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 December:
December 2, Oleta Adams. (7 pm. Rescheduled from early November. Regardless of how you define her genre, she’s a legend. And a recent addition to the American Jazz Walk of Fame at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City.
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December 4, Travis Anderson Trio “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (7 pm). Deftly swinging pianist Travis Anderson and longtime cohorts (Steve Pikal on bass, Nathan Norman on drums) present the eternal holiday music of Vince Guaraldi. If you aren’t in the holiday spirit yet, you will be.
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December 12-13, Jose James with Christian Sands, “Merry Christmas” (7 pm). Minneapolis native, South High alum Jose James has come a long way since his nights singing at Fireside Pizza! Fortunately he comes back home for a show at the Dakota almost annually, and his holiday card to us this season includes the highly regarded pianist, 5-time Grammy nominee Christian Sands.
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December 15-16-17, Robert Glasper’s Sonic Paradigm (6:30 and 9 pm). A break in the holiday fare brings 5-time Grammy winner, internationally acclaimed keyboardist, composer, arranger, producer, you-name-it Robert Glasper to the Dakota for six performances. Hard to pigeon-hole into one genre, Glasper simply is a sonic experience.
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December 18-19, Peterson Family “T’was the Jam Before Christmas” (7 pm). It just would not be the holidays without the annual Peterson Family jam. From “second generation” stars—siblings Linda, Ricky, Billy, Patty and Paul—to third (including internationally acclaimed sax and vocal star Jason Peterson DeLaire) and maybe fourth generation now, Minnesota’s “First Family of Music” has amassed 100+ gold and platinum albums and has performed numerous concerts nationally and internationally. But best of all, they still call the Twin Cities “home” and bring their holiday cheer to the Dakota stage nearly every year.
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December 23, Andrew Walesch Big Band “Swingin’ Christmas” (3 pm and 7 pm). Andrew Walesch is a crooner in the best tradition of Sinatra, and a stellar pianist to boot. But he’s also built a strong reputation as a big band leader, and he returns to the Twin Cities for two shows that will swing through the roof. The former music director at Crooners left Minnesota earlier this year for a similar position at the Musical Instruments Museum in Phoenix but fortunately maintains his connections in the Twin Cities as well as his very talented big band.
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December 25-29,The Bad Plus (5 pm and 7 pm on 12/25, 6:30 and 8:30 pm 12/26-28). Possibly the longest–running tradition at the Dakota, The Bad Plus has gone through several transformations since its origins as an edgy trio back at the beginning of the Millennium, but one constant has been this late December series. TBP today is a piano-less quartet featuring original members, Twin Cities natives Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums), now joined by saxman Chris Speed and guitarist Ben Monder. The sound is different of course, but the vibe remains TBP. New arrangements of favorite tunes and always lots of new compositions…. And no doubt some original commentary.
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By: Andrea Canter
READ THE FULL JAZZ POLICE LEAD SHEET HERE>>