One of the most revered venues in the Twin Cities, The Dakota continues to thrive in downtown Minneapolis, featuring many of the nation’s top music acts and a good portion are jazz legends and rising stars. Among the bookings for August:
Dave King Residency. A rare scheduling for the Dakota, Twin Cities native/resident and internationally acclaimed drummer Dave King leads three distinct ensembles throughout the month. The opening volley on August 8 (7 pm) is a doubleheader featuring King and Chicago-based tenor saxophonist Chris Weller, followed by the long-standing drum duo of King and JT Bates, aptly dubbed Real Bulls. On August 15 (7 pm), King brings together his high-flying ensemble Dave King Trucking Company, featuring Brooklyn-based sax/clarinet monster Chris Speed (now a cohort with the Bad Plus) and Twin Cities heroes Brandon Wozniak (sax) and Erik Fratzke (guitar). Closing out the residency on August 29 (7 pm) is one of King’s earliest projects, Happy Apple, featuring Fratzke and saxophonist Michael Lewis. That might be as much as Dave King is ever in town in a single month!.
AUG 8, 15, 29 • 7PM
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Bobby Watson. Watson is a living legend of alto sax and always provides a high-energy show.
AUG 1 • 7PM
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John Pizzarelli. Pretty much an annual event, vocalist/guitarist and radio personality Pizzarelli always presents an entertaining evening of music and banter, and his swing is infectious.
AUG 9 • 6:30 + 8:30PM
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JazzMN Orchestra, Night of Count Basie with Diane Schuur. The acclaimed JazzMN Orchestra has performed for 25 years with the very best local talents and an impressive list of guest artists from Maria Schneider to Kurt Elling. For this special night at the Dakota, JazzMN (directed by Pete Whitman) offers a program of Count Basie featuring one who sang with the Basie band, Grammy-winner Diane Schuur. Schuur has appeared at the Dakota but never in the company of a big band!
AUG 12 • 6:30 + 8:30PM
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Charles Lloyd Quartet. Now in his mid-80s, living legend multi-reedman Charles Lloyd is still going strong, leading ensembles, recording, and touring. Named “Artist of the Year” by the 2023 Downbeat Critics Poll, Lloyd returns to the Dakota with all-stars Gerald Clayton on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass, and Kendrick Scott on drums.
AUG 31 • 6:30 + 8:30PM
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By: Andrea Canter
READ THE FULL JAZZ POLICE LEAD SHEET HERE>>