David “Fathead” Newman, Photo by Andrea Canter

Lifetime Achievers Recognized

Newman will not be the only jazz legend in the spotlight. One of the highlight events of this year’s Winter Festival will be the opportunity to recognize three local legends with the inaugural awards for Lifetime Achievement going to Eddie Berger, Jeanne Arland Peterson, and Irv Williams. The awards will be given on the Main Stage at 5 pm:

Eddie Berger, Photo by Howard A. Gitelson

The great bebop saxophonist Eddie Berger was raised in Philadelphia where he first played clarinet and idolized Benny Goodman. After hearing recordings of Charlie Parker, at age 12 Eddie switched to saxophone. His first touring group, the Continentals, played around Philly as well as Chicago and Las Vegas in the early 50s, to be disrupted by the Korean War. After a brief renunion with the Continentals, Berger moved to the Twin Cities in 1959 where he studied broadcasting at the Brown Institute. For a while, Eddie worked for a Hutchinson, MN radio station, and later became a long-running jazz show host for KFAI FM in Minneapolis. Blowing in the bop spirit of Charlie Parker, Eddie played primarily alto sax throughout the 60s and 70s in the Twin Cities, at first at strip clubs on Hennepin Avenue, and then at venues such as the Riverview Café, Rainbow Gallery, William’s Pub, and the old Artists Quarter; his popular band, Eddie Berger and the Jazz All Stars (with Mikkel Romstand, Tom Lewis, and Phil Hey), recorded three albums over the next two-plus decades. A dedicated teacher as well as performer, Eddie taught at the West Bank School of Music and at South High in Minneapolis, in addition to a long list of private students. Despite health problems in the 1990s, Berger continued performing and teaching, earning the City Pages’ “Best Saxophonist” title in 1998. Eddie’s aspirations have always been about the music. “I didn’t want to be a star or anything, just blow jazz. I’ve gotten to do that and it’s been good music.” Fellow Philadelphia native, Twin Cities’ drum king Phil Hey will be on hand to present Eddie’s Lifetime Achievement award.

Jeanne and RIcky Peterson, Photo by Andrea Canter

Although she began playing the piano at age three, Jeanne Arland Peterson did not take a formal lesson until she was 15—shortly before she had her first paying gig. From then on, her career as a pianist/vocalist was on star trajectory, her approach heavily influenced by the great Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. She spent 22 years performing on WCCO radio as well as around town on club stages and in recording studios. She was the organist for the Minnesota Twins from 1969-71, and built a resume that included work with with Perry Como, Bob Hope, Dianne Carroll, Sonny Stitt, Roy Eldridge, Bud Shank, and George Benson. Along with Judy Garland, Jeanne is one of only two women in the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, and two Minnesota governors—Rudy Perpich and Arne Carlson--declared days in her honor. Additionally, Jeanne was the first woman to receive the prestigious Arts Midwest Jazz Masters Award for excellence in jazz musicianship (1977).Almost as amazing as her 70-year career in music is Jeanne’s role as matriarch of Minnesota’s “First Family of Music.” She now heads three generations of talented musicians including five musician offspring. It’s hard to find a gig or recording in the Twin Cities that does not include at least one Peterson. And Jeanne is not content to sit back and enjoy the talents of her family—she is still gigging and arranging. The host of NPR’s The Jazz Image, Leigh Kammann, himself a Minnesota jazz legend, will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Jeanne Arland Peterson.

Irv Williams, Photo by Andrea Canter

Raised in Cincinnati and Little Rock, Irv Williams first performed in the Twin Cities as a clarinet and sax player with the Navy during Word War II. Turning down invitations to play with Count Basie and Duke Ellington, he stayed in the Twin Cities, although his vita includes stints with Fletcher Henderson, Mary Lou Williams, and Billy Eckstein. Here at home, Williams has played at every jazz venue, past and present, including the old Flame Bar where he was often back to back with such stars as Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, and Johnny Hodges. The first jazz musician to have his own “Irv Williams Day” granted by the State of Minnesota (1984), he has been inducted into the Minnesota Jazz Hall of Fame and was pictured on the “Celebrate Minnesota” official state map in 1990. Also dedicated to jazz education, Irv taught in the St. Paul Public Schools and was a guest lecturer at the University of Minnesota. Throughout his sixty-year career, Williams has focused on the Great American Songbook and the tenor sax as a solo vehicle. His knowledge of the idiom is legendary and fellow musicians marvel at his ability to play any song in any key. Noted Matt Peiken (St. Paul Pioneer Press), “Veteran saxophonist Irv Williams has always been about sweetness not power, and he's still gigging strong” at 86. And as proof, Irv has released two CDs since his 85^th birthday; Dedicated to You was named one of the top 20 local albums or 2004 by the Star Tribune. Irv will receive his Lifetime Achievement Award from one of his biggest fans, Artist Quarter owner/drummer Kenny Horst.

Three Stages of Music

With four performance stages, the Winter Jazz Fest will have non-stop music from 1-9 pm. Highlights include:

Laura Caviani, Photo by Andrea Canter

Main Stage

1:30 pm, the Laura Caviani Trio performs original tunes from this virtuoso pianist’s new recording, Going There.

3:30 pm, the Clearwater Hot Club, featuring young guitar wiz Sam Miltich, will charm with its Django-inspired swing

6:30 pm, David Fathead Newman as the festival headliner will recall his 12 years with Ray Charles, playing tunes from his 2005 release, I Remember Brother Ray. Joinng Newmand will be New York bassist John Menegon and the Twin Cities' own Tanner Taylor on piano and Phil Hey on drums.

8:00 pm, Newman’s encore!

Twin Cities Jazz Society Big Band Stage

• 1:00 pm, Park Center High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by John Olson

• 2:30 pm, Bend in the River Big Band features vocalist Laurie Rejzer

• 4:00 pm, River City Jazz Orchestra features the warm vocals of Paula Lammers. Her CD, A Blanket of Blue, was one of the top local vocal releases of 2005.

• 6:00 pm. Cedar Avenue Big Band with “Minnesota’s First Lady of Song,” Debbie Duncan.

Dave Graf, Photo by Andrea Canter

Lounge Stage

• 1:00 pm, Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band—a popular ensemble preserving the traditions of the original jazz bands.

• 2:00 pm, Andres Prado will introduce Minnesotans to fusion of modern jazz and Andean melodies; this Peruvian native has recently relocated to the Twin Cities area and has enjoyed a couple big weekends at the Artists Quarter this winter. His quartet includes Brian Nichols on piano, Pete Whitman on sax, Jeff Bailey on bass, and Kevin Washington on drums.

• 3:30 pm, Phil Hey and Dave Graf join together to celebrate their hot new recordings; the master drummer and trombonist are among the most innovative jazzmen in town.

• 6:00, Singer Showcase will feature vocalists Patty Peterson, Dorothy Doring, and more, with master guitarist Clay Moore and his trio providing instrumental support. The showcase is always a much-anticipated event at both the winter and summer festivals, highlighting the depth of vocal talent in the Twin Cities.

Miguel Hurtado, Photo by Andrea Canter

Youth Stage

The Twin Cities boasts an incredible depth of young jazz talents. See them here today, for tomorrow they likely will be in New York! The tentative schedule includes dynamite young drummer Miguel Hurtado, who will be graduating from South High this spring. Miguel has performed with Eggz, Second Nature, and the Bridge, and has sat in with many other bands at area festivals. He’ll perform here with the Javier Santiago Trio (Javier on piano and Chris Smith on bass). Also in the line-up will be the Walker West School of Music ensemble—one of the area’s premiere training grounds for jazz talent. Check the schedule at the festival for the final line-up on the Youth Stage!

Tickets for the Twin Cities Winter Jazz Fest (February 26) are available in advance from www.Ticketworks.com ($23, no extra charges) or at the door for $25. Check KBEM Jazz 88 (www.jazz88.com) for updates.

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