Saint Paul native Pierre Lewis spent his formative years filling in for twin cites organ legend Bobby Lyles. He has been keyboardist for R&B legends the Commodores for the past 12 years. He will be exploring his roots as one of the area's most experienced masters of the Hammond B3 organ, channeling everyone from Jimmy […]

Kenny Garrett’s latest release, 2021’s Sounds from the Ancestors, is a multi-faceted album. The music, however, doesn’t lodge inside the tight confines of the jazz idiom. Here, this is not surprising: the alto saxophonist and composer acknowledges Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye as significant touchstones. Miles Davis’ seminal LP, On the Corner, subverted its main guiding lights […]

Kenny Garrett’s latest release, 2021’s Sounds from the Ancestors, is a multi-faceted album. The music, however, doesn’t lodge inside the tight confines of the jazz idiom. Here, this is not surprising: the alto saxophonist and composer acknowledges Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye as significant touchstones. Miles Davis’ seminal LP, On the Corner, subverted its main guiding lights […]

The Music of Django Reinhardt This performance by the Ryan Picone Quartet captures the several Django Reinhardt compositions that are found of the origins of Django’s musical development and artistry. This performance encapsulates every pillar of Django Reinhardt’s development through his entire legacy from beginning to end. Dr. Ryan Picone: Lead Guitar Tessa Nichols Meade: […]

Davina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene. Their high-energy live shows feature level-A musicianship, sharp-dressed professionalism and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. Also, their influences range from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits. Moreover, the band is converting audiences one show at […]

Rekindling a project from before Kaleena Miller moved to NYC, these four dance around each other—literally and musically—to improvise new forms and connect music and dance in previously unheard ways. Band Members: Bryan Nichols - Piano Kaleena Miller - Dance JT Bates - Drums Cody McKinney - Bass ⊹ Bryan Nichols is a pianist, composer, […]

Musical masters Bruce Henry (vocals) and Dean Magraw (guitar) celebrate the release of their new acoustic album A New Song with a special concert, welcoming Bruce back to his former Twin Cities home. Although the two artists have collaborated over the years, this is their first duo project and reflects an unexpected musical alchemy. Rooted […]

Led by chief detonators Doug Haining, sax, and Scott Agster, trombone, the Explosion Big Band draws from the area’s finest musicians. The EXPLOSION is ready to detonate with the classic sounds of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and more modern sounds of Thad Jones, Clare Fischer, Pat Metheny & others.

Effortless. Spontaneous. Inimitable. The convergence of two of jazz’s most legendary forces of nature. Moreover, their virtuosic interpretations traverse the musical spectrum. For example, they draw on the canons of luminary composers: Ellington, Porter, Sondheim, LeGrand, Simon, and others. Here, they range from intimate ballads to soulful grooves, delivered with daring expression born of their […]

It isn’t hyperbolic to call Hancock our greatest living jazz artist. Now in his seventh decade of professional life, he has been an integral part of every popular music movement since the 1960s. His work with the Miles Davis Quintet is legendary. His Headhunters album is one of the highest-selling jazz albums of all time. He is […]