Jazz Police

This last Lead Sheet for 2016 reflects the depth and breadth of the Twin Cities jazz scene– veterans, visitors and the next generation of stars. There’s aural fun to be had on New Year’s Eve, of course, and a look at the “Coming Soon” calendar gives us plenty of options to resolve to make 2017 […]

One of the Twin Cities favorite jazz sons, saxophonist Pat Mallinger made an almost annual holiday visit to the Artists Quarter for many years through 2013 when the club closed. In the three years since his last AQ gig, Mallinger has kept busy in the Chicago area, but “home” is still the Twin Cities. Pat […]

It sounds like the Jean-Paul Sartre novel that I tried to translate in high school French, but No Exit is actually a sextet of metro young lions led by drummer Luke Peterson. Coming together this past summer as a quintet to prowl through some new music, these young musicians had their high school experience with […]

Just a college freshman, guitarist Will Schmid already is building a veteran’s resume. Before high school graduation last spring, Will had already led a long list of ensembles at area and performed at area jazz festivals in duo and quartet formats, in addition to performances with his Minnetonka High School jazz bands. Back home on […]

Known for his original piano arrangements and new compositions that often sport quirky time signatures as well as his vocal interpretations, Larry McDonough leads his quartet in a “Twisted Holiday” celebration at Vieux Carre’ on Wednesday, December 29 (8 pm). The first set offers Larry’s off-beat arrangements of familiar and less familiar holiday fare, while […]