Jazz88

The Tony Rook Band is a bluegrass group whose players represent broad experiences playing the style. You might know that in bluegrass, it is completely acceptable to play songs and arrangements that have been popular over time. But the Tony Rook band really strives for originality.

An ensemble of local stars presents a hundred years of great Hallowe’en songs this Thursday night at the Dakota in Minneapolis. Phil Nusbaum caught up with the group at a rehearsal. Dan Chouinard is at the piano, and singers Prudence Johnson, Dane Stauffer, Maria Jette standing by.

Vocalist Dane Stauffer visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss his upcoming Monstrous Melodies Cabaret at the Dakota. Though Dane said he wasn't sure if any of the performance was legitimately "scary" he assured us it was lots of fun. He even brought along a rehearsal recording which sounded like a lot of fun. The Monstrous Melodies Cabaret event happens on Halloween night at the Dakota.

Bassist Liz Draper has been running a residency at Berlin for October and she's wrapping it up on Sunday, October 27 with her friend Ava Mendoza. Mendoza is a celebrated guitarist and composer based in Brooklyn and her friendship with Draper goes back almost 25 years. Liz spoke about her approach to improvising on the bass, her recent experience with playing through-composed music. Mendoza spoke a...

Chris Botti is renowned trumpeter with lots of crossover appeal and a penchant for recording ballads. In this conversation with Jazz88's Peter Solomon, Botti discusses his musical inspirations, discusses studying with legendary post-bop trumpeter Woody Shaw, recalls his days touring with the temperamental drum legend and bandleader Buddy Rich, and speaks on the varying approaches he takes to live...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with choreographer and master dance instructor Ashe Smythe about the legacy of Katherine Dunham, the woman widely acknowledged as the "Queen Mother and Matriarch of African American Dance." Smythe is a guest artist and instructor in a two-week Katherine Dunham residency taking place at Lundstrum Performing Arts. Attached photo courtesy of Karen Nelson.

Mike Lewis, the celebrated multi-instrumentalist known for his work with Happy Apple, Fat Kid Wednesdays and Alpha Consumer, connected with Jazz88 to discuss the run of shows he'll be doing in November at Icehouse. Lewis highlighted some of the artists he'll be collaborating with like Anthony Cox, S. Carey and Jeremy Yvilsaker. He also discussed his approach to choosing his musical opportunities w...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Richard Cortez. The New-York based singer is releasing his debut album "Mood Swings" this week. Cortez discusses how his long history of gay activism plays into his musical career. Remarkably, he only started singing jazz publicly four years ago. He made a name for himself by organizing jazz performances at some of the gay bars in New York where he worked as a go...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with Jeff Coffin, a multi-instrumentalist/composer who is well-known for his role as saxophonist with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and the Dave Matthews Band. On "Only the Horizon," his 23rd album as a leader, he collaborates with a West African percussion group called the Yeli ensemble as well as guitarist Cory Wong, banjoist Bela Fleck, blues icon Keb Mo and others...

Mere days away from releasing their sophomore album "NORFSIDE" drummer L.A. Buckner and his bandmates from BiG HOMiE are ready to celebrate an album that's been years in the making. Buckner, alongside David Smith and percussionist Jamani Buckner, spoke about the songwriting process, the importance of releasing the album at an iconic venue (the Capri Theater) in an iconic part of Minneapolis (the N...

Celebrated Danish vocalist Sinne Eeg is making her way to the Twin Cities for a show at Crooners on Thursday, October 17. Eeg was nice enough to hop on the phone with Sean from the Afternoon Cruise to talk about her upcoming performance at Crooners and about how she approaches singing with different size groups!

Obi Original is an accomplished musician/composer and vocalist. Obi agreed to come by to discuss one of his musical heroes, Fela Kuti. Fela was born October 15, 1938 and he, alongside his drummer Tony Allen, is recognized as one of the architects of the Afrobeat genre. Listen in to hear Obi Original's reflections on Fela's influence and importance.

Traiveon and Candi and Bakkwooddrift command the stage at Icehouse this Thursday. The doors open 6:30 with the show at 7:30. The two bands include many old friends who support each other. Jimmy Hodges of Bakkwooddrift and Traiveon of Traveon and Candi talked to Phil Nusbaum about the show. First, Jimmy told the story of how he met Charmaine, singer with Bakkwooddrift.

Noel Coward was an acclaimed playwright, composer, singer, and actor. To celebrate his 125th birthday, vocalists Erin Schwab and Maud Hixson, along with arranger and pianist Rick Carlson reprise the Guthrie Theater production “Coward’s Women.” The performance is at Crooners, Saturday night October 12 at 6:30pm. The production tells the Noel Coward story through the significant women in his life, a...

The Southside Aces performs New Orleans Jazz, old and new. This Monday night at 7, the Aces are at the Dakota in Minneapolis, with a show called a Night in New Orleans. Tony Balluff leads the Southside Aces. When Tony met with Phil Nusbaum, the talk turned to the great appeal of New Orleans jazz to Tony and the other Southside Aces

The internationally acclaimed vocalist Samarth Nagarkar is bringing his Khayal Ensemble to MacPhail for a performance on Saturday October 12. In advance of the concert Mr. Nagarkar and Michael Cain, the Director of Electronic Music Recording Arts at MacPhail connected with Jazz88 via ZOOM to discuss the concert, the improvisational traditions of North Hindustani music and the connections to jazz a...

Joel Shapira is always out there playing. He's out playing in town four or five times a week. But behind the scenes Shapira is always working on his own material. Joel came through the Jazz88 studios to discuss his new record "Sleepless Montage" and the release party coming up on Thursday, October 3 at Berlin in Minneapolis.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with Dale Alexander, a pianist and drummer based in LA but originally from St. Paul, to get his thoughts on Bud Powell. The father of modern jazz piano was born September 27, 1924 and would be 100 years old.

Violinist Ernest Bisong from Walker-West visited Jazz88 to talk about the new season of the Rondo Community Music Series. The series launches this Saturday (9/28) and rolls through to May with concerts from Kavyesh Kaviraj, Kevin Washington and RA Spirit, Katia Cardenas, Trio Zenia and more. Bisong shared his philosophy for recruiting the right artists, keeping the series accessible and involving...

Fats Waller is one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz, and also one of the most loved by the public. His music was at the same time intellectually deep and danceable. The Tony Bailuff Big 3 digs deeply into the Waller catalog on its performances. Tony talked to Phil Nusbaum about the Big 3, and about Fats Waller himself.

Fats Waller is one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz, and also one of the most loved by the public. His music was at the same time intellectually deep and danceable. The Tony Bailuff Big 3 digs deeply into the Waller catalog on its performances. Tony talked to Phil Nusbaum about the Big 3, and about Fats Waller himself.

Wayne Anthony is set for his second production of Frank Sinatra music for Champagne Ivy, taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Minneapolis. There are shows at 4:30 and 8 Saturday October 12. To Wayne, singing Sinatra is more than voicing great songs. Sinatra music was woven into his upbringing, as he told Phil Nusbaum

Twin Cities Jazz Guitarist Joel Shapira celebrates his new Quartet CD, titled Sleepless Montage, at the Club, Berlin, in Minneapolis, next Thursday at 7PM. The CD has 9 pieces, all composed by Shapira. About the title selection, Sleepless Montage, Joel told Phil Nusbaum, that the title refers to his compositional process.

Drummer and bandleader L.A. Buckner lovingly describes fellow drummer/bandleader Brandon Commodore as the "big homie". These two great drummers and bandleaders have years of history and the love will come through loud and clear on Saturday at Crooners when they share a bill. In their visit with Jazz88 Commodore pointed out that not only is it great to see two drummer/bandleaders sharing a bill but...

Jazz88's Peter Solomon speaks with NEA Jazz Master and Grammy-Award Winning trombonist and composer Delfeayo Marsalis about what inspired his recent recording 'Crescent City Jewels.' Marsalis will be featured in two sets with the JazzMn Orchestra Sunday afternoon at the Dakota. (Attached photo by Eric Waters and Girard Mouton).