The annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival covers two weekends in late June, providing yet another reason to visit the Artists Quarter. Last year’s jam sessions following the Mears Park events were full of surprises, and we can anticipate another weekend of fun after hours in St. Paul. Other AQ highlights this month include a Sunday salute to the songs of Cole Porter, a rare weekend with the Tanner Taylor Trio, Brian Grivna’s tribute to Cannonball Adderley, and the return of Eric Kamau Gravatt and Source Code. 

Weekends in June (9 pm unless otherwise noted) 

Lee Engele and Rhonda Laurie © Andrea Canter

Tanner Taylor©Andrea Canter

June 13-14, Brian Grivna Quintet Tribute to Cannonball Adderley ($10). A “Young Artist” clarinet soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra when he was just 12, Brian Grivna worked in jazz, commercial, and theater music before joining the Buddy Rich band in 1971. His resume now includes a decade with the Guthrie Theater, international tours with the Minnesota Orchestra, and works with the St Paul Chamber Orchestra, Bobby McFerrin, Children’s Theater and touring pit orchestras.  Tonight, Brian celebrates one of his heroes, alto sax legend Cannonball Adderley.

Brad Bellows and friends at the 2007 AQ Festival Jam©Andrea CAnter

June 27-28, Eric Kamau Gravatt and Source Code ($12). In the software world, "Source Code" is the name of a collection of instructions written to generate the programs that run on our computers, PDA's, cell-phones and toasters. A frequent collaborator of McCoy Tyner and alum of Weather Report, drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt and his Source Code band will generate unique and engaging music using the works of jazz masters like Monk, Coltrane, and Jackie McLean as their source. Raised in Philadelphia, Gravatt has lived in the Twin Cities since retiring from his “day job” as a prison guard. Source Code includes some of the Twin Cities’ finest, including Dean Brewington on sax, Ron Evaniuk on bass, Dave Hagedorn on vibes and Dave Leigh on trombone. 

Eric Kamau Gravatt©Andrea Canter

Weeknights in June ( 9 pm, $5 cover unless otherwise noted)

Mondays, Green (7 pm)/Open Poetry with Live Jazz (9 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. Newest 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, Poetry Slam (Soap Boxing) at 8 pm, $5.  

Tuesdays with the Tuesday Night Band (9 pm, $5). B-3 Organ Night with 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. A weekly tradition at the AQ, you never know who might sit in—Joey DeFrancesco usually appears whenever he’s in town. Tuesday night expanded last winter with an exciting new band featuring Zach W. Schmidt, Cory J. Wong, Cassie Meier, and Dan M. Musselman playing an early show at 7 pm (no cover). These young, talented musicians provide the perfect starter for AQ's longest-standing engagement. 

June 4, 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. 

Peter Schimke©Andrea Canter

June 11, Cory Wong Quartet CD Release Party. Guitarist Cory Wong also works as a composer, arranger, producer and teacher. In quintet format he has a weekly gig opening for the Tuesday Night Band at the AQ. A recent graduate of McNally Smith College, Cory brings his fusiony jazz chops to prime time at the AQ, celebrating the release of his recording, Even, Uneven. 

June 12, Phil Hey Quartet. A former student of Ed Blackwell, Phil teaches jazz drum at Macalester College and the U of M, and toured with the late Dewey Redman; this spring he toured with vocalist Stacey Kent. One of the most in-demand drummers in the Midwest, Phil keeps busy with the Pete Whitman X-Tet, Chris Lomheim Trio, Laura Caviani Trio, and the Out to Lunch Quintet. His own quartet features long-time bandmates Dave Hagedorn on vibes, Tom Lewis on bass, and Phil Aaron on piano, playing a repertoire that includes the tunes of Kenny Wheeler, Bobby Hutcherson, John Coltrane, and Wayne Shorter. The PHQ’s debut recording, Subduction, is one of the best local releases of the decade.

June 18, Gary Berg Quartet. A local legend, 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. Notes Don Berryman, “He lets the bop riffs ride on the groove in a way that’s true to the music and the feeling.” 

Dave Karr©Andrea Canter

June 25, How Birds Work. 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. Guitarist Dean Granros keeps busy with his own trio, FKG, and the new Starry Eyed Lovelies band (see above). Bassist Chris Bates plays regularly with Low Blow and the guitar trios, Framework and Red Planet, as well as the Kelly Rossum Quartet. In his role with How Birds Work, multi-faceted pianist Peter Schimke also displays his skills as a composer and adds vocals to the mix. And AQ owner/drummer Kenny Horst is a “great hard-bop, soul jazz, and fusion chops and the sweetest guy you could meet” (Don Berryman). Sophisticated, often subtle, always working toward the edge from a firm foundation, How Birds Work offers multiple layers of challenge to the listener.

June 26, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet ($8). 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 for sophisticated arrangements and original compositions. 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. This is one of the most popular monthly gigs at the AQ, so come early and stay late! 
 

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!