This week’s jazz picks for Minneapolis-St. Paul

If you’re staying in town for the Fourth of July weekend, know that the AQ is dark. They deserve a break after last weekend’s jazz festival, when they hosted the afterparties, stayed up late, then held an extra concert on Sunday with John Patitucci and Billy Peterson.

Friday at Kelley Park in Apple Valley: Vicky Mountain, James Allen, and members of the Dakota Combo. Vocalist Vicky, guitarist James, and those talented student musicians of the Combo perform at the Apple Valley Freedom Days celebration. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect thing to do on the Fourth of July weekend? Especially since our state parks are now closed, thanks to our government shutdown. 6–9 p.m. Friday, July 1. Free.

Saturday and Sunday at the Dakota in Minneapolis: Davina and the Vagabonds. A raucous mix of blues and New Orleans brass, DATV’s music is part Fats Domino, part Hank Williams, all Davina. Their new CD, Black Cloud, is winning raves nationally. One track, “Lipstick and Chrome,” was a Song of the Day on National Public Radio this week. Oooh, that NPR bump. 8 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, July 2–3, $12.

Sunday at the Riverview Wine Bar: the Zacc Harris Trio. This is a regular weekly gig for Zacc on guitar, Matt Peterson on bass, and Pete Hennig on drums. The Riverview is a lovely neighborhood bistro. Other musicians sometimes drop by. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 3. (P.S. I called to confirm—the Riverview will be open this holiday weekend, and Zacc’s trio will play.)

CANCELLED: Tuesday at the Minnesota History Center: Salsa del Soul. Nice work, government shutdown.

Tuesday at the Black Dog in St. Paul: Dean Magraw and Davu Seru. Two smart, thoughtful, lyrical, limitlessly inventive players—Magraw on guitar, Seru on drums. Go with the expectation of beauty. Eightish, Tuesday, July 5. No cover.

Tuesday at the Artists’ Quarter in St. Paul: B-3 Organ Night. A venerable tradition at the great St. Paul jazz club. With Downtown Bill Brown, Billy Franze, and Kenny Horst, plus guests. And drink specials. 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, $5.

Wednesday at Café Maude in Minneapolis: James Diers and Dave King. Two members of the indie-pop group Halloween, Alaska (King also plays with a trio called The Bad Plus) might get the crowd at Maude to shut up and listen. Or not. 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 6. No cover.

Wednesday at the Red Stag Supper Club in Minneapolis: the James Buckley Trio. Buckley on bass, Bryan Nichols on keys, JT Bates on drums. A very fine trio. And congratulations to new dad Bryan Nichols. 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 6. No cover.


Tune to jazz radio station 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.