News
Upper Midwest Jazz Fests Kick Off Summer—Twin Cities, Iowa City and Northfield
June 13, 2026 •It’s become a tradition! The Upper Midwest presents three great jazz festivals over three weekends, starting with the Twin Cities Jazz Festival June 19-20; moving south the the Iowa City Jazz Festival July 3-5; and then moving back north to the Northfield Jazz Festival July 10-12. And these jazzy weekends, featuring an exciting assortment of […]
Minnesota’s Jazz Heroes 2026: Reverend Carl Walker and Grant West
April 22, 2026 •As an international membership organization of traditional and new media professionals covering jazz, the Jazz Journalists Association has, since 2001, sought nominations of “grassroots culture workers” who “go beyond their professional responsibilities to sustain and expand on musical activities with local and regional impact.” For 2026, the JJA celebrates 35 “Jazz Heroes” from 33 locales […]
Laura Caviani Brings Her Trio To Central Studios In Minneapolis May 29th
April 16, 2026 •Renowned Twin Cities jazz pianist Laura Caviani was interviewed by Adam Meckler for Jazz Police and that interview can be read here: https://www.jazzpolice.com/archives/7360 Laura Caviani directs the Jazz Area at Carleton College in Minnesota, where she conducts their Jazz Ensemble, and coordinates all jazz chamber groups and classes. She has performed and recorded for three […]
The Yellowjackets and the JazzMN Orchestra with Michael Mayo Headline the 2026 Twin Cities Jazz Festival
March 23, 2026 •The Yellowjackets and the JazzMN Orchestra with Michael Mayo are the headliners for the 28th annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival appearing on the main stage in Mears Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota on June 19th and 20th Watch the TCJS website for more details as more of the schedule is announced: https://www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com/ Yellowjackets Friday, June […]
The Steve Kenny Quintet at Berlin Minneapolis April 3rd
March 12, 2026 •Thee Steve Kenny Quintet will play a few selections from the recently released “Blue Chunks” CD (picked as one of the best of 2025 by Don Berryman) intermixed with some crowd-pleasing favorite Jazz Standards selected from the group’s multiple years of performances. There will probably be some Coltrane material as well. The current lineup features […]
Duo CORDA
March 1, 2026 •By Don Berryman Duo CORDA, a musical collaboration between cellist Jacqueline Ultan and guitarist Paval Jany pulling together music from multiple genres, has just released their eponymous debut album. Both cello and guitar make sound from vibrating strings resonating in a wooden body. However the bowed string and fretless fingerboard of the cello allow […]