 Kelly Rossum © Andrea Canter Spring is rumored to be just around the corner, which means time to think about cleaning out the garage, planning the garden, watching the Twins, and anticipating summer. Spring is also a great time to get reacquainted with the vibrant Twin Cities jazz scene. Clubs have closed, new clubs have opened, and there’s a seeming endless list of free and low cost music throughout April. This monthly listing is not intended to be exhaustive—do consult the Jazz Police calendar for more options. What follows is a selective list of bargains to suit a wide range of tastes within that melting pot that defines jazz. For complete club calendars, visit the website for the venue. The first listings offer great music for $7 or less.
Artists Quarter (408 St. Peter Street, St. Paul; www.artistsquarter.com) St. Paul’s cozy basement club could be a Manhattan haunt with its bare-bones bar and table seating, but it’s friendlier and definitely cheaper! Covers during the week generally are $4 and there’s no bar minimum. Sets begin at 9 pm unless otherwise noted. Tuesdays. The Tuesday Night Band (B-3 Organ Night) Dave Karr © Andrea Canter -
April 11. David Roos (guitar trio) -
April 12. Dave Karr Quartet (Macalester College Jazz Ensemble at 6:30, free) -
April 15. Lucia Newell/Joan Griffith/Laura Caviani (8 pm, $5) -
April 18. Peter Schimke Trio -
April 19. Marv Dahlgren Quartet -
April 25. Mary Louise Knutson Trio. (U of M Morris Jazz Bands at 6:30, free) -
April 26. Pete Whitman’s X-Tet ($6)
Dakota County Music Café (14201 Nicollete Av S, Burnsville; www.hiburnsville.com/dakota_county_steakhouse/) Tucked in a Burnsville Holiday Inn, the Dakota County Steakhouse offers more than prime rib—it offers prime jazz Thursdays-Saturdays, 7 -11 pm. And no cover! -
Thursday nights, open jam with Chris Lomheim -
April 14, Phil Aaron Trio with Patty Peterson -
April 27, Tanner Taylor Trio -
April 28, Bruce Henry Dakota Jazz Club (1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; www.dakotacooks.com) Clearwater Hot Club © Andrea Canter Locally the granddaddy of jazz clubs, always listed among the nation’s best. Elegant setting, superb sound, gourmet creations from the kitchen. Most local artists only $5 cover on weeknights, no minimum. Reservations strongly recommended. Sets at 7 pm. -
April 9, Clearwater Hot Club -
April 16, Debbie Duncan -
April 23, Connie Evingson -
April 26, Snowblind CD Release -
Late Night Series (Friday and Saturday, 11:30 pm) In April, catch Blue Chi (4/6); CJ & the Coterie (4/7); Jello Slave (4/13); James Wallace (4/14); Kelly Rossum (4/21) and more. Cover $3. Fireside Pizza (67th and Penn, Richfield) A typical neighborhood pizza joint with atypical entertainment every Monday and Wednesday night, 7-9 pm. -
April 9 & 11, Dorothy Doring with Denny Malmberg Jacqueline Ferrier-Ultan (Jelloslave) © Bryan Aaker -
April 16, 18, 23, 25, 30, Charmin Michelle with Denny Malmberg Nomad World Pub (501 Cedar, Minneapolis; www.nomadpub.com) Diverse music with a Wednesday night jazz series, $5 cover; 9 pm. -
April 11, Fat Kid Wednesdays -
April 18, Jello Slave -
April 25th, Megafun and the James Buckley Trio Palm Court Music Lounge (2424 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis; www.palmctmpls.com) One of the newest venues for jazz and more, the Palm Court features some of the hottest artists every weekend. No cover; music from 8 pm. -
April 6-7, Kevin Washington Trio -
April 20, Tommy Bruce and the Nancy Bierma Trio -
April 27, Debbie Duncan and the Adi Yeshaya Trio -
April 28, Aaron Keith Stewart and the Nancy Bierma Trio  Charmin Michelle © Andrea Canter
Rossi’s Blue Star (80 S. 9th Street, Minneapolis; www.bluestarjazz.com) Great music in an often-noisy setting. If you can outwait the happy hour crowd, you can enjoy an intimate evening with some of the area’s top vocalists. Covers usually $3. -
April 9, Katie Gearty (7:30 pm) -
April 12-14, Bobby and Ginger Commodore (Thursday 7:30 pm, Friday-Saturday 9 pm) -
April 16-18, Connie Olson (7:30 pm) -
April 26, Charmin Michelle (7:30 pm) Times Bar and Café (201 E. Hennepin, Minneapolis; www.timesbarandcafe.com) A gem of a club where funky northeast and yuppified southeast merge. Music seven nights per week plus Sunday Jazz Brunch. No cover, no minimum. -
Sunday Jazz Brunch with the Wolverines Trio & Erin Schwab, 10 am- 2 pm. -
Sunday nights, Twin Cities Hot Club (8 pm) -
“Martini Mondays” with Erin Schwab and Jay Fuchs, 7 pm Erin Schwab © Andrea Canter -
Tuesdays, Singer Showcase (7 pm) and Tributes (8 pm). Showcases in April will feature students from McNally Smith College and their instructors (see website for details) -
Wednesdays, Wolverines Trio with Nichola Miller (8 pm) -
Thursdays, April 5 & 12, Sensacion Latina; April 19 & 26, Salsa del Soul (9:30 pm) -
April 14, Tanner Taylor and Katie Gearty (9:30 pm) -
April 15, Jeff King CD Release ( 8 pm) -
April 21, Arne Fogel (9:30 pm) -
April 27, Katie Gearty Band (9:30 pm) Best Bests, $10 or less -
April 13-14, Dean Magraw CD Release Party (Artists Quarter, St. Paul), 9 pm, $10 -
April 20-21, Seven Steps to Havana (Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis), 8 pm, $10 Best Bets, Any Price -
April 6-7, Rachel Z Trio (Dakota Jazz Club), 8 pm, $12 -
April 20-21, Jaleel Shaw (Artists Quarter), 9 pm, $12 -
April 27-29, Jim Rotondi (Artists Quarter), 9 pm Friday-Saturday, 8 pm Sunday, $15 -
April 30-May 2, Ahmad Jamal (Dakota Jazz Club), 7 & 9 pm, $40/$25. Check the Jazz Police monthly calendar for additional free and cheap options!
|