The cabaret king has been an assistant to Ira Gershwin, prolific recording artist, pops conductor, educator, NPR radio host, proprietor of eponymous nightclubs (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles) and popular singer/pianist of the Great American Songbook, the role he will play in Minneapolis, on the closing of a two-night engagement. (7 & 9:30 p.m. Thurs + Fri., $50-$90.) GET TICKETS HERE > >
Thanks to support from NPR’s Terry Gross, this South Carolina quintet’s self-titled debut made it to No. 1 on Billboard’s jazz chart last year. But it would be criminally limiting to consider Ranky Tanky a jazz ensemble. The genre-blending group is rootsy, old-timey yet modern, assimilating elements of jazz, blues, spirituals, R&B, folk, African music, kids’ music — you name it. It’s all good music, with former “American Idol” contestant Quiana Parler standing out on exciting and uplifting vocals. (7 p.m. Sun., $40-$45) GET TICKETS HERE > >
On her modern jazz-rock-funk fusion journey, the former 3rdEyeGirl guitarist has put together two bands — one in her home base of Minneapolis and another for East Coast gigs. This time, she mashes up the groups, bringing in New York keyboardist Jason Linder and drummer Jason Thomas plus tabla player Suphala, her secret weapon. (7 p.m. Tue., $35-$45.) GET TICKETS HERE > >
Last seen in the Twin Cities jamming with Maceo Parker, the Dutch jazz-funk saxophonist has played with a galaxy of stars, including Prince, Eurythmics, Van Morrison, Mavis Staples and Pink Floyd. In 2017, Dulfer, now 50, published her autobiography, “Sax, Candy and Rock ‘n’ Roll,” in Dutch, but she promises an English edition. (7 & 9 p.m. Thu.-next Fri., $35-$50.) GET TICKETS HERE > >
Authors: Chris Riemenschneider + Jon Bream