CONNIE EVINGSON is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has appeared in clubs and concert halls across the U.S., in Europe and Japan, and has been a guest soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony conducted by Doc Severinsen, and the Vocalessence Music Series with Bobby McFerrin.

Connie Evingson's latest CD, "Gypsy In My Soul", brings her cool, swinging alto vocals to the Hot Club style made famous by Django Reinhardt. Her recent tours to Seattle, Sweden and Japan have transformed each venue into a Parisian café scene right out of the 1930's. Gypsy spent several weeks in the Top 20 of the jazz radio charts, increasing her already huge fan base.

“Hotter than the burning tip of a contraband Cuban cigar. Stronger than a straight shot of Havana rum. As exciting as a World Series game, with ‘El Duque’ on the mound. Explosive. Crowd pleasing. Rhythmically intense. Romantic. Dynamic. Jaw-droppingly good.”
- Tom Surrowicz, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Widely recognized as a young genius, Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera stunned Cuban audiences at the age of twelve, performing Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 with the Havana Symphony Orchestra. His love of classical music quickly combined with traditional Cuban rhythms. In his twenties, Nachito became the musical director at the famous "Tropicana" in Cuba where he continued to deepen his repertoire. In the late 1990's, Nachito joined the famed Cubanismo as its lead pianist, arranger, and musical director while cultivating a passion, talent and reputation in Latin Jazz; a striking influence in his music today.

Eclectic musician Kelly Rossum loves his adopted home of Minneapolis. “Minneapolis has one of the finest jazz scenes in the country, it’s open and supportive to all types of improvisational music,” says Kelly. It is difficult to describe his style as anything but unique; combining the traditions of swing, bop and free jazz with the innovations of electronica, ambient and trance music. His most recent album, Line, was released in 2006.

" Rossum is gifted to a philosophical level of musical understanding"
- Jazz Improv Magazine

Kelly Rossum and his bands are often featured on the Later at the Dakota series.

Debbie Duncan is the soul diva of Minnesota Jazz and has been blowing audiences away with her range and stage presemce. An absolute Minneapolis gem. She is a stunning and versatile singer who captivates audiences and musicians wherever she performs. Raised in Detroit by parents steeped in jazz, and surrounded by the Motown sound that was changing popular music, Debbie is unlimited in her musical references. On stage, she can crack you up and break your heart over the course of one verse. Her recent CD release, "I Thought About You", exudes Duncan's trademark passion and soul-drenched emotion, including a strong dose of Debbie's reflective approach to melancholy ballads. Her melt-your-heart numbers transition seamlessly to songs with raise-the-roof bravado. Debbie's been tapped to record with an array of talents including R&B/gospel star Oleta Adams, indie-popsters Iffy, B-3 titan Jimmy McGriff, rocker Bob Seger and skronk jazzers Fat Kid Wednesdays.

Bruce A. Henry was born in West Point, Mississippi, home of Howling Wolf, and was singing publicly by the age of 5 in his Baptist church on the West side of Chicago. Although he was classically trained at the Chicago Conservatory of Music, his love for improvisation proved to be a stronger calling. Influenced by Nina Simone, Al Jarreau and John Coltrane, to name a few, Bruce’s journey has resulted in an eclectic style of world influenced jazz vocals and composition. Bruce possesses a three and one-half octave range, a pure voice with versatility and depth that few can match. His passion for an ever-expanding vision, both musically and personally, is the heart of his new release Connections.
Bruce makes his home in Minneapolis, where he regularly performs at top venues and prestigious events. Despite his frenetic performing and recording schedule, Bruce is a committed educator whose “Evolution of African American Music” workshop is an inspirational presentation indeed.

Dennis Spears' voice isn't just an instrument it's a continent; he sings of the rich earth of the south where the roots of the Blues and Jazz are deeply planted, of the lucid north where freedom of expression thrives, he deftly touches on the sharp sophistication of the east coast and the eclectic energy of the west, striking a common chord among us with every turn of phrase.
"Dennis is a performer beyond compare, surrounded by the atmosphere provided by a handful of matchless musicians, he narrates a sonic history of travels down dusty side roads, nights in glimmering cities, and all of the enticing places passed through in between."
- Criterion Jazz Review

Powerhouse Davina Sowers, hit the Midwest scene in February, 2005 and she hasn't looked back since. It didn't take her long after moving here from Key West, FL to start making a name for herself. As she puts it, "I have a fan base already that doesn't realize they're fans yet!" With great vocals and piano, she commands attention on stage and leaves everyone smiling. She can belt it out with grit of Joplin, or bring down the house with melodic phrasing that reminds one of Bonnie Raitt. Sowers is a classically trained pianist with years of experience in piano performance.
Davina has already shared the stage with Little Feet, Buddy Guy, Elvin Bishop, The Lamont Cranston Band, and The Blues Brothers, among others, at venues such as the new House of Blues in Altantic City, NJ and the Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth, MN.