Pianist Joey Alexander with bassist Kris Funn and drummer Jonathan Barber

What is “Sitting-In”? Sitting in is not the same as a “jam session”. A musician’s definition of “sitting in” is to participate in a working group, as a guest, usually to play a couple of songs. This usually occurs at the invitation of someone in the band. This is how Jazz Musicians typically audition and […]

Joey has been widely regarded as one of the most highly skilled pianists and thoughtful improvisers in jazz. On his seventh album, 2023’s Continuance, Indonesia-born pianist, composer, and bandleader Joey Alexander has far surpassed his earlier incarnations. Here, he’s now comfortable in his new identity as a composer-pianist of fertile imagination and emotional depth.

Joey has been widely regarded as one of the most highly skilled pianists and thoughtful improvisers in jazz. On his seventh album, 2023’s Continuance, Indonesia-born pianist, composer, and bandleader Joey Alexander has far surpassed his earlier incarnations. Here, he’s now comfortable in his new identity as a composer-pianist of fertile imagination and emotional depth.

Minneapolis-based jazz pianist and composer, Mary Louise Knutson (k’NOOT-son), has been called "one of the most exciting artists to happen to jazz piano in quite some time." Her warm, inviting tone, broad range of emotional expression, and distinctive compositions have brought her much recognition on the national music scene.

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, three-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee regularly performs concertos with symphony orchestras and sits in with members of the Grateful Dead. However, the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet.

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, three-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee regularly performs concertos with symphony orchestras and sits in with members of the Grateful Dead. However, the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet.

Colonel Mustard's Mechanical Orchestra is a brass band playing the music of Paul Fonfara. Think Duke Ellington in an episode of Twin Peaks, the Johnny Quest theme played by Tom Waits, with some Ennio Morricone and Goran Bregovic thrown in. We play tangos, mariachi, klezmer, Balkans brass, and vintage big band jazz sounds. Some tunes […]

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, three-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee regularly performs concertos with symphony orchestras and sits in with members of the Grateful Dead. However, the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet.

David Mitchell is a working jazz musician, music educator, and former tech business owner. His Youth In Jazz non-profit runs the Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands program. It also sponsors free jazz concerts by professional musicians in schools and community centers. Tonight David will perform tasteful jazz standards with a wonderful group of musicians. David Mitchell […]

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, three-time Grammy winner and Tony nominee regularly performs concertos with symphony orchestras and sits in with members of the Grateful Dead. However, the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet.

Over nearly two decades, the members of the GRAMMY-nominated band Kneebody have created a genre and style all their own. Their sound is explosive rock energy and high-level nuanced chamber ensemble playing set within the frames of highly wrought compositions that are balanced with adventurous improvising. Kneebody is keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, saxophonist […]

From swing to jazz to bottleneck blues to folk, Grammy-winning acoustic guitarist Pat Donohue plays it all. He does this with a flourish of artistry and melodic inspiration. Chet Atkins called Pat one of the greatest finger pickers in the world today; Leo Kottke called his playing “haunting.”

Bryan Nichols is a pianist, composer, and educator based in Minneapolis. Often found playing jazz and improvised music, but at home in a variety of musical worlds, he leads and composes for his own trio, quintet, and nonet in addition to performing, recording, and touring with a variety of forward-thinking artists, and is a regular […]

Over nearly two decades, the members of the GRAMMY-nominated band Kneebody have created a genre and style all their own. Their sound is explosive rock energy and high-level nuanced chamber ensemble playing set within the frames of highly wrought compositions that are balanced with adventurous improvising. Kneebody is keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, saxophonist […]

“Hot Club” Quartet, a Twin Cities-based swing Jazz band, performs a timeless jazz tradition commonly known as Gypsy Jazz, a blend of traditional Roma music and swing jazz. Originating in Paris in the early 1930s, the ‘Hot Club’ jazz tradition brings back happy memories of the swing jazz era, and for all an opportunity to […]

St. Olaf Jazz I is the premier large jazz ensemble at St. Olaf College. Composed of 21 members, the award-winning band is led by Dr. Joseph L. Jefferson. The jazz program at St. Olaf is home to two ensembles that perform both on and off-campus concerts every academic year. These versatile groups perform in a […]

A three-time Emmy Award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer; T. Mychael Rambo is a long-standing Twin Cities arts community pillar. T. Mychael has made an indelible mark in the Twin Cities. Here, he has performed principal roles at such theaters as the Guthrie, Ordway Theatre, Illusion Theatre, and Mixed Blood. Also, Park Square […]

Performing the music of: Sonny Clark, Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter, Lee Konitz, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Fats Waller and Sam Rivers.   Featuring:   Brad Holden - alto sax  Phil Aaron - piano  Michael Gold - bass Greg Schutte - drums 

A showcase of great works that were inspired by the legendary guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Ryan Picone: Guitar Tessa Nichols Meade: Violin Ian Stenlund: Guitar Taylor Smith: Bass Ryan Picone Quartet is a group that was put together to showcase the original compositions of Ryan Picone. The music has been written throughout different time periods in his […]

A Night of Great Big Band Jazz! Join the Totino-Grace Jazz Department for their spring jazz department concert. These talented students will be performing selections based on a wide variety of big band jazz music. Members and directors of the TG Jazz Department are excited to be back at Crooners for a 2nd year - […]

Minneapolis-based jazz pianist and composer, Mary Louise Knutson (k’NOOT-son), has been called "one of the most exciting artists to happen to jazz piano in quite some time." Her warm, inviting tone, broad range of emotional expression, and distinctive compositions have brought her much recognition on the national music scene.

It all began with an impromptu thirty second a cappella clip of “Over the Rainbow.” Now, Stella Cole has become a global viral sensation. She does what she has been passionate about her whole life – singing songs from the Great American Songbook.

Gypsy Mania “Hot Club” Quartet, a Twin Cities-based swing Jazz band, performs a timeless jazz tradition commonly known as Gypsy Jazz, a blend of traditional Roma music and swing jazz. Originating in Paris in the early 1930s, the ‘Hot Club’ jazz tradition brings back happy memories of the swing jazz era, and for all an opportunity to nod, […]

Trombonist Pete Enblom and his sextet play some classics and some arrangements.   Featuring: Steve Wagner - trumpet Joe Mayo - saxophone Pete Enblom - trombone Ethan Ostrow - piano Dan Carpel - bass Mac Santiago - drums

It all began with an impromptu thirty second a cappella clip of “Over the Rainbow.” Now, Stella Cole has become a global viral sensation. She does what she has been passionate about her whole life – singing songs from the Great American Songbook.