Cecile McLorin Salvant returns to The Dakota on January 28th The end of 2023 was so busy with music that I forgot to start the Lead Sheet in time for New Year’s Day! Will Kjeer Looking Back! My December highlights included a stunning set from former resident vocalist Bruce Henry with a stellar trio of […]
By Don Beryman We Sick – deVon Russell Gray, Nathan Hanson, Davu Seru What I consider the most significant and poignant release of the year is We Sick. It was recorded in 2020, the year that we all witnessed (via video from a bystander) the callous, almost casual murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police […]
Pete Whitman conducts the JazzMn Orchestra, coming to Chanhassen Dinner Theater December 11th Looking Back–November Joyce Lyons at Crooners November was busy on the Twin Cities jazz scene although for various reasons, I got to fewer gigs than usual. My highlights included JT Bates Quartet (The Dakota, November 1); Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson’s “Pre-Songbook […]
By Don Berryman Cal Tjader Catch The Groove: Live At The Penthouse (1963-1967) on the Jazz Detective label As a music fan what I love the most is hearing a band perform live in an intimate space. There is something about the energy between the audience and the artists that is magical. The best live […]
By Don Berryman One of my favorite records is Smokin’ at the Half Note by Wes Montgomery and the Wynton Kelly Trio. I am not alone in my admiration for that album, Pat Metheny called it the greatest jazz guitar album every recorded. So I was really excited to hear about this release of more […]
By Don Berryman Following up on last year’s release of Ahmad Jamal – Emerald City Nights: Live at the Penthouse Volume 1 and 2 [read my review here] which was the debut of Zev Feldman’s Jazz Detective label, we are now blessed to have the third and final release. Produced by Zev Feldman and supervised […]