Hard bop tenor sax player Eric Alexander, named 2003 artist of the year by JazzWeek, has garnered a large following with his warm, finely burnished tone and a robust melodic and harmonic imagination.  Eric himself has lost track of the number of recordings that feature his tenor magic as a sideman – but the number is well North of 70.  It's his role as bandleader, however, that has fans and musicians effusing about an under-40 artist who has established his own voice on the horn and become one of the brightest stars in jazz today.  His recent CD release on HighNote is called It's All in the Game.  Owen McNally of the Hartford Courant says “you immediately hear what makes Alexander the conqueror of mellow ballads and smoking up-tempo fare.  His strong sense of swing comes shining through right from the opening track....”  Eric is equally bold on standards, Monk workouts, original bop and Latin jazz. Click here to make reservations now .

Hard bop tenor sax player Eric Alexander, named 2003 artist of the year by JazzWeek, has garnered a large following with his warm, finely burnished tone and a robust melodic and harmonic imagination.  Eric himself has lost track of the number of recordings that feature his tenor magic as a sideman – but the number is well North of 70.  It's his role as bandleader, however, that has fans and musicians effusing about an under-40 artist who has established his own voice on the horn and become one of the brightest stars in jazz today.  His recent CD release on HighNote is called It's All in the Game.  Owen McNally of the Hartford Courant says “you immediately hear what makes Alexander the conqueror of mellow ballads and smoking up-tempo fare.  His strong sense of swing comes shining through right from the opening track....”  Eric is equally bold on standards, Monk workouts, original bop and Latin jazz. Click here to make reservations now .

• Pete Whitman X-tet, "Hmmm". March 27, 2008 www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKd1ohRCUq8
• Pete Whitman X-tet, March 27, 2008 www.youtube.com/watch?v=nobm9Je1g_c

For over 50 years, saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist/composer Dave Karr has been performing with many of the best national and Twin Cities jazz artists.  The NYC native grew up seeing the great jazz legends like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, and he got the bug.  Karr moved to the Twin Cities in his twenties, and has long established himself as one of the best-loved characters in the jazz scene. Whether he’s in the orchestra of a touring Broadway hit, providing flourishes to the shows of top Twin Cities singers, leading his Gerry Mulligan tribute band on baritone sax or fronting his own quartet, Karr is a standout.  “[Dave's] fluid style is both exciting and elegant,”  JazzPolice.com. Check out these videos

• Dave Karr Quartet, "Relaxing at Camarillo" 5/7/09 www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqbBOPIEm7o 
• Dave Karr Quartet, "Tangerine"11/26/08 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieb4TLK68oY
• Dave Karr on "Zoot walks In", April 2007  www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBQk6KLa36w

An free opening set at 7 p.m. features the Tesfa Combo and an open jam session. The Tesfa Combo features Dejen Tesfagiorgis on Saxophones, Steve Kenny on Trumpet, David Feily on Guitar/Trumpet, Jesse Mueller on Piano, Adam Tucker on Bass, and Aaron Rupar/Scorry Horey on Drums.

Dejen Tesfagiorgis also leads these weekly jam sessions, bring your axe and sit it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=4khzBPcgo24