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Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Fall Potpourri at the Artists Quarter

Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor

Thursday, 30 August 2007

Dave Graf & Brad Bellows © Andera Canter

A little bit of everything will be on the calendar for September at the Artists Quarter, from the “youth oriented’’ avant vibes of Happy Apple to the ever-resonating common man humor of Mose Allison, and everything jazz in between.

Weekend Celebrations (9 pm)

August 31-September 2, Happy Apple CD Release Party (9 pm Friday/Saturday; 8 pm Sunday, $12). 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 Starry Eyed Lovelines; 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).

Michael Lewis © Bryan Aaker

Their previous release, The Peace Between Our Companies (Sunnyside, 2005), gave 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.” Now the trio celebrates the release of Back on Top (Sunnyside), of which Steve Leggett (alljazz.com) notes, “Happy Apple keeps out of the fusion trap by implying rock dynamics without actually surrendering to them, giving the group a fresh, bright, and totally unique sound. Things can get hot and searing, certainly, and there is no aversion to sonic and free jazz experimenting, but the band always retains a strong melodic center.” Plan to arrive early as this gig is always a sell-out.

Dean Magraw © Andrea Canter

September 7-8, Dean Magraw and Anthony Cox ($10). This duo might turn out to be the Batman and Robin of Twin Cities jazz. Each musician is a popular performer at the AQ and elsewhere, but expect spontaneous combustion when the two meet on the AQ stage. One of the most renowned guitars in the region, Dean Magraw is in the habit of wowing audiences with his fleet fingered plucking and creative compositions. Said Steve Tibbetts, “It’s guitar, but it’s so liquid, lyrical and effortless that it’s like listening to a dancer.” Straddling jazz, folk and bluegrass, he has performed with and/or recorded with Ruth McKenzie, Claudia Schmidt and Greg Brown, among others; he has explored his Celtic heritage performing with Celtic accordionist John Williams. Magraw’s first solo recording, Broken Silence, won the NAIRD 1994 Best Acoustic Instrumental Album of the Year. With compatriots, bassist Jim Anton and drummer JT Bates, Dean held a CD Release Party here in April for Unseen Rain. Growing up in suburban Minneapolis, Anthony Cox switched from guitar to the bass after hearing Charles Mingus and Stanley Clarke. Heading to New York after college, he toured with Stan Getz and built an international reputation. Over the years, Cox has worked and/or recorded with Bobby Previte, Dewey Redman, Geri Allen, Arthur Blythe, and Uri Caine, playing upright acoustic, electric and Spanish acoustic bass. In addition to his current work with such local bands as the Andres Prado Quintet, Anthony holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the University of Iowa.

Lucia Newell © Andrea Canter

September 14-15, Lucia Newell Quartet ($10). Getting back into a swinging performance routine after a summer break, Lucia’s weekend gig will present a "musical exploration" from Strayhorn to Samba to new directions. She’ll be in the extraordinarily fine company of pianist Phil Aaron, bassist Gordy Johnson and drummer/AQ owner Kenny Horst. As vocal quartets go, they don’t get any better than this, be it in the Big Apple or the Mini-Apple. Lucia’s first recording, a duo with Joan Griffith (Enter You, Enter Love) was hailed as a “wonderfully surprising collection of love songs...that brings to mind steamy, moonlit tropical nights” (Sun Current). Her recent collaborations with Pete Whitman’s Departure Point sextet, along with her love of Billy Strayhorn, led to her latest release, Steeped in Strayhorn. Said Alan Bargebuhr in Cadence, “Lucia Newell turns out to be one of those gifted vocalists whose conception and intelligence is transcendent. Add to that some well crafted and conceived arrangements played with snap, crackle, and the requisite pop, and you have over an hour of music that is alive with authentic Jazz affirmation. Strayhorn would be very happy and proud.” We’re all happy and proud to have a singer (and lyricist) of Lucia’s talents here at the AQ!

Mose Allison © Andrea Canter

September 21-23, Mose Allison (8 pm on Sunday; $20). Back in town for his annual visit to the AQ, the octogenarian pianist/singer/songwriter Mose Allison is known as the “William Faulkner of Jazz.” A unique performer with widespread appeal, Allison fuses his boogie-woogie chops with Delta blues and groovin’ bop in support of his vocal satire. His compositions and lyrics have become favorites not only of jazz and blues fans for the past five decades, but of musicians themselves, including Pete Townshend, Van Morrison, and Diana Krall. Last year Mose headlined the St. Paul weekend of the Hot Summer Jazz Festival, and while those performances were free, he still packed them in later in the evening at the AQ. If you have never heard Mose Allison, don’t miss this opportunity. And if you are already a fan, you need no cajoling. But you might need a reservation for this one, so call ahead!

Gary Berg © Andrea Canter

September 28-29, Gary Berg Quartet ($10). Multi-instrumentalist Gary Berg swings on tenor, alto, and soprano sax as well as the chromatic harmonica. He has played a supporting role for many area musicians, live and on record. Patrons of the AQ know Gary from his weekly appearances with the Tuesday Night Band for Organ Night and his tributes to Stan Getz. He’s also an in-demand sideman, adding steam to a number of local releases including those from Carole Martin, Paula Lammers and George Avaloz. Notes Don Berryman, “He lets the bop riffs ride on the groove in a way that’s true to the music and the feeling.” Enjoy a rare weekend gig with one of the true legends of Twin Cities jazz.

Davis Wilson © Andrea Canter

September 30, Davis Wilson’s “Lord Buckley Runs Wild” with the Dean Granros Trio (8 pm. $6). Another live rant with the “man at the door,” the ever eloquent Davis Wilson. In the spirit of the original hipster, Lord Buckley, Davis will enchant and/or incite with his own version of the “underground elocution revolution” and in the grooving company of the guitar master, Dean Granros, and his trio. You’ll be “pleased and flipped” that you came to the AQ tonight!

Weeknights/Bargain Nights (9 pm, $4 unless otherwise noted)

Mondays, Green (7 pm)/Open Poetry (9 pm) and First Monday Poetry Slam (8 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! First Mondays feature the monthly Poetry Slam—following an hour of Green, a special guest poet convenes the “slam” at 8 pm. $5 cover for Poetry Slam, otherwise no cover at all! The guest poet for September 3^rd will be New York’s Sierra DeMulder.

Dave Karr © Andrea Canter

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. One of the long-standing acts at the AQ, you never know who might sit in—in March, Joey Defrancesco brought his trio.

September 5, Dave Karr Quartet. Multi-instrumentalist Dave Karr and his quartet will heat up a cool May evening. A native New Yorker, Karr has been a fixture on the Twin Cities jazz scene for nearly 50 years. In addition to his quartet, Dave also leads the mighty fine Mulligan Stew, a quintet band dedicated to preservation the music of Gerry Mulligan. A recent recipient of a McKnight grant, Dave blows a sweet horn (actually, a lot of horns) and is always in the company of the best area musicians.

September 6, Dean Granros Trio. Guitarist Dean Granros “blends the vocabulary of bebop, acid rock, and delta blues into a delightful and potent cocktail that may leave you shaken or stirred” (Don Berryman, Jazz Police). With a career spanning over 30 years of playing and composing, Granros worked with the band Curlew beginning in the late 1970s; more recent credits include duo work with Brad Bellows, FKG (with Scott Fultz and Dave King), and How Birds Work (see below). Dean released Live at the Artists Quarter in 2001.

September 12, Twin Cities Hot Club. They’re all strings and all Django—hot club swing masters Robert Bell, Reynold Philipsek, Gary Schulte and Matt Senjem will take you back to a sidewalk café in Paris. They hold a weekly gig at the Times and have helped to define the local swing scene. Says Leigh Kamman (The Jazz Image), “Their passion, scholarship and skilled musicianship take you back to those days at Bricktop’s Cabaret in Paris. Listen and listen again, this is Minnesota calling the spirit of Django and Stephane.”

September 13, Phil Hey Quartet. 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 teaches jazz drum at Macalester College and toured with Dewey Redman. He’s joined by long-time bandmates Dave Hagedorn on vibes, Tom Lewis on bass, and Phil Aaron on piano. The PHQ’s debut recording, Subduction, was one of the best CDs of 2005. And I don’t mean just local releases.

September 19, 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. Sophisticated, often subtle, always working toward the edge from a firm foundation, How Birds Work offers multiple layers of challenge to the listener.

September 20, Marv Dahlgren & Friends. Back to celebrate another birthday (#83) at the AQ, the local Dean of Percussion is joined by an assortment of friends and relatives while he proves his talents on drums and vibes are still as vibrant as ever. A lot of local percussionists cite Marv as a major influence and mentor, and you can expect a number of them will show up to help Marv welcome another year.

September 26, Valve Meets Slide (Brad Bellows/Dave Graf Quintet).Their previous outing at the AQ was one heckuva good time, with two of the area’s Barons of Bones leading the way—Brad on valve and Dave on slide.

September 27, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet ($6). 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); Kelly Rossum and Dave Jensen or Adam Rossmiller (trumpets); Jeff Rinear or Dave Graf (trombone), Dave Hagedorn (vibes), Gordy Johnson or Terry Burns (bass), Phil Hey (drums), and Laura Caviani (piano). Head of Woodwinds and Brass at McNally Smith College, Whitman has performed with Randy Brecker, Jack McDuff, and the Woody Herman Orchestra, in addition to leading his X-Tet and Departure Point (sextet) and working regularly with the Jazz MN Big Band and Andres Prado Quartet. This is one of the most popular monthly gigs at the AQ so come early and stay late!

Coming Soon!

More great jazz is coming next month:

October 12-13, Eric Kamau Gravatt & Source Code (long-time drummer for McCoy Tyner)
October 19-20, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet (a rare weekend gig with our local little big band!)
October 26-27, Jim Snidero (New York –based alto sax virtuoso)

The Artists Quarter is located at 408 St. Peter Street, downtown St. Paul in the lower level of the Hamm Building. Visit www.artistsquarter.com and sign up for the e-newsletter!

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