Scott Amendola is a bay-area drummer and composer who has had long associations with artists like Charlie Hunter and Nels Cline. He performs with a trio including clarinetist Ben Goldberg and bassist Todd Sickafoose at Jazz Central on Thursday, November 7th. The group just released an album called "Here to There" consisting of music inspired by the bridge sections, i.e. the transition sections, of Thelonious Monk tunes. Amendola discusses all of this and his musical background with Jazz88's Peter Solomon. Picture by Lenny Gonzalez. From L to R: Scott Amendola (seated), Todd Sickafoose, Ben Goldberg.

Jesse Simon from the MN Hard Bop Collective grew up loving organ jazz out in Denver, Colorado so when it came to for the MN Hard Bop Collective to add more events to their sit-in series it was no surprise that Simon decided to concentrate on the organ. The series will draw inspiration from the legendary organist Shirley Scott. The MN Hard Bop Collective is launching a new weekly Sit-In Series event on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 at Metronome in Saint Paul. The group already holds court for their original Sit In Series at Metronome on Mondays at 7pm. Both events give jazz players of every age and ability level the opportunity to play with professional musicians and experience the exhilaration of 'sitting in' on a tune.

Erin Livingston sings The Great American Songbook at her show at the Blue Water Theater in Wayzata next Saturday November 9 at 7pm. With pianist Dale Alexander and bassist Gary Raynor, Erin will sing the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole. Whichever songs Erin is singing, she brings a love of great lyrics, as she told Phil Nusbaum.

The Tony Rook Band is a bluegrass group whose players represent broad experiences playing the style. You might know that in bluegrass, it is completely acceptable to play songs and arrangements that have been popular over time. But the Tony Rook band really strives for originality.

An ensemble of local stars presents a hundred years of great Hallowe’en songs this Thursday night at the Dakota in Minneapolis. Phil Nusbaum caught up with the group at a rehearsal. Dan Chouinard is at the piano, and singers Prudence Johnson, Dane Stauffer, Maria Jette standing by.

Vocalist Dane Stauffer visited the Afternoon Cruise to discuss his upcoming Monstrous Melodies Cabaret at the Dakota. Though Dane said he wasn't sure if any of the performance was legitimately "scary" he assured us it was lots of fun. He even brought along a rehearsal recording which sounded like a lot of fun. The Monstrous Melodies Cabaret event happens on Halloween night at the Dakota.

Bassist Liz Draper has been running a residency at Berlin for October and she's wrapping it up on Sunday, October 27 with her friend Ava Mendoza. Mendoza is a celebrated guitarist and composer based in Brooklyn and her friendship with Draper goes back almost 25 years. Liz spoke about her approach to improvising on the bass, her recent experience with playing through-composed music. Mendoza spoke about her forthcoming solo guitar and voice record, The Circular Train, and discussed her approach to composing on the guitar.

Chris Botti is renowned trumpeter with lots of crossover appeal and a penchant for recording ballads. In this conversation with Jazz88's Peter Solomon, Botti discusses his musical inspirations, discusses studying with legendary post-bop trumpeter Woody Shaw, recalls his days touring with the temperamental drum legend and bandleader Buddy Rich, and speaks on the varying approaches he takes to live shows verses albums, he also talks about getting to know Michael Brecker. Botti is playing a residency at the Dakota from October 28 - October 30.

Jazz88's Peter Solomon spoke with choreographer and master dance instructor Ashe Smythe about the legacy of Katherine Dunham, the woman widely acknowledged as the "Queen Mother and Matriarch of African American Dance." Smythe is a guest artist and instructor in a two-week Katherine Dunham residency taking place at Lundstrum Performing Arts. Attached photo courtesy of Karen Nelson.

Mike Lewis, the celebrated multi-instrumentalist known for his work with Happy Apple, Fat Kid Wednesdays and Alpha Consumer, connected with Jazz88 to discuss the run of shows he'll be doing in November at Icehouse. Lewis highlighted some of the artists he'll be collaborating with like Anthony Cox, S. Carey and Jeremy Yvilsaker. He also discussed his approach to choosing his musical opportunities wisely.