Jazz crooner, broadcast, producer and now impresario, Arne Fogel launched a new series of jazz earlier this month at the venerable St. Paul restaurant, The Lexington. This week, he takes the stage himself, on Thursday (3/15) and Saturday (3/17) nights from 6:30-10:30 pm. Of course Saturday is St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s likely Arne will bring a touch of garlic rather than blarney to the Lex, having just returned from the Torino Jazz Festival.
Jazz at the Lex
“The Lexington contacted me, and I was thrilled to hear from them,” said Fogel. “I think they knew, perhaps from my work in concerts or over the radio, that I would be a likely person to represent the type of music they chose to have. They are not looking at music as an afterthought; they are interested in doing this the right way, and making it count. I think that's why our opening night [February 4] was so very successful: They are all involved in making this work. Their feeling is that this type of entertainment suits the image of the restaurant, and I agree.”
“This type of entertainment” means classic jazz performed by small ensembles backing a vocalist, the bread and butter of Arne Fogel’s work. “Mostly vocals, standards, Great American Songbook, and the perfect atmosphere in the Williamsburg Room,” adds Fogel. “Very sophisticated, and a great night out!” The instrumentation typically will be piano and bass (“They have a lovely piano in the Williamsburg Room”).
Arne at the Lex
Bob Protzman (St Paul Pioneer Press) called Arne Fogel "...one of the Twin Cities' most interesting people -- a singer, musician, actor, composer, writer, producer, music-film-comedy and entertainment historian, collector and oral encyclopedia." A native of Des Monies, IA, Arne has sung on over 1500 jingles as well as composing and producing his own music for jingles and industrial presentations. An on-air personality on MPR, KLBB, and KBEM radio, he is also frequently seen on TV commercials, lends his voice to radio and TV spots, and has experience in local theater. Arne has channeled Sinatra and Crosby throughout clubs in the Twin Cities, was a regular at the Times and now at Hell’s Kitchen, and released You Call It Madness on vinyl in 1989 and the acclaimed CD, Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams, in 2001. His duo with vocalist Maud Hixson led to their acclaimed Let’s Not Be Sensible (2005). Arne’s recent exploits include the title roles in “Bing and the Andrews Sisters” (2008) and “The Crosby-Clooney Show” (2011) at the Bloomington Center for the Arts (2008), “The Bing Shift” on KBEM radio, and producing/co-starring in a series of musical revues saluting the music of the 30s, 40s, and 50s at the Bloomington Center for the Arts in 2010-2011. Currently his “Minnesota Voices: Certain Standards” airs twice daily on KBEM radio. Arne returned just a few days ago from touring Italy (and sitting in) with former Twin Cities vocalist Nancy Harms, now based in New York.
This week, Fogel teams up with pianist Tanner Taylor and bassists Keith Boyles (Thursday) and Steve Pikal (Saturday), three of his frequent cohorts. It will be a swinging affair.
Music in the Williamsburg Room; reservations at 651-222-5878. The Lexington is located at 1096 Grand Ave, St Paul (corner of Grand and Lexington). Schedule for the rest of March, Jazz in the Williamsburg Room (6:30-10:30 pm):
March 22, 24 – Patty Peterson
March 29, 31 – Sophia Shorai
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