Yolande Bruce © Ancrea Canter

On Saturday, September 9^th, jazz fans on both sides of the metro area will have the opportunity to attend festivals in two historic neighborhoods—the Fifth Annual Selby Avenue Jazz Festival in St. Paul, and the first-ever Uptown Row Django Jazz Festival in Minneapolis. Both festivals are free and offer a showcase of (mostly) local musicians, from trad and blues to hot club and vocals to the modern sounds of post bop.

Selby Avenue Jazz Festival, September 9, Noon-8 pm (corner of Milton & Selby, St. Paul)

A neighborhood event since 2002, the Selby Avenue Jazz Festival features 9 sets of music, food concessions, arts booths and activities for the whole family. “We’re really pleased with the diverse line-up of entertainers that will be gracing the Jazz Fest stage this year,” said Mychael Wright, owner of the Golden Thyme Coffee & Café who heads the festival. “Our musical line-up has something for everyone…including a kids’ play area and food and art vendors—all surrounded by a wonderful spirit of community.” This year’s festival is sponsored by the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco, Mississippi Market, Selby Area CDC, Golden Thyme Coffee Shop, St. Paul Pioneer Press/Twin Cities.com, and KFAI Radio. Popular area vocalist Yolande Bruce will again serve as EmCee.

Connie Evingson © Andrea Canter

The line-up (sets start at Noon):

Dick and Jane’s Big Brass Band. As has become a Selby Fest tradition, this trad brass band kicks-off the event with a New Orleans-style procession.

Walker West Mens’ Jazz Ensemble. One of the area’s most esteemed music academies, Walker West has fueled the careers of many budding musicians; student ensembles are often featured at the bigger festivals including the Hot Summer Jazz Festival. The faculty and their advanced students will perform the great classics of jazz repertoire.

Imani, Mommy and Company. A group of young musicians and an amazing sax player.

Wenso Ashby & Zsame Morgan. Soulful and smooth! A songwriter, producer and keyboardist who worked behind the scenes on the East Coast, Wenso Ashby relocated to the Twin Cities and released his debut recording, Midnite Walking. Now Chicago native Zsame Morgan brings her R&B/gospel informed vocals to Wenso’s “contemporary jazz with soul,” and the result is a team of heavenly sounds.

Jazz Blues Tech. Led by veteran bluesman Mickey McCaleb, this band makes its Selby Fest debut with its fusion of blues and jazz.

James Wallace © Andrea Canter

Patty Lacy-Aiken. A former back-up singer for Luther Vandross, last year Patty closed the Selby Fest with a tribute to the great vocalist. With the classy support of the James Wallace Sextet, Patty will perform a blend of jazz and gospel.

James Wallace Sextet. Tenor saxophonist James Wallace was destined to a life in jazz, the son of a jazz drummer growing up in Philadelphia where he met John Coltrane and saw Miles Davis on stage. Wallace has performed with the Jazz Crusaders and Minnie Ripperton, has had a long-standing gig at the Loring Café, and is a mainstay of both the Freedom and Selby Jazz Festivals. An additional set this year will feature an Open Jam with invited musicians sharing the stage with the Sextet.

Jazz Heritage Showcase. A popular feature returns with the best vocalists in the Twin Cities closing the festival with a set of great jazz standards. Scheduled performers include Yolande Bruce, Cynthia Johnson, Ginger Commodore, Geoff Jones and more.

Uptown Row Django Jazz Fest, September 9, 3-10 pm (1221 W. Lake Street, Minneapolis)

Celebrating the hot club swing (“gypsy jazz”) of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli first performed in the cabarets and cafés of 1930s Paris, Uptown Row hosts its first Django Jazz Fest. With performances at the new office/restaurant complex on Lake Street, Django Jazz Fest is presented by Track 29 Lofts, a nearby urban residential development (Midtown Greenway). Uptown Row restaurants Pizza Nea and Tum Rup Thai will provide the food and beverage concessions for the festival.

Hot Clubs are the featured acts, of course, and a highlight of the festival will be the appearance of the Hot Club of Sweden, on their first visit to Minnesota, with local gypsy jazz chanteuse Connie Evingson. The full line-up:

3 pm, Parisota Hot Club. Popular with hot club and swing dance aficionados since their first gigs in 2002, Parisota Hot Club features Robb Henry on guitar, Jim Chenowith on bass, and Patrick Harrison on accordion; Kip Henry often joins in on violin. Around town they perform regularly at the Dakota and Kitty Kat Club, and released their debut recording, Swing in Djune.

Twin Cities Hot Club © Andrea Canter

7 pm, Connie Evingson and the Hot Club of Sweden. One of the most popular vocalists in the Twin Cities, Connie Evingson’s interests and talents run the gamut of jazz, from Peggy Lee to the Beatles to Django. Her first hot club recording, Gypsy in My Soul, ranked high on jazz radio charts, and involved support from the Parisota, Twin Cities and Clearwater Hot Clubs. Stockholm Sweetnin’ (celebrated earlier in Seattle and here at the Dakota) was a collaboration with the Hot Club of Sweden, making their Minnesota debut here tonight, and featuring guitarists Gustav Lundgren and Andreas Oberg and bassist Hampus Lundgren. Only in their 20s, the trio has been responsible for the rising popularity of hot club music in Scandanavia and beyond.

Clearwater Hot Club © Andrea Canter

9 pm, Clearwater Hot Club. Another popular area band features Matthew Miltich (bass), Sam Miltich (lead guitar) and Paul Miltich and Mark Kreitzer (rhythm guitars); often they are joined by Don Vidal (sax), Tom Schaefer or Olivier Manchon (violin), and Tony Balluf (clarinet). Formed in Grand Rapids, MN by father and son, Matthew and Sam Miltich in 2003, CHC has released two recordings and has traveled the US, Japan and Canada. Sam has received wide acclaim for his virtuosity, and has performed with the Hot Club of San Francisco.

More information: Selby Avenue Jazz Festival, contact Mychael Wright at (651) 645-1340; www.selbyareacdc.org/jazzfest. Uptown Row Django Jazz Festival, contact Pat Courtemanche at (612) 782-8305 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it