Kurt Elling: ‘Any music that jazz encounters, it absorbs and transforms’
JazzTimes once outlined a “royal bloodline of male jazz singers”: from Louis Armstrong to Mel Tormé to Jon Hendricks to Mark Murphy to Kurt Elling.
MinnPost Asks
MinnPost Asks is an occasional series that features Q&A interviews with interesting and newsworthy people with some sort of connection to Minnesota. Most will be from our community, but some will be Minnesotans living and working elsewhere. The folks will range from those with high-visibility positions to behind-the-scenes individuals who don’t get a lot of publicity but who are leading rich lives and who have something interesting and insightful to say.
Arts leader and memoirist takes novelistic turn with ‘The Golden Hour’
New American Library has released her first novel, “The Golden Hour,” and tonight she’ll begin a round of readings — the first one at the Loft in Minneapolis.
MinnPost Asks: Meg Hutchinson
This weekend the Boston performer will sing at the Cedar Cultural Center, meet with students at South High and address a mental-health conference.
‘Anonymous’ and Shakespeare: Who really wrote the plays?
Minnesota native Mark Anderson wrote the definitive biography of Edward de Vere, “Shakespeare by Another Name.” In this Q&A he talks about de Vere and the new film “Anonymous.”
Occupy Wall Street inspires a groundswell (and OccupyMN) — at its core, ‘a need to be heard’
Friday at 9 a.m. the space between Minneapolis City Hall and the Hennepin County Government Center will become the People’s Plaza. Related: With unions joining protest, will message change?
‘We worked hard all year, so we just want to keep winning at home’
Former Minnesota Gopher star Lindsay Whalen is once again leading her home team on a run at a basketball championship: This time, it’s the WNBA finals.
Ted Mondale touts Vikings stadium’s economic importance to region
The new head of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission made his case Monday for the regional value of a new Vikings stadium, saying it’s important to the area’s job growth.
What the buzz over upcoming royal wedding reveals about us
An expert on the history of sovereignty explains our hate-love relationship with the British monarchy.
‘Joining Amateur Sports Commission gives me chance to advocate statewide’
St. Paul’s parks-and-rec expert sees opportunities for partnerships and entrepreneurial efforts to boost all sorts of Minnesota physical fitness efforts.
Minnesota Culture Club binds transplanted artists in NYC
This Sunday in Brooklyn, a crowd of young Minnesotans who’ve relocated to New York will watch Sen. Al Franken judge the group’s food-on-a-stick contest.
‘We need to build a brand — and the Independence Party — from the ground up’
The party’s interim chairman is preaching patience and looking “down-ballot” to capitalize on capturing Minnesota’s still-vacant political “middle ground.”
‘We need to frame an effective message and close the enthusiasm gap’
Ken Martin, the DFL’s new leader, is determined to re-energize the party’s base and close a persistent “enthusiasm gap.”
MinnPost Asks Live: Kurt Zellers and Paul Thissen, Feb. 28 at Hell’s Kitchen
‘My Outdoor Heritage Council dissent has been civil and respectful’
The South St. Paul DFLer, who has been at odds with Legacy Amendment colleagues, defends his stands: “I have not always agreed with the collective decisions of the council, and have voiced my dissent appropriately.”
Documentary filmmaking: from Joan Rivers to ‘Burma Soldier’
NEW YORK — Edina native Annie Sundberg says what connects her other films to “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” is the same thing that draws her to all of her work: “interesting characters who are in interesting circumstances.”
Don’t-ask-don’t-tell debate reveals generational differences in military
The University of Minnesota professor, who has studied how the military has shaped minorities’ struggle for rights, says the don’t-ask-don’t-tell debate can be explained in part by the generational division between service chiefs and the average enl
Fewer jobs and more job seekers
The long-time job counselor says of today’s job market: “This is the worst I’ve ever seen.” Out-of-work Baby Boomers looking for a job face some of the biggest challenges.
In its new leader, Minnesota Opera has administrator, composer — and Papageno
The accomplished arts administrator also has been a professional opera singer and an award-winning composer. People, he says, want to see something new and innovative, and that’s why Minnesota Opera gets so much respect around the country.
Longtime Guthrie actor, now in ‘La Bête’ on Broadway, waxes on Twin Cities’ cultural/theatrical scene
NEW YORK — Says Wingert: I think that we are the finest secret culturally, not just theatrically — music, dance, opera, art — certainly in the United States.
Who should — and should not — be defined as a terrorist?
Too often, journalist/author Reese Erlich argues, our definitions have led to logical and legal inconsistencies — not only in conflicts around the world but here at home too.
Mayoral chief of staff balances full plate of St. Paul projects
The capital city’s new Promise Neighborhood education grant and continuing work on Central Corridor light rail are two high-priority projects sure to keep her and the mayor’s staff busy in coming months.