Jazz Police, Author at Twin Cities Jazz Festival

Dean Magraw and Marcus Wise at Jazz Central, April 28

April 26, 2017 •

© Andrea Canter Guitar guru Dean Magraw and tabla master Marcus Wise first met over thirty-five years ago, Magraw returning from a stint in Boston, Wise from studies in India. In that first encounter, as Wise recounts in the liner notes to the duo’s How the Light Gets In, the two musicians found “the […]

Michael O’Brien Returns With Gigs at Reverie and the Dunsmore Room

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© Andrea Canter One of the hottest young jazz talents in the Twin Cities during the first part of the 00s, bassist Michael O’Brien relocated to New York about 10 years ago where he has built an enviable reputation. Fortunately he returns “home” now and then to reconnect with old pals. This week, we have […]

Bill Frisell Trio in Hopkins, April 25

April 24, 2017 •

© Andrea Canter “It’s hard to find a more fruitful meditation on American music than in the compositions of guitarist Bill Frisell. Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, he’s found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play” .–The New York Times Known for his many eclectic projects, Grammy-winning guitarist/composer Bill […]

SF Jazz Collective Celebrates Miles Davis at the Dakota, April 24-25

April 22, 2017 •

© Andrea Canter “The octet boasts as much or more collective talent, firepower and critical acclaim than any other jazz ensemble going…” — DownBeat One of the most acclaimed modern jazz ensembles, the SF Jazz Collective returns to the Dakota on April 24-25 with its 2017 edition, celebrating the music of Miles Davis. An […]

Stars from Near and Far in the Dunsmore Room: Sheila Jordan, John Raymond, Connie Evingson and Jon Weber –All This Week!

April 21, 2017 •

© Andrea Canter When the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge opened in late 2015, it seemed to be a risk. A suburban supper club, already sporting a successful bar and lounge with live music, reconfiguring a dining room as a “listening room” for jazz? For the first few months, local artists augmented by former residents […]

Chris Bates Red 5, Abebi Stafford at the Black Dog on April 22

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© Andrea Canter Twin Cities fans of inventive jazz have enjoyed witnessing the evolution of Red 5, led by bassist extraordinaire Chris Bates. And it really was a quintet when first conceived about five years ago and when the band released its first recording in 2013. Yet one of the delights of this ensemble is […]