Javier Santiago, Joe Hartnett, Daniel Duke, and Miguel Hurtado©Andrea Canter

In an area that seems teeming with young jazz talents, there have been two common denominators among the current, college-age generation: The Eggz and Twin Cities urban school programs. The Eggz was a teen band led by alto saxophonist Owen Nelson, who was a mere 13 when he organized a quartet that performed at the Hot Summer Jazz Festival and other area events. Through their high school years, The Eggz continued despite some personnel changes, helping to “hatch” the jazz careers of not only Owen (now a student at McGill University) but pianist Javier Santiago (Brubeck Institute), bassist Chris Smith (Brubeck Institute alum now headed to the New School in Manhattan) and drummer Miguel Hurtado (Manhattan School of Music).

Another common breeding ground among our local, emerging jazz artists has been the public schools. Despite serious budget problems indigenous to urban districts, south Minneapolis music programs have long nurtured jazz—Ramsey Middle School under Tom Wells, Southwest High School under Keith Liuzzi, South High School under Scott Carter. Among a long list of alum credits, South High produced an unprecedented two-fer---two grads (Javier Santiago and Chris Smith) selected for the prestigious Brubeck Institute Fellows program, with overlapping residencies during the past year. Javier, Chris, and Miguel are all products of Ramsey as well as South High. Across the river in St. Paul, Central High School under Matt Oyen similarly has served as an incubator of talent, filling four of the seven slots of in the inaugural Dakota Combo for 2006-07.  

Javier Santiago©Andrea Canter

The repertoire was adventurous as the quartet generally veered away from common standards toward more challenging covers and some intriguing original compositions. They opened with Sam Rivers’ “Fuchsia Swing” with an abstract sax solo from Joe Hartnett. Entering his final year at the New School in Manhattan, Joe has an engaging, dry but not brittle tone, songful throughout the evening, outstanding on Billy Strayhorn’s “Istafan,” Ornette Colemans’ “Turn Around,” and a surprisingly swinging take on “If I Should Lose You.” He also proved to be an inventive composer, unveiling a yet-untitled tune during the second set that gave his partners plenty to chew on. 

Daniel Duke©Andrea Canter

Javier Santiago and Daniel Duke cemented the rhythm section of the first edition of the Dakota Combo, the Twin Cities’ elite high school jazz ensemble directed by Kelly Rossum, while Javier and Miguel Hurtado have teamed together since the Eggz and their days at South High. The long history of these musical relationships plays out on stage, the spirit of collaboration ever present. Javier’s approach to the keyboard has evolved exponentially through layers of chords and ascending and descending runs, crossing multiple octaves with a touch that can be delicate, assertive, contemplative or brash. In the past year he has added texture and built foundations in establishing his personal voice, most clearly delineated last night on Chick Corea’s “What Was,” played with just the rhythm section. 

Joe Hartnett©Andrea Canter

Miguel Hurtado, entering year three at Manhattan School of Music, seemed more comfortable than ever behind the trapset, a more assertive timekeeper who at key moments put the drums out front. On “Istafan” his punctuations—a crash here, brushstrokes there, pops and crackles—elevated the overall feel and drive, while on “If I Should Lose You” his percussive workout pushed what is more often a ballad into a fast paced swing. His most extended solo came on “Turnaround,” a well integrated sampler of his technical and aesthetic range. 

Miguel Hurtado©Andrea Canter

Adapted from Andrea Canter's blog at www.jazzink.blogspot.com