A free opening performance at 7:00pm by “Steve Kenny and the Bastids”, featuring Mr. Kenny on Trumpet with Jesse Mueller on Piano, Aaron Rupar on Drums, and Adam Tucker on Bass along with some very interesting weekly special guests. Part jam session, part stand-up comedy, and part game show, the Bastids are always a rousing warm up to the evening’s festivities.

"Valves meet Slide" is a 2 trombone based quintet featuring Brad Bellows and Dave Graf with a great rhythm section of Peter Schimke, Graydon Peterson and Mac Santiago.

Valve trombonist and euphoniumist Brad Bellows attended  Berklee School of Music in Boston and has been a professional musician for  over 30 years.He is probably best known as the founder of the Locally Damaging  Winds, the Midwest's preeminent jazz trombone  quartet, which brings together the finest trombone talent in town. Brad has also released a duo CD with guitarist Dean Granros called “Bear's  Delight”.

Dave Graf is of the most versatile and talented trombonists in the Twin Cities, Dave has worked in a wide range of musical settings: Dixieland, straight ahead jazz, salsa and Brazilian music, big bands, pit orchestras and recordings. He  has preformed with Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton, Jack McDuff, the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, and the Woody Herman Orchestra. He has appeared on Prairie Home Companion and with the St. Paul Ragtime Orchestra, Mandala, and the Steve Wright Big Band. Dave had an eleven-year association with the late trumpeter Red Wolfe in his Port of Dixie Jazz Band and Ellington Echo's (now led by  Percy Hughes). Dave also performs with the Latin ensemble Salsa Del Soul.

Check out this video:

• Valves meet Slide "Blight of the Fumble Bee" " 5/8/2010 www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6xN7mgmbIA