December 14-15, Estaire Godinez. For a few years, this queen of Latin jazz called Minnesota home. Vocalist/percussionist and bandleader Estaire Godinez is internationally acclaimed for her multi-lingual fusions of pop, R&B and jazz and for her associations with Prince, Pete Escovedo, and most recently, George Benson. Now based in LA, Estaire makes a rare return to the Dakota (where she recorded her debut album five years ago), bringing her Brazilian and Afro-Cuban grooves along. Local associates have included Peter Schimke, Stokely Williams and Serge Akou.

December 26-29, The Bad Plus. One of the hottest acts in modern music, The Bad Plus makes its annual holiday pilgrimage to the Dakota, this year with a four-night stint. It helps that bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King still have families here to guide them home, while pianist Ethan Iverson’s roots are in nearby Menonomie. Since their first collaborations nearly a decade ago, the threesome have steadily climbed the ladder of visibility and respectability, bringing their rock-infused, classically rooted, full-of-surprises and downright fun music to bandstands across the globe. At the Guthrie Theater earlier this fall, the Bad Plus released Prog (Billboard’s “most likable and listenable album of 2007”) on their own imprint after considerable success on Columbia. Know to cover such diverse material as Black Sabbath, The Pixies, and Burt Bacharach, each musician also contributes his unique compositions. It’s always a sell-out so reserve early!

Great Jazz Every Night (7 pm, Sunday-Wednesday, 8 pm Thursday-Saturday)

• December 2, Laura Caviani Holiday Show (“Angels We Haven’t Heard). Join Laura and her sextet of local greats, including vocalist Lucia Newell, for tunes from her Angels We Haven’t Heard recording and more.
• December 3, Brian Grivna & Dave Karr. The saxmen cometh! Two local legends in a double sax quintet.
• December 6-7, Connie Evingson featuring Arne Fogel. One of the Twin Cities’ brightest lights on the vocal scene celebrates the holidays with another beacon of taste and musicality, vocalist Arne Fogel. It’s time to reprise their roles as co-hosts of KBEM Radio’s “Singers and Standards.”
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  Cookie Coleman©Howard Gitelson
  December 8, Cookie Coleman. Always backed by the best in the business, singer Cookie Coleman will wash your holiday preparations in a warm glow.
• December 10, Christine Rosholt. A fast rising (and busy) star on the local vocal scene, Christine can be counted on for at least two things at any gig: 1) A packed house; 2) swinging music with a world class band. And this night that band includes Tanner Taylor, Graydon Peterson, Jay Epstein, and Dave Karr. Watch for her live recording session at the Dakota in January and a Midwest tour next fall.
• December 11, Mary Louise Knutson Trio. The Twin Cities is blessed with a large handful of pianists who could easily match keys with the best in any other city. Count Mary Louise among them. Her chart-topping debut recording, Call Me When You Get There, was only a hint of things to come. In 2005, Mary Louise was a finalist at the Women in Jazz Piano Competition at Kennedy Center; in early 2007, her usual trio of Graydon Peterson and Jay Epstein took the show on the road for a three-week Midwest tour. Tonight she’ll have a special ensemble with Gary Raynor, Greg Schutte, and “Seattle’s Best Blues Horn” Sue Orfield.
• December 12, Jennifer Grimm. It’s also a heyday for vocalists in the Twin Cities, and Jennifer is among the best. On stage since early childhood, Jennifer opened for Oleta Adams and has credits ranging from television to New York cabaret.
• December 13, Scottie Miller. Part of the Dakota’s ongoing tribute to New Orleans, catch Scottie’s Barrehouse piano blues and soul-inspired vocals. Get down to the Delta without leaving the prairie.
• December 16, Robert Robinson “Spirit of the Season.” Dubbed Minnesota’s “Pavarotti of Gospel,” Robert will put your spirits in orbit. Leading family ensembles since childhood, Robert has performed with Aretha Franklin, Jermaine Jackson, Prince, The Steeles and the Sounds of Blackness. Currently he leads the Twin Cities Gospel Choir. Celebrate his new Spirit of the Season!
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  Ginger Commodore©Andrea Canter
  December 17, CC Septet. All alumni of the acclaimed Centry College Jazz Ensemble, the septet will get your week off to a roaring start.
• December 18, Ginger Commodore Holiday Show. Known far and wide as a member of Moore By Four, Sounds of Blackness, and for her ongoing role in the Penumbra Theater’s Black Nativity production, Ginger Commodore celebrates the holidays in grand fashion. Expect great music from her usual collaborators (Lee Blaske, Mark Weissberg, Bobby Commodore) and special guests. As they say on the Dakota website, “expect enough warmth to melt snow… expect a crowd.”
• December 19, Tanner Taylor Quartet. The only thing better than hearing this monster young pianist in his frequent role backing area vocalists is hearing him lead his own band. Iowa’s greatest gift to Minnesota since popcorn.
• December 20, Bruce Henry Holiday Show. You can’t have too many hot vocalists around to celebrate the holidays, and with Bruce Henry and his velvety baritone, we have a unique voice to make any day a holiday. Leader of his ensemble Freedom Train, esteemed educator, and consummate performer, a night with Bruce is a night in musical heaven.
• December 21-22, Nachito Herrerra. Volcanic eruptions of sonic proportions follow Nachito Herrera to the Dakota every month. The Cuban pianist sends out tributes to Ellington, Earth, Wind and Fire and his homeland with as much firepower as the law allows. Always a party.
• December 23, George Maurer Group. A band that honors the jazz tradition, from trad to swing to blues to bop. This will be a special show for the holidays!
• December 31, New Year’s Eve Party. Start your partying with the famed quartet Moore By Four, then move on to dinner and the lat show with Nachito Herrera. Reservations a must!

Late Night at the Dakota (Weekends, 11:30 pm – 1:30 am)

An experiment in showcasing new and modern music, the Late Night at the Dakota Series has been a big success. Music begins at 11:30 pm on Friday and Saturday nights, with a $3 cover and happy hour specials.

• December 7, Atlantis Quartet
• December 8, Goldstein, Ikeda, Fultz and Friends
• December 14, Counterclockwise
• December 15, James Buckley Trio
• December 21, Ragassa
• December 22, Volcano Insurance
• December 28, Dan Olson Trio
• December 29, Javier Trejo

Happy Hour (Thursday/Friday, 4:30-6:30 pm)

• Thursdays, Travis Anderson Trio
• Fridays, Jazz by Fosse with Irv Williams

Coming Soon!

Lots of a great music coming in 2008:

• January 21-22, Sophie Millman
• January 27-28, Toumani Diabate
• February 13, Allen Toussaint

The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Visit www.dakotacooks.com for reservations and updated calendar information.