The Jazz Police

No. they aren't out to put bad performers in jail. The Jazz Police is a website with links to Twin Cities' jazz venues like the Dakota and The Artists' Quarter. I discovered this great new website while perusing the AQ site this morning and thought I would bring it to your attention. I will be adding a link to the site as well.

Back and Better Than Ever!

I have returned from a job transition during which I was focused on the more concrete aspects of life and living. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time off with my children and wife but it is good to be back in the land of the living/working. Most of my energies have been turned toward professional development, including the Minnesota Health IT Blog which although somewhat light on content was not completely ignored.

I have found an excellent new source for the latest on jazz for the newbie. Check out Nextbop.com for the traditional and the avant garde. I am a little disappointed in my inability to access some of the content via the new iPhone 3GS but what the site has to offer via my laptop more than makes up for this shortfall (which may be entirely Apple's or my fault).

Also, since my new work digs will be in St. Paul, MN I plan to update readers on jazz happenings there (see The Artists' Quarter!) as well as continue to provide you with the latest goings on at the Dakota and other venues.

Live Blogging at the Dakota

I am at the Dakota Jazz Club. Christine Rosholt starts at 7:00 pm. I will provide my thoughts as the evening progresses. The Dakota's atmosphere is luxuriant. Quite a treat just to be here

Jazz CDs of the Year

Nick Francis on NPR has announced his best jazz CDs of 2008. Although listed in no particular order, the top of the list is James Carter, who just finished a tour at the Dakota. Carter's "Present Tense" is rightfully among the best of the year (if not the best). See Pamela Espeland's review at MinnPost.

Francis also has Holly Cole's self-titled album, the Pat Metheny Trio's "Day Trip", David Sanborn's "Here and Gone", Chick Corea & Gary Burton's "New Crystal Silence", Roy Hargrove Quintet's "Earfood", Cassandra Wilson's "Loverly", Danilo Perez's "Across the Crystal Sea", Tom Scott's Cannon Re-Loaded", and Melody Gardot's "Worrisome Heart" as his favorites.

My plans for this week include Christine Rosholt's CD release party at the Dakota on Wednesday night. The show starts at 7:00 pm and cover is $5.00 at the door.

Yusef Lateef

Well, Saturday December 6th was my birthday. So, what did I do to celebrate this fine occasion? Nothing. Nada. Zip. Originally, I had plans to join my son's mite hockey team for a social gathering. That was cancelled, so following his evening hockey practice I came home and did, well, pretty much nothing.

Today, while perusing Pam Espeland's column over at MinnPost, what do I see? Yusef Lateef was in town at the Walker Art Center on Saturday night! I am heartbroken. Not only did I miss one of the best in the business, I missed it on my birthday.

It almost pains me to ask this, but if anyone did attend and would like to offer up a few words, please feel free to comment.

I cannot complain much despite this mistake however. I am planning to attend James Carter's performance on Wednesday night at the Dakota. Ms. Espeland does a fabulous write-up on him so I won't attempt to compete. See you there.

The Bad Plus to Perform in Moscow

The jazz trio, The Bad Plus, originally from Minnesota and now based in New York will be performing tonight in Moscow. The group has introduced a new dimension to jazz by performing versions of popular rock hits from Nirvana, ABBA, Black Sabbath, and Blondie.

The Trio is made up of pianist Ethan Iverson, drummer David King, and bassist Reid Anderson. Also performing in Moscow will be vocalist Wendy Lewis, also a Minnesotan.

Check out the band's recent album "Prog." It includes covers of Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Rush, and even some Stravinsky.

The next gig for the trio will be at the Dakota in Minneapolis from December 26th - 29th. Then, they are off to the venerable Village Vanguard in New York from December 30th - January 4th.

The Bad Plus may not appeal to jazz purists but I am keeping an open mind. There is no question they bring a new dimension to jazz and are shaking things up. I have a weakness for pop rock so the combination is appealing to me. I have not caught any of the "Plus One" vocals of Ms. Lewis but understand from others that she is a nice addition.

Look Ahead at the Weekend

A look ahead at your weekend entertainment options.

The Artists' Quarter in St. Paul has the Dave Karr Quartet on Friday night at 9 pm. Cover is $10.

On Saturday night, the Larry Coryell Trio plays at AQ. Showtimes are 8 and 10:30 pm. Cover is $25.

If you can make it tonight, the AQ has the McNally Smith Jazz Ensemble at 6:30 pm and Triplicate at 9 pm. Cover for Triplicate is $5.

Over at the Dakota, Nancy Harms performs on Friday night at 8 pm. Cover is $10. On Saturday night, the Dakota Combo, an elite high school ensemble performs at 8 pm. Cover is $10.

Finally, a hearty congratulations to Ahmad Jamal, whose "It's Magic" was announced as one of the year's ten best by NPR Jazz.

Jazz 88.5 KBEM

Minneapolis jazz radio station 88.5 a/k/a Jazz88 has been getting short shrift in Jazz Ramblings. It is not intentional. It is just that the Jazz88 website is so difficult to navigate. When you click a header the drop down menu actually appears at the top of the page and you have to chase it around to click on what you want.

So as to make sure my local jazz station is getting the attention it deserves, I am posting the following information on upcoming events.

On December 5th and 6th, the Jazz88 Holiday Boutique will be selling golf shirts, hoodies, T-shirts, berets, baseball caps, and beanies. Pre-orders are available today and tomorrow by clicking here and then clicking on the Merchandise Form.

Other Jazz88 events include:

December 7th - Butch Thompson's Jazz Originals Holiday Show at the Dakota

December 11th - Gallery Grooves at Frank Stone Gallery

December 17th - Jazz88 Holiday Part and Swingin' with the Wolves Holiday Broadcast

I would also note that local columnist Pam Espeland of MinnPost is now broadcasting on Friday mornings on Jazz88, so tune in.

I encourage you to support Jazz88, the Minneapolis students involved with the station, and our local jazz scene.

Holiday Gift Ideas

There are a huge number of gift ideas for jazz lovers but I am attempting to narrow down the list for those who don't have the time.

First, I have to mention the new Miles Davis Kind of Blue 50th Anniversary Deluxe Box set. Most stores who carry such items are offering it for $100 or less. If you purchase the set through Jazz Live at Lincoln Center's Gift Shop, you pay an additional $100 but get additional sets and the autograph of last surviving member and drummer Jimmy Cobb.

The Box Set contains: 180-ram blue vinyl LP in original jacket, two compact discs (more than 2 hours of music), new documentary DVD celebrating Kind of Blue, 60-Page book of critical essays and annotations plus discographical data, timeline and photos, 6 evocative 8X10 photos and a 22x23 Miles Davis poster, a reproduction of a Columbia Records promotional brochure and more.

Jazz at Lincoln Center also has a number of other items you could peruse.

The Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis offers a wide variety of live recordings, shirts, mugs, and gift cards.

The Artists' Quarter in St. Paul also offers gift cards.

Next, check out some great shirts, mugs, and ties at Zazzle.

You can spice up the morning with some Holiday Jazz Coffee from Community Coffee of Louisiana.

The New York Times has put together a decent list for jazz lovers. Check it out here.

I hope this list will at least get you started. And, if you are anything like me, you won't hesitate to pick up a few items for yourself.

Doris Hines 85th Birthday Bash

The Dakota Jazz Club will be hosting an 85th birthday celebration tonight for one of the areas most renowned vocalists, Doris Hines. Ms. Hines has performed with such other greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, and Harry Belafonte.

Tonight's performance will include Ms. Hines on vocals, Percy Hughes on alto sax, Irv Williams on tenor sax, Jimmy Hamilton on piano, Tom Lewis on bass, and Joe Pulice on percussion.

The show starts at 7:00 pm tonight, November 19th, at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis. Cover is $10 at the door.

Jazz Events

Jazz Ramblings has added a calendar of jazz events to its site. Currently, local jazz venues/sources such as Dakota Jazz Club and McNally Smith College of Music are posted. In addition, favs such as the Copenhagen Jazz House and Jazz Festival are listed.

If you would like to add your event or link to the list please let us know.

Alive Arts Media Event - Dakota Jazz Club

Alive Arts Media will be hosting a special event at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis tonight. The event starts at 5 p.m. with music by a Alison Scott.

The event is intended to kick-off of a new mentorship program involving Alive Magazine and Alive Arts Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging women to create the media they want to see.

Jazz vocalist Connie Evingson and her band headline the event starting at 7 p.m. The $10 cover includes a complimentary glass of wine, with proceeds going to Alive Arts Media.

A Day Off

I enjoyed a day off from work today to recoup from minor surgery. The time passed quickly and painlessly thanks to the iPod and the music of Charlie "Bird" Parker, Dave Brubeck, J.R. Monterose, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis.

I have enjoyed exploring bassist William Parker's album "Corn Meal Dance." I typically don't enjoy vocals but if you listen for Parker everything else seems to melt away.

Today's post is short -- for obvious reasons. I hope to still attend Nachito Herrera's gig tomorrow night at the Dakota. Review will follow.

Enjoy it all.

Nachito Herrera

Ignacia "Nachito" Herrera headlines the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis on Friday and Saturday night. Herrera is an experienced latin jazz specialist with prior training under Rubén González, Jorge Gomez Labraña, and Frank Fernández. Herrera is the past musical director at the "Tropicana" in Cuba. More recently he was a member of the Cubanismo as lead pianist, arranger, and musical director.



Here is what the Star Tribune had to say:



“Hotter than the burning tip of a contraband Cuban cigar. Stronger than a straight shot of Havana rum. As exciting as a World Series game, with ‘El Duque’ on the mound. Explosive. Crowd pleasing. Rhythmically intense. Romantic. Dynamic. Jaw-droppingly good.”- Tom Surrowicz, Minneapolis Star-Tribune



Herrera opens at the Dakota at 8:00 pm each night. Cover is $15.00. I hope to see you all there Saturday night.