Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, three-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee regularly performs concertos with symphony orchestras and sits in with members of the Grateful Dead. However, the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet.

David Mitchell is a working jazz musician, music educator, and former tech business owner. His Youth In Jazz non-profit runs the Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands program. It also sponsors free jazz concerts by professional musicians in schools and community centers. Tonight David will perform tasteful jazz standards with a wonderful group of musicians. David Mitchell […]

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, three-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee regularly performs concertos with symphony orchestras and sits in with members of the Grateful Dead. However, the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet.

From swing to jazz to bottleneck blues to folk, Grammy-winning acoustic guitarist Pat Donohue plays it all. He does this with a flourish of artistry and melodic inspiration. Chet Atkins called Pat one of the greatest finger pickers in the world today; Leo Kottke called his playing “haunting.”

Bryan Nichols is a pianist, composer, and educator based in Minneapolis. Often found playing jazz and improvised music, but at home in a variety of musical worlds, he leads and composes for his own trio, quintet, and nonet in addition to performing, recording, and touring with a variety of forward-thinking artists, and is a regular […]

“Hot Club” Quartet, a Twin Cities-based swing Jazz band, performs a timeless jazz tradition commonly known as Gypsy Jazz, a blend of traditional Roma music and swing jazz. Originating in Paris in the early 1930s, the ‘Hot Club’ jazz tradition brings back happy memories of the swing jazz era, and for all an opportunity to […]

St. Olaf Jazz I is the premier large jazz ensemble at St. Olaf College. Composed of 21 members, the award-winning band is led by Dr. Joseph L. Jefferson. The jazz program at St. Olaf is home to two ensembles that perform both on and off-campus concerts every academic year. These versatile groups perform in a […]

A three-time Emmy Award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer; T. Mychael Rambo is a long-standing Twin Cities arts community pillar. T. Mychael has made an indelible mark in the Twin Cities. Here, he has performed principal roles at such theaters as the Guthrie, Ordway Theatre, Illusion Theatre, and Mixed Blood. Also, Park Square […]

A showcase of great works that were inspired by the legendary guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Ryan Picone: Guitar Tessa Nichols Meade: Violin Ian Stenlund: Guitar Taylor Smith: Bass Ryan Picone Quartet is a group that was put together to showcase the original compositions of Ryan Picone. The music has been written throughout different time periods in his […]

A Night of Great Big Band Jazz! Join the Totino-Grace Jazz Department for their spring jazz department concert. These talented students will be performing selections based on a wide variety of big band jazz music. Members and directors of the TG Jazz Department are excited to be back at Crooners for a 2nd year - […]

Peter White has become known as one of the jazz industry’s greatest icons, despite being entirely self-taught. For over forty years, he’s worked with many greats, recorded eighteen solo and collaboration albums, and performed before countless audiences. He has collaborated with Boney James, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz and numerous others.

Southside Aces are celebrating twenty years of performing the repertoire of the Jazz Age greats and beyond. From the early New Orleans of Jelly Roll Morton to the world-changing joys of Louis Armstrong. The barrel house sounds of Preservation Hall to the Crescent City rhythms of rock and roll pioneer Fats Domino. Treat yourself to a […]

A new show inspired by icons Ray Charles, Brian Auger, Booker T., Georgie Fame & Graham Bond. Willie & Tommy join up with trap kit genie Dave Anania, string bass pusher Jeremy Boettcher & wonderkid saxophonist/flutist Nelson Devereaux. Here, they wade into vintage covers and Wisely originals alike.

Join the premiere big band in the Twin Cities, JazzMN Orchestra, for an unforgettable evening. This esteemed ensemble tackles blistering, swinging and innovative arrangements from the collection of the Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Orchestra. Longtime JazzMN drummer Joe Pulice has been tapped as music director. Further, this promises to be another great concert with the band at the Dakota.

Charles McPherson was born in Joplin, Missouri in 1939 and moved to Detroit at the age of nine. He moved to New York in 1959, joined bassist Charles Mingus’s band in 1960 and stayed with the group until 1972. During his twelve years working with Mingus, McPherson collaborated frequently with Barry Harris, Lonnie Hillyer, George Coleman […]

Davina and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene. Their high-energy live shows featurelevel-A musicianship, sharp-dressed professionalism and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. Also, their influences range from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits. Moreover, the band is converting audiences one show at a time, […]

Dakota favorites, Jay Young and The Lyric Factory started as a father/son duo in the mid-90s that has grown into a multi-faceted family of Minneapolis’ “first call” musicians who’ve been performing for sold-out audiences around the Twin Cities since 2005.

This free and opened to the public event celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month. It is co-sponsored by the Musician Performance Trust Fund, Twin Cities Musicians Union, and Jazz Central Studios; featuring four of the finest Big Bands in our local music scene today. Twin Cities Latin Jazz Orchestra: “Founded in 2014 by Geoffrey West Senn and Mac […]