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Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Jazz Stars of the Future at the AQ on July 10th

Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor

Thursday, 03 July 2008

Miguel Hurtado © Andrea Canter

With the tremendous opportunities offered student musicians through such programs as Walker West Music Academy, MacPhail Center for Music, the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth, Twin Cities Jazz Workshop, Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education, area public school jazz programs, and, above all, supportive families, the Twin Cities offers fertile ground to nurture talented youth who aspire to careers in music. Events such as the Twin Cities Jazz Festivals and Freedom Jazz Festivals as well as area club dates give many students the invaluable experience of live performance. The fact that two Minneapolis students (South High alums Javier Santiago and Chris Smith) have been part of the highly selective Brubeck Institute program at the same time speaks volumes of the quality and ambition of our local talents.

Over the past few years, the Artists Quarter in St. Paul has hosted various “last gig” and “back to school” ensembles of graduating high school and college student musicians, and it is always a treat to hear how these young artists are developing their personal styles and absorbing the many influences of their studies and experiences. Such an opportunity will be offered at the AQ on July 10th when a quartet featuring Joe Hartnett (alto sax), Javier Santiago (piano), Daniel Duke (bass) and Miguel Hurtado (drums) takes the stage.

Joe Hartnett, a graduate of Highland Park High School in St. Paul, will be heading back to New York for a third year at the New School University. Also home from New York, Miguel Hurtado (Minneapolis South High Class of 2006) is enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music and will be spending the first part of his junior year studying in Amsterdam. Javier Santiago, winner of the 2006 Jazz Piano Scholarship Competition sponsored by the Schubert Club and Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education, is an alum of the inaugural edition of the Dakota Combo who will be returning to Stockton, CA for his second and final year with the Brubeck Institute. Fellow Dakota Combo alum and St. Paul Central graduate Daniel Duke will be heading east to William Paterson College of New Jersey to continue his jazz studies.
Daniel Duke © Andrea Canter

These young artists have been busy well beyond their commitments to school: Joe, Miguel, and Javier have often played together over the past few years, in varying combinations at events such as the KBEM Winter Jazz Festival and Freedom Jazz Festival. Miguel and Chris formerly played with the teen group The Eggz, led by saxophonist Owen Nelson. Joe, Miguel and Javier were also members of Second Nature, another teen ensemble that released two recordings and were part of The Bridge, which had a standing gig at Lula’s. At the 2008 Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Javier and Miguel joined fellow collegians from Manhattan and Chicago to form Neoterik, opening the Minneapolis portion of the festival on Peavey Plaza, and jamming on the Dakota Jazz Club stage later in the evening. Miguel also anchored the rhythm section at the Festival Jam the following night at the Millennium Hotel. Javier is playing this summer with the John Raymond Project, recently booked for a prime time gig at the Dakota. And Daniel, in addition to various bands connected to St. Paul Central, has played with the salsa band Tropical Zone.

If you’ve been following the careers of these young musicians, you know that their skills have progressed exponentially. And if this will be your first encounter with their youthful energy and maturing artistry, be prepared—this is not just a “student band.” This is a jazz ensemble that ably holds its own at a prime venue.

The Artists Quarter is located at 408 St. Peter Street in downtown St. Paul. Visit www.artistsquarter.com for full calendar and more information.

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