Bucky Pizzarelli

It might be August but summer is far from over on Nicollet Mall. You can still enjoy dining on the patio at the Dakota Jazz Club--just be sure to come inside in time for the coolest in jazz, blues and beyond. On the schedule this month—two generations of Pizzarellis; return visits from Benny Green, Rachel Z, Lou Donaldson, Amel Larrieux and Johnny Reno; a special night with Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley in tribute to James Brown; Irv Williams’ 89th birthday bash, the Prince Connection via Eric Leeds and Latin jazz master Brian Lynch, and more! 

National Touring Artists

Reservations highly recommended. Usually two sets per night at 7 and 9:30 pm unless otherwise noted. 

August 1-2, Eric Leeds/Brian Lynch Project (8 pm). Formerly with Prince’s Revolution, saxophonist Eric Leeds also worked with the Glyph’s Madhouse and The Family projects as well as James Brown and George Clinton. Hard rock, pop, funk and Latin all inform his work. Now he shares the stage with acclaimed bop/Latin trumpeter Brian Lynch, a veteran of Horace Silver’s Quintet and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He’s since worked with many of the top artists of the day, including Eric Alexander and currently Eddie Palmieri’s Afro-Caribbean Jazz ensemble. Two great horns, one low cover! 

Benny Green

August 8-9, Rachel Z and The Department of Good and Evil (8 pm). The Dakota welcomes a return visit from an undeniably talented pianist/vocalist/composer whose chops shout Shorter and Hancock while her repertoire screams Sting and Stones. Rachel Nicolazzo—known simply as Rachel Z—and her Department of Good and Evil (DOGE) ensemble settle in for the weekend, bringing their unique twists to the familiar and obscure, covers and originals. Z and company (bassist Marva Royce, drummer Bobby Rae) shift mood and rhythm from moment to moment, yet always tethered by a golden thread of musical logic. Response to the 2007 debut release of DOGE places Rachel Z exactly where she belongs—among the most talented and inventive of 21st century post bop magicians, one who should appeal equally to those raised on U2 and Smashing Pumpkins and those steeped in the lineage of Evans, Jarrett, Hancock and Tyner. At a $10 cover, this may be the biggest bargain of the Dakota’s summer line-up. 

Rachel Z and DOGE

August 11-12, Lou Donaldson Quartet. At 82, Lou Donaldson has played through more than fifty years of jazz history, from the pure bop of the 50s to R&B and soul/funk in the 60s and 70s, returning more and more to his trademark bop and blues in the last decade. In the Blue Note family for years, Lou got his big break with the Milt Jackson Quintet and went on to record with Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Sonny Stitt, Clifford Brown, Grant Green, Wayne Shorter and the first edition of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.  A second round of recordings for Blue Note in the late 60s and early 70s solidified Donaldson’s reputation for soulful funk, with such releases as Alligator Boogaloo and Mr. Shink-a-Ling and collaborations with organist Dr. Lonnie Smith. Whether blowing hard on his alto sax or singing the blues, Lou is always a great entertainer. 

August 18-19, Amel Larrieux (7 & 9 pm). Once singer/songwriter for Groove Theory, Amel blends R&B, soul, hip hop, jazz and folk and sells her lyrics with a golden voice. The Grammy nominee released an album of standards (Lovely Standards) in 2007, interpreting the songs of Ellington, Rogers and Hammerstein and more. 

Lou Donaldson©Andrea Canter

August 21, John Pizzarelli. Proving the acorn does not fall far from the tree, the son of Bucky Pizzarelli has not only followed his famous father as a standout jazz guitarist but has proven that his chops stand on their own, both instrumentally and vocally.  With nearly three decades of performing and over 20 recordings to his credit, John Pizzarelli has more than earned his jazz stripes. Often compared vocally to Nat King Cole, John started on guitar at age six and was performing with his father by 20. John has also developed a career as a radio personality, first hosting New York Tonight in the mid to late 80s and now Radio Deluxe with wife/Broadway performer Jessica Molaskey. He’ll be arriving in town with a new CD hot off the press! 

August 22-23, Johnny Reno (8 pm).  Johnny Reno sums up his music: “We’re gonna swing like Frank, we’re gonna drink like Dean-o, we’re gonna party like Barney Fife.” Johnny Reno and the Lounge Kings bring sax/organ/guitar and vocals to the stage for the most swinging night you can imagine. 

August 25, Pee Wee Ellis/Fred Wesley, African Tribute to James Brown. A global soul-funk salute to the great James Brown comes to the Dakota stage—and few other small venues. Saxophonist/organist Pee Wee Ellis studied with Sonny Rollins before joining James Brown in 1965, soon becoming music director and arranger for some of Brown’s biggest hits. Other partnerships included Van Morrison and, in a jazz fusion vein, Dave Liebman. Also a member of James Brown’s band, jazz/funk trombonist Fred Wesley later spent time with George Clinton, the Count Basie Orchestra, and Maceo Parker before forming his own band in the 1990s. Ellis and Wesley have come back together in honor of Brown, a special tour with a supergroup of soul and funk artists to present “Still Black, Still Proud.” 

Local Music Extraordinaire

We don’t need to look far to find music of national and international caliber. Sets at 7 pm weeknights (cover $5), 8 pm weekends (cover $10) unless otherwise noted.  

August 3, Maurice Jacox. Sax and song with a veteran of the Twin Cities music scene performs his special tribute to Nat King Cole. 

August 6, Linda and Jason Peterson. Yeah. Those Petersons. Two that we don’t hear very often in town. 

August 7, Ellen Whyte with the Sue Orfield Band. From the Great Northwest to the Midwest!  Ellen’s third annual stop in our area brings the opportunity to hear “The Neon Blonde of the Blues” with the high flying backing of saxophonist Sue Orfield and her band. The Portland, OR resident is a talented songwriter as well as fantastic performer!  Ellen’s new CD, Four Way Stop, will be available at the show. 

August 10, Christine Rosholt and Geoff Jones. Two great voices on stage together. 

August 13, Arne Fogel. Whether he is channeling Sinatra, Crosby or another swing-era master, the consummate crooner brings sophisticated swing to every performance. We don’t hear enough of Arne on the Dakota stage. Of course these days he has been dividing his time between his regular swinging gigs with the Wolverines Trio and his 60s rock reprisals with The Batch! Arne was recently inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, celebrating his first four decades as singer, radio personality and all-around encyclopedia of vocal jazz. 

August 14, Charlie Caranicas ($7). Minnesota native trumpeter and former leader of the Blue Note Jazz Club house band, Charlie Caranicus has enjoyed a diverse career, including stints with Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, the Louis Armstrong Centennial Band, the Flying Neutrinos, the Vanguard Orchestra, the Chico O’Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, and numerous Broadway pit orchestras. For a straight-ahead, swinging good time, make plans to spend the night with Charlie. 

August 15, Ginger Commodore. Veteran of Sounds of Blackness and Moore By Four, Ginger has some of the most powerful –and luscious—pipes in town, be it gospel, blues, or jazz.... or all at once. 

August 16, Davina and the Vagabonds. Blues, roots music and jazz tossed together by singer/pianist Davina Sowers is fast becoming one of the most popular local acts at the Dakota. 

August 17, Irv Williams Birthday Bash. Blowing out 89 candles will be a piece of cake for Irv Williams—he’s still blowing his tenor sax weekly for Happy Hour at the Dakota (every Friday night), continues a weekly duo gig with Peter Schimke at Il Vesco Vino, and manages at least a few quartet gigs at the Dakota and Artists Quarter every year. His most recent recording, Finality, was his fourth in four years. He says it’s his last. We doubt it. Come toast Mr. Smooth! 

August 20, Atlantis Quartet. The Atlantis Quartet has been making waves since its debut at Jitters about two years ago, an ensemble described as having “strong compositions and insanely serious chops” (Dwight Hobbs, Pulse). Now the band plays throughout the metro, released their debut recording in August 2007, and welcomes “new” bassist Chris Bates. The other young musicians (who bill themselves as a “rock band playing original jazz”) include saxophonist Brandon Wozniak, guitarist Zacc Harris and drummer Pete Hennig. 

August 24, Juke Joint With Dennis Spears and Debbie Duncan ($8). An ongoing “special” event brings together two of the metro’s most revered singers to host even more talented voices. 

August 26, Carioca ($10). Brazilian vibes to uplift your soul (and maybe your feet)! 

August 27, Paul Renz Quintet with Anders Bostrom ($7). If Twin Cities’ guitarist Paul Renz went Beyond Blues on his last release, his recent Rebop takes us well beyond bop, revisiting, reimagining, running circles around it. For the recording session, and for his gig tonight, Paul brings back New Jersey-based master flautist Anders Bostrom, along with his core rhythm team of Brian Ziemniak (Hammond B-3 and piano), Eric Graham (bass), and Nathan Fryett (drums). 

August 28, Brian Grivna & Dave Karr with Connie Evingson ($7). Two master saxophonists with a long history of collaboration join forces with one of the most talented vocalists around. Expect an evening of swing, bop, and a lot of fun. 

August 29-30, Nachito Herrera. On hand for his monthly carnival of cha cha, son and rhumba, Cuban import Nachito will ignite your Labor Day weekend, setting the keyboard afire while his multi-talented bandmates fan the flames. 

Late at the Dakota (11:30 pm-1:30 am, $5)

Surely one of the most innovative music series in town, the Dakota Late Night sets feature new and experimental musicians, a little soul and blues, and a lot of avant garde jazz.

• August 1, Red Planet with Bill Carrothers
• August 2, Willie August Project
• August 8, Volcano Insurance
• August 9, Blood Electric.
• August 15, Stefan Kac and Friends
• August 16, Nick Haas Trio CD Release
• August 22, Chastity Brown
• August 23, Counterclockwise
• August 29, Sambo Makti

The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. For reservations and updated schedule information, visit www.dakotacooks.com