 Ruthie Foster Last June, the Dakota booked a record dozen (or was it 13) national acts for the month. For October, another dozen national and international touring artists will be on stage, from singer/songwriters Shawn Colvin and Nick Lowe to rising star vocalist Roberta Gambarini, from blues sensation Ruthie Foster to soul queen Bettye Lavette, from living legend drummer Steve Smith to virtuoso guitarist Stanley Jordan and young lion pianist Eldar. Add in the global flavors of musicians from Mexico and Africa, a Late Night special appearance of Joel Harrison and Christian Howes, and of course the “usual” mix of local and regional artists, and it is yet another carnival of jazz, blues and beyond at the Dakota in October.
National Touring Artists (7 and 9:30 pm unless otherwise noted) September 30-October 2, Shawn Colvin. Grammy winner Shawn Colvin became immersed in the “new folk” scene of the late 1980s. Rooted in the Midwest (a native of South Dakota and graduate of Southern Illinois University) and based in Austin, TX, Colvin had a major hit with “Sunny Came Home” in the late 90s, has nine recordings to her credit and appears on a long list of soundtracks, including a duet with Tony Bennett in It Could Happen To You. October 4, Sacbé with Enrique Toussaint (8 pm). Brothers Enrique, Eugenio and Fernando Touissant, with Alejandro Compos, formed Sacbé in 1976 as a merger of American jazz and Latin American traditions. Starting out in cafes near Mexico City, over the next 20 years, the band recorded six albums and became a leading voice of a new movement in Mexican music. Over the years the musicians have worked with Herb Alpert, Paul Anka and Paul McCandless, disbanding in 1997 but now touring again with a rare club appearance. October 5-6, Ruthie Foster. Singer/songwriter Ruthie Foster blends blues, gospel and folk “with a powerful soul-stirring delivery” (Mike Regenststreif, Montreal Gazette). Said Richard Skanse (Texas Music Magazine), "Like the old spoonful-of-sugar-helps-the-medicine-go-down trick, Ruthie Foster's voice is so full of hallelujah, you sometimes have to listen to her songs two or three times before you realize she's singing the blues.”  Steve Smith©Howard Gittelson
October 8, The Clayton Brothers. Post bop bands don’t get any hotter than this one. Bassist John Clayton has been compared to the late Ray Brown and with brother saxophonist Jeff Clayton has led the Clayton-Hamilton orchestra. Both John and Jeff have devoted much of their careers to jazz education as well. John’s son/pianist Gerald Clayton sparked the stage at the Dakota last month with the Roy Hargrove Quintet and has otherwise been making waves across jazzland with his own trio. Add in acclaimed trumpeter Terell Stafford (here most recently with Matt Wilson’s Arts and Crafts and his own live recording project) and young lion drummer Obed Calvaire, and you have one of the most incendiary projects of the year. October 11, Nick Lowe (9:30 pm). A double bill with the New Standards opening at 7 pm, this extra special Saturday night features one of the most influential singer/songwriters to come out of Britain since the Fab Four. Lowe is one of the wittiest, hippest musicians in pop music. October 12-13, Roberta Gambarini. How fast is Italian native Roberta Gambarini rising to the top echelon of jazz vocalists? Her American debut album (Easy to Love) received a 2007 Grammy nomination; she was named top “Rising Star Vocalist” by the 2008 Downbeat Critics Poll. Third place finisher in the 1998 Thelonious Monk Voice Competition, Gambarini has worked with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Toots Thielmans and Roy Hargrove. Since 2004, she has been the lead vocalist for the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band, and for the past two years has toured and recorded with the legendary pianist Hank Jones. Her most recent release is You Are There with Hank Jones. October 15, Lura. Native of Portugal who calls Cape Verde home, singer/songwriter Lura explores her African heritage blended with influences of Europe, R&B and pop.  Bettye LaVette©Andrea Canter
October 22, Mina Agossi. British vocalist Jamie Cullum noted that “Listening to Mina Agossi is like riding a motorbike through Paris-- thrilling, beautiful, dangerous and very bumpy. Don't expect to come out alive.” Two years ago, Mina debuted at the Dakota, using her voice (or is it her entire body?) as an instrument in ways that most innovative singers have never imagined, Agossi made an undeliable first impression on her Twin Cities audience, as she has wherever she performs. Last year, she returned for two nights of mesmerizing interpretations of standards and exciting original compositions. Whatever she has in store for us this time out will be startling, thrilling, beautiful... and maybe a little bit dangerous.  Mina Agossi©Andrea Canter October 23-25, Ola Onabule. Nigerian native Ola Onabule is an accomplished singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and more, merging his African roots, his London environs, and American soul, jazz and funk. No better music for a weekend—Ola brings passion, joy and touches of comedy to his live performances, along with what Proper Music Magazine described as “a stunning voice of enormous range and emotional clout.” October 25-25, Joel Harrison and Christian Howes Quartet (11:30 pm “Late Night”). Acclaimed New York guitarist Joel Harrison joins forces with the amazing violinist Christian Howes for Late Night magic. Classically trained as a child and winning national competitions in his teens, Howes turned to jazz and now performs with his five ensembles, including the Christian Howes Group (quintet or quartet), the Hot Swing Group, the European Acoustic Trio, the Special Electric Violin Project, and Duo Americana. October 27-28, Stanley Jordan Trio. “Stanley Jordan is an example of what happens to an artist when technique and spirit meet” (All About Jazz). One of the most exciting guitarists in modern jazz (and an accomplished pianist), Stanley Jordan brings a trio to be reckoned with—bassist Charnett Moffett (heard here with McCoy Tyner) and drummer Kenwood Dennard. The trio is touring in support of their latest release, State of Nature (Mack Avenue Records). October 29, Eldar. Barely out of his teens, young Eldar has dazzled audiences at the Dakota twice in the past five years. His 2007 release, Re-imagination, received a 2007 Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Kyrgyzstan prodigy Eldar Djangirov took an interest in the piano at age three, began serious studies while still in elementary school, and caught the ear of Dr. Billy Taylor at 11. After appearing with Taylor on CBS Sunday Morning, Eldar and his family relocated to Kansas City; he went on to win top prizes at the 2001 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and the 2002 Peter Nero Piano Competition; in 2004 he appeared on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz, her youngest guest ever. Locally Sustainable Music (7 pm; weeknights 8 pm unless otherwise noted) - October 3, Scottie Miller. Contemporary New Orleans piano blues and soulful vocals.
- October 9, Parisota Hot Club. Gypsy swing of the 30s, 40s and 50s in the style of Djano Reinhardt with some of the best purveyors of the style.
- October 10-11, The New Standards (7 and 9:30 pm Friday, 7 pm only on Saturday). Three of the most popular artists give “standards” a new sound. Note this is a ticketed show!
- October 14, Lee Engele. “Jazz with an attitude” from one of the swingingest singers in town.
- October 31, Dennis Spears’ Halloween Gala. One of our most popular vocalists and smoothest of entertainers. Who knows if Dennis has some tricks to add to his treats?
Late Night (11:30 pm-1:30 am) Some of the most innovative music in town comes late to the stage, 11:30 pm every Friday and Saturday night. Usual cover is $5 save the Harrison/Howes Quarter (see above, October 24-25). - October 3, Lease/Moriarty Quintet
- October 4, Keston & Westdal with Graham O’Brien
- October 10, Monk in Motian
- October 11, Sophia Shorai
- October 17, Low Blows
- October 24-25, Harrison/Howes (see National Acts)
- October 31, Atlantis Quartet’s “A Love Supreme”
Coming in November - November 2-3, Booker T & the MGs with Eddie Floyd
- November 5-6, Boz Scaggs
- November 11-12, Jesse Cook
The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Make your reservations online and get updated calendar at www.dakotacooks.com
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008
