REVIEW: Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Quintet (Crooners Supper Club) Arts Music by Brian Bix - June 24, 2022June 26, 2022 The many faces of American jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer Joe Lovano with trumpeter Dave Douglas, pianist Leonardo Genovese, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Rudy Royston. Playing as the Sound Prints quintet, the five musicians officially kicked off this year's Twin Cities Jazz Festival on Friday. On June 23, Joe
REVIEW: Straighten Up and Fly Right!: John Pizzarelli at The Dakota Arts Music by Brian Bix - April 13, 2022April 13, 2022 Three looks at singer John Pizzarelli (color) with his bandmates pianist Isaiah J. Thompson (center-bottom) and bassist Mike Karn (center-top). The Dakota was packed last night with hard-core John Pizzarelli fans. Many knew of Pizzarelli through his radio show with his wife Radio Deluxe), followed his regular streaming show It’s
REVIEW: Deedles is Back!: The Diane Schuur Quartet at Crooners Arts Music by Brian Bix - April 6, 2022April 6, 2022 L-R: Diane Schuur, saxophonist Michael Cox, UR: bassist Roger Hines, LR: drummer Kendall Kay. The great jazz vocalist Diane Schuur (two-time Grammy winner, five-time nominee) was born blind, but it has never slowed her down. She wears spangle-rimmed, almost Elton John-worthy sunglasses and includes references to her situation in her banter. One
REVIEW: That’s How You Jazz: Jelly’s Last Jam (Theater Latté Da) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Brian Bix - April 3, 2022April 3, 2022 Julius Collins (center) as Buddy and the cast of Theater Latté Da's production of Jelly’s Last Jam, which opened last night at the Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis. Photo by Dan Norman. When George C. Wolfe brought Jelly’s Last Jam to Broadway in 1992, jazz fans were happy to see the important
REVIEW: The Bob James Trio at 50 Years of Music Making (Dakota Jazz Club) Arts Music by Brian Bix - January 22, 2022January 22, 2022 The many faces of jazz keyboardist, arranger, and music producer Bob James, whose namesake trio headlined at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis last night and returns this evening. Last night, the Bob James Trio played the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, almost a half century after the ensemble won the
REVIEW: David Benoit and A Charlie Brown Christmas at The Dakota Arts Music by Brian Bix - December 10, 2021December 11, 2021 Jazz pianist David Benoit, percussionist Dan Schnell, vocalist Courtney Fortune, and bassist Roberto Vally played the Dakota Jazz Club last night in Minneapolis, MN. Last night’s performance at The Dakota traces back to a television show from 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas. The music for that animated special – the first to
REVIEW: Chris Botti’s All-Star Variety Show (Dakota Jazz Club) Arts Music by Brian Bix - November 19, 2021November 19, 2021 Trumpeter Chris Botti and his all-star lineup played at the Dakota Jazz Club last night, with five more shows to come over the weekend. For those who are shy and introverted, the lockdown isolation of the early-stage COVID-19 Pandemic was tolerable, perhaps even welcome. But for someone like Chris Botti, who
PREVIEW: Relief – An Important Jazz Album for a Great Cause Arts Music by Brian Bix - November 5, 2021November 6, 2021 Album art for the Relief jazz album dropping November 12. A unique jazz album is about to be released: Relief, a compilation of previously unreleased music, is an unusual joint product of many of the best-known jazz labels: Blue Note Records, Verve Label Group, Warner Music Group, Nonesuch Records, Mack Avenue Music
REVIEW: The Charles Lloyd Quartet’s Saxophone Colossus (Dakota Jazz Club) Arts Music by Brian Bix - November 3, 2021November 3, 2021 Clock-wise from upper left: saxophonist Charles Lloyd, pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Eric Harland. The foursome comprise the Charles Lloyd Quartet, returning the Dakota Jazz Club this evening for the second half of a 4-show set. Original photos by D Darr and Devin DeHaven. Charles Lloyd – the 83-year-old
REVIEW: Jimmie Vaughan, Blues Advocate (Dakota Jazz Club) Arts Music by Brian Bix - October 27, 2021October 27, 2021 A promotional photo of Jimmie Vaughan, who played a sold-out show at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening. Jimmie Vaughan’s website proclaims that “he's dedicated his life to making sure the blues not only stays alive, but remains full of life and an inspiration to all who listen.”