Nachito Herrera Solo
April 13 | 7pm
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Nachito is one of the world’s great Cuban pianists. His jaw dropping technique and the rich, powerful soulfulness of his playing blend in what is often an amazing display of musical power and emotion. Combining Western Classical music with traditional Cuban rhythms, Herrera has been at the forefront of an exciting renaissance in Cuban music. While in his twenties, Herrera took the job of Musical Director at the famous “Tropicana” nightclub in Cuba, playing every night and deepening his repertoire. He spent the late 1990s touring with Cubanissmo, serving as lead pianist, arranger, and musical director and touring the world. Since moving to the Twin Cities in 2001, Herrera has been an invigorating presence in the music community, and a fixture here at the Dakota. His most recent recordings, Live at the Dakota, Vol 1 and 2, are available here.
Donna Grantis
April 18 | 7pm & 9pm
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Canadian guitarist Donna Grantis is best known for performing with Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL and the New Power Generation. Continuing in that spirit, but now with a plethora of knowledge and experience gained from working alongside the greatest musical mentor of our time, she is ready to debut her newest musical project as a bandleader. Rooted in blues, with a rock edge and a jazz sensibility, Grantis cites Prince, Hendrix, Jeff Beck and John Scofield as prominent influences. With a passion for music produced during Miles Davis’ “Electric Period” from the 1970s, Grantis seeks to create an exploratory musical platform, both ethereal and groove based.
Davina & The Vagabonds
May 4 & 5 | 7pm
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Since exploding onto the scene in 2005, Davina and the Vagabonds have grown from a down-and-dirty blues band into one of the most exciting acoustic ensembles on the international stage. This high-energy quintet has established itself with a stellar live show, a professional look, and good old-fashioned hard work. With influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits, the band draws from the last 100 years of American music, and is converting audiences one show at a time.
PJ Morton
May 10 | 7pm
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PJ Morton is a GRAMMY, Stellar & Dove Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, & multi-instrumentalist & Maroon 5 keyboardist. In addition to boasting collaborations with Adam Levine, Lil Wayne, & Busta Rhymes, his critically acclaimed 2013 offering, New Orleans, earned a 2014 GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best R&B Song” for “Only One” [feat. Stevie Wonder]. In addition to figuring prominently on Maroon 5’s multiplatinum Overexposed and V, Morton has written and produced for everybody from BJ The Chicago Kid, Jermaine Dupri, and Jazmine Sullivan to Monica and India.Arie. Among many other accolades, he has published his literary debut Why Can’t I Sing About Love? in 2009, and become music director for Solange following the release of her critically acclaimed opus A Seat At The Table.
Ivan Lins
June 10 | 7pm
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Latin Grammy award winner Ivan Lins is one of Brazil’s most celebrated artists. His compositions have been recorded by countless international jazz and pop luminaries, making him the second most recorded Brazilian composer (behind Antonio Carlos Jobim) in history. Ivan Lins’s songs have been recorded hundreds of times, by artists like Quincy Jones, George Benson, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen MacRae, Barbra Streisand and many more.
John Pizzarelli
July 24 | 7pm & 9pm
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World-renowned jazz guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli has been called “hip with a wink” by Town & Country, “madly creative” by the Los Angeles Times. Using performers like Nat “King” Cole, Frank Sinatra and Joao Gilberto and the songs of composers from Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin to James Taylor, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Lennon & McCartney as touchstones, John Pizzarelli has established himself as one of the prime interpreters of the Great American Songbook and beyond, bringing to his work the cool jazz flavor of his brilliant guitar playing and singing. He has been credited by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.”
The Motels feat. Martha Davis
July 26 | 7pm
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Whether you were there when The Motels first burst onto the music scene, or are just discovering them now, 2014 became a year of rediscovery for this iconic artist, which saw more Motels shows than in any year since 1985. Martha began writing songs at the age of 15 and has always known that the songs she writes are her mark. Born and raised in Berkeley, California, she moved to Los Angeles in the early ‘70s, along with the first incarnation of The Motels. The band reformed in 1978 and was immediately signed to Capitol Records. The current band line-up includes bass player Brady Wills, Marty Jourard on saxophone and piano, Nicholas Johns on keyboards, and former Gnarls Barkley touring band members Eric Gardner and Clint Walsh, on drums and lead guitar, respectively.
AT VIEUX CARRÉ
John Raymond’s Real Feels Trio
May 16 | 8pm
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Labeled “a prepossessing young trumpet player…” (New York Times), John Raymond has been making a name for himself as one of the most promising, up-and-coming jazz musicians in New York. Originally from Minneapolis, MN, John has performed with some of most well-respected names in jazz music including Billy Hart, Orrin Evans, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ethan Iverson, and Linda Oh among others. John was awarded the 2015 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award presented by ASCAP, and has recently been a featured artist at the FONT Festival and NYC Winter Jazz Festival. He has also performed at notable events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival and on NPR’s Toast of the Nation New Year’s Eve celebration, as well as recorded with Grammy-nominated singer Sara Bareilles.