If musical imagination, virtuoso chops and celebratory passion (or, put another way, great jazz) is your bag, then this weekend’s shows will fill it up.  Brian Grivna and Dave Karr are pure saxophone pros who are equally stunning on a variety of other wind instruments. 

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 this video of Dave Karr performing "Zoot Walks In" at the Arists Quarter.

Brian Grivna began performing at age 12 as Young Artist clarinet soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra. He added saxophone and flute the following year and by age 15 was subbing for his teacher in commercial dance bands. After receiving his B.A. in English literature from Dartmouth College, he worked in jazz, commercial, and theater music before joining the Buddy Rich band in 1971. He toured with Rich for almost two years, recording four RCA albums and several television shows.

Accept no limitations – two seasoned standouts who push it past the brink.