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© 2013 The Artists' Quarter Jazz Club: Live Music in Downtown Saint Paul, MN,
Special thanks to Al Iverson, the original AQ webmaster. We apologize for any errors that may occur. In the event of discrepancies Davis Wilson, your host at the door, is always the final authority. |
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The Artists' Quarter's hottest night opens with the Cory Wong Quartet featuring Zachary Schmidt on drums, Cory J. Wong on guitar, Andy Schuster on bass and Dan M. Musselman or Kevin Gastonguay on piano starting at 7:00 P.M. Born in Poughkeepsie, NY and raised in Minnesota, Cory has established himself as the go-to guitarist, composer, and arranger for dozens of artists throughout the upper mid-west.throughout the upper mid-west. 
One of Minnesota’s most exciting saxophonists. Brandon Wozniak returned to the twin cities in 2006 after six years in New York City and a six month stint in Shanghai, China. Wozniak studied music at Indiana University with David Baker and privately with Tom Walsh. Brandon performs regularly with Dave King’s(Bad Plus, Happy Apple drummer) Dave King Trucking Company with saxophonist Chris Speed, the Atlantis Quartet(City Pages Best Jazz Artist 2011, Star Tribune Best Jazz Artist 2012), the great drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt(Weather Report, McCoy Tyner), Bryan Nichols Quintet, Chris Bates Red 5 plus others. Brandon has also performed with singer Nellie McKay, toured with the Tommy Dorsey Jazz Orchestra and shared the stage with organ great Dr. Lonnie Smith, guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and drummer Francisco Mela(Joe Lovano’s US Five).
A bass player with few peers, Billy’s career résumé ranges from swingin’ jazz (Ben Sidran) to avant-garde leaning adventurism (Hope Street MN with Tony Hymas and Eric Kamau Gravatt) to folk-rock and acoustic (Bob Dylan, Leo Kottke) to arena rock (Steve Miller Band). Even if his sole accomplishment was hangin’ with the cats, he’d still be a persona of mythical proportions.. 
One of the area's most popular drummers, Kenny Horst is truly a self-made musician. he has been playing jazz gigs in this territory for many years. He has played with Jimmy McGriff, Benny Golson, Lew Tabackin, Eric Alexander, Mose Allison, etc. and the Edwin Hawkins Singers. He has also done some road work with the Harlem Review, worked a brief tour with Al Hirt, and spent three years teaming up locally with keyboardist Bobby Lyle. Since 1995 Kenny has been running the Artists Quarter and keeping the torch burning.
A free opening performance at 7:00pm by “Steve Kenny and the Bastids”, featuring Mr. Kenny on Trumpet with 16 year old Piano sensation Will Kjeer on Piano, Aaron Rupar on Drums, and Adam Tucker on Bass along with some very interesting weekly special guests. Part jam session, part stand-up comedy, and part game show, the Bastids are always a rousing warm up to the evening’s festivities. 
With his latest CD, "It’s A Blue World” on the Blujazz label, guitarist Doug MacDonald is once again presented in his original setting of the guitar trio. Throughout his recording career, starting in the 1980s (see “Discography"), MacDonald has never been afraid to try new approaches to his music, for example on the 2009 Fourth Stream, subtitled The Jazz Coalition With Strings. In between, he has been heard on Sea Breeze, Resurgent and the Cexton labels, usually in the company of such contemporaries as pianist Ross Tompkins, bassist Ray Brown and drummer, Jake Hanna.
Saxophone maestro Pete Whitman gathers nine of his most talented friends for a monthly Thursday performance at the AQ with dazzling charts and musical telepathy. Even with ten members performing, you find yourself pondering where all those perfectly-placed, sonorous pearls are coming from. When you review the roster of first-call pros on stand, you answer your own question. Their 2002 release Where’s When? received a 4-star salute from Downbeat. The all-star cast includes Laura Caviani on piano, Phil Hey on drums,Gordy Johnson on bass, Dave Hagedorn on vibes, a horn section roll call of Dave Karr, Dave Milne & Pete Whitman (saxes), Dave Jensen and Adam Rossmiller(trumpets), and Jeff Rinear (trombone). Videos: