Two of the coolest cats in the Twin Cities jazz biz celebrate their induction into the nonagenarian club by throwing off sparks from their respective fingertips. (For those who are into the whole math thing, those fingertips cumulatively possess 1,800 years of experience.) 90 is the new hip (so to speak), and these two first-class talents make it seem as easy as a walk in the park. Jeanne Arland Peterson spent 22 years as a staff vocalist and pianist on WCCO, the Twin Cities largest radio station, all the while playing nightclubs and recording in studios. Jeanne's career has many highlights, including performances with Bob Hope, Sonny Stitt and George Benson, just to name a few. She was one of the first two women inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (the other being Judy Garland).

Cliff Brunzell is a violin firebrand known for his tenures in the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (now the Minnesota Orchestra) from 1948 to 1955 and with the Golden Strings, a venerable musical outfit formed in 1963 and still performing today. With the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Cliff performed in such far-flung locations as Baghdad and Belgrade. The Golden Strings held forth in the Flame Room at the old Radisson Hotel in Minneapolis for 18 years, playing in front of celebrities and dignitaries ranging from Yogi Berra to Nat “King” Cole (who sang, impromptu, with the Strings). Cliff is a member of the Minnesota Jazz Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in New Ulm. Happy is the birthday of two classy performers who continue to inspire generations of musicians and fans.