Jazz Police - Saturday Night Live: Nichols, Linz and Hey at the AQ, April 11th

Three of our local jazz heroes come together for the first time at the Artists Quarter on Saturday, April 11th. Pianist Bryan Nichols, bassist Adam Linz, and drummer Phil Hey have each contributed significantly to the Twin Cities’ reputation for presenting innovative yet accessible music. Now they combine their talents for one special night in St. Paul.

Bryan Nichols returned to his native Minnesota after studies at Iowa State and gigging in Chicago. A member of the 2004 edition of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead (“Jazz Stars of Tomorrow”), he performed at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He’s played with Ari Brown, Maurice Brown, Von Freeman, and more, and is currently on the faculty of the MacPhail Center for Music. Bryan has been increasingly visible throughout the metro area as a member of the Kelly Rossum Quartet and Rossum Electric Company, Dean Magraw Quintet and more. He’s often on the bandstand at Café Maude with various combinations of the leading purveyors of experimental music.

Adam Linz©Andrea Canter

Adam Linz earned his BM degree at William Paterson University’s Jazz Studies Program. A dedicated jazz educator, Adam taught at MusicTech, Mars Music and the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth, and currently is an instructor at MacPhail Center for Music. He’s a member of the acclaimed trio, Fat Kid Wednesdays, and has appeared throughout the area and beyond in solo and small ensemble performances, and supporting visiting touring artists like Mose Allison.

A former student of Ed Blackwell and Marv Dahlgren, Phil Hey has played with such artists as David Liebman, Toots Thielemans, the Mel Lewis Orchestra, and Chet Baker; he frequently toured with the late Dewey Redman, and recently with Stacey Kent. Today he is one of the busiest drummers in town, fronting his own quartet and often in the company of Pete Whitman’s X-Tet, the Out to Lunch Quintet, Laura Caviani Trio, and a long list of local and visiting musicians.

In his “spare” time, he teaches jazz drum at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. Phil’s quartet release, Subduction, was named the top jazz CD of 2005 by City Pages.

Something magic will happen at the Artists Quarter this Saturday night with these three improvisers in a holiday mood.

The Artists Quarter is located at 408 St. Peter Street in downtown St. Paul. Sets begin at 9 pm. Visit www.artistsquarter.com for full schedule.