Gerry Mulligan was the giant of the baritone saxophone.  The big horn presents a big challenge in the areas of speed, dexterity and grace.  Mulligan was more than equal to the task, whether playing with Miles on Birth of the Cool or leading bands on his own compositions like “Bernie's Tune.” Saxophonist Dave Karr put together a group to recreate the Gerry Mulligan Quartet sound at a Twin Cities Jazz Society Jazz From J to Z concert at the AQ. . Thier tribute CD, Mulligan Stew – Cookin' at the Hot Summer Jazz Festival, features incredible Twin Cities musicians serving up . . . oh, forget the food metaphor, the CD is great.  Dave Karr (baritone sax) is not only brave enough to take on the Mulligan songbook, he has the fluid, lyrical chops to nail it.  With Dave Graf (trombone), Phil Hey (drums), Gary Raynor (bass). 

CHeck out this video from last night:

Formerly known as "the best un-recorded band out there", The Ellen Lease/Pat Moriarty Quintet has been developing their repertoire, and thrilling club and concert audiences in the Minneapolis area for more than a decade.  Award-winning composers Ellen Lease and Pat Moriarty contribute strong, highly colored works to the bands repertoire. Lease and Moriarty have collaborated on many projects since the early 80’s.  Although comparisons to the musics of Steve Lacy, Charles Mingus, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago are well taken, this band definitely has its own sound and conception.

The band includes leaders Ellen Lease (piano) and Pat Moriarty (sax and other “aerophones”), trumpeter Kelly Rossum and bassist Chris Bates, and drummer Dave  Stanoch.

"Lease is an artist of subtlety and grace."  - Pamela Espeland, Bebopified