Who says all the action is in St. Paul on St. Patrick’s Day? You can find plenty of Irish luck in Minneapolis Saturday, including a dazzling evening of cabaret with Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson at Honey Lounge, when the duo presents “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” The night includes “songs we learned from Kermit, Bing Crosby (as an Irish priest), and so many others in our favorite movies growing up.”
One of the Twin Cities’ most popular songbirds, Maud Hixson has attracted a wide following as a talented interpreter of the great American songwriters. From her long-running duo with Arne Fogel to frequent appearances with the Wolverines and particularly in duo with husband Rick Carlson, Maud has brought the lyrics of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and more to life at the Dakota, Artists Quarter, Hell’s Kitchen, Loring Pasta Bar and more.
The St. Louis Park native, named Best New Voice at the 2003 Hot Summer Jazz Festival, was selected to participate in the famed Cabaret Conference at Yale University in 2006. This opened the door to a project funded through grants from the Minnesota Arts Board—a solo cabaret show, Mickey and Maud: The Songs of Michael (Mickey) Leonard, presented in December 2008 at New York City’s oldest cabaret, the Duplex. She returned to the East Coast in early 2011, appearing with trumpet star Warren Vaché at Shanghai Jazz in New Jersey and as part of an all-star Mickey Leonard tribute at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan. And she returns to New York in October 2011 to perform in a gala revue at Rose Hall, part of the New York Cabaret Convention.
Rick Carlson first learned trumpet from his father, and initially resisted learning the piano when given lessons at age 12. Ultimately he taught himself to play by listening to the canons of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. In addition to his role with the Wolverines, Rick has opened for Rosemary Clooney; has recorded and/or played with Charmin Michelle, Sue Tucker, Christine Rosholt, Arne Fogel, and wife Maud Hixson. Other projects have included holding the keyboard duties for two Twin Cities Jazz Society “Jazz From J to Z” concerts—“My Shining Hour” (tribute to Harold Arlen) starring the late Christine Rosholt, and his “Keepers of the Basie Flame” revue featuring seven of the area’s top vocalists. With wife Maud, he helped launch the new music series (curated by Arne Fogel) at The Lexington on Valentine’s Day.
Honey Lounge is located on the lower level of 205 Hennepin Ave in Minneapolis. Show 6:30-8:30 pm, $15 cover, dinner specials available; www.honeympls.com
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