Framework, Jazz Night Out at Rumors and Innuendo©Andrea Canter

The 2009 Twin Cities Jazz Festival might be downsized in both time and space but there is no dearth of enthusiasm or creativity in the schedule of events for June 17-20. Confined to St. Paul and largely taking place in or around Mears Park in Lowertown, the annual festival found support and sponsors on one side of the Mississippi, and scaled down the music schedule to one long weekend that kicks off Wednesday, June 17th, with the opening of the exhibit, “Visual Jazz,” at the Grand Hand Gallery in Cathedral Hill (see article:  Jazz Police Contributors at Visual Jazz Exhibition & at Jazz Journalist Association Awards). Music gets underway Thursday, June 18th, with the annual Jazz Night Out “Club Crawl,” this year involving fifteen venues in St. Paul’s downtown, Lowertown and West 7th neighborhoods. Friday night and all day Saturday, the festival will be in full swing at the main stage at Mears Park and smaller stages at several nearby clubs, featuring headliners Alan Toussaint (June 19th) and Esperanza Spalding (June 20th).

Jazz Night Out

Once again, the TCJF has organized a spectacular “Jazz Night Out” club crawl, featuring area and visiting musicians at 16 venues (including Barrio in downtown Minneapolis), starting at 8:30 pm and going on til 12:30 am. Co-presented by the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, the event will raise funds to support the Foundation’s work through a $15 donation that entitles jazz fans to ride the trolley between venues, receive free club admission and discounts on drinks. Buttons are available through the Foundation website (http://www.winter-carnival.com) and at participating venues. 

Kenny Horst © Andera Canter

• American Burger Bar (354 N. Wabasha Street)– Jim Anglo. A member of the late 1990s Twin Cities rock group Mr. Whirly, singer/guitarist Anglo made a guest appearance on the CD Moonlight Girls by High On Stress.

• Artists Quarter (408 St. Peter Street) – The Five. They don’t play often but when they do... sparks fly with original compositions in the tradition of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and the early groups of Herbie Hancock. With local masters Kenny Horst (drums), Dave Karr (reeds, flute), Steve Kenny (trumpet), Tom Lewis (bass) and Mikkel Romstad (piano).

• Barrio (925 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis)—Solid Gold. The lone Minneapolis venue for Jazz Night Out hosts “buzz band rock” Solid Gold, better known for headlining First Avenue than jazz clubs.

• Black Dog (304 Prince Street) –The Fantastic Merlins. Chamber music meets avant garde with an ensemble of tenor saxophone (Nathan Hanson), bass (Brian Roessler), and drums (Pete Hennig).

• Bulldog (237 6th St East) – Erik Christenson

• Camp Bar (490 N. Robert Street) – Jazz Vocalists of Minnesota, “Great American Songbook”. The JzVMn organization includes many of the finest veteran and up-and-coming jazz singers in the region. Their showcase at Camp will feature Arne Fogel, Lee Engele, Lucia Newell, Nancy Harms, Connie Dusseau, Dorothy Doring, Tommy Bruce, Gregg Marquardt, Rhonda Laurie, Katie Craft, and Lila Ammons singing favorites from the Great American Songbook. Great accompanists include Phil Aaron (piano), Jocko MacNelly (bass) and Reid Kennedy (drums).

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  John Penny © Andera Canter
  Great Waters Brewing Company (426 St. Peter Street) – John Penny. Gifted composer/guitarist/vocalist John Penny is ever evolving his craft, turning now more toward Brazilian and his own exquisite compositions. He played with the late Jack McDuff and has recently shared the stage with Bruce Henry, Dean Brewington and more.

• Hat Trick Lounge (134 E. 5th Street) –Paula Berends (7:30 pm) and Jon Weber/Alex Han (10 pm). The Hat Trick gets things going early with a double header. Named “Klondike Kate” at the 2005 Winter Carnival, singer Paula hails from Wisconsin and sang in the UW-River Falls Choir. She’s celebrating the release of her CD, Just For Me, a blend of blues, rock and country. At 10 pm, catch two favorites of the TCJF, monster pianist Jon Weber with young rising star, alto saxophonist Alex Han. Weber, now based in New York and Chicago, dazzles with technique, imagination, and an encyclopedic knowledge of music. Han, in his third TCJF appearance, is a mere 21 and a student at Berklee in Boston, yet also a veteran of work with Paquito D’Rivera and Marcus Miller.

• The Liffey (176 W. 7th Street) – Papa John Kolstad. A true folk legend, singer/guitarist Papa John is known for his The Sorry Muthas band and his performances during the early days of Prairie Home Companion. More recently he has performed in duo with Clint Hoover and with the Hot Club of East Lake.

• Mancini’s (531 W. 7th Street) – The Mancini Players. Long-standing entertainers/musicians at the legendary steakhouse on West 7th, the Players offer everything from pop to jazz to rock to Motown and Big Band.

• Mears Park –Chastity Brown, 6-9 pm. The main festival venue preview gives everyone an early taste of music. Singer/guitarist Chastity Brown moved to the Twin Cities from her native Tennessee in 2005, bringing along her gospel background and souful, jazz-tinged folk/rock style.

• Rumors and Innuendo (214 E. 4th Street) – Framework. A superb guitar trio with Chris Olson on guitar, Chris Bates on bass and Jay Epstein on drums. Their recent self –titled release featured original compositions, their music always features deep moods, enticing harmonies, and fine interplay.

• St. Paul Hotel Lobby Bar (320 Market Street) –JoAnn Funk. Classically trained and steeped in jazz, pianist/vocalist Joann Funk was a long-time happy hour performer at the Dakota and more recently at the St Paul Hotel. Her musical partner is bassist Jeff Brueske.

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  Viviana Pintado (Tres Mundos) © Andera Canter
  Senor Wong (111 Kellogg Blvd) – Tres Mundo With Viviana Pintado. One of the Latin-based jazz bands of saxophonist Doug Little, Tres Mundo features Cuban firebrand pianist/vocalist Viviana Pintado and Brazilian percussionist Eliezar Freitas-Santos. The trio has performed at TCJF as well as at venues throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas.

• Station 4 (201 E. 4th Street) – Salsa del Soul. Frequent performers at the TCJF, Salsa del Soul is a nine-piece ensemble celebrating the dance music of the Caribbean and Latin America. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes as it is impossible to resist their infectious rhythms and energy.

• Trattoria da Vinci (400 Sibley Street)—Bobby Schnitzer with Kenni Holmen. Guitarist Bobby Schnitzer played in LA with top names such as Al Jarreau, then returned to his native Twin Cities to form the band Passage in the Twin Cities in the 1970s. Kenni Holmen is an acclaimed Twin Cities saxophonist who is a member of the Hornheads...meaning he has been playing for Prince.

Friday at Mears Park begins at 4 pm with the Dakota Combo, with sets throughout the evening, ending with Alan Toussaint at 8:30 pm,  as well as performances near by at the Hat Trick Lounge (free) and Artists Quarter ($10 – Paula Berends followed by Jon Weber & Alex Han). Saturday, music at Mears Park begins at Noon with the Walker West Music Academy ensembles and featuring the New Standards (4 pm), Han and Weber (6:45 pm) and Esperanza Spalding (8:30 pm); music also at the Artists Quarter (Weber and Han, 9 pm, $10) and Hat Trick Lounge (7 pm-12:30 am, no cover, Fat Kid Wednesdays at 11:30 pm). Full schedule and artist/venue information available at www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com. 

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