Live jazz to see in Minneapolis-St. Paul: This week’s picks

Are you in your car or near a radio at 8:30 CST on Friday mornings? Tune to KBEM to hear me and Mr. Jones—Jazz 88 "Morning Show" host Ed Jones—talk about these events and more. 88.5 FM in the Twin Cities, streaming live on the Web.

Last week, we mourned the end of the Clown Lounge as the weekly home of Fat Kid Wednesdays. This week, let’s celebrate the opening of Jazz Central. 

In fact, Jazz Central opened quietly last summer as an underground venue, a place where jazz artists could perform, rehearse, and teach. Now there’s a performance scheduled for most Mondays, followed by an open jam session, and the public is welcome. There’s no cover charge, but donations are accepted. Pianist Tanner Taylor and drummers Mac and Luis Santiago, who jointly run the place, want to keep it “for the cats, by the cats,” and any amount helps.

Here's the performance schedule. This coming Monday, Jazz Central hosts trombonist Jeff Rinear, whose resume includes work with the Butanes, the JazzMN Big Band, Pete Whitman’s X-Tet, and the Artie Shaw Orchestra. He’ll play with Jazz Central’s house trio: Taylor on piano, Mac Santiago on drums, Keith Boyles on bass.

8 p.m. Monday, January 17, Jazz Central, 407 Central Ave. SE (across the street from the Aveda Institute). No cover.

What else is happening this weekend and into the week? As always, plenty.

Friday, January 15: Pat Moriarty and Phil Hey at the Black Dog

Saxophonist Moriarty and drummer Hey met in 1973 and formed a band. In 1977, they released their first and only recording, Let Them All Come. They haven’t played together as a duo for many years (though fans will remember their performance at Studio Z with Ellen Lease and Adam Linz last May). Expect a night of free improvisation with all of the delicious possibilities that presents.

8 p.m. Friday, Black Dog, corner of 4th and Broadway, Lowertown, St. Paul. No cover but donations are accepted (and the right thing to do).

Charmin Michelle at Fireside Pizza

When: Monday, August 4, 2008 • Where: Fireside Pizza • Who: Charmin Michelle, voice; Rick Carlson, keyboard

I mean, look at this place. Jazz squashed in a corner, backed by cases of Coors and Leinenkugel and root beer. Who would play there? Who would go?

But this is Fireside Pizza, one of the quirkiest and most beloved little jazz venues in the Twin Cities. The Richfield pizza parlor has featured live jazz for who knows how many years—at least a dozen.

Charmin Michelle is the headliner on most Mondays and Wednesdays. She's usually accompanied by Denny Malmberg, but he's on his way home from New Orleans tonight so Rick Carlson is subbing. (That's another thing about this place: When the regulars can't be there, other artists are happy to step up.)

Tonight MPR's Maryann Sullivan is in the house with her music. When Charmin takes a break, she sings some Peggy Lee. She sounds good. Come back soon, Maryann.



Read more about Fireside at MinnPost. If you're in the area, go there some Monday or Wednesday. Have a house special with a side of meatballs.