April is Jazz Appreciation Month, aka JAM. Founded by Dr. John Edward Hasse, Curator of American Music at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History (and a graduate of Carleton College in Northfield), JAM honors jazz as a national and world treasure. It is supported by Public Law 108-72, passed by the U.S. Congress in August 2003. If you don’t get out and support jazz this month, you’re breaking the law.
Learn more about JAM here. Jazz venues, you can download and print a free JAM 2009 poster and tape it by the door. Mayors and city councils across the United States have issued pro-JAM proclamations and declarations. I haven’t heard whether our own mayors, R.T. Rybak and Chris Coleman, have joined in. If not this year, maybe 2010?
It’s easy to express your appreciation for jazz: Show up and listen. Clap if you like what you hear. You don’t even have to wait until a piece is over; if the spirit moves you in the middle, clap then and no one will look at you funny.
As always, this brief list is just a taste of what’s available in and around the Twin Cities during the coming week.
Friday, April 3: Dean Granros and Brad Bellows. Tucked into a sleepy neighborhood in southwest Minneapolis, Café Maude features tasty food, a hip ambiance, and amazing jazz. Owner Kevin Sheehy is currently in Istanbul gathering ideas for his Armatage Room, which recently opened across the street. Tonight you can hear Dean Granros on guitar, Brad Bellows on valve trombone and euphonium. A truly unusual combination that promises new delights. 9 p.m. Friday, Café Maude (no cover).
Friday and Saturday, April 3-4: Greg Skaff. I’d like to know who first paired guitar with the Hammond B3 organ. It’s the perfect combination, like pecorino cheese and a big Barolo. New York City-based guitarist Greg Skaff has played with Stanley Turrentine, Ruth Brown, Jimmy Scott and Bobby Watson; his three recordings as leader include the just-released “East Harlem Skyline.” He’ll be joined by Kenny Horst on drums and “Downtown” Bill Brown on B3. Here’s a video of the same trio from January 2008. 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Artists’ Quarter ($15).
Saturday, April 4: JazzMN Celebrates Benny Goodman’s 100th. Our own JazzMN Big Band is always a good time, and it always draws an appreciative crowd to the Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center, a comfy venue with ample free parking. Saturday’s concert will have two sets. The first will feature the wonderful vocalist Arne Fogel, who’s also a local radio personality and a serious Bing Crosby expert. The second will spotlight renowned clarinetist, sax player and Benny Goodman protégé Ken Peplowski. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Hopkins High School Performing Arts Center, 2400 Lindbergh Drive, Minnetonka ( ($25-$27; $17 students); Ticketworks or at the door.
Find Twin Cities jazz calendars and more jazz news online at Jazz Police. In the Main Menu at the left, click on Twin Cities. Jazz radio station KBEM 88.5FM posts a live music calendar each week; view it online in the Events menu.
When talking jazz in the Twin Cities, we cannot forget the name of Dave Frishberg, St. Paul native and my buddy of 60 years starting way back in Central High School.
Dave was recently inducted into the ASCAP Wall of Fame — along with many of America’s finest composers and artists. His most recent album with Minnesota native Connie Evenson, is a delight to hear.
Dave is a jazz giant from Minnesota, of whom we can be proud.
Thanks, Myles. I was in the audience at the Dakota when Connie had her CD release–and wrote about it later, if you care to take a look: http://tinyurl.com/cjwmyr This was before MinnPost published concert reviews or you would have read about it here. What a great show.