Betty Carter

Thrush deluxe Lucia Newell has graced the stands of Twin Cities jazz clubs for many years. The Minneapolis native enjoyed vocal runs in NYC, Los Angeles and two years in Rio de Janeiro during her boho/wanderlust period. Back in town for good (hers and ours) since 1982, this evocative and sultry singer has released two wonderful CDs – Enter You, Enter Love (with Joan Griffith in 1995) and Steeped in Strayhorn (with Departure Point in 2004). Lucia is featured on Laura Caviani’s jazzy holiday CD, and can be heard contributing background vocals to recordings by artists including Ben Sidran, Thelma Houston, Paula Abdul and Patty Austin.

The St. Thomas Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jeff Rinear. The Instrumental Jazz Ensemble performs a range of styles, form classic Ellington to contemporary arrangements. Each semester the band performs with guest jazz artists on campus and in local venues.

Upon graduating from the Berklee College of Music, Jeff Rinear freelanced in a wide variety of musical settings, including numerous extended engagements, for four years. After a touring stint with the Artie Shaw Orchestra he settled in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area where he has backed up the likes of Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, the Temptations, Natalie Cole, and Kenny Rogers, just to mention a few. He is one of the busiest trombonists in the Twin Cities.

Critics have responded favorably to Rinear's recorded performances. A review of Pete Whitman's Departure Point in Cadence Magazine spoke quite well of his solo abilities. Reviews by both Audiophile Audition's John Henry and the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Tom Surowicz took special note of Jeff and his "dark" and "burnished" sound. In addition to Pete Whitman's Departure Point, Jeff can be heard as a feature soloist on the Pete Whitman Quintet's The Sound of Water. He is also featured as the lead trombonist and soloist for the JazzMN big band's debut recording.

Jeff also holds a bachelor of music in music education from the University of Minnesota. He is the jazz ensemble director at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Jeff is sought after as a guest artist and has appeared at nearly one hundred clinics, festivals, and camps.

 An early set at 7 p.m. features "The Tesfa Quintet" with Dejen Tesfagiorgis on Saxophones, Adam Meckler on Trumpet, Jesse Mueller on Piano, Adam Tucker on Bass, and Jaky Nyberg on Drums. Check out this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4khzBPcgo24

Gary Berg is well known to AQ fans as the master of the saxes. A soulful and hard bopping horn man, Gary is also known to take a moving turn on the chromatic harmonica.  Mr. Berg can also be heard playing on a slew of current local recordings including Pieces of Dreams by Carole Maritn, This is Organ Night by Billy Holloman, Blanket of Blue by Paula Lammers, Deja Vu by Francine Roche, and The Highest Mountain by George Avaloz.   Jonathan Francis of The MAC Weekly states:"... Gary Bergs solos are masterpieces of wit and charm, bop-driven and infused with soul ... Charlie Parker meets old school rhythm-and-blues meets 60's hard bop." Come hear Gary as he leads his quartet through the musical landscape of bebop, hard bop, and soul-jazz.   Check out this video of Gary .

One of the most sensitive and expressive pianists in town,  Chris Lomheim was a founding member of The Illicit Sextet. His own trio gigs (including the recording The Bridge) demonstrate a monster imagination and talented intensity that make him one of a kind. Check out this video of Chris at the AQ . Then come down to the club and hear why everyone digs Chris Lomheim.