Monk In Motian

“The late night series is doing a fantastic job in aiding the survival of America's music.  For the sake of jazz, I hope that other clubs will take note of what is happening at the Dakota Late Night Series.” – Reid Kennedy, Snowblind 

The Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis might be know for its fine dining, mainstream jazz, blues and beyond, and its tony clientele. But that’s the Dakota in prime time.  Initiated about three years ago as a bold experiment for downtown’s musical hub of mainstream elegance, the Dakota’s Late Night series features sets of mostly new and cutting edge jazz every weekend. Modeled to a degree after the late sets that permeate the club scene in Manhattan, and rooted in the all-night jam sessions of 52nd Street during the golden age of bop, this series has proven to be a popular alternative to—or extension of—the more conservative weekend bookings that tend to draw audiences moderately interested in the music and enthusiastically interested in the bar, the menu, and the ambience. And it is proving to be a haven for creative jazz musicians as well as for the serious listeners who come into the club from 11:30 pm – 1:30 am every Friday and Saturday night. This month, Late Night curator Dan Eikmeier brings in some of the most interesting bands in town:

July 12, Monk in Motian

A collaboration of several members of the Atlantis Quintet-- saxophonist Brandon Wozniak, guitarist Zacc Harris, and drummer Pete Hennig--along with guitarist Park Evans and (tonight) Jeremy Boettcher filling in on electric bass for Cody McKinney, the newly formed Monk in Motian band reinterprets the music of Thelonious Monk through the musical style of Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band. In other words, the compositions of one genius as filtered through the mind of another.  Thelonious Monk is often cited as one of the founders of bebop, given his affiliations with Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Milt Jackson and more in the 1940s and 50s. However, his style veered off in an idiocyncratic direction, his compositions marked by dissonant harmonies and angular melodic twists, while his unique piano style featured a highly percussive attack with abrupt use of silence and hesitations.  Once a bandmate of Monk himself, the highly prolific drummer Paul Motian was also affiliated in the 50s with Stan Getz, George Russell, and particularly Bill Evans. Moving the drummer’s role far beyond timekeeping, Motian went on to work with Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley, Charlie Haden, Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell. 

The recently formed Monk in Motian band has the chops to handle the challenge of merging these two legendary forces. Saxman Brandon Wozniak previously lived and worked in New York City, toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and earned his BA from Indiana University under the tutelage of David Baker. Since arriving in the Twin Cities in 2006, he has performed with local bands led by Bruce Henry, Katie Gearty and Sam Kuusisto, and is also a member of the 3rio. Zacc Harris came to Minneapolis three years ago from Illinois, where he graduated from Southern Illinois University. Here he formed the Luminessence Trio (now Zacc Harris Trio) and has also played with Tanner Taylor, Jay Epstein, Katie Gearty, Sophia Shorai and John Starkey. In addition to performing, Zacc is dedicated to teaching, and has taught guitar for the past decade.  Also on guitar, Park Evans keeps busy leading his own Quartet and playing sideman on numerous projects, including Katie Gearty, Sophia Shorai,  Fonster, Tickle Fight and Inspirado. With his Quartet he released Surviving Desire in 2007. A recent University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire graduate, Jeremy Boettcher studied with bassist John Clayton and played with such artists as Benny Green and Lewis Nash. Lately Jeremy has played with Cookie Coleman, Laura Caviani,  Nachito Herrera and the John Raymond Project. Drummer Pete Hennig came to the Twin Cities to study at McNally Smith. After graduating he spent an additional three years studying with Dave King (Bad Plus, Happy Apple). His performance credits include Debbie Duncan, Katie Gearty, Sam Kuusisto, Tickle Fight, Patrick Harrison, Johnny Clueless, Park Evans and more.

Enjoy the debut gig of what is sure to be one of the Midwest’s most intriguing ensembles.

July 25, Ingo Bethke

The quirky instrumentation alone makes this band worth a late night visit. Ingo Bethke is a reinvention of The Journey:  Geoff Senn on trumpet, Shilad Sen on saxophones, Stefan Kac on tuba, Steve Gilbertson on keyboards, Matt Peterson on bass and Nick Zielinski on drums. Stefan Kac—the first tubist to ever be part of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program-- is a veteran of late night, having appeared here with the Pan Metropolitan Trio. Saxophonist Shilad Sen is working on a graduate degree at the U of M while also serving on the front line of the brass quintet Snowblind. Bassist Matt Peterson appears around town in more conservative company with singer Nancy Harms and in duo with Zacc Harris and Pete Hennig—see Monk in Motian July 12th! Drummer Nick Zielinski teaches percussion and improvisation at the U of M Duluth and plays with the very avant electronic trio, ARP of the Covenant. Enjoy brass with a lot of unpredictable twists. 

July 26, Rossum Electric Company

Kelly Rossum©Andrea Canter

August 1, Red Planet and Bill Carrothers

Not one, but two innovative forces come together in an international explosion of modern jazz. In town for the week to visit family and play at every opportunity, Twin Cities’ native pianist Bill Carrothers is always a treat to hear. This week he has prime time gigs at the Artists Quarter (July 30) and Dakota (July 31), and he returns late tonight to collaborate with a trio of like-minded souls, Red Planet. On tour in Europe far more often than in the US, Bill has more than a dozen highly acclaimed recordings to his credit and a talent that infuses humor and dead serious musicality. Red Planet features wild guitar man Dean Magraw, whose credits run from Prarie Home Companion to indie folk to avant garde jazz and beyond; bassist Chris Bates, who is often on stage with How Birds Work, the Kelly Rossum Quartet, and a long list of avant and improvised music ensembles; and drummer Jay Epstein, whose skills behind the trapset land him in a variety of projects, from the Mary Louise Knutson Trio to area vocalists to Carrothers’ own Armistice project. Innovation meets innovation. 

One of the many pleasures of Late at the Dakota is the low cover ($5), drink and snack specials, and a more musician friendly ambience than prime time weekends. There’s something every Friday and Saturday night from 11:30 pm – 1:30 am. Check out the Dakota website for updated information— www.dakotacooks.com