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 January:
January 3, Tim Sparks CD Release “Lost and Found,” 7 pm. Local guitar hero Tim Sparks celebrates this eclectic release covering Lennon-McCartney, Bob Dylan, Jerry Reed, Paul Desmondm Kris Kristofferson and original fare. He’s joined by another local guitar guru Ben Abrahamson and talented bassist Ted Olsen.
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January 7, Larry Schaefer Memorial Orchestra (7 pm). This large ensemble plays improvised music, sometimes with minimal structures. Incorporating elements of free jazz, soul jazz, and Afrobeat, they are inspired by electric period Miles Davis, early Weather Report, Can, James Brown and Fela Kuti, among others. Assorted local heroes including Bryan Nichols, Jeremy Ylvisaker, Erik Fratzke, Chris Thomson, Peter Goggin, Jake Baldwin, Martin Dosh and more.
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January 19, Vijay Iyer Trio (7 pm). Rescheduled from fall 2022, monster pianist/composer (and MacArthur Genius Grantee) Vijay Iyer brings his trio (with Harish Raghaven on bass, Jeremy Dutton on drums) celebrating the upcoming release of their album, Compassion.
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January 27, Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Tour, 6:30 & 9 pm. The Blue Note Quintet features five of the most celebrated jazz artists of 2024: Gerald Clayton (piano), Joel Ross (vibes), Immanuel Wilkins(sax), Matt Brewer (bass), and Kendrick Scott (drums).
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January 28, Cecile McLorin Salvant (6 & 8 pm). A Dakota favorite since she burst onto the jazz scene over a decade ago as winner of the Thelonious Monk Competition, followed by three “Best Jazz Album” Grammys, MacArthur and Doris Duke grants and more, Cecile also presented her concert length, multi-media “Ogresse” at the Walker last spring, proving she is far more than one of the most exciting voices in jazz history.
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By: Andrea Canter
READ THE FULL JAZZ POLICE LEAD SHEET HERE>>