 Jon Weber©Andrea Canter Even before the RNC leaves St. Paul, there will be congestion and revelry on the Seventh Place Mall as jazz artists and fans congregate at the Artists Quarter. And making it more pleasant, the AQ is offering Minnesota residents with ID free cover during the RNC, September 1-4! Kicking off the festivities on Labor Day, the Dean Magraw Trio will offer their alternative view on life and music (and not necessarily free of political commentary!); favorite touring artist Jon Weber returns from New York for a midweek display of pyrotechnic pianism and bionic recall of jazz trivia, and young piano monster Tanner Taylor closes out Convention night (September 4th) with his own daring “keynote” address. More excitement extends well beyond the RNC, with a return visit from Stephanie Nakasian and Hod O’Brien; a reprise of Rick DellaRatta’s “Jazz for Peace” fund raiser; a rare appearance of Dave Karr’s Mulligan Stew; the much anticipated CD releases from Joan Griffith/Laura Caviani and the Kelly Rossum Quartet, and a jazzy tribute to Jazz Image legend Leigh Kamman. As always, there’s lot of jazz all week long. National Acts and Weekend Headliners (9 pm unless otherwise noted)
September 3, Jon Weber (8 pm, $5). One of our favorite entertainers and jazz artists returns for just one night! Pianist-in-residence for the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, the unique Jon Weber will distract you from the traffic jams and rhetoric of the nearby RNC with his witty and scholarly commentary as he pulls his trio (Gordy Johnson and Kenny Horst) through a boundless repertoire. He can burn through Scott Joplin and Fats Waller, turn on a dime and set off through Jerome Kern or George Gershwin, hang a left in midphrase to explore bop or introduce his own compositions. Along the way, see how many of Jon’s quotes you recognize! He barely fits his long legs under the piano, but there’s always room for one more quote, one more trivial fact, one more standing ovation. A lot more fun than a night of political analysis! And at $5, this is surely the best bargain of the week.
 Stephanie and Hod
September 12-13, Stephanie Nakasian and Hod O’Brien ($15). Her hip and swinging rhythm brought singer Stephanie Nakasian to the attention of jazz legend Jon Hendricks, and she toured with him in the 80s. Since, she has performed, toured and/or recorded with Phil Woods, Harry Allen, Jim Cullum, Dick Hyman, Bobby McFerrin, Bob Dorough, Annie Ross, Roy Haynes and more; she has performed multiple tributes to the great singers of jazz and blues. Her partner in life and music, Hod O’Brien was part of the New York “loft scene” of the late 1950s, jamming with the likes of Pepper Adams, Stan Getz and Oscar Pettiford; he recorded with Art Farmer before taking a decade to teach math at Columbia. Back into jazz, he ultimately teamed up with Stephanie in 1980, and has since been active as one of the best working bop pianists around, “the best this side of Barry Harris,” noted the Montreal Mirror. Hip, swingin, bop—it’s the ingredients for a hot weekend duo at the AQ.  Mulligan Stew©Andrea Canter
September 19-20, Dave Karr’s Mulligan Stew (9 pm, $10). Gerry Mulligan was one of the great purveyors of bop, and his pianoless quartet was legendary. Speaking of legends, we have our own bari sax star, Dave Karr, who put together his own band to pay tribute to Mulligan, with the addition of piano. This weekend, however, Dave will be coming much closer to the original Mulligan configuration, with regular bandmates Tanner Taylor and Gordy Johnson otherwise engaged. Joining Dave, trombonist Dave Graf and drummer Phil Hey will be acclaimed area bassist Gary Raynor, forming a new “stew” for the weekend. We can still expect modern twists on Mulligan favorites and more.  Joan Griffith©Andrea Canter
September 26-27, Kelly Rossum Quartet CD Release, Family ($10). Yet another special CD release party at the AQ! One of the most versatile musicians in town, trumpeter Kelly Rossum and his quartet of modern improvisers celebrate the release of Family, Kelly’s fourth outing as leader and arguably his best yet. Featuring four originals by Kelly, 2 new tunes from pianist Bryan Nichols, one from bassist Chris Bates, and some interesting covers, Family is Kelly’s “reflection of my musical family. The music stems from a rich tradition, yet it continues to evolve and grow...just like my family.” The music is majestic, amusing, diverse in sound and mood. Just what we would expect from Kelly Rossum, Bryan Nichols, Chris and JT Bates. Notes Kelly on the CD liner, “This recording was done live in one room with no overdubs. This is a jazz record.” The CD release party similarly will be live, in one room, no overdubs, and plenty of new twists. This is a jazz gig. September 28, Tribute to Leigh Kamman (7 pm). Nearly a year ago, the airwaves lost one of its most eloquent spokesmen for jazz with the retirement of Leigh Kamman. From his interview of Duke Ellington as a teen reporter to his shows for Armed Forces radio during World War Two, through broadcasts from Harlem to his long stint at MPR and induction into the Pavek Museum Broacasters Hall of Fame, Leigh Kamman has been the voice of jazz, not only in Minnesota, but throughout the world through national public radio. Join us for a long overdue tribute! Noted saxman Percy Hughes, "His instrument is a microphone. There's only one voice like that in this world." The Weekday Line-Up (7 pm, $5 cover unless otherwise noted; MN residents with ID, free cover during the RNC!)  Kelly Rossum©Andrea Canter
Tuesdays with the Tuesday Night Band. B-3 Organ Night with the Tuesday Night Band features “Downtown” Bill Brown on Hammond B-3, along with Billy Franze on guitar and Kenny Horst on drums. A weekly tradition at the AQ, you never know who might sit in—Joey DeFrancesco usually appears whenever he’s in town. Last month, the TNB was a featured band at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, performing on a Friday night in Minneapolis for a change! Tuesday night expanded last winter with an exciting new band featuring Zach Schmidt, Cory Wong, Cassie Meier and Dan Musselman playing an early show at 7 pm (no cover). These young, talented musicians provide the perfect starter for AQ's longest-standing engagement. September 1, Dean Magraw Trio. Following the opening set from Green at 7 pm, the AQ brings in a holiday special with the always entertaining, irreverent and inventive guitarist, Dean Magraw.  Leigh Kamman©Andrea Canter
September 10, Brian Grivna Quartet. Talented saxman Brian Grivna was already turning ears in his early teens. A member of Buddy Rich’s band in the early 70s, Brian spent ten years as a staff musician for the Guthrie Theater, has toured Europe and Asia with the Minnesota Orchestra, and continues his work with the orchestra, SPCO and touring Broadway shows. He’s a frequent collaborator with Dave Karr. September 11, Phil Hey Quartet. A former student of Ed Blackwell, Phil teaches jazz drum at Macalester College and the U of M, and toured with the late Dewey Redman; this spring he toured with vocalist Stacey Kent. One of the most in-demand drummers in the Midwest, Phil keeps busy with the Pete Whitman X-Tet, Chris Lomheim Trio, Laura Caviani Trio, and the Out to Lunch Quintet. His own quartet features long-time bandmates Dave Hagedorn on vibes, Tom Lewis on bass, and Phil Aaron on piano, playing a repertoire that includes the tunes of Kenny Wheeler, Bobby Hutcherson, John Coltrane, and Wayne Shorter. The PHQ’s debut recording, Subduction, is one of the best local releases of the decade. September 17, Theresa Ronning CD Release (7:30 pm); Ellen Lease/Pat Moriarty Quartet (9 pm). A double-header! “A humble US mail carrier of 19 years by day, and an accidental singer sitting in on the occasional open mic by night,” Theresa Ronning is finally putting on record her talents as a jazz singer with the release of Standardology. The party will be followed by a rare club performance by one of the area’s most innovative ensembles, lead by pianist Ellen Lease and saxophonist Pat Moriarty. Formerly known as the “best unrecorded band out there,” their release of Chance, Love and Logic last winter changed that. So maybe now they are the “best once-recorded band” that is truly “out there.” September 18, How Birds Work. One of the most popular regular attractions at the AQ, How Birds Work is the collaboration of four well-known area musicians—guitarist Dean Granros, bassist Chris Bates, pianist Peter Schimke, and drummer Kenny Horst. Sophisticated, often subtle, always working toward the edge from a firm foundation, How Birds Work offers multiple layers of challenge—and reward-- to the listener. September 24, Dave Karr Quartet. Long a favorite of Twin Cities’ jazz audiences and artists alike, multi-reedist Dave Karr grew up in New York listening to the great boppers, from Charlie Parker to Dizzy Gillespie. A recent recipient of a McKnight Grant, Dave can be found in the pit orchestra of touring Broadway shows, supporting the best area vocalists, holding down the horn sections of the JazzMN Big Band and Pete Whitman’s X-Tet, or leading his own bands, Mulligan Stew (see September 19-20) and this quartet. On bari, tenor, flute or clarinet, Dave’s “fluid style is both exciting and elegant” (Don Berryman). September 25, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet ($8). The X-Tet brings together the best artists in the region for sophisticated arrangements and original compositions. Head of Woodwinds and Brass at McNally Smith College, Pete Whitman has performed with Randy Brecker, Jack McDuff, and the Woody Herman Orchestra, in addition to leading his X-Tet and working regularly with the Jazz MN Big Band. He’s also been heard locally with Andres Prado, Robert Everest and more. Earlier this summer he shared the stage at the Dakota with the great German organist, Barbara Dennerlein. This is one of the most popular monthly gigs at the AQ, so come early and stay late! Coming Soon! - October 3-5, Mose Allison
- October 10-11, Carole Martin
- October 24-25, Eric Kamau Gravatt and Source Code
The Artists Quarter is located at 408 St. Peter Street in downtown St. Paul. Visit www.artistsquarter.com for full schedule, video clips and more.
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008
