Well, it’s Jazz Festival Weekend in the Twin Cities, or more specifically, Saint Paul. I won’t attempt to go into any detail, what with 300 acts over a couple of dozen stages, but will post a separate guide later today with some ideas. In the meantime, I’ve tried to include other jazz happenings as well as a normal amount of roots and blues. Have a good week.
Jazz
Wednesday, June 25
Linda Peterson @ School II Bistro, Chanhassen. 6pm (No Cover) A member of Minnesota’s royal musical family Linda spent much time in California, but is now back playing piano and singing.
Doug Little’s Tres Mundos @ Arlington Hills Library, Greenbrier St., Saint Paul. 6:30pm – 7:30pm (Free) Okay, last week I had the time wrong and apologize to anyone who didn’t catch the jazz in the library event at Saint Anthony Public Library. The time for this event is correct. Tres Mundos features a blend of salsa, samba and jazz from pianist/vocalist Viviana Pintado (Cuba), percussionist Eliezer Freites-Santos (Brazil), and saxophonist/flutist Douglas Little (United States). Dancing is encouraged!
Reid Kennedy Trio @ Jazz Central, Minneapolis. 8:30pm ($10 Suggested Donation) Kennedy is a drummer/producer who, in addition to this trio, plays in the Jack Brass Band. Tonight he’s joined by Chris Lomheim on piano, and Graydon Peterson on bass. Pretty sublime music, if you ask me.
Thursday, June 26
Dancing in the Park
Capri Big Band Street Dance @ Rice Park, Saint Paul. 7pm (Free) Swing Dancing! Lessons! A Big, Big Multi-generational Band. Outside. Fun. Inside at the Ordway (still fun) in case of rain. Lessons actually start at 6pm.
Barbara Bjork & Vicky Mountain @ Jazz Central, Minneapolis. 7:30pm ($10 Suggested Donation) It’s a night for vocal jazz. Vicky is one of the area’s most popular educators and jazz singers. Barbara has a cool, accessible approach to jazz and bossa novas.
Friday, June 27
Pig’s Eye Jass Band @ Eagles #34, Minneapolis. 6-9pm ($6) This seven-piece trad jazz band is named after the area’s original bootlegger. Their lively music brings out swing dancers and folks who like to strut their stuff.
Jake Baldwin Quintet @ Dakota Late Night, Minneapolis. 11:30pm ($5) This young trumpeter is becoming a force to be reckoned with. His quintet is composed of a number of talented young musicians: Nelson Devereau, sax; Brian Courage, bass; Joe Strachan, piano; and Miguel Hurtado, drums.
Monday, June 30
Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith @ the Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm,. 9pm ($25) Handy is a saxophone player who was a featured soloist in the theme for the Cosby Show. He’s also portrayed Coleman Hawkins in the the film Kansas City, and has recorded and performed with the Mingus Dynasty Band, Betty Carter, Herbie Hancock, John Scofiled, and as a member of The Cookers. HIs current project, 2nd Line Smith, draws inspiration from the music of New Orleans and organist Jimmy Smith.
Jason Squinobal @ Jazz Central, MInneapolis. 8:30pm ($10 Suggested Donation) Squinobal is a saxophone-playing ethnomusicologist who earned his PhD with a dissertation on West African music and it’s relationship to the music of Art Blakey, Yusef Lateef, and Randy Weston. He is a freelance musician who has toured throughout the US, Canada, and Jamaica.
Blues, Roots, Other
Wednesday, June 25
Lonesome Dan Case on KFAI and @ The 331 Club, Minneapolis. 5pm (90.3 & 106.7FM), 7pm (331 Club – Tip Jar) The swayback machine will take you back about 80 years when you hear Lonesome Dan He plays the blues like an itinerant musician making his way through the Great Depression. Tune in during the 5 o’clock hour and head over to the 331 Club to see him in person.
Wednesday, Thursday, June 25, 26
Albert Lee featuring Cindy Cashdollar @ the Dakota, Minneapolis. 7pm ($35), 9pm ($25) Englishman Lee has been (and still is) an in-demand session guitarist for a host of artists, including Muddy Waters, BB King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, and Emmylou Harris, receiving a number of awards in the process, including five consecutive awards as the Best Country Guitarist from Guitar Player magazine. Cindy Cashdollar plays Dobro and steel guitar, and has worked with many artists as well, including Bob Dylan, Dave Alvin, Rod Stewart, and Marcia Ball, among others. She’s won five Grammy Awards for her work with Asleep At The Wheel.
Thursday, June 26
Midwest Harmonica Workshop Show @ The Minnesota Music Cafe, Saint Paul. 8pm. ($?) Featuring Hurricane Harold, Mike Fugazzi, and the Moses Oakland Jam. There’s a big harmonica workshop in town, and to kick things off there’s a performance by a couple of area harpmeisters. Hurricane Harold is known for his work with Cool Disposition and his All Star Blues Revue, while Mike Fugazzi is a hard-charging harp player who has gone through a number of bands.
Rockin’ Pinecones @ the Eagles Club #34, Minneapolis. 7:30 – 10pm ($6) Music for Cajun dancing, and a little Zydeco too, along with some good ol’ Swamp Pop music for good measure.
Mother Banjo w/Ernie Hendrickson @ The Aster Cafe, Minneapolis. 9pm ($6) Ellen Stanley, aka Mother Banjo, brings her banjo-fueled writing and singing to the Aster, along with Chicago songwriter Ernie Henderson, a roots/rock writer who’s influences include Neil Young, Tom Petty, and Willie Nelson.
Friday, June 27
Steve Clarke & The Working Stiffs @ The Eagles Club #34, Minneapolis. 7:30pm ($5?) Another night for dancing at the Eagle’s Club, a saxophonist Clarke & crew brings Jump, Jive, and Swing to the wooden dance floor at the club.
Buffalo Killers @ Bayport BBQ, Bayport. 8pm ($10) Buffalo Killers hail from Ohio. The trio has recorded three albums, opened a string of dates with the Black Crowes and appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly. They play “heavy” rock n’ roll, encompassing garage psychedelia, boogie, and other trademarks of 70s rock. Corpse Reviver opens, with a much quieter sound.
Saturday, June 28
Jennifer Markey in formal attire
3rd Annual Honky Tonk Fest @ Grumpy’s NE Bar & Grill, Minneapolis. Muisc by Leo Rondeau, Trailer Trash, Jillian Rae, Jennifer Markey & Her 2nd Cousins, Doug Otto & the Getaways, and more. Proceeds benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma society of Minnesota.
Freewheelin’ KFAI Roots Music Benefit @ Harriet Brewing Tap Room, Minneapolis. 2pm (Suggested Donation $5) An all day event with about 20 different performers in various permutations, including The Roe Family Singers, Bernie King, Papa John Kolstad and Hurricane Harold, Nikki & the RueMates and more! All proceeds from the door and a percentage of beer sales to KFAI. Here’s a video of one of the bands – the Roe Family Singers.
Sunday, June 29
Run Westy Run, Dosh, & BNLX @ The Amsterdam Bar & Hall, Saint Paul. 5pm doors ($20) Formed in the 80s, Run Westy Run was a popular post-punk band in the Twin Cities. They recorded two albums for SST and another for Twin/Tone, and were famous for unpredictable shows, which they performed through the late nineties. Lately, they’ve more or less reunited and have been doing shows around town, including sold-out shows at First Avenue. Dosh uses analog instruments to create electronic soundscapes and collaborate with the likes of Andrew Bird and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. BNLX is a described as an experimental/noisepop/pot-punk band, whatever that means.
Chicha Libre @ the Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis. 7:30 pm. ($15 advance/$18 Door) It’s an evening of Andean and Latin American music. Chicha Libre, a Brooklyn Collective of international musicians, draws upon Peruvian “chicha” music, which includes Latin rhythms (Cumbia, to be specific), as might be expected, as well as the sound of surf music and psychedelic pop. Chicha Libre also draws from a raft of other influences, including classical music by Satie and Wagner. Alma Andina, a Twin Cities group with members from Chile, opens.
Posted by Larry 
rhythm and grooves 