Laura Caviani©Andrea Canter

Raised in the Midwest where she studied trumpet as well as piano through high school, Laura Caviani received a Bachelor’s of Music in Composition from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and a Masters of Music in Improvisation from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. With a grant from the Atlantic Center for the Arts in 1997, she studied with piano virtuoso JoAnne Brackeen, and the following year was one of four American musicians selected to study in Japan at the Akiyoshidai International Art Village.  Laura’s teaching credits include St. John's University, the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, the University of St. Thomas, the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point and, currently, Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges in Northfield. This past summer, she was guest artist/educator in residence in Cordoba, Argentina. With a performance resume that includes Toots Theilemans, Bob Mintzer, and Dave Liebman, as well as touring with star vocalist Karrin Allyson, Laura curates the jazz series at Crave in Edina and appears regularly with Soul Café and Pete Whitman’s X-Tet. Laura has released a series of excellent recordings, most recently Going There, featuring Bob Bowman and Todd Strait. “Full of warmth and a swinging sense of fun” (Bob Protzman), Going There charted high on jazz radio following its debut. 

Adam Linz©Andrea Canter

A former student of Ed Blackwell, native Philadelphian Phil Hey is one of the busiest drummers in town. He has performed with Kenny Barron, Dewey Redman, Benny Carter, and Benny Golson, and often is on the bandstand at the Dakota and Artists Quarter, backing touring artists (Stacy Kent, Judi Silvano, Benny Golson, Dewey Redman), local vocalists (Connie Evingson, Lucia Newell), and small ensembles (Chris Lomheim Trio, Laura Caviani Trio).  He also manages percussion duties for the Pete Whitman X-Tet, Departure Point, Apex, Mulligan Stew and the Out to Lunch Quintet (OTLQ), and finds time to teach at the University of Minnesota and Macalester College in St. Paul. His recording credits are legion, including on the Artegra label with the Chris Lomheim Trio (The Bridge) and with the Pete Whitman Quintet (Sound of Water) and X-Tet (Where’s When). He also contributed to Von Freeman’s Live at the Dakota, rating four stars from Down Beat. In 2006, Phil and the Quartet released Subduction, rated by City Pages as one of the top local CDs of the year.

Phil Hey©Andrea Canter

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension is located at 214 N. Third Street in Stillwater. Tickets ($30 early/$35 at the door) for the evening’s events can be ordered from Paul Toren at 651-351-0838. The Laura Caviani Trio with Adam Linz and Phil Hey will celebrate the 90th birthday anniversary of Thelonious Monk with shows in St. Cloud at the Paramount Theater on October 6th and at the Artists Quarter in St. Paul on October 10th. Visit www.lauracaviani.com