Twin Cities Hot Club © Andera Canter

The Dog Days of Summer can be challenging but the Jazz Nights of August guarantee cool sounds and melodic breezes, often for little or no cost at a long list of venues throughout the Twin Cities. For the size of our metro area, the Twin Cities boasts an unexpected number of music clubs, outdoor performance spaces, festivals and small concert halls, as well as cafes and restaurants that present live music at least on weekends. Some key venues and performance highlights for August:

Artists Quarter (408 St Peter Street, St. Paul; www.artistsquarter.com)

The AQ offers live jazz at least six nights per week and sometimes on Sundays. Weeknights are usually $4 cover ($10-$12 most weekends). Park free on the street after 4:30 pm or $3 after 6 in the Macy’s Ramp on nearby 6^th and Wabasha (free on Sundays). Cheap eats nearby or order in a pizza or other fare. Full bar. Music at 9 pm.

• Tuesdays, B-3 Organ Night with the Tuesday Night Band

• August 2, Phil Hey Quartet

• August 9, Dave Karr Quartet

• August 16, Jeanne Arland Peterson’s 86^th Birthday Celebration (7 pm)

• August 22, Gary Berg Quartet

• August 29, Lucia Newell Quartet

• August 30, How Birds Work

Café Maude (5411 Penn Av South, Minneapolis; www.cafemaude.com)

Bryan Nichols © Andrea Canter

• August 8, 7 pm, Bryan Nichols

• August 10, 9 pm, Irv Williams Trio

• August 17, 9 pm, JT Bates/Bryan Nichols/James Buckley

Crave (Galleria, Edina)

A big mall restaurant with a tiny performance space, Crave schedules top musicians every weekend, Friday & Saturday 8:30 pm – Midnight, usually a vocalist and trio. No cove, free parking and one of the most eclectic menus in town, from pizza to sushi.

• August 3, Bruce Henry

• August 17, Maud Hixson with the Wolverines Trio

• August 24, Lucia Newell

• August 31, Arne Fogel with the Tanner Taylor Trio

Dakota County Music Café (14201 Nicollet Avenue South, Burnsville; 952-435-6624)

Serious jazz in a suburban Holiday Inn Steakhouse? The stage and sound system are not on par with the music but in the past year, the DCMC has consistently booked the best artists in the region. And the steaks and other fare are very reasonable. No cover, free parking. Music 8 pm- Midnight, Fridays and Saturdays.

• August 4, Lee Engele Jazz Quintet

• August 18, Paula Lammers

Charmin Michelle © Andrea Canter

The classiest jazz club outside New York… or maybe just the classiest jazz club period. While you can spend a bundle on dinner and national shows, you can also find bargains on both. Local weeknight gigs are usually $5 with no bar or dining minimums; happy hour and late night music comes with specials on food and drink. Park in the adjacent Target Ramp after 4 pm for $4. Weeknight shows at 7 pm; weekends at 8 pm. Jazz seven nights per week.

• Happy Hour Music, Thursdays and Fridays, 4:30-6:30 pm: Thursdays, Travis Anderson Trio; Fridays, Jazz by Fosse with Irv Williams and Peter Schimke

• Late Night, Fridays and Saturdays, 11:30 pm – 1:30 am: An adventurous series of serious music for a ridiculously low cover of $3. Highlights in August include 8/4, Ways Ensemble; 8/17, Chris Smith Trio; 8/24, Reid Kennedy Trio; 8/31, Pete Whitman.

• August 5, Dennis Spears & Friends

• August 12, Clearwater Hot Club

• August 13, Charlie Carinicus

• August 14, Charmin & Shapira & Friends

• August 15, Tanner Taylor Trio

• August 22, Ginger Commmodore

• August 23, Connie Evingson

Freedom Jazz Festival (Minnehaha Falls Park, Minneapolis; www.freedomjazzfestival.org)

Andrea Prado © Andrea Canter

Lake Harriet Bandshell (43rd St. W and E Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis; http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=266)

Summer would not be the same without the almost nightly concerts at Lake Harriet. Some jazz as well as lots of bands from all over. Usuallly 7:30 pm, free; nearby concessions.

• August 1, Christine Rosholt with Beasley’s Big Band

• August 21, Paula Lammers with the River City Jazz Orchestra

Minnesota State Fair (St. Paul Fairgrounds; www.mnstatefair.org)

The biggest annual party in Minnesota presents lots of live music every day of the fair. Free (with fair admission)

• August 29 & 30, 4pm, 5:15pm and 6:30 pm, Maud Hixson with the Twin Cities Hot Club (International Bazaar Stage)

Rossi’s Blue Star (80 S. 9^th Street, Minneapolis; www.bluestarjazz.com)

Maybe the best music shoved into the background in town. Happy Hour talk usually dissipates by mid-evening; cover $3 and an extensive downtown menu.

• August 5-11, & August 19, 8 pm – Midnight, Nancy Harms Trio

• August 20-23, 8 pm-Midnight, Katie Gearty

• August 20, 25, 31, Happy Hour (4-8 pm) with Vicky Mountain & James Allen

Southwest Station (13300 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie

Lee Engele © Andrea Canter

A new center in the west burbs, Southwest Station is a confluence of food court and entertainment space. Summer jazz outdoors—free!

• August 3, 4:00 - 6:00 pm; the Lee Engele Jazz Trio

• August 7, 7 pm, the Lee Engele Jazz Quartet

• August 21, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Bellatrex

• August 28, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, The Somewhat Dixieland Band with Lee Engele

The Times Bar and Café (201 E. Hennepin, Minneapolis; www.timesbarandcafe.com)

A stalwart venue on the TC jazz scene. The music is always free, seven nights per week and Sunday Brunch. Parking costs but it beats downtown!

• Sundays, 8 pm, Gypsy Jazz with The Twin Cities Hot Club

• Mondays, 8 pm, "Martini Mondays" with Erin Schwab and Jay Fuchs

• Tuesdays, "The Singer Showcase" at 7 pm followed by "Tributes to the Greats" at 8 pm

• Wednesdays, 8 pm, The Wolverines Jazz Trio with Debbie Duncan

• Thursdays, 9:30 pm, Latin night with Salsa Del Soul

• August 4, 9:30 pm, Arne Fogel

• August 17, 9:30 pm, The Katie Gearty Band

• August 18, 9:30 pm, Charmin & Shapira with friends

• August 31, 9:30 pm, Debbie Duncan

• August 25, 9:30 pm, Nicola Miller

Best Bets at Any Price for August

James Moody

Is a splurge in order? In New York, these would be considered bargains… and given the quality of the music, these are bargains anywhere:

• August 5, 7 pm, Delfeayo Marsalis with James Moody, Ryan Kisor and more at Minnesota Orchestra Hall (Tribute to Count Basie); tickets $45/$65.

• August 10-11, 9pm, Rick Germanson at the Artists Quarter ($12). One of New York’s bright young piano stars returns to his favorite Midwest stage.

• August 19, 7 & 9 pm, Wallace Roney at the Dakota Jazz Club ($25/$17). Miles Davis’ favorite trumpeter!

• August 26-28, 7 & 9 pm, Jane Monheit at the Dakota Jazz Club ($35/$25). The golden girl of jazz vocalists, too pop for some, but you can’t find a more perfect voice with more charm… and a growing knack for Brazilian.

• August 29, 7 & 9 pm, Belinda Underwood & Benny Green at the Dakota Jazz Club (TBA). A unique vocalist/bassist/ukele-ist joins forces with one of the great young lions of jazz piano, Oscar Peterson’s protégé.

There’s a lot more free and cheap jazz every night. Check the Jazz Police calendar and venue sites!

Comments

Add New Search

Write comment
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Title:
UBBCode:	-color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge
Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."