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.

Minnesota Orchestra

If you have not done so already, make sure to sign up for the Target Free Family Concerts with the Minnesota Orchestra. Jazz for Young People will be held on March 7th at 2:00 pm. The concerts are free but the tickets are issued via a random drawing.

Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will be answering questions and performing for approximately one hour.

In addition, the Minnesota Orchestra will be hosting the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Mr. Marsalis for live performances on March 6 and March 7, 2009.

Finally, don't forget the Minnesota Orchestra's Jazz Festival which will be held all day on March 6th at Orchestra Hall. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will be offering critiques of each performance and will perform with participants.

MacPhail Center for Music

The MacPhail Center for Music, right here in Minneapolis, offers up a variety of jazz opportunities. MacPhail holds "Jazz Thursdays" and this week's offering is Snowblind. The show begins at 8:00 pm and tickets are $10/$5. The performance will be held in Antonello hall.

In addition to the performances, MacPhail (obviously) has a number of jazz classes available for the novice to the expert. Special attention is paid to the younger set, but there are some opportunities available for the older crowd as well -- including those for non-musicians. I want to highlight the Jazz 101 class which begins on February 3, 2009. It is a twelve-week session and meets each Tuesday for one hour. Cost is $220.

The MacPhail's Jazz Events Calendar will now be featured on Jazz Ramblings.

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.