Main Stage (Antonello Hall, second floor)

1:00 pm, Southern Minnesota’s Real Big Band. Based in Mankato, the RBB features 18 top performers, many of whom lead school bands in the area. Founded by saxophonist Kim Cosens in 1998, the RBB repertoire includes Basie, Ellington, Kenton, Ferguson, Rich, Goodwin and more. In addition to performing at the Minnesota Music Educators conferences, the RBB has backed such visiting artists as Denis DeBlasio, Chris Vadala, Nachito Herrera, and the Hornheads. 

2:30 pm, Bellagala Big Band. Popular among corporate clients for weddings and special events, Bellagala Big Band boasts an eclectic repertoire of charts from Glenn Miller and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Louis Armstrong and Michael Buble, as well as arrangements from such diverse artists as Van Morrison, Allison Krause, Etta James, the Beatles and more. Formerly known as the Rod Aaberg Big Band, BBB has been around since the 1950s when they were one of the area’s top college dance bands, earning the honor of “best new big band” in the country in 1960.  

5:00 & 7:00 pm, Sonny Fortune. From Philadelphia, Sonny Fortune has been compared to the titans of sax, including John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Cannonball Adderley. Based in New York for most of his career, Sonny worked early with drumming legend Elvin Jones before joining Mongo Santamaria’s band, followed by a stint with McCoy Tyner. In the 70s Fortune was part of Miles Davis’s fusion-era band and its popular recordings. Later, Sonny performed with Dizzy Gillespie and George Benson, as well as leading his own ensembles and focusing on his own compositions. His music was featured in the Jack Nicholson film, “The Crossing Guard.” Best know for his work on alto sax but equally proficient on flute, clarinet, tenor and baritone sax, Sonny last appeared locally at the Dakota Jazz Club in February 2007. (Note – for the Sonny Fortune sets only, you need a reserved ticket for either the early or late set. Full festival pass includes tickets to Sonny Fortune.) 

Upper Stage (Sixth Floor)

1:00 pm, Snow Blind (Upper Stage). Relatively new on the area jazz scene, Snow Blind is fast becoming one of the Twin Cities’ most popular ensembles. A brass quintet featuring sax, trombone, trumpet, bass and drums, the original cast came together in 2005 through their connections to the University of Minnesota. Now with two recordings to their credit, four original bandmembers remain—tenor saxman Shilad Sen, trombonist Scott Agster, trumpeter Adam Rossmiller, and drummer Reid Kenndy, along with new bassist Graydon Peterson. Their repertoire shifts from clever reimaginings of jazz classics to creative originals, in the spirit of the great ensembles of Max Roach and Charles Mingus, but with a sound of their own making. 

3:00 pm, Southside Aces (Upper Stage). Together for nearly five years, the Southside Aces were founded by clarinetist Tony Balluff and sousaphonoist Erik Jacobson as an ensemble devoted to New Orleans jazz. The sextet performs at venues throughout the Twin Cities with a repertoire featuring Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington and Bix Beiderbecke as well as a long list of Big Easy classics. In addition to Balluff and Jacobson, the Aces include Steve Sanburg on trombone, Robert Bell on guitar, Andy Hakala on trumpet, and Dave Michael on drums. 

5:00 pm. Bells and Whistles (Upper Stage). Led by one of the area’s most innovative hornmen, saxophonist Chris Thomson, Bells and Whistles features Bryan Nichols on pianio, Adam Linz on bass and Alden Ikeda on drums. That makes for one very exciting quartet! Whether blowing baritone, tenor or soprano sax, Thomson has the artistic capacity to go off in almost any direction—as heard in his associations with the Jazz Is Now! orchestra and Nownet, Kelly Rossum’s quartets and quintets, and his other projects such as Enormous Quartet and Three Elements. Expect eerie combinations of computer generated and acoustic sounds. 

Jazz Vocalists of Minnesota, Noon – 8 pm (Atrium)

One of the popular acts at summer and winter jazz festivals is the Singers’ Showcase, featuring singers from the Jazz Vocalists of Minnesota organization. This is a chance to experience the wide range of vocal talent in the Twin Cities, with veteran singers and up-and-coming future stars each presenting short sets of songs backed by stellar rhythm sections. The tentative line-up:

• Noon, Band I (Phil Aaron, Jocko MacNelly and Michael Pilhofer)
• 12:20 pm, Donna Wilson
• 12:40 pm, Lucia Newell
• 1:20 pm, Karen Quiroz-Bly
• 1:40 pm, Vincent
• 2:00 pm, Chris With
• 2:40 pm, Nancy Harms
• 3:00 pm, Rhonda Laurie
• 3:20 pm, Dorothy Doring
• 3:40 pm, Group Ensemble
• 4:00 pm, Band II (Brian Zimniak, Graydon Peterson, and Reid Kennedy) with Thomasina Petrus
• 4:20 pm, Lila Ammons
• 4:40 pm, Vicky Mountain
• 5:00 pm, Tommy Bruce
• 5:40 pm, Connie Olson
• 6:00 pm, Lee Engele
• 6:20 pm, Gregg Marquardt
• 7:20 pm, Jam Session

 

Youth and Clinic Stages

Two stages will host student bands and clinics during festival Sunday, with activity running from noon to 6 pm. Advance schedule (more to be added!): 

Youth Stage I:

• 3:00 pm, Walker West Jazz Ensemble 2
• 4:30 pm, Walker West Jazz Ensemble 1
• 6:00 pm, Dakota Combo

 

Youth Stage II

• 3:30 pm, Seward School Jazz Band
• 4:00 pm, Clinic with Greg Keel
• 5:00 pm, Spring Lake Park High School Jazz Ensemble
• 5:30 pm, Clinic with Greg Keel
  

  Greg Keel©Andrea Canter

 
 

A day of music will stimulate your appetite. Two of the Twin Cities’ finest chefs, Rachel Rubin (Bobino and Chino Latino) and Scott Pampuch (Corner Table Restaurant), are collaborating on an array of locally sourced food creations available at the Winter Jazz Fest Cafe. Summit Beer, Wine, Caribou Coffee and non-alcoholic refreshments will also be available.  
 
 

MacPhail Center for Music is located at 2nd St. and 5th Ave. So. in downtown Minneapolis; parking available on-street and in nearby ramps.. For more information, call (612) 343-5943 or visit www.myspace.com/tcfestival.  Advance tickets ($25 pass includes Sonny Fortune set) at www.ticketworks.com. Tickets excluding Sonny Fortune are available at the door for $15.