Prepare to be amazed

It looks like 2024 is starting with an enormous bang considering quite a couple of top jazz artists coming to town, especially on the one-and-only Dakota in downtown Minneapolis (dakotacooks.com). 

First, the Blue Note Records eighty fifth Anniversary Tour, which kicked off on January 18, makes a stop within the Twin Cities on the Dakota on Saturday, January 27. They’ve a 35-date tour. 

Yes, the legacy of the “Finest in Jazz since 1939” lives on with an all-star collective that features pianist Gerald Clayton, vibraphonist Joel Ross, drummer Kendrick Scott, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, and bassist Matt Brewer. 

Clayton, a six-time Grammy-nominated composer and bandleader, leads the band as musical director and pianist. The last time I witnessed his artistry up close and private was when he played together with Charles Lloyd. 

Ross and Wilkins aren’t any strangers to Minneapolis. Each recently performed here within the Mini-Apple on the Walker Art Center. A Houston native, Scott has also performed and toured with Lloyd, amongst others like Terence Blanchard and Kurt Elling. 

“Blue Note has been such a beautiful home for the community, for incredible musicians, for creativity, for all these years,” says Clayton. “You may’t help but take into consideration all those masters, all those heroes that you just’ve grown up listening to. To get a probability to pay tribute and take a look at to hold a few of that essence forward is actually just an honor.” 

This Blue Note Quintet will not be to be missed as they honor the label’s wealthy history and are among the many current roster of artists filled with great promise for the longer term of jazz. Who knows, perhaps there’ll be a live recording released afterward? 

There’s a practice of rising stars from the Blue Note roster celebrating the label’s legacy. Some may recall The Blue Note 7, for instance. 

Also making her way back to the Twin Cities and Dakota audiences is vocalist, composer and bandleader Cecile McLorin Salvant. She recently performed on the Walker Art Center as well. Salvant returns to the Dakota on Sunday, January 28. 

Her recent album, “Melusine,” is as she describes it, a combination of originals and interpretations of songs dating way back to the twelfth century, mostly sung in French together with Occitan, English, and Haitian Kreyol. 

Melusine (Nonesuch/Warner) is nominated for a 2024 Grammy within the Best Jazz Vocal Album category. I once caught her on the Dakota with pianist Aaron Goldberg, which was a treat. She’ll little doubt stun music lovers along with her one-of-a-kind artistry. 

Next up, on February 6 on the Dakota, is the Joshua Redman Group featuring vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa. As a part of the “Where Are We” tour, Redman, a saxophonist who made his debut on the Blue Note label together with his recent album titled “where are we,” will take listeners on a musical journey across the USA—every track (excluding the title track at the top) references a city or geographic location.  

Redman references Minneapolis on the brand new album with the primary track, “After Minneapolis (face toward mo[u]rning).” On this same track, he also references the George Floyd killing with lyrics he wrote that Cavassa sings. 

Within the liner notes, Redman explains, “On one level, this an album ‘about’ America—directly a celebration and a critique—but it is usually, to various degrees, a ballads album, a standards album, an album of romantic longing, an album of social reflection, an album of melodic invention, an album of improvisational adventure, an album of mash-ups, maybe even a tribute album of sorts.” 

The remainder of the personnel for this album include pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Joe Sanders, and drummer Brian Blade. Plus, providing additional instrumentation for the album is Kurt Rosenwinkel on guitar, Peter Bernstein on guitar, Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Joel Ross on vibes, and Cavassa also plays guitar. 

My favorite track on the album is “Do You Know What It Means to Miss Latest Orleans” featuring Payton. Redman and Payton have played and recorded together up to now they usually sound great together now. 

Other live music events for February are coming up in downtown St. Paul. 

Jamecia Bennett and Friends: A Night of Jazz, Blues, and a complete lotta soul is occurring on Friday, February 23 on the Ordway (Ordway.org, or call 651-224-4222). 

The Twin Cities Jazz Festival is showcasing its Winter Jazz Fest on February 24 with featured headliner Cuban pianist Jorge Luis Pacheco. Concert events happen at Park Square Theatre and k.j.’s hideaway. For more details about tickets and all of the fest performers, visit twincitiesjazzfestival.com.