Jazz (and All That Art)

Noon, Phil Hey Quartet. One of the most esteemed ensembles in the Twin Cities, PHQ leader/drummer Phil Hey is noted for his elegance, inventive approach to time and composition, and ability to bring (and keep) together a group of distinguished, simpatico artists. Once a student of Ed Blackwell, Hey toured extensively with the late Dewey Redman and manages timekeeping duties for the Pete Whitman X-Tet, Out to Lunch Quintet, and is first call for many local and visiting artists. The quartet also features the impeccable piano of Phil Aaron, the always artful bass of Tom Lewis, and the adventurous vibes of Dave Hagedorn. Together, the PHQ recorded one of the top CDs of 2006, Subduction. The PHQ will get this festival off to a flying, very 21st century start. 

2:00 pm, Steve Clarke and the Working Stiffs. The Stiff are one of the most energetic jump/swing bands in the metro. Led by saxophonist Steve Clarke, the band includes some of the best of a younger generation of jazzers, including hot vocalist Katie Gearty, trombonist Matt Darling, trumpeter Steve Kung, pianist Brian Ziemniak or Jason Craft, bassist Matt Knippel, and drummer Harolds Bondaris. In just three years, the Working Stiffs have garnered four Minnesota Music Award nominations, winning the titles for Best Jazz Artist, Best Jazz Recording (Metropolitan), and Best Horn Player (Steve Clarke). Steve himself has won a total of five Horn Player of the Year awards. Bring your dancing shoes, it might be really hard to sit still for the Working Stiffs! 

4:00 pm, Davina and the Vagabonds. Leader Davina Sowers has been dubbed the “hardest working blueswoman in frigid Minnesota” since her arrival here three years ago. A classically trained pianist and vocalist who found her niche in New Orleans blues, Davina and her band (Zack Lozier, trumpet and vocals; Michael Carvale, bass and vocals; Dan Olson, drums and vocals) have become one of the most popular acts in Twin Cities music, a common gig at the Dakota Jazz Club, Times Bar and Café, and this summer, at the Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth. Their second release, Live at the Times, is due out this fall. 

6:00 pm, Lao Tizer. A former Best New Artist of the Year for the National Smooth Jazz Awards, keyboard monster Lao Tizer is also a prolific composer and seasoned bandleader. Based in Los Angeles, he is a popular performer at jazz festivals throughout the nation. Tizer’s very hot band includes saxman/vocalist Steve Nieves, guitarist Jeff Kollman, and drummer Drew Megna. 

8:00 pm, Greg Adams. Bay Area native Adams was headed to Berklee College of Music when he was invited to join Tower of Power. The trumpeter/arranger remained with the band for 25 years. His resume includes playing with and/or arranging for Chicago, Heart, Elton John, Huey Lewis and the News, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, and Carlos Santana. His arrangements have received Grammy nominations and his recordings have often topped Smooth Jazz charts. Greg returns to Burnsville by popular demand following his smash appearance last year. 

The Burnsville Art and All That Jazz takes place from 11 am – 9 pm at Nicollet Commons Park in Burnsville, West 126th Street and Nicollet Avenue; www.burnsvilleartjazz.com