Jazz Police - Cool Nights of Hot Jazz—January at the Artists Quarter

Jazz Police Click to save on Hotels Hotels

Cars

Cruises

“Music is the silence between the notes.” - Claude Debussy

Support our live jazz coverage. Visit our sponsors. If you plan to shop amazon.com or download iTunes, click through here:

Home \| CD Reviews \| Interviews \| SF Bay Area \| Chicago \| Los Angeles \| New York \| Twin Cities, MN \| More Cities \| Festivals \| FAQ \| News \| Contact \| Video of the Week \|

Main Menu

Visitors: 15027270

Cool Nights of Hot Jazz—January at the Artists Quarter

Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor

Saturday, 30 December 2006

Davis Wilson © Andrea Canter

The Artists Quarter in St. Paul is closed on January 1^st. It takes at least 24 hours for the staff to recover from the annual New Year’s Eve Party. But come January 2^nd, it’s business as usual, and that means the best local jazz at least six nights per week. But don’t underestimate that word “local”—many of the performers at the AQ are already well known on the national scene. We’re just lucky they prefer to live here! On the weekend bandstand this month, you can hear such nationally recognized artists as vocalist Debbie Duncan, Peruvian guitarist Andres Prado, the exciting Pete Whitman X-Tet, and the internationally acclaimed “youth oriented” Happy Apple. And in a rare weekly booking, the edgy quartet How Birds Work takes over Wednesday nights throughout January, barely leaving room for some of the hottest area musicians—the Twin Cities Hot Club, Chris Lomheim Trio, Tanner Taylor Trio, and Phil Hey Quartet.

So forget about the sleet and windchills and mark your calendars for your favorites. Parking in downtown St. Paul isn’t that challenging—check the Macy’s Ramp ($3 after 6 pm every night) only a half block from the AQ or grab free on-street parking most weeknights. Stop first at Great Waters Brewing Company next door or any of the other neighboring gourmet spots, and call it a night on the town. This is as close as we can get to a Manhattan jazz club—and it’s pretty darn close. Low covers, and no minimums!

Weekends at the AQ (9 pm)

Debbie Duncan © Andrea Cantrer

January 5-6, Debbie Duncan ($10). She’s not dubbed Minnesota’s “First Lady of Song” for nothing! A Detroit native who honed her chops in LA, Debbie finally landed in the Twin Cities about 20 years ago, and has been thrilling audiences ever since. Perhaps the best known local diva, Debbie "is blessed with a large, full, yet feathery voice and stylistic subtlety ranging from gospel to jazz and pop” (Jazziz). With a background rich in jazz, gospel and Motown, she has opened for Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Stephane Grapelli, and won the Minnesota Music Award for “Perpetually Outstanding Performer.” A former member of the popular “The Girls” quartet, Debbie’s recording credits include work with Oleta Adams, Jimmy McGriff, pop bands Iffy and B-3, and local jazzers Fat Kids Wednesday, as well as her own recordings, including her recently released I Thought About You. Local gigs include frequent appearances at the Artists Quarter, Times and Dakota, and teaching at McNally Smith College of Music. Notes an Artists Quarter press release, “On stage, she can crack you up and break your heart over the course of one verse.” If she didn’t sing, this would still be pure entertainment. But of course she sings like no one else.

Michael Lewis © Andrea Canter

January 12-14, Happy Apple ($12, Sunday set at 8 pm). Together for over a decade, this Twin Cities avant-garde trio is know for its “loud, fast, and bursting music—a little electronica, a little Coltrane, a little Cobain” (The Rake). The threesome includes bassist Eric Fratzke, a veteran of such projects as Casino Royale and Zebulon Pike; multi-reedist Michael Lewis, also known for his work with Fat Kids Wednesdays; and the raging bull of percussion, Dave King, who splits his time among Happy Apple, FKG, and of course the Bad Plus. Influenced by classic Coltrane and Ornette Coleman, Happy Apple also reflects the techno-infused childhoods of the musicians. The group released 4 private label recordings before hitting it big with aptly titled Youth Oriented (Sunnyside, 2002). Their latest release, The Peace Between Our Companies (Sunnyside, 2005), is further testimony to the versatility and cross-generational appeal of the trio. Noted Chris Riemenschneider in the Star Tribune, “The original compositions by drummer Dave King and bassist Erik Fratzke range from the moody and elegant ‘Let's Not Reflect’ to the wonderfully spastic ‘Paulie's Quick Temper Has Gotten Him Into a Few Jams,’ wherein sax man Michael Lewis blows like a hurricane.” Plan to arrive early as this gig is always a sell-out.

Pete WHitman xtet © Howard A. Gitelson

January 19-20, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet ($12). The popular monthly gig moves to the weekend. One of several projects led by veteran sax performer, composer, and arranger Pete Whitman, the X-Tet brings together the best artists in the region: Whitman, Dave Karr and Dave Milne (reeds); Steve Wagner and Dave Jensen (trumpets); Jeff Rinear (trombone), Dave Hagedorn (vibes), Gordy Johnson (bass), Phil Hey (drums), and Laura Caviani (piano). Whitman’s credits include performing with Randy Brecker, Jack McDuff, and the Woody Herman Orchestra, in addition to leading his X-Tet and Departure Point (sextet) in the Twin Cities and working regularly with the Jazz MN Big Band. A graduate of jazz studies at the University of North Texas, Whitman heads the Woodwind and Brass Department at St. Paul’s McNally Smith College. Don’t miss this weekend sound blast!

Andres Prado © Andea Canter

January 26-27, Andres Prado Group ($10). Lima, Peru native, guitarist/composer Andres Prado arrived in Minnetonka after studying and performing in London. He’s quickly become a local favorite with a repertoire rooted in the Andes and Amazon, from Creole waltzes to Afro-Peruvian grooves. Only 34, Prado brings to his music the influences of jazz and classical studies at conservatories in Lima, Buenos Aires and London, and has taught Latin and jazz guitar at conservatories in both London and Peru over the past few years. As a bandleader, his trio and other ensembles have appeared at jazz and music festivals in Peru, Argentina, and England; and on radio and television. Currently Prado is working on an American film examining religious music in South America. His newest venture is “Sueños Festejos” (Celebration of Dreams), a fusion of indigenous and black Peruvian shamanist music with jazz. Joining Prado this weekend will be Twin Cities’ all-stars Pete Whitman (sax), Kevin Washington (drums), Jeff Bailey (bass) and Peter Schimke (piano). In previous appearances at the AQ, Dakota and the KBEM Winter Jazz Festival, the quintet offered unique takes on Coltrane as well as mesmerizing tunes rooted in South American folk melodies, and the results were incendiary.

Weeknights (9 pm; $4 cover unless otherwise noted)

Green

Monday Nights, Green at 7 pm/Open Poetry at 9 pm. The explosive post bop quartet Green features Rob Dewey (piano), Rich Casey (bass), Zack Lozier (trumpet), and Scotty Schultz (drums). Green has been the Monday night band at the AQ for the past three years. Rob is a noted improviser who has performed with Test Type Trio and Streets of Acid; busy Scotty works with Ross William Perry among other projects; Rich can be heard with Javier Trejo. New addition Zack has focused on bringing traditional New Orleans jazz to the Midwest, and performs regularly with the Jack Brass Band. Following their sets, open mic poetry reading gets underway at 9 pm. No cover! Monday, January 8^th will feature the monthly Poetry Slam—following an hour of Green, a special guest poet convenes the “slam” at 8 pm. This month the featured poet is Tom Cassidy. $5 cover for Poetry Slam, otherwise no cover at all! (Note—AQ is closed on Monday, January 1^st)

Tuesdays, B-3 Organ Night with the Tuesday Night Band. The Tuesday Night Band features “Downtown” Bill Brown on Hammond B-3, along with Billy Franze on guitar, Gary Berg on saxes, and Kenny Horst on drums. Funky jazz with plenty of soul, and you never know who might sit in.

Dean Granros and Chris Bates © Andera Canter

Wednesdays, How Birds Work. One of the most popular regular attractions at the AQ, How Birds Work is the collaboration of four well-known area musicians—guitarist Dean Granros, bassist Chris Bates, pianist Peter Schimke, and drummer Kenny Horst. Playing about monthly at the AQ, the quartet recently made a live—and lively-- recording here. Guitarist Dean Granros (see above) keeps busy with his own trio and FKG. Bassist Chris Bates plays regularly with Low Blow and the guitar trios, Framework and Red Planet. In his role with How Birds Work, pianist Peter Schimke also displays his skills as a composer and adds vocals to the mix. And AQ owner/drummer Kenny Horst is a “great hard-bop, soul jazz, and fusion chops and the sweetest guy you could meet” (Don Berryman). Sophisticated, often subtle, always working toward the edge from a firm foundation, How Birds Work offers multiple layers of challenge to the listener. Usually on the bandstand monthly, January offers HBW every week. And what a deal in January—there’s five Wednesday nights!

Gary Schulte © Andrea Canter

Thursday, January 4, Twin Cities Hot Club. Formed in 2004, the TCHC features the wide ranging talents of Robert Bell and Reynold Philipsek on guitars, Gary Schulte on violin, and Matt Senjem on bass. Bell performs with the Southside Aces, Bellcats, and his own Bilo Studio; Philipsek has recorded an amazing 25 albums to date; Schulte has been a regular performer on Prairie Home Companion and performs in a wide range of genres; Senjem performs with other hot club and jazz artists on bass and is also reconnecting with his first instrument, the trombone. TCHC regularly performs at the Times in Minneapolis every Sunday night.

Thursday, January 11, Chris Lomheim Trio. Chris Lomheim’s affinity for lyrical phrasing and melodic improvisation recall the touch and feeling of his muse, the great Bill Evans. Chris started organ studies at age 7, moved on to piano and was into R&B in the 1980s. He was featured at the West Bank School of Music Composer’s Forum in 1991 and nominated as top pianist in the 1997 Minnesota Music Awards. Jeremy Walker of Brilliant Corners called Lomheim “the most sensitive and romantic player you will hear around the Twin Cities' scene. He has prodigious piano technique and an individual ear for harmony.” Lomheim has made two acclaimed trio recordings, And You’ve Been Waiting? (1994, IGMOD) and The Bridge (2002, Artegra). He’s also one of the first-call accompanists for top area vocalists. Joining Chris are his regular trio mates, Gordon Johnson on bass and Phil Hey on drums—collaborators who would have surely pleased Bill Evans.

Phil Hey © Andrea Canter

Thursday, January 18, Phil Hey Quartet. A “no-nonsense, uncompromising band of local jazz greats” (Don Berryman, Jazz Police), the Phil Hey Quartet’s repertoire includes the tunes of Kenny Wheeler, Bobby Hutcherson, John Coltrane, and Wayne Shorter. A former student of Ed Blackwell, Phil Hey is one of the busiest drummers in town (he plays with everyone!) and teaches jazz drum at Macalester College. Vibist Dave Hagedorn, head of jazz studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, “brings an integrated knowledge of complex harmony and rhythm that never fails to swing or to move anyone with ears” (Don Berryman, Jazz Police). Tom Lewis is another busy sideman throughout the Twin Cities, a “straight-ahead, hard bop, and bebop bassist and he swings like anything” (Don Berryman). Hey, Hagedorn and Lewis are also featured in the new Eric Dolphy tribute band, the Out to Lunch Quintet. Pianist Phil Aaron, who heads his own trio and frequently comps for area vocalists, draws inspiration from Bill Evans, Cedar Walton, Tommy Flanagan, and Keith Jarrett, and “can swing hard or wax romantic at the keyboard" (Minneapolis Star Tribune). The PHQ’s debut recording, Subduction, was one of the best CDs of 2005. And I don’t mean just local releases. You will never find better jazz for $4. Never.

Thursday, January 25, Tanner Taylor Trio. It was just a few years ago that a young piano whiz from Iowa settled in the Twin Cities, and he has been burning up keyboards ever since. Tanner Taylor seems to be on stage with every vocalist in town, including stints as one of the “house pianists” whenever there is a performance by the Twin Cities Vocal Showcase. But his talents as a sympathetic accompanist may obscure the fact that Taylor is a monster soloist, be it as leader of his own trio or in the company of Dave Karr’s Quartet or Gerry Mulligan tribute band, Mulligan Stew. And notes Pat Courtemanche, “When you consider that Gerry Mulligan didn’t use piano in his classic quartets, now that speaks volumes.” Taylor’s recent performances at the AQ—including recent piano duties with sax great Eric Alexander-- are proof that this is not just hype.

And Coming in February

Mark your calendar now for the Bobby Peterson All-Star Tribute, February 16-17. A longtime AQ and Twin Cities’ favorite, the late Bobby Peterson set the bar high for jazz piano and more. Former students, friends, and maybe a few relatives will be on hand to pay tribute to one of our local legends.

The Artists Quarter is located in the lower level of the Hamm Building at 408 St. Peter Street, downtown St. Paul; www.artistsquarter.com; 651-292-1359

[ Back ]

Tuesday, 02 December 2008

BOOK TRAVEL WITH JAZZ POLICE AND SAVE! Search for deals here.

City		Arrival Date	Nights	Adults	Rooms

Today's top ten jazz downloads

JP Archive

Add Jazz Police button to your google toolbar

Latest News
Jazz calendar and club listings for the SF Bay Area The Art of Blakey: A Tribute to the Jazz Messenger Fred Anderson Quartet Volume 3 CD Release at the Velvet Lounge Holidazzling Music at the Dakota in December LA Beat: Bill Holman Big Band at Charlie O’s Dakota Combo Performs With Irvin Mayfield, December 6th

Bookmark our iTunes link - Bookmark our Amazon link - Bookmark This Page - Bookmark Jazz Police Home - Make Jazz Police your home page

All material protected by copyright. © 2007 Jazz Police and contributing writers & visual artists. All rights reserved. Material may not be reprinted or redistributed without permission of the contributing writers & visual artists.
Jazz Police makes no warranty, expressed or implied as to the accuracy, completeness or utility of information provided. All information is subject to change without notice.