And unlike most clubs in New York, the AQ’s owner is an active musician himself, often on the bandstand and behind the trapset. If Kenny Horst is not keeping time, he and wife Dawn are making sure everyone else is having a good one. 

There’s plenty to celebrate looking back on thirteen years in St. Paul. One of the most enduring musical acts in the region, the Tuesday Night Band has been active throughout most of the AQ’s St Paul tenure, initially featuring Billy Holman on Hammond B-3, now with “Downtown” Bill Brown, Billy Franze and Kenny Horst. Another long-standing gig is the quartet Green, on the bandstand every Monday night in a double header with open poetry and the now-monthly Poetry Slam. Other nearly monthly gigs feature the Phil Hey Quartet, Tanner Taylor Trio, Dave Karr Quartet, How Birds Work, Dean Magraw’s Red Planet, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet, Dean Granros Trio and more. And over the years, a bevy of national touring artists have made annual pilgrimages to the little club downtown—the likes of Lee Konitz, Mose Allison, Eric Alexander, Rick Germanson, Jim Rotondi, Jaleel Shaw and more. Roy Haynes and his Fountain of Youth band have made several appearances in recent years including a live recording session in 2006, and if Joey DeFrancesco is in the neighborhood, you can be sure he will turn up at the AQ.  

It will be an all-star, revolving cast Sunday night when some of the AQ’s favorite bands take the stage (times approximate):

• 5 pm, George Avaloz Quartet. A product of West St. Paul and originally a Mexican Hat Dancer, drummer Avaloz built a reputation in New York and returned home to entertain his home town admirers.
• 6:30 pm, Tuesday Night Band. High energy and loads of fun, blues or bop, with a sampling of B-3 Organ night. Featuring Bill Brown, Billy Franze and Kenny Horst.
• 7 pm, Pete Whitman Group. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed saxman/bandleader Pete’s ensembles, from the Departure Point sextet to his little big band, the X-Tet. Some assemblage of Pete’s collaborators will be on hand for this special set.
• 7:30 pm, Phil Hey Quartet. One of the most innovative small ensembles in town, the PHQ features leader Phil on drums, Phil Aaron on piano, Tom Lewis on bass, and Dave Hagedorn on vibes.
• 8 pm, Carole Martin and Friends. There’s no finer voice in town, no better interpreter of songs of love or songs of pain than Carole Martin. If you missed her “Blame it on My Youth” at last month’s tribute to Leigh Kamman, you better not miss her tonight.
• 

  How Birds Work©Andrea Canter
  8:30 pm, How Birds Work. An odd name, unique repertoire, and a crew of the area’s most creative musical minds—Peter Schimke, Chris Bates, Dean Granros, and Kenny Horst.
• 9 pm, Dave Karr, Brian Grivna, Gary Berg and Friends. Call it the AQ’s Saxophone Collossus with this threesome of tenor giants.
• 10 pm, Dean Magraw. Leader of Red Planet and the Dean Magraw Trio, the virtuoso guitarist and composer will build a head of steam and spray it in all directions with his cohorts for this special evening.
• Jam Session Finale

 

This is one jazz party you don’t want to miss. Thirteen years, eight bands, ten dollar cover, 5 pm, 408 St Peter Street in downtown St. Paul. See you Sunday! 

For more information, visit www.artistsquarter.com