santiago © Andrea Canter

5-6 pm, Schubert Club/Dakota Foundation Jazz Piano Scholarship Winners. The second annual competition awarded three scholarships, and these three young pianists will be demonstrating the skills that earned them these awards. Come here Joel Friedman, Javier Santiago, and Jacob Wittenberg.

Skyscape Stage (11^th and Nicollet Mall)

The first two sets focus on young rising stars, the final set features one of the finest small jazz ensembles you’ll ever here, anywhere.

Noon-1 pm, Alicia Renee. She’s been singing at the festival since she was still a high school student, when she won a summer songwriting competition at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Now an old hand in her early 20s, Alicia has a voice that will amaze you as it did the CD reviewer of Jazz Times magazine, who noted, “It’s impossible not to be impressed with Minneapolis wunderkind Alicia Renee” following her 2002 CD debut, Wait for Me. On piano with Alicia will be young pianist Elizabeth Stoikan, home on break from studies at Oberlin College. Elizabeth was one of the finalists in the first annual Schubert Club/Dakota Foundation Jazz Piano Competition last year.

1:30-2:30 pm, Yohannes Tona. Ethiopian immigrant Yohannes Tona studied guitar and then bass in his homeland, and attended Yared, Ethiopia’s lone music school, at sixteen. He came to the U.S. to study at the Berklee College of Music, and from there was recruited to become music director for the Ethiopian Church in Minneapolis. Here he has played with the Grammy-nominated Excelsior Choir and other gospel groups, as well as top area vocalists including T. Mychal Rambo, Bruce Henry, and Debbie Duncan. With his own band, Yohannes plays Coltrane and “Afro jazz funk.”

Phil Hey © Andrea Canter

3:30-4:30 pm, Phil Hey Quartet. If you redesigned the Modern Jazz Quartet for the 21^st century, it would probably resemble the Phil Hey Quartet. Drummer Phil Hey is one of the busiest musicians in the Twin Cities, playing with numerous ensembles and backing touring musicians at the Dakota and Artists Quarter. A former student of Ed Blackwell, Hey also teaches at Macalester. Last year he released his first quartet album, Subduction, and has a nearly monthly gig at the Artists Quarter. Joining Phil today is his regular mallets player, the incomparable Dave Hagedorn; master bassist Gordon Johnson (filling in for Tom Lewis), and former Twin Citian and amazing pianist Bill Carrothers (filling in for Phil Aaron).

Millennium Hotel (1313 Nicollet Mall)

© Andrea Canter

Again this year the Millennium hosts the Jazz Vocal Coalition Showcase, from noon til 7 pm. One of only three chapters in the country, the Twin Cities edition of JzVOC has been holding monthly showcases at the Dakota. Today, eleven coalition members will be on the bandstand—Lila Ammons, Tommy Bruce, Dorothy Doring, Connie Dusseau, Arne Fogel, Maude Hixson, Rhonda Laurie, Connie Olson, Christine Rosholt, Sue Tucker, and Vicky Mountain. Expect some great solo sets and perhaps a few surprises. Two great rhythm sections will provide the support—from noon til 4 pm, Chris Lomheim (piano), Graydon Peterson (bass) and Mac Santiago (drums); from 4-8 pm, Tanner Taylor (piano), Kevin Clements (bass) and Jay Epstein (drums). For anyone who enjoys jazz voice, this is the best opportunity of the year to sample some of the finest vocalists in the Twin Cities.

Mercedes Benz Main Stage (Peavey Plaza)

Two of the most popular jazz acts in the Twin Cities close out the festival:

2:30-3:30 pm, JazzMN Big Band. Under the baton of Doug Snapp, the JazzMN Big Band has become the premiere large jazz ensemble in the upper Midwest. Some of the area’s most notable musicians will be on the bandstand, including Dave Karr, Pete Whitman, Dave Milne, Dave Jensen, Kathy Jensen, Joe Pulice, Mary Louise Knutson and more. Their repertoire covers the gamut from Ellington to Thad Jones to original works.

© Andrea Canter

4:30- 6 pm, Nachito Herrera with the White Bear Lake High School Big Band. He wowed the crowd last weekend at Mears Park with his small ensemble, now the volcanic Cuban pianist will provide a fitting festival finale combining veteran chops and youthful energy—the very essence of the Hot Summer Jazz Festival. Nachito has been very busy this year with the release of his third American CD (Dakota Live 2), a Midwest tour, participating in the prestigious Gilmore Piano Festival, inaugurating his Earth, Wind and Fire project, and performing monthly at the Dakota. Only a bandful of teenagers could keep up with him!

More Jazz, Please!

Not ready to go home quite yet? Then head across the street to the Dakota where festival artists will jam the night away! The fun starts at 8 pm ($10 cover).

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 Peavey 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 to make your personalized festival schedule!