The Artists' Quarter Jazz Club: Live Music in Downtown Saint Paul, MN

Peru native Andrés Prado is a guitarist of exceptional skill. The joy and emotion expressed through his music is something that can’t be taught – he is a special artist not to be missed. Andrés has studied jazz and classical guitar at conservatories in Lima, Buenos Aires and at Trinity College of Music in London. Mixing the styles of artists like Elvin Jones and Miles Davis with his repertoire of Andean and Amazon melodies and Afro-Peruvian rhythms, the sound is exhilarating. He’s bringing a fresh approach to these shows, weaving the rhythms and sounds of Peruvian shamanic chants into his instrumental jazz oeuvre (possibly the only example of this sound out there). Andrés lived in the Twin Cities from 2005 - 2007.

Here is a video of the Andrés Prado Quintet from last night:

Here is a link to a video of the Andrés Prado Quintet at his previous date at the AQ on July 14, 2007 www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXRsYn2iTIA

Thursday, May 29, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet (9 pm, $8)

Wednesday, 28 May 2008

Saxophone maestro Pete Whitman gathers nine of his most talented friends for a monthly Thursday performance at the AQ. This month, the “little big band” moves in for a weekend of 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 & Kelly Rossum (trumpets), and Jeff Rinear (trombone). Check out his video of the X-tet , or this one of the X-tet playing Whitman's "Hmm" .

Wednesday,May 28 How Birds Work (9 pm, $5)

Tuesday, 27 May 2008

Fiery chops, instinctual communal listening skills, sprawling musical vocabulary, dynamics in flight -- that's How Birds Work. On their CD "Live at the Artists' Quarter," HBW go from hard bop explorations to fusion-istic workouts to elegant melodicism on tracks like Coltrane's "Equinox," Wayne Shorter's "Footprints," and Peter Schimke's moving original "Vow."

A recent Mpls/St. Paul magazine feature article described the sound as "swinging with lovely aggression -- and never swirling among the musicians for their own benefit, but constantly heading straight toward audience." Dean Granros (guitar), Peter Schimke (keyboards), Chris Bates (bass), Kenny Horst (drums).Check out this video of How Birds Work or this one. Then come hear this great band live, you won't regret it!

Tuesday, May 27, SWMT&M (7 pm)/ Maurice Jacox with the Tuesday Night Band (9 pm, $5)

Monday, 26 May 2008

The Artists' Quarter's hottest night opens with an exciting band featuring Zach W. Schmidt, Cory J. Wong, Cassie Meyer, Patricio Toledo and Dan M. Musselman starting at 7:00 P.M. These young, talented musicians provide the perfect prelude to the AQ's longest standing engagement. Check out a video or this more recent one .

Then, for the main event sample some 'organic cookin' with Maurice Jacox and the Tuesday Night Band. Hammond B-3 organ lovers have been flocking to the AQ on Tuesday nights for over a decade to get a soulful dose of funky jazz. Lots of guests have sat in with the Tuesday Night Band (Joey DeFrancesco, Steve Miller, et al), so you never know when you might miss something special. Truth is, every Tuesday is special at the AQ, but when you can put a guest on your calendar, why not? The mighty Maurice Jacox, singer & sax man with the legendary Willie & The Bees and other seminal Twin Cities groups, makes an appearance with the B-3 fueled, funky soul-jazz lads of Tuesday nights. The Tuesday Night Band features "Downtown" Bill Brown (Hammond B-3), Billy Franze (guitar), and Kenny Horst (drums) ! Nothing but a party every Tuesday night. Check out these videos: Two tunes from the TNB - then come on down and join the fun. It's nothing but a party every Tuesday night. There's no stopping the groove.

Monday, May 26, Green (7:30 pm)/Open Poetry (9 pm)

Sunday, 25 May 2008

Green, featuring Rob Dewey on piano, Rich Casey on bass and Spencer McGinnis on drums, has been holding down early Monday nights at the AQ for over five years.

Open mic is really open. Come do your thing - read your poetry, sing, tell jokes whatever. Your 15 minutes of fame awaits. No cover charge.

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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 21:40

© 2010 The Artists' Quarter Jazz Club: Live Music in Downtown Saint Paul, MN, Thumbnail photos © Howard A. Gitelson
Additional AQ images © Howard A. Gitelson Don Berryman and Andrea Canter as indicated.
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