Friday and Saturday: Debbie Duncan at the Artists’ Quarter
Miss Debbie Duncan is a real jazz singer—one who uses her voice as an instrument, who sings with authentic emotion, who’s all about the truth. “I Gotta Be Me” used to be her theme song. To her, it means “Do it now, do it righteous. Live, don’t just survive.”
9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 3–4, Artists’ Quarter ($10)
Late night Saturday: Todd Clouser and Dean Magraw at the Dakota
Two guitarists with rock-god genes. Clouser has been on tour with his terrific new CD, A Love Electric; Magraw recently celebrated the release of his group Red Planet’s Space Dust. They could go all Celtic but it seems doubtful. Shredding is more likely.
Sunday and Monday: Stacey Kent at the Dakota
Nobody ever says that Stacey Kent sounds like anyone else. Her unique and recognizable voice is sensual, sweet, and sometimes achey, with flutters like silk in a breeze. Paired with the smooth, Stan Getzy tone of her tenor saxophonist husband Jim Tomlinson, it’s melty time. With our own Gordy Johnson on bass and Phil Hey on drums (Kent's regular touring partners in the States) and a new-to-us pianist (Graham Harvey) flown in from England because Art Hirahara couldn’t make it, these will be lovely sets.
7 and 9 p.m., Sunday and Monday, June 5–6, Dakota ($40/$25)
Tuesday: The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra at Orchestra Hall
Go for Beethoven, Sibelius, and Kernis; go early for Brubeck. Led by Minnesota Orchestra member William Shrickel, the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra will play Brubeck’s “Elementals” for symphony orchestra and jazz quartet. It’s a pre-concert performance that starts at 6:15. The MSO’s website has details about a special offer but you’ll have to move quickly.
Thursday: Jazz for Japan Benefit
Led by their vocals teacher, Rhonda Laurie, students at the Minnesota School of Business have put together a benefit for the victims of Japan’s recent devastating earthquake and tsunami. Performers include Debbie Duncan, Arne Fogel, Maud Hixson, Rick Carlson, Reynold Philipsek, Robert Bell, the Illicit Sextet, Pooch’s Playhouse, and JazzZen.
6 p.m. Thursday, June 9, Camp Bar ($15)
Thursday: Southside Aces CD Release at the Eagles Club
Dance like they do in NOLA. The Aces, a New Orleans dance-hall-style jazz band, will release their third CD, A Big Fine Thing, with a party at the Eagles Club. Go to see Erik Jacobson wear his Sousaphone.
8 p.m. Thursday, June 9, Eagles Aerie Club ($5)
Heads up: The Twin Cities Jazz Festival starts on Thursday, June 23, with Jazz Night Out, which is basically a big St. Paul party where you go from club to club hearing live jazz. Check the website for the whole fantastic festival schedule.
Tune to KBEM every Friday morning at 8:30 to hear me and Mr. Jones—Jazz 88 “Morning Show” host Ed Jones—talk about the week’s jazz picks. 88.5 FM in the Twin Cities, streaming live on the Web. Come back to KBEM on Saturday night for Maryann Sullivan’s “Corner Jazz” and on Thursday for “On the Local Corner,” both with calendar news. Check the live jazz calendar at the right or on KBEM’s website for many more events.
Hi Pam!
ReplyDeleteI read about this blog in the Twin Cities Daily Planet; hell yeah and awesome job! I am so excited to come across this. I am the Co-Artistic Director of a jazz and rhythm-driven dance support organization here in the Twin Cities called Rhythmically Speaking (www.rhythmicallyspeakingdance.org). Check us out when you get the chance! We have a community calendar and resource section, and I am definitely going to add this blog. We are all about connecting jazz music and jazz dance lovers, so let's stay in the loop with one another!
Best,
Erinn Liebhard