Jazz88

Maud Hixson performs Songs of the 1920s this Saturday July 24 at Crooner’s in Minneapolis. Then

on Sunday August 1, Maud is right back at Crooner’s with a 6-piece group, French 75. Maud has been very successful presenting shows about specific eras. When Maud talked to Phil Nusbaum, he asked where that idea comes from.

The Roseville Community Band has been around for well over 60 years. The group plays locally and has traveled to other states and foreign countries, too. Dan Kuch directs the Roseville Community Band. I is Dan’s role to find interesting music for the group to play, and he also written the group’s calling card tune, March of the Roses. Dan’s conversation with Phil Nusbaum opened with Dan playing his original song.

Pat Donohue, Tim Sparks and Phil Heywood are Minnesota-based guitarists who play the strings using individual fingers, in other words, without holding a pick. The three have been acclaimed far and wide for their finger-style playing, but the three have never shared a stage. That changes Friday July 16 in the Main Room at Crooners. Pat Donohue was the driving force behind the show.

The Plant Based Poets Show stages organic self-expression through live music, dance, art & food. It’ll be outdoors at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis at 7PM on July 10. Terrell Woods, also known as Carnage the Executioner is the force behind the 3 band show featuring Saltee, Ill Chemistry, The Orange Goodness and dance by Jodi Sieger’s Rhythm and Shoes. Terrell told Phil Nusbaum about the philosophy behind the show.

Ted Unseth is known to many for leading the Classic Jazz group, the Americana Classic Jazz Orchestra. But Ted has had quite a musical journey. He moved from Chicago to Albert Lea, Minnesota as a young kid. As the son of a Lutheran minister, classical music was on in the house. But Ted had an unexpected response to early piano lessons, as he told Phil Nusbaum.

Kendra Glenn started singing as a young kid in Chicago. She has blossomed into a busy upper midwest soulful singer who also writes some of her songs. Kendra sings Friday and Saturday July 2 and 3 at the Umbra in Minneapolis. When she spoke with Phil Nusbaum, Kendra first addressed her early interest in singing.

Sprig of That shares the bill with Anthony Ihrig at the Ice House in Minneapolis, Wednesday June 30 at 7:30. Sprig of that consists of violinist Isabel Dammann, tabla player Krissy Bergmark and guitarist Ilan Blanck. Theirs is a mixture of formal and folk traditions. But what do you call the music of Sprig of That? That is what Phil Nusbaum asked Ilan Blanck.

Many Forces Had to Come Together to Create a Twin Cities Jazz Fest This Year, but it is happening Friday through Sunday June 25-27. Learn about it at Crooners Lounge MN dot com. Andrew leads his little big band at the fest, and also works behind the scenes at Crooner’s. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Andrew first addressed Crooner’s new Belvedere Room.

The Levi Schwartzberg Quartet brings a Bebop sensibility to its online show streamed from Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis, this Saturday at 8PM. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Levi had his vibes available and demonstrated a few ways of improvising that the Levi Schwartzberg Quartet employs.

King Wilkie’s Dream plays new acoustic country music and strives for originality. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, fiddler Robbi Podrug and mandolinist Shane Zack told Phil Nusbaum that much of the originality comes from the songwriting of guitarist John Niemann.