Jack Brass Band

This Twin Cities suburb is probably not the first place you think of for hot jazz venues. Yet there’s intermittent opportunities to hear the area’s finest musicians in Bloomington. The Bloomington Center for the Arts provides one of the area’s most pleasing concert venues, hosting a few jazz related shows every year such as last spring’s salute to Duke Ellington with such headliners as Dennis Spears, Lucia Newell and Maud Hixson. The Bloomington Knights of Columbus Hall often hosts swing dance bands such as the Wolverines. And annually, there’s the Bloomington Jazz Festival at the Normandale Lake Bandshell. Next Sunday, August 10th , from 2 – 7:15 pm,  the city’s Arts in the Parks program presents a great afternoon of traditional and classic swinging jazz featuring some of the Twin Cities’ most accomplished performers. There’s great food and free music! 

This year’s lineup: 

2 pm, The Jumpin' Jehosaphats. Performing for more than two decades at venues from the Midwest to Caribbean, the Jumpin Jehosafats mix trad and gospel, raising funds for a variety of charitable causes through United Methodist-related ministries, Habitat for Humanity, etc. The musicians include Elton Brown (tuba, vocals), Duey Cady (trombone, vocals), Suzanne Mades (flute), Fritz Sauer (trumpet), David Tidball (drums), Jim Torok (clarinet, soprano sax, cornet, vocals), Barbara York (vocals) and Lyndy Zabel (piano, vocals). 

3:20 pm, Jack Brass Band. The only New Orleans style brass band based in Minneapolis, Jack Brass has been enthralling audiences since 1999. Mixing the Big Easy’s traditions with old-time blues, rock, hip-hop, pop, funk and reggae, they’ve impressed no less than Wynton Marsalis, who noted, "If you like your gumbo spicy and your music hot, check out the Jack Brass Band." Founded by drummer Mike Olander, Jack Brass is modeled after the famed Dirty Dozen Brass Band, transplanting the revival of the New Orleans brass bands of the 80s and 90s to Minnesota and bringing with it the syncopation of the famed “second line” bands melded with rap and other sounds of the modern era. Jack Brass opened for the Rebirth Brass Band at Jazz Fest in 2004 and, in the wake of Katrina, has been busy raising funds and sending instruments south to help revitalize and maintain the music traditions that they have helped celebrate in the Midwest. In addition to Olander, the band includes Andrew “Dizzy” Gillespie (snare and cymbal), Andy Hakala and Zack Lozier (trumpet), Gus Sandberg (tenor sax), Scott Agster, Scott Moriarty and Matt Hanzelka (trombone), and Rob Seeger and Erik Jacobson (sousaphone). 

Bend in the River Big Band©Andrea Canter

4:40 pm, Bend in the River Big Band. Another ensemble entering its third decade of performance, the BRRB performs throughout the region at schools, festivals, outdoor venues and the Minnesota State Fair. The band released its second recording, Bad Habits, last year, featuring such favorite big band fare as “Ol’ Man River,” “Royal Garden Blues,” “Stardust,” “Stompin’ at the Savoy” and more. Directed by Bob Hallquist (flugelhorn and percussion), the BRBB includes Paul Rippe, Becky Weiland, Chuck Linderkamp, Bruce Olson and Ed Johnson (saxes, winds); John Egnel, Steve Truran, Mike Supple, Chris Sasik and Phil Belin (trumpets), John Zshunke, Mark Mohwinkel, Alex Lindstrom and Keith Nelson (trombones), David Miller (piano), Pete Karstad (bass), Ben Anderson (drums) and Laurie Rejzer (vocals).

Connie Evingson©Andrea Canter

The Bloomington Jazz Festival will take place at the Normandale Lake Bandshell (5901 84th Street, Bloomington) on Sunday, August 10th, from 2 - 7:15 pm. Parking available in the ramp of the 8500 Tower of Normandale Lake Office Park on 84th Street. There is no admission charge! 
 

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