Payne’s “Band of Gold” may have put her on the charts, but she is known for more than pop songs. She received her first professional job from Pearl Bailey, which led to her performing with Lionel Hampton, Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstine and Quincy Jones, among others. Television guest appearances and theatrical credits followed.
“ Not many jazz singers can deliver scat improvisations with the velocity and timbral control that Fitzgerald wielded while tossing off passages that suggested another language passing through her, the jazz equivalent of speaking in tongues. Ms. Payne can not only do it, but the voice she adopts for the task is strongly reminiscent of Fitzgerald’s” - New York Times review, Feb 28, 2008

This is a special taste of an exciting new recording project. Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre is one the hottest young Latin bands today. Equally at home in concert halls, jazz clubs and dance venues, the Miami-based band has become known for their incendiary, joyful performances.

Vocalist Erin Bode (pronounced BOH-DEE) has a beautiful, crystal clear voice that is too exquisite to miss. She has consistently won over audiences with her sweet personality and sincere performances. Her distinctive repertoire and crossover appeal - evoking comparisons to Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones - have proven equally at home in grand venues or relaxed clubs. The Erin Bode Group have performed nationwide at venues such as Blues Alley in Washington D.C., Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia, and at Sweet Rhythm in New York. They have also been in Europe twice, touring in Italy.
They have also opened for legendary Supremes' singer, Mary Wilson; for Michael Buble at St. Louis' newest premiere venue The Pageant; with Macy Gray on the steps of the Gateway Arch; and for Jamie Cullum at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

Two Very Special Mothers Day Performances
Mothers Day marks the return of Minnesota’s 1st family of jazz – The Peterson Family – back to the Dakota Restaurant and Jazz Club - for 2 very special and different Mothers Day Performances. The BRUNCH SHOW will feature the family matriarch - Jeanne Arland as well as Linda, Patty and (debuting as a new Peterson Mother and vocal member) Tracy Peterson - Roosa. For the EVENING SHOW - the MOTHERS will be joined by the Peterson BOYS (Paul – currently touring with Kenny Loggins, Ricky – currently touring with David Sanborn and Jason – currently touring Michael Bolton) The entire Peterson Family are the newest inductees into the Mid America Music Hall of Fame. We suggest you make your reservations for one or both shows – this is a for sure sell out and a great way to spend Mothers Day.

The Voice/Guitar Duo of Typhanie Monique and Neal Alger Perform At Dakota Jazz Club in Support of New Release In This Room.
In the five years that the duo has performed together, they've developed a repertoire that reflects their love for jazz standards, rock and pop music, and most importantly, R&B/Soul music, the flavor of which underlies every song the duo performs. Familiar tunes are recast with fresh arrangements while obscure gems are dusted off and brought to life again.

Sax master Javon Jackson is joined
by the legendary Les McCann on organ

“ ...Jackson and his band are steeped in the 21st Century Groove. It is exactly what Dr. Jazz ordered.”
- C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz
“ James Brown, Prince, Maceo Parker, and Stanley Turrentine. Javon Jackson’s current CD has tints of all of them.”
- Kenny Garrett

Composer / singer / musician Ivan Lins is a superstar in his native Brazil. His jazz classics have been recorded by many international artists including Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Diane Schuur, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Eliane Elias, Patti Austin, Toots Thielemans, Take 6, Lee Ritenour, David Benoit, Carlos do Carmo, Mark Murphy, Dave Grusin, Sérgio Mendes, Michael Buble and countless others.

No Brazilian composer, with the exception of Antonio Carlos Jobim, has had more songs recorded in the U.S.

Bobby Lyle is a flexible pianist and keyboardist, who has long straddled the boundaries between straight ahead and more commercial forms of jazz. He grew up in Minneapolis and moved to Los Angeles where he quickly got a job with Sly and the Family Stone. He has also recorded and toured with George Benson, Phyllis Hyman, Bette Midler, Al Jarreau and Anita Baker. Bobby remains a highly versatile and valuable keyboardist, song writer, producer, arranger, musical director and a world class performer. He has released fifteen solo albums including his newest recording “Hands On”. Patty and the TC Jammers are very excited to play with Bobby Lyle for this event.

With drummer Scott Amendola and bassist Devin Hoff
Wilco’s lead guitar player is one of the most original, versatile and imaginative guitarists working today. “Cline’s playing channels the spirit of Coltrane with a rare intensity, which seems to spring from the same well Jimi Hendrix would have drawn from had he survived to realize his post-rock aspirations.”
- SF Weekly

“ The World’s Most Dangerous Guitarist” - Jazz Times

If you’ve seen a Buckwheat show, you know what to expect: rocking, stomping, good time Creole party music. If you haven’t seen Buckwheat Zydeco live, you’re missing one of the music world’s most exciting and fun performers. STANLEY DURAL JR., aka Buckwheat Zydeco, is out to prove that he’s thecurrent reigning King of Zydeco.

The duo essentially had two careers: one as a successful writing and producing team and the other as singers and performers themselves. They started their career in the 1960s, writing for artists such as Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. Joining the Motown staff in 1967, they wrote and/or produced all but one of the late 1960s singles Marvin Gaye recorded.

Jazz titans Mike Stern and the Yellowjackets join forces for a historic collaboration that harkens back to the roots of the band.

“With voice, words, and piano, Patricia Barber delivers intelligence and insouciance. She is a singular jazz singer and pianist, but for the last few years it is her songwriting that has been attracting big attention. In concert, she confi des by whispering a song of sweet nothings into the listener’s ear, then surprises with a rock-edged and trashy song about a one-night stand. She comes across more street-smart than book-smart.” - Patricia Barber Press Package

An eight-time W.C. Handy “Best Blues Instrumentalist - Piano” award nominee, Henry Butler knows no limitations. Although blinded by glaucoma since birth, Butler is also a world class photographer with his work displayed at exhibitions throughout the United States. Playing piano since the age of six, Butler is a master of musical diversity. Combining the percussive jazz piano playing of McCoy Tyner and the New Orleans style playing of Professor Longhair through his classically trained wizardry, Butler continues to craft a sound uniquely his own. A rich amalgam of jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues and R&B influences, his music is as excitingly eclectic as that of his New Orleans birthplace.

When the rich walking bass lines carry through the crowd at the next Barbara Dennerlein performance, don’t bother craning your neck to see who’s standing behind the upright. You’re better off looking down at Dennerlein’s feet, fl ying across the pedals as her hands peel off blistering solos. “When she puts it altogether - both hands and feet moving simultaneously with mind-boggling independence, cross-weaving melodies that never loose either their logic or their grit - you cant’ help wondering: How did this fräulein get so funky?” - Harpers magazine

The Escovedo Family is one of the most versatile and gifted families worldwide. Their amazing talents crosses cultural and musical barriers each time they perform from the Northern California Bay Areas, to the island of Venice Italy. Native Californian Pete Escovedo discovered and cultivated a love and passion for music, which soon led him to embrace Latin jazz and pass it on to his sons and daughters as his father did for him.
Today, the Escovedo Family leads one of the top orchestra’s in the country, performing their own unique brand of Latin jazz.

Orchestra (formerly Orchestre) Baobab was the premiere African band in the 1970s, deftly blending Afro-Cuban, Pachanga and Caribbean rhythms and melodies. They released 20 albums and were known across the world, only to break up in the mid-1980s. Then in 2001, their long-lost record Pirates Choice was released in Europe, and garnered so much praise and critical acclaim that Orchestra Baobab came out of retirement.