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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260101T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260101T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251125T192624Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251201T062438Z
UID:10003204-1767294000-1767301200@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Davina and The Vagabonds
DESCRIPTION:“Davina and the Vagabonds combat heartache with sugar and sass.” – Downbeat\n  \nDavina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene. Their high-energy live shows feature level-A musicianship\, sharp-dressed professionalism and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. Also\, their influences range from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits. Moreover\, the band is converting audiences one show at a time\, from Vancouver to Miami and across Europe. \nMuch like the music\, the story spurns era\, expectation and classification. The often unbelievable\, sometimes harrowing\, and wholly inspiring journey of Davina Sowers gave birth to her eponymous band in 2004. As the tale goes\, she grew up in the economically depressed Allegheny town of Altoona\, PA. She now describes the town as “awesome in the industrial era\, but horrible for high school.” Then\, she was adopted by her stepfather when he was in his 80s; he passed when she was just 13. Through him and his Edison phonograph\, she first heard the music that would start her journey. For example\, The Ink Spots\, Sidney Bechet\, Louis Armstrong\, Louis Prima\, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and many others. “Great man. He was my angel and still is\,” she says. \nOn her own\, she vividly recalls hours in front of the record player at home. There\, she religiously spun Led Zeppelin\, Black Sabbath and Simon and Garfunkel records belonging to her folk singer mom. \nTo this day\, Davina still refers to music as “my first and eternal love.” Despite early dalliances with classical piano and guitar\, she developed a heavy drug habit in high school. Further\, this morphed into heroin dependency\, left her homeless\, sent her in and out of jail and brought on all manner of trouble. Kicking dope on the streets\, she “got clean\, started the band and worked [her] ass off every day since.” \nRecommended for fans of Pokey LaFarge\, Preservation Hall Jazz Band\, The Hot Sardines and Squirrel Nut Zippers.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/davina-and-the-vagabonds-jan1-2026/
CATEGORIES:Blues,Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/700x400-Davina.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260102T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260102T203000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20250916T193658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T224637Z
UID:10003081-1767378600-1767385800@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
DESCRIPTION:“complex yet danceable beats… dirty blues\, spacey soul” – Glide\n  \nKDTU has electrified audiences around the world for over twenty-five years. They have played the fields of Naeba in Japan at the infamous Fuji Rock Festival. Also\, the hallowed stage of Madison Square Garden\, joining the Dave Matthews Band and The Godfather of Soul\, James Brown. Further\, he performed as Sexual Chocolate (Karl was in the original band in the movie Coming To America and its sequel) at the Outside Lands Music festival in San Francisco. And\, they were the first late night act at the inaugural Bonnaroo festival. KDTU has been a dominating force in music for nearly three decades. \nAll-night\, sold-out concerts during Jazzfest in New Orleans have featured sit-ins by legends like Lenny Kravitz and Steve Winwood. (Karl has recorded and toured with both!) Also\, avant-garde luminaries like Marc Ribot and Boyfriend. Rolling Stones bandmates Chuck Leavell and Bernard Fowler have also joined onstage and on record. There\, Karl replaced the great Bobby Keys as saxophonist in 2014. Denson has also worked with Lukas Nelson\, John Oates\, Michael Franti\, Warren Haynes\, Ivan Neville\, and Anders Osborne. Additionally\, Big Daddy Kane\, Roy Hargrove\, Maceo Parker\, Fred Wesley\, Joshua Redman\, Marcus King\, and Bernie Worrell\, among others. \nVery few concertgoers have been untouched by the Tiny Universe live. They toured the country with the Allman Brothers\, My Morning Jacket\, D’Angelo\, The Roots\, and Public Enemy. Also\, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead\, Parliament Funkadelic\, Slightly Stoopid\, and Widespread Panic. In addition to KDTU\, Karl Denson aka “Diesel” is a founding member of the seminal groove act The Greyboy Allstars. \nRecommended for fans of Parliament Funkadelic\, Galactic\, Greyboy Allstars and Soulive.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/karl-densons-tiny-universe-jan2-2026/2026-01-02/1/
CATEGORIES:Jazz,R&B/Soul,Rock/Pop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/700x400-KarlDensonsTinyUniverse.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260102T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260102T230000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20250916T193658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T224637Z
UID:10003082-1767387600-1767394800@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
DESCRIPTION:“complex yet danceable beats… dirty blues\, spacey soul” – Glide\n  \nKDTU has electrified audiences around the world for over twenty-five years. They have played the fields of Naeba in Japan at the infamous Fuji Rock Festival. Also\, the hallowed stage of Madison Square Garden\, joining the Dave Matthews Band and The Godfather of Soul\, James Brown. Further\, he performed as Sexual Chocolate (Karl was in the original band in the movie Coming To America and its sequel) at the Outside Lands Music festival in San Francisco. And\, they were the first late night act at the inaugural Bonnaroo festival. KDTU has been a dominating force in music for nearly three decades. \nAll-night\, sold-out concerts during Jazzfest in New Orleans have featured sit-ins by legends like Lenny Kravitz and Steve Winwood. (Karl has recorded and toured with both!) Also\, avant-garde luminaries like Marc Ribot and Boyfriend. Rolling Stones bandmates Chuck Leavell and Bernard Fowler have also joined onstage and on record. There\, Karl replaced the great Bobby Keys as saxophonist in 2014. Denson has also worked with Lukas Nelson\, John Oates\, Michael Franti\, Warren Haynes\, Ivan Neville\, and Anders Osborne. Additionally\, Big Daddy Kane\, Roy Hargrove\, Maceo Parker\, Fred Wesley\, Joshua Redman\, Marcus King\, and Bernie Worrell\, among others. \nVery few concertgoers have been untouched by the Tiny Universe live. They toured the country with the Allman Brothers\, My Morning Jacket\, D’Angelo\, The Roots\, and Public Enemy. Also\, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead\, Parliament Funkadelic\, Slightly Stoopid\, and Widespread Panic. In addition to KDTU\, Karl Denson aka “Diesel” is a founding member of the seminal groove act The Greyboy Allstars. \nRecommended for fans of Parliament Funkadelic\, Galactic\, Greyboy Allstars and Soulive.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/karl-densons-tiny-universe-jan2-2026/2026-01-02/2/
CATEGORIES:Jazz,R&B/Soul,Rock/Pop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/700x400-KarlDensonsTinyUniverse.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260105T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260105T220000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251126T184939Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251201T062429Z
UID:10003210-1767639600-1767650400@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Southside Aces: A Night in New Orleans
DESCRIPTION:“flawlessly replicate the sound of classic New Orleans” — Prairie Uprising\n  \nFor over two decades\, Southside Aces have been playing the repertoire of the Jazz Age greats and beyond. Here\, they play the early New Orleans of Jelly Roll Morton and the Chicago joys of Louis Armstrong. The evocative compositions of the young Duke Ellington to the barrel house sounds of Preservation Hall. Even the early rock and roll of Fats Domino! Their belief in the contemporary vitality of New Orleans music can be heard in their eighth album\, 2022’s Minneapolis Bump. Here\, this album contains fifteen originals in the traditional style. The Aces will release two more albums in 2026\, including Les Oignons\, featuring the music of Sidney Bechet. You hear it all when you’re in front of the Aces. Moreover\, treat yourself to a century’s worth of New Orleans jazz. \nIn New Orleans\, the jazz tradition thrives off a wide array of styles. Here\, the Aces possess a diverse repertoire\, with a roll call that includes jazz giants. For example\, Louis Armstrong\, Jelly Roll Morton\, Hoagy Carmichael\, Duke Ellington\, and Bix Beiderbecke. Additionally\, Crescent City classics like “Bourbon Street Parade”\, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee”\, and “St. James Infirmary”. Also\, they cover the funky rhythms of brass band powerhouses like “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” and “Palm Court Strut”! \n“Some 1500 miles from New Orleans and the Mardi Gras\, and what do you think? It’s bouncing around the Mississippi River up here close to the Northern Star.” — Leigh Kamman\, The Jazz Image \n“The performers are virtuosi and flawlessly replicate the sound of classic New Orleans… The concert was wonderful and demonstrates the continued vitality of this sort of music.” — John Beckmann\, Prairie Uprising \nRecommended for fans of Preservation Hall Jazz Band\, Tuba Skinny\, Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller. \n📸: Paul Udstrand
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/southside-aces-a-night-in-new-orleans-jan5-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/700x400-SouthsideAces.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260108T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260108T220000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251113T212641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T224650Z
UID:10003182-1767898800-1767909600@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Lucia Sarmiento
DESCRIPTION:“a modern jazz sound unbound by geography\, genre\, or convention” – Jazz World\n  \nOn her remarkable debut album\, 2025’s Escape\, Peruvian-American saxophonist/composer Lucia Sarmiento emerges as a rising star in modern jazz. Here\, she delivers playful yet intricate melodies. “When I play the saxophone\, I love that feeling of danger\,” says Sarmiento. With a powerful tenor sound and an effervescent personality\, she explains\, “I’m drawn to music filled with intensity and risk that captures every fiber of your being in the moment; that’s why I love jazz.” \nLucia has performed on sold-out stages with international pop stars Pitbull and Karol G. Additionally\, she has also headlined jazz festivals under her own name. Her fearless approach to music and her commitment to crafting bold\, textured compositions make her an exciting new jazz voice. \n“Minneapolis raised me musically\,” she reflects. “It’s a smaller city compared to LA or NYC\, but the music scene is vibrant\, steeped in the legacy of Prince. I began performing with Prince’s long-time collaborators and Weather Report’s legendary drummer Eric Gravatt right out of college. I got to explore every genre from Minneapolis funk to brass band\, and from Motown to free jazz. What was really important was that I came to develop my own sound. At first\, it wasn’t easy to keep up with the loud drums\, distorted guitars and very experienced funk players\, so I spent lots of time working on my sound and time. I also admire how Michael Brecker\, Bob Mintzer\, and Chris Potter play with so much strength and a sense of urgency—that’s how I want to play.” \nIn recent years\, Lucia has gained a social media following of over 100k+ people. Also\, she has released educational videos in Spanish and English that provide a global perspective on jazz and saxophone. \nRecommended for fans of Chris Potter\, Michael Brecker\, Bob Mintzer and Wayne Shorter.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/lucia-sarmiento-jan8-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz,Rock/Pop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/700x400-LuciaSarmiento2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260112T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260112T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251106T221743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251202T230621Z
UID:10003173-1768244400-1768251600@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:David Binney Action Trio
DESCRIPTION:“very potent acoustic jazz… adventurous” – Jazz Times\n  \nSaxophonist David Binney stands out as one of the most prolific jazz musicians on the scene today. Here\, critics and fans acclaim him as a considerable and highly individual compositional talent. Furthermore\, Jazz Times recently picked Binney one of a handful of “players who have created an alternative jazz-scene… all of whom are playing adventurous\, original music.”  His latest project\, Action\, features the outstanding and widely popular drummer and bandleader Louis Cole\, and bassist Pera Krstajic. \nJazz fans revere Binney for his work with Gil Evans\, Maria Schneider\, Jim Hall\, Uri Caine\, Vinicius Cantuaria\, and Norah Jones. Also\, Bobby Previte\, Cecil McBee\, and countless others. Also\, David co-founded the hard-edged quintet Lost Tribe and the open-form collective quartet Lan Xang. Here\, he has recorded a dozen albums as leader or co-leader. \nAudiences have heard David’s distinctive saxophone sound and innovative compositions from New York to festivals in Europe and beyond. In addition to his extensive work as a leader\, he is in demand as a sideman. Thus\, he can be heard on records by Medeski\, Martin & Wood and Uri Caine’s Mahler Project. David has also appeared on stage with Aretha Franklin and Maceo Parker. He has produced all of his twenty-two albums and many others. There\, these include two Lost Tribe releases\, six Donny McCaslin releases and one by Scott Colley. Additionally\, David started his record label\, Mythology Records\, in 1998. David also created the Donny McCaslin group that eventually became the group on David Bowie’s record Blackstar. \nRecommended for fans of Brad Mehldau\, Rudresh Mahanthappa\, Donny McCaslin and Chris Potter.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/david-binney-action-trio-jan12-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/700x400-DavidBinney.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260113T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260113T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251216T181320Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T145857Z
UID:10003233-1768330800-1768338000@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Travis Anderson Trio: The Music of Studio Ghibli\, Disney & Pixar
DESCRIPTION:“They swing like there’s no tomorrow.” – Jazz Police\n  \nWith energy and chops to burn\, The Travis Anderson Trio brings fresh interpretations to standards and more – from Chopin to Mario Bros – they swing like there’s no tomorrow while saluting the great trios of yesterday. \nFrom Pixar to Disney to Studio Ghibli\, The Travis Anderson Trio celebrates the music of the greatest animated films ever made. With fresh takes on classics like Spirited Away\, Up\, Snow White\, Ratatouille and Howl’s Moving Castle\, this trio brings unrivaled energy to family-friendly tunes. Whether you’re 8 or 80\, there’s something here for everybody! \nTravis Anderson has been delighting audiences with his dazzling piano technique and inventive arrangements since 2003. Additionally\, he has taken his unique piano style all over the metro area and beyond. \nSteve Pikal is one of the most in-demand bassists in the region. Adept at many genres\, his joyous stage presence and buoyant playing add an exciting element to every show. \nVersatile\, dynamic\, and hard-swinging\, Nathan Norman is a first-call drummer in the Twin Cities. Also\, he has collaborated with many of the area’s finest artists\, including Bruce Henry\, Debbie Duncan\, Charmin Michelle\, and more. \nRecommended for fans of Oscar Peterson\, George Gershwin\, Art Tatum and Vince Guaraldi.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/travis-anderson-trio-the-music-of-studio-ghibli-disney-pixar-jan13-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/700x400-TravisAndersonTrioGhibliDisne.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260118T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260118T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251126T212031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251220T060541Z
UID:10003211-1768762800-1768770000@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:T. Mychael Rambo: The Message in Our Music
DESCRIPTION:“local theater legend” – Music in MN\n  \nAn evening of song\, spoken word and celebration that amplifies the powerful message of Dr. King while paying tribute to the timeless messages found in African American (“Our”) music! \nFeaturing:\nPatricia Lacy\, vocals\nTonia Hughes-Kendrick\, vocals\nMaya Marchelle\, vocals\nThomasina Petrus\, vocals \nBrian Ziemniak\, piano\nDavid Feily\, guitar\nTony Axtell\, bass\nJovon Williams\, saxophone\nDaryl Boudreaux\, percussion\nBrian Kendrick\, drums \nA three-time Emmy Award-winning actor\, vocalist\, arts educator and community organizer; T. Mychael Rambo is a long-standing Twin Cities arts community pillar. \nT. Mychael has made an indelible mark in the Twin Cities. Here\, he has performed principal roles at such theaters as the Guthrie\, Ordway Theatre\, Illusion Theatre\, and Mixed Blood. Also\, Park Square Theatre\, Ten Thousand Things\, Children’s Theatre and Minnesota Opera among others. His Penumbra Theatre credits alone include: Black Nativity\, Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope\, Dinah Was\, Last Minstrel Show\, Jitney\, Spunk\, Gem of the Ocean\, Ain’t Misbehavin\, Piano Lesson\, and Ballad of Emmett Till to name just a few. \nNationally and internationally his stage credits include Carnegie Hall and performances abroad in Africa\, Europe and South America. He has appeared in local and national television commercials. Also\, feature films (The Cure\, Justice\, Crossing the Bridge\, Wooley Boys) HBO mini-series (Laurel Avenue\, Equinox)\, and other television programming. T. Mychael is an accomplished residency artist (COMPAS\, Young Audiences\, MN State Arts Board\, VocalEssence). Further\, he is an affiliate professor in the College of Liberal Arts\, Theatre Arts and Dance at University of Minnesota. \nAs a recording artist\, Rambo has released two popular CDs. 2004’s Simply is a collection of jazz standards. 2006’s The Gift; A Christmas With Love is a selection of original and holiday classics.  \nRecommended for fans of Stevie Wonder\, Peabo Bryson\, Marvin Gaye and Vanessa Williams.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/t-mychael-rambo-the-message-in-our-music-jan18-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz,R&B/Soul
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/700x400-TMychaelRambo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260119T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260119T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251014T172903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T224658Z
UID:10003127-1768849200-1768856400@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Rebirth Brass Band
DESCRIPTION:“there is not a band on earth that is better. Stunning.” – Flea\, Red Hot Chili Peppers\n  \nFor almost four decades\, the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band has been “stunning” fans. Further\, they are loved worldwide for their fiery live shows and rich musical catalog. Their trademark sound pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition. Also\, they weave a tapestry that combines elements of jazz\, funk\, soul\, R&B. Then\, they incorporate more of the sounds from the streets they grew up on. Their sound has traveled from their legendary twenty-five-year run of Tuesday nights at the Maple Leaf to stages all over the world. Rebirth is the soundtrack of the Crescent City and her premier musical ambassador. \nRebirth was founded by brothers Phil and Keith Frazier over thirty-five years ago. They began their career playing on the sidewalks of the French Quarter and quickly landed gigs at second line parades. Those auspicious beginnings have led to thousands of shows to music aficionados everywhere\, including heads of state and royalty. \nThe band’s unique “soundtrack of New Orleans” has also garnered admiration from artists of all genres. They’ve shared the stage and collaborated with everyone from the Grateful Dead to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also\, Maceo Parker\, Green Day\, U2\, James Brown\, 311\, G-Love\, MuteMath\, Juvenile\, Train\, Big Freedia\, Ani DiFranco\, and Galactic. Further\, Allen Toussaint\, Neville Brothers\, Quincy Jones and Trombone Shorty. \nRecommended for fans of Trombone Shorty\, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band\, Kermit Ruffins and Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/rebirth-brass-band-jan19-2026/2026-01-19/1/
CATEGORIES:Jazz,R&B/Soul
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/700x400-RebirthBrassBand.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260119T210000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260119T230000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251014T172903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T224658Z
UID:10003128-1768856400-1768863600@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Rebirth Brass Band
DESCRIPTION:“there is not a band on earth that is better. Stunning.” – Flea\, Red Hot Chili Peppers\n  \nFor almost four decades\, the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band has been “stunning” fans. Further\, they are loved worldwide for their fiery live shows and rich musical catalog. Their trademark sound pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition. Also\, they weave a tapestry that combines elements of jazz\, funk\, soul\, R&B. Then\, they incorporate more of the sounds from the streets they grew up on. Their sound has traveled from their legendary twenty-five-year run of Tuesday nights at the Maple Leaf to stages all over the world. Rebirth is the soundtrack of the Crescent City and her premier musical ambassador. \nRebirth was founded by brothers Phil and Keith Frazier over thirty-five years ago. They began their career playing on the sidewalks of the French Quarter and quickly landed gigs at second line parades. Those auspicious beginnings have led to thousands of shows to music aficionados everywhere\, including heads of state and royalty. \nThe band’s unique “soundtrack of New Orleans” has also garnered admiration from artists of all genres. They’ve shared the stage and collaborated with everyone from the Grateful Dead to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also\, Maceo Parker\, Green Day\, U2\, James Brown\, 311\, G-Love\, MuteMath\, Juvenile\, Train\, Big Freedia\, Ani DiFranco\, and Galactic. Further\, Allen Toussaint\, Neville Brothers\, Quincy Jones and Trombone Shorty. \nRecommended for fans of Trombone Shorty\, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band\, Kermit Ruffins and Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/rebirth-brass-band-jan19-2026/2026-01-19/2/
CATEGORIES:Jazz,R&B/Soul
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/700x400-RebirthBrassBand.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260120T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260120T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251104T213030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251202T230825Z
UID:10003169-1768935600-1768942800@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Paris Nights
DESCRIPTION:“fantastic Django Reinhardt-inspired melodies” – Baby Blue Arts\n  \nThe Red Hot Django Peppers are a fiery Twin Cities–based hot club band. They are devoted to keeping the spirit of Django Reinhardt alive while adding their own spark to the tradition. Also\, the group is led by guitarist Ryan Picone\, an acolyte of world-renowned guitarist Stéphane Wrembel. Also\, they feature the dynamic interplay of guitarist Ian Stenlund\, the soaring violin of Daniel Lentz\, and the driving pulse of bassist Sean Roderick. Together\, they create a sound that’s at once timeless and fresh\, blending dazzling virtuosity with irresistible swing. \nIn 2024\, The Peppers made history as one of the first hot club bands to play the legendary Blue Ox Festival. There\, they quickly became the talk of the festival. Their momentum continues in 2025 as they join an international lineup of world-class players at the prestigious Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest. \nThe Red Hot Django Peppers’ audience grows with each performance. Here\, they are not just torchbearers of Django’s legacy\, but innovators bringing new energy and excitement to hot club jazz. \nHot Club Mania features an exceptional stylistic dimension with prodigious improvisation – a group not to be missed. Experience a spontaneous\, vivid performance by some of Minnesota’s most stellar artists played in the Django Reinhardt French swing tradition. \nThe ensemble includes the unmistakable mastery of jazz violinist Gary Schulte\, plus the diverse guitar styling of Glen Helgeson. Also\, tasty\, refined bass work by acoustic bassist Steve Pikal and accomplished jazz drummer Jay Epstein.  \nHot Club Mania is the creation of longtime bandleader and guitar stylist Glen Helgeson. Helgeson is a true jazz ambassador\, bringing diverse styles to people\, and manifesting an unusual ability to write in those genres. \nRecommended for fans of Django Reinhardt\, Stephane Wrembel\, Dorado Schmitt and Bireli Lagrene.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/paris-nights-jan20-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/700x400-ParisNights.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260121T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251008T032158Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T224702Z
UID:10003118-1769022000-1769029200@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Yellowjackets
DESCRIPTION:“Yellowjackets sound as vital and tight as they ever have” – Glide\n  \nThroughout their storied forty-three-year history\, the Yellowjackets have recorded twenty-six albums\, and received sixteen Grammy nominations\, winning two. Additionally\, they have performed countless sold-out tours\, and enjoyed worldwide critical acclaim and commercial success. \nThe Yellowjackets formed in the late 1970’s as the backup band for guitarist Robben Ford. They recorded their first album together in 1980. Shortly after that recording\, however\, Ford decided to part ways and go in a different musical direction. As a result\, the modern-day Yellowjackets were formed — a trio with Russell Ferrante\, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson. Since then\, and with the addition of Bob Mintzer\, the Yellowjackets have gained and maintained prominence as one of jazz’s most influential and loved groups. \nOver the years the band has undergone numerous lineup changes. Never failing to rise to the inevitable challenges of adjustment\, the Yellowjackets have maintained an extraordinarily high quality of musicianship. Moreover\, this superb musicianship is the rival of many but a surprise to no one who knows and appreciates the band and their music. \nThe most recent addition to the band adds Australian bass player Dane Alderson into the mix. With his exceptional rhythmic sensibility and natural disposition toward groove\, Dane brings a new energy to the band and adds a youthful approach to the music. \nTheir recent albums are a true testament to the longevity and resilience of a band who debuted over forty years ago. Consistently reinventing themselves through elevated instrumentation in their signature electro-acoustic soundscape\, the current lineup showcases a collective at their prime. \nRecommended for fans of Spyro Gyra\, Brecker Brothers\, Chick Corea and Return to Forever.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/yellowjackets-jan21-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/700x400-Yellowjackets.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260122T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260122T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251216T183302Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T145846Z
UID:10003234-1769108400-1769115600@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Davina and The Vagabonds
DESCRIPTION:“This music\, as retro as it may be at times\, feels fun\, frisky and alive.” – American Songwriter\n  \nDavina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national music scene. Their high-energy live shows feature level-A musicianship\, sharp-dressed professionalism and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. Also\, their influences range from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits. Moreover\, the band is converting audiences one show at a time\, from Vancouver to Miami and across Europe. \nMuch like the music\, the story spurns era\, expectation and classification. The often unbelievable\, sometimes harrowing\, and wholly inspiring journey of Davina Sowers gave birth to her eponymous band in 2004. As the tale goes\, she grew up in the economically depressed Allegheny town of Altoona\, PA. She now describes the town as “awesome in the industrial era\, but horrible for high school.” Then\, she was adopted by her stepfather when he was in his 80s; he passed when she was just 13. Through him and his Edison phonograph\, she first heard the music that would start her journey. For example\, The Ink Spots\, Sidney Bechet\, Louis Armstrong\, Louis Prima\, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and many others. “Great man. He was my angel and still is\,” she says. \nOn her own\, she vividly recalls hours in front of the record player at home. There\, she religiously spun Led Zeppelin\, Black Sabbath and Simon and Garfunkel records belonging to her folk singer mom. \nTo this day\, Davina still refers to music as “my first and eternal love.” Despite early dalliances with classical piano and guitar\, she developed a heavy drug habit in high school. Further\, this morphed into heroin dependency\, left her homeless\, sent her in and out of jail and brought on all manner of trouble. Kicking dope on the streets\, she “got clean\, started the band and worked [her] ass off every day since.” \nRecommended for fans of Pokey LaFarge\, Preservation Hall Jazz Band\, The Hot Sardines and Squirrel Nut Zippers.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/davina-and-the-vagabonds-jan22-2026/
CATEGORIES:Blues,Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/700x400-Davina.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260124T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260124T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251205T164059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T144823Z
UID:10003222-1769281200-1769288400@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Bruce A. Henry
DESCRIPTION:“A true master of the jazz art form.”  – Mpls.St.Paul Magazine\n  \nKnown as a “man of great musical imagination\,” Bruce Henry is an internationally-known vocalist\, composer\, storyteller\, recording artist and educator. Additionally\, Bruce teaches musical history\, traditions and culture as he entertains and enraptures audiences with his vocal agility. Anchored in Chicago\, with roots in the Twin Cities\, Bruce shares his expertise and creativity across the nation and overseas. \nBruce is a singer and bandleader with a long history of stellar jazz concerts\, moving R&B shows and revered tribute performances. Here\, his tribute shows entertain audiences with inspired interpretations of classics. Furthermore\, he has honored Stevie Wonder\, Al Jarreau\, Marvin Gaye\, Ray Charles\, Duke Ellington and George Gershwin. As a vocalist extraordinaire\, he handles an eclectic mix of styles with ease.  \nBoth his voice and mind are treasures\, and a concert\, residency or workshop with Bruce is not to be missed. They leave you lifted\, enriched and energized from his performance. Moreover\, you become more knowledgeable\, reflective and inspired from his innate ability to teach. Also\, he developed his program The Evolution of African American Music for residencies\, informative concerts and published curriculum. Time spent in community with Bruce and friends\, whether in concert or workshop\, is pure joy. \nRecommended for fans of Al Jarreau\, Stevie Wonder\, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/bruce-a-henry-jan24-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz,R&B/Soul
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/700x400-BruceHenry.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260126T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260126T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251014T174537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T224708Z
UID:10003129-1769454000-1769461200@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Hamilton de Holanda
DESCRIPTION:“master of the Brazilian version of mandolin” – Billboard\n  \nHamilton de Holanda is one of Brazil’s most celebrated musicians—a global ambassador\, virtuoso performer\, and groundbreaking improviser. Picking up the mandolin at the age of five\, he redefined the ten-string version of the instrument. Then\, he transformed it into a versatile voice that bridges the worlds of jazz\, choro\, and beyond. \nThe foundation of his music comes from a combination of family encouragement and formal training with a university degree in composition. Additionally\, the freedom of Brasília’s choro street jams\, where he grew up. \nHamilton is a multi-award-winning musician. He is a four-time Latin Grammy winner with seventeen nominations—including a Grammy nod for Best Latin Jazz Album. In Brazil\, he has achieved star status\, earning widespread acclaim from critics\, peers\, and audiences alike. \nFurthermore\, Hamilton’s influence continues to grow\, due to his unique approach to improvisation and electrifying stage presence. In 2024 alone\, he achieved 14 million streams across 180 countries and reached over 800\,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. \nIn addition to his career as a performer\, Hamilton was one of the founders of the world’s first Choro School. There\, this was established in Brasília in 1997. He also spearheaded a petition to Brazil’s National Congress to establish a National Day of Choro. Thus\, this helps secure the genre’s cultural legacy. \nHamilton’s career is defined by his ability to blend Brazilian traditions with global sounds. His collaborations include Wynton Marsalis\, Chick Corea\, Milton Nascimento\, Djavan\, Gonzalo Rubalcaba\, Dave Matthews\, John Paul Jones\, and Hermeto Pascoal. \nHamilton’s music connects cultures\, celebrates diversity\, and pushes the boundaries of sound\, solidifying his place as a true innovator and cultural ambassador. \nRecommended for fans of Béla Fleck\, Chick Corea\, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Hermeto Pascoal.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/hamilton-de-holanda-jan26-2026/
CATEGORIES:Global,Jazz
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/700x400-HamiltonDeHolanda.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260128T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260128T210000
DTSTAMP:20260503T202322
CREATED:20251014T192505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251202T231143Z
UID:10003130-1769626800-1769634000@www.dakotacooks.com
SUMMARY:Jarrod Lawson
DESCRIPTION:“absolutely top-quality soul music… outstanding” – BBC Music\n  \nIt was in late 2022 that Jarrod Lawson had the biggest\, and most unexpected\, thrill of his music career. He had just received a glowing endorsement in print from Michelle Obama\, in an Entertainment Weekly interview. When asked who she was listening to\, after mentioning Beyonce\, added “There’s this young jazz\, blue-eyed soul kid Jarrod Lawson that I’m loving.” \nAt the time Jarrod was receiving major airplay in the U.S. and in Europe. Here\, this was largely due to his remake of the Isley Brothers Seventies classic “Footsteps In The Dark”. This followed his 2020 sophomore album Be the Change. That album made its mark immediately\, with entries at #1 on Amazon’s Jazz Albums chart and at #2 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. \nFor singer/songwriter/keyboardist Lawson\, the appreciation of his music in his native U.S. was particularly gratifying. His 2014 breakthrough had been primarily in Europe\, where in a whirlwind couple of years he played festival\, club and concert dates in fifteen countries. Additionally\, this included the North Sea Jazz Festival\, London Jazz Festival and the world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s Club. Furthermore\, he powered his way into the Dutch Top Forty Albums chart. \nHe has since performed around the world in Tokyo\, Beijing\, Melbourne and at Indonesia’s Java Jazz festival. Further\, in the U.S. he has performed at many of the leading jazz venues from New York to Seattle. \nThe album is a beautiful\, restrained\, dreamy mix of love songs\, irreverence and social commentary. Thus\, SoulTracks.com described the album as “a masterpiece”. Also\, they hailed it “an instant classic that would have fit just as comfortably in 1970 as it does in 2020”. \nRecommended for fans of Stevie Wonder\, Bobby Caldwell\, Rachelle Ferrell and Rahsaan Patterson.
URL:https://www.dakotacooks.com/event/jarrod-lawson-jan28-2026/
CATEGORIES:Jazz,R&B/Soul
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.dakotacooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/700x400-JarrodLawson.jpg
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