Fred Hersch Trio
2026-04-15 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
“A pristine pianist with a poet’s soul… truly transcendent.” – Boston Globe

Fred Hersch belongs to jazz’s piano pantheon. He has been an influential creative force for decades as an improviser, composer, educator, bandleader, collaborator, and recording artist. Here, he has been proclaimed “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade” by Vanity Fair. Also, he is hailed as “a living legend” by The New Yorker. A seventeen-time Grammy nominee, Hersch has garnered jazz’s most prestigious awards. Here, these include a Doris Duke Artist (2016), Jazz Pianist of the Year from the Jazz Journalists Association (2011, 2016, 2018), and the Jazz Magazine (France) International Artist of the Year (2021). Furthermore, the Fred Hersch Trio was voted the #1 Jazz Group in the 2019 Downbeat Critics Poll.
Hersch is an acclaimed and influential solo pianist. There, he has twelve solo recordings in his catalog including the 2024 release, Silent, Listening. All About Jazz has remarked that “when it comes to the art of solo piano in jazz, there are two classes of performers: Fred Hersch and everybody else”. Also, New York Times simply calls him “a master who plays it his way”.
The Fred Hersch Trio has remained at the pinnacle of modern jazz, venerated for embodying thrilling interplay and dynamic spontaneity. The Wall Street Journal calls the trio “one of the major ensembles of our time.” Also, the New Yorker has applauded it for playing with “high lyricism and high danger.” The Trio has appeared at major jazz festivals throughout Europe and the U.S. Additionally, they have regularly headlined the legendary Village Vanguard since 1977.
Recommended for fans of Brad Mehldau, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and Julian Lage.

Pat Metheny
2026-04-18 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-18 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-04-19 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-04-19 20:00 - 22:00
“That liquid, crystalline tone; those airborne, searching melodies.” – NPR

Pat Metheny was born in Lee’s Summit, MO on August 12, 1954 into a musical family. He started on trumpet at the age of eight, then switched to guitar at age twelve. By fifteen, he worked regularly with the best jazz musicians in Kansas City, receiving valuable on-the-bandstand experience. Then, Metheny burst onto the international jazz scene in 1974. Over his three-year stint with vibraphone great Gary Burton, the young player already displayed his soon-to-become trademarked playing style. Here, he blended the loose and flexible articulation customarily reserved for horn players with an advanced rhythmic and harmonic sensibility. Moreover, this way of playing and improvising was modern in conception but grounded deeply in the jazz tradition of melody, swing, and the blues. With his first album, Bright Size Life (1975), he reinvented the traditional “jazz guitar” sound for a new generation.
Metheny’s versatility is nearly without peer on any instrument. He has performed with Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Milton Nascimento, and David Bowie. Metheny’s body of work includes compositions for solo guitar, small ensembles, electric and acoustic instruments, large orchestras, and ballet pieces and even the robotic instruments of his Orchestrion project, while always sidestepping the limits of any one genre.
Pat Metheny has won twenty Grammy Awards spread out over a variety of different categories. Once, he won seven consecutive Grammys for seven consecutive albums. In 2015 he was inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame, becoming only the fourth guitarist to be included. In 2018 he was named an NEA Jazz Master, the nation’s highest honor in jazz.
Recommended for fans of Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Wes Montgomery and Bill Frisell.
These tickets do not qualify for the A-Train discount.

Julius Rodriguez
2026-04-27 19:00 - 21:00
“tremendous sense of harmony and virtuosity” – New York Times

Julius Rodriguez is an American jazz pianist, composer, and rising star in the vibrant alternative jazz scene. There, Rodriguez is known for his soulful sound and dynamic playing. He blends a deep understanding of traditional jazz with modern influences, creating a distinctive voice that resonates across genres. His music effortlessly merges elements of jazz, funk, and soul, capturing the essence of both old-school and contemporary styles.
Born and raised in New York, Rodriguez began his musical journey at an early age. Furthermore, he studied piano and drums, developing a love for jazz through the city’s rich musical history. He made a name for himself at eleven years old in the vibrant West Village jazz club scene. Later, he honed his craft at the Juilliard School of Music, where he further shaped his sound and refined his improvisational skills.
Rodriguez’s artistry extends beyond his musicianship. As a composer and bandleader, he brings a unique energy to every performance, seamlessly navigating between melodic inventiveness and intricate rhythms. His debut album, Let Sound Tell All, showcased his ability to craft intricate compositions that push the boundaries of jazz. His most recent album, Evergreen, further demonstrates his growth as an artist. Here, he blends rich, complex arrangements with a deep sense of emotion, continuing to push the boundaries of the genre.
Rodriguez continues to establish himself as one of the most promising voices in contemporary alternative jazz. His work as a collaborator is equally impressive. He has worked with Meshell Ndegeocello, Lianne La Havas, Remi Wolf, Kurt Elling, and Chris Botti. Also, A$AP Rocky, Cautious Clay, and Madison McFerrin. With impeccable technique, musicality, and vision, Julius Rodriguez is poised to become one of the defining voices of his generation.
Recommended for fans of Gerald Clayton, Immanuel Wilkins, Jon Batiste and Julian Lage.

Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet
2026-04-28 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-28 21:00 - 23:00
“A pianist of imperial command, possessed of a dazzling, deceptively casual virtuosity” – New York Times

Chucho Valdes, piano
Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, drums
Armando Gola, bass
Roberto Vizcaino Jr., percussion
Cuban pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. Here, in a rich career spanning sixty years, he has won seven Grammy and seven Latin Grammy Awards. Moreover, Chucho pushes boundaries in pursuit of new expressions in Afro-Cuban music. Additionally, his influence in the genre is immeasurable, establishing the standard by which younger generations create their own.
Chucho received musical education through formal studies and countless nights on the best stages in Cuba. There, he performed with his father, Bebo Valdés, and his orchestra Sabor de Cuba, and with the seminal Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna. Chucho is acclaimed as the founder, pianist, and main composer and arranger of Irakere, a landmark ensemble in Cuban music. Also, Chucho led Irakere for more than thirty years, but since 2005 he has focused on his personal career. Here, he showcases his piano prowess with small ensembles, like the Afro-Cuban Messengers, Jazz Batá, and his acclaimed Royal Quartet.
Chucho has been named an NEA Jazz Master. Additionally, he earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. Also, he was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, and received a DC Jazz Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. There, he joined an illustrious list that includes Kenny Barron, James Moody, Ellis Marsalis, George Wein, and Dave Brubeck.
Valdés is a restless visionary forever evolving Afro-Cuban music. Further, he is as creative and playful as ever on his Grammy-nominated, Latin Grammy-winning release, 2024’s Cuba & Beyond.
Recommended for fans of Arturo Sandoval, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Alfredo Rodriguez and Nachito Herrera.

Joey Alexander
2026-04-29 19:00 - 21:00
“seemingly limitless technique… dazzling” – NPR

Joey Alexander is one of the most exciting voices in contemporary jazz. He is a Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and composer from Bali, Indonesia. He has released seven acclaimed albums, and performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and the Grammy Awards.
Alexander burst onto the global jazz scene in 2015 with his debut album My Favorite Things. Since then, he has released seven albums, earning widespread acclaim and three Grammy Award nominations. There, My Favorite Things was nominated for Best Instrumental Album, and he also earned Best Jazz Solo noms for “Giant Steps” and “Countdown.”
His albums My Favorite Things and Countdown both reached Number One on the Billboard Jazz Charts, while Eclipse climbed to Number Three.
Joey has performed for President Barack Obama at the White House and President Bill Clinton at the Arthur Ashe Learning Center Gala. Additionally, he has appeared at the Grammys, The Grand Ole Opry, the Apollo Theatre and Carnegie Hall. Furthermore, he performs at major jazz festivals, clubs, and concert halls worldwide.
TV show 60 Minutes has profiled him, and The New York Times has featured him. Here, this solidifies his reputation as a prodigious talent and a leading figure in modern jazz.
Recommended for fans of McCoy Tyner, Ahmad Jamal, Brad Mehldau and Keith Jarrett.

VIP Event: Al Di Meola: Guitarchitect
2026-05-01 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-02 16:00 - 17:00
Click the links below for show tickets!
Al Di Meola: MAY 1 • 6:30pm performance
Al Di Meola: MAY 1 • 9:00pm performance
Al Di Meola: MAY 2 • 6:30pm performance
Al Di Meola: MAY 2 • 9:00pm performance

Upgrade your evening with an exclusive VIP Meet & Greet experience with Al Di Meola. This limited opportunity offers fans an intimate behind-the-scenes look before the show begins.
Invitation to pre-show experience with Al Di Meola, including:

Pre-show soundcheck
Pre-show meet & greet with Al Di Meola

IMPORTANT: This is not a ticket to the show.

“a terrifyingly dexterous electric guitarist… a remarkable acoustic shredder.” – Premier Guitar

Al Di Meola is one of the top guitarists of our time. Here, he has enjoyed a celebrated career that has spanned more than four decades. His fascination with complex rhythmic syncopation, provocative lyrical melodies, and sophisticated harmony are at the heart of his music. Among his myriad critical accolades are multiple Grammys and Grammy nominations. Additionally, twelve awards from polls conducted by Guitar Player magazine, which inducted Di Meola into its Gallery of Greats.
A bona fide guitar hero and prolific composer, Di Meola has created more than thirty albums as a leader. Furthermore, he has collaborated on about a dozen others. These include fusion supergroup Return to Forever (with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White). Also, the celebrated acoustic Guitar Trio (featuring fellow virtuosos John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía). Further, the Rite of Strings trio (with Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty). Here, his dazzling technique has made him a hero to fretboard fanatics. However, the depth of Di Meola’s writing, along with the soulfulness and inherent lyricism of his expressive playing, have won him a worldwide fanbase beyond the guitar aficionado set.
Recommended for fans of Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia and Wayne Shorter.

Al Di Meola: Guitarchitect
2026-05-01 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-01 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-05-02 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-02 21:00 - 23:00
VIP Meet & Greet Add-On. Click the links below for tickets!
Al Di Meola: MAY 1 • 4:00pm VIP Meet & Greet
Al Di Meola: MAY 2 • 4:00pm VIP Meet & Greet

“a terrifyingly dexterous electric guitarist… a remarkable acoustic shredder.” – Premier Guitar

Al Di Meola is one of the top guitarists of our time. Here, he has enjoyed a celebrated career that has spanned more than four decades. His fascination with complex rhythmic syncopation, provocative lyrical melodies, and sophisticated harmony are at the heart of his music. Among his myriad critical accolades are multiple Grammys and Grammy nominations. Additionally, twelve awards from polls conducted by Guitar Player magazine, which inducted Di Meola into its Gallery of Greats.
A bona fide guitar hero and prolific composer, Di Meola has created more than thirty albums as a leader. Furthermore, he has collaborated on about a dozen others. These include fusion supergroup Return to Forever (with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White). Also, the celebrated acoustic Guitar Trio (featuring fellow virtuosos John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía). Further, the Rite of Strings trio (with Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty). Here, his dazzling technique has made him a hero to fretboard fanatics. However, the depth of Di Meola’s writing, along with the soulfulness and inherent lyricism of his expressive playing, have won him a worldwide fanbase beyond the guitar aficionado set.
Recommended for fans of Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia and Wayne Shorter.

Isaiah Collier: Collier Plays Coltrane
2026-05-03 19:00 - 21:00
“heir apparent to both the Chicago lineage and the post-Coltrane sax tradition” – New York Times

One of today’s most exciting saxophonists celebrates John Coltrane’s centennial!
Isaiah Collier is a musical virtuoso in the truest sense of the phrase. He began playing saxophone at age eleven, and his intuitive proficiency earned him attention early on. Ever since, his band Isaiah Collier and The Chosen Few has been turning ears.
In 2025 he was featured on NPR’s “Jazz Night in America”, and graced the cover of Downbeat Magazine. Additionally, Chicago Tribune named him 2024’s Jazz Artist of the Year. New York Times selected his album The Almighty as one of the Top Ten Jazz Recordings of 2024. Furthermore, The New York Times 2024 Fall Arts Preview featured him. Downbeat selected him as one of twenty-five for the future in 2024’s Ninetieth Anniversary issue. Also, he won the Rising Star Award in Downbeat Magazine’s critics poll for tenor saxophone (2023), and soprano saxophone (2024). Then, he was named a Steve Jobs Fellow.
There’s a regal, elegant manner to Isaiah’s stage presence: he’s over 6 feet tall, thin, deep brown, with high cheekbones. When not playing, he is patiently waiting. Not contemplating his next move, but listening to the musicians who accompany him, listening to their stories. Here, he explains that he’s never really hearing himself, he’s hearing others play: some people have fire, others have air.
Isaiah Coller’s sound is a dynamic flurry of metaphors, yet he can hold back when necessary. Thus, he plays his influences, which he describes as a “sonic time machine; you can’t really put a time or destination on it.” As far as he where he plans to take his music, Collier says, “I reach backwards, and forwards simultaneously when creating art and what is ahead of me is the past.”
Recommended for fans of John Coltrane, Kamasi Washington, Pharoah Sanders and Wayne Shorter.
📸: Johanna Brinckmann

The Beatles Reimagined
2026-05-05 19:00 - 21:00
“known for his (Jeff Perry) hip reimagining of songs.” – Star Tribune

Jazz musicians have covered and reinterpreted songs by The Beatles for the past fifty years. With the Beatles Reimagined show, three of Minnesota’s most prominent guitarists build on this tradition. Here, they display their own “hip retooling” (Star Tribune) of classic songs by the Fab Four. Hear guitarists Tim Sparks, Zacc Harris, and show curator Jeff Perry, with bassist Matt Blake and drummer Bob Johnston. Moreover, the frequent rotation and pairings of the guitarists makes for an exciting, fast-paced show. Also, their imaginative approaches brings you Beatles classics like you’ve never heard them before.
Jeff Perry has been described as “fabulous… one of the Twin Cities’ best” by the Dakota. Furthermore, over many years Perry developed a proven repertoire that includes beloved songs from across the musical and generational spectrum. Jeff Perry performs high-quality music that connects with people from many generations and backgrounds.
Tim Sparks has been redefining the acoustic guitar repertoire for decades. He won the National Fingerpicking Championship in 1993 with a ground-breaking arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Further, Sparks’s extraordinary ability has garnered an international reputation as one of the most innovative guitarists working today.
Zacc Harris is a Minneapolis-based guitarist, composer, and educator known for his work with Atlantis Quartet and many other groups. A bandleader and recording artist, his projects explore modern jazz, original composition, and creative improvisation. He is on the faculty at MacPhail Center for Music and directs the Dakota Jazz Ensemble.
Recommended for fans of The Beatles.

Women Who Cook - A Mother’s Day Reunion
2026-05-10 16:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-10 19:00 - 21:00
This legendary MN band reunites for Mother’s Day!

Women Who Cook will grace the Dakota stage this Mother’s Day, in their first full show since 2002. Forty-four years ago, some of the Twin Cities most accomplished women musicians were assembled for an episode on TPT‘s NightTimes Variety, originally conceived by Marian Moore and Prudence Johnson as an all-star band of women from many genres of music. The group went on to create epic, sold-out shows at the Guthrie, the State, O’Shaughnessy, and the Ordway, and their historic Soviet Peace Tour of 1988.
Singers Jearlyn Steele, Ginger Commodore, Mary Jane Alm, Kathy Mueller, Gwen Matthews and Prudence Johnson come together once more. They will be backed by Women Who Cook veterans Jane Henderson on keyboards and Jane Aleckson on bass, Laurie Glaser on trumpet, and Sue Roberts on trombone. Coming on board for this reunion show are saxophonist Sue Orfield, pianist Mary Louise Knutson and drummer Sheila Earley. There will be a special tribute to former members Jeanne Arland Peterson and Kathy Jensen.
Women Who Cook distinguishes itself with its phenomenal musicianship and intricate vocal arrangements, and the beautiful energy and warmth that come from its all-woman lineup. This brilliant formation is known for associating themselves with social issues and they are excited to offer their genuine gift of love and peace through music as our community heals.
Recommended for fans of Moore By Four, Manhattan Transfer, The Steeles and Prince.

Brad Mehldau Trio
2026-05-11 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-12 19:00 - 21:00
“Mehldau is the most influential jazz pianist of the last 20 years” – New York Times

One of the most lyrical and intimate voices of contemporary jazz piano, Brad Mehldau has forged a unique path. Here, he embodies the essence of jazz exploration, classical romanticism and pop allure. Mehldau has garnered critical acclaim as a bandleader, and major international exposure in collaborations with Pat Metheny, Renee Fleming, and Joshua Redman. Furthermore, Mehldau continues to garner numerous awards and admiration from both jazz purists and music enthusiasts alike. His forays into melding musical idioms have seen brilliant reworkings of songs by contemporary songwriters. He covers The Beatles, Cole Porter, Radiohead, Paul Simon, Gershwin and Nick Drake, among others. Also, he has earned recognition for the ever-evolving breadth of his own significant catalogue of original compositions. With his self-proclaimed affection for popular music and classical training, “Mehldau is the most influential jazz pianist of the last 20 years”. (The New York Times)
Mehldau’s musical personality forms a dichotomy. He is first and foremost an improviser. He cherishes the surprise and wonder occurring from a spontaneous musical idea that is expressed directly, in real time. But he also has a deep fascination for the formal architecture of music, and it informs everything he plays. In his most inspired playing, the actual structure of his musical thought serves as an expressive device. As he plays, he listens to how ideas unwind, and the order in which they reveal themselves. Each tune has a strongly felt narrative arch, whether it expresses itself in a beginning, an end, or something left intentionally open-ended. The two sides of Mehldau’s personality—the improviser and the formalist—play off each other. Thus, the effect is often something like controlled chaos.
Recommended for fans of Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Ahmad Jamal.
📸: Yoshika Horita

Artemis: Sketches Of Miles
2026-05-13 19:00 - 21:00
DownBeat magazine’s Annual Readers Poll Jazz Group of the Year for three consecutive years (2023–2025)

“an extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward, modern sound.” – NPR

Renee Rosnes, piano
Ingrid Jensen, trumpet
Nicole Glover, saxophone
Noriko Ueda, bass
Allison Miller, drums
In celebration of Miles Davis’s centennial, the award-winning Artemis explores his monumental impact. Here, they showcase new arrangements largely drawn from the trumpeter’s signature 1960’s period. Furthermore, from introspective moods to free interplay and dramatic shifts, Artemis presents a fascinating look at the many moods of Miles.
Artemis—named for the Greek goddess—is a multinational ensemble of jazz instrumental virtuosos. Pianist and composer Renee Rosnes founded the group in 2017. Now, its current lineup includes pianist Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller. Here, each member is an accomplished bandleader with a major career and a prolific body of work.
The group’s third release, 2025’s Arboresque, features original songs by all members with fresh arrangements of classic material. Then, The Guardian named the recording one of its Top Ten Jazz Albums of 2025. There, they praised its “cliché-free individuality and congenial collective spirit radiantly combined.” Thus, the band’s popularity has continued to grow through performances at major festivals and venues worldwide. Moreover, they delivered a powerful appearance in May 2025 on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series. There, NPR hailed Artemis as “a killer line-up of players, composers and performers… who converge on an extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward, modern sound.”
Further, DownBeat magazine’s Annual Readers Poll voted Artemis Jazz Group of the Year for three consecutive years (2023–2025). Additionally, the Jazz Journalists Association named them Mid-Size Ensemble of the Year in both 2024 and 2025.
Recommended for fans of Pat Metheny, Maria Schneider, Christian McBride and Amina Figarova.
📸: John Abbott

Joe Pulice Big Band feat. Ricky Peterson
2026-05-14 19:00 - 21:00
“Jazz is practically in [his] DNA” – Star Tribune

The Joe Pulice Big Band is a high voltage, all-star fifteen-piece big band from the Twin Cities.
This performance will highlight the music of the most famous big bands throughout jazz history. Drummer Joe Pulice, one of the region’s elite musicians, is a two-time Minnesota Jazz Music Award recipient. Also, in 1986, Joe toured with Woody Herman and his Thundering Herd.
During the 1990’s, Joe played vibes and percussion with world-renowned drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt’s group, Kamanari. Joe also played with Jack McDuff and his band, The Heatin’ System. Additionally, Joe has been the drummer for the JazzMN Orchestra for the last twenty years.
Ricky Peterson is one of the most sought-after studio and session keyboard players and producers in America. Furthermore, Ricky tours with Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer and currently with Stevie Nicks.
Recommended for fans of Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Gene Krupa and Count Basie.

The New Standards
2026-05-16 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-17 19:00 - 21:00
“The DNA of the band and its members has its feet firmly rooted into punk/pop culture.” – New York Times

Minnesota stalwarts The New Standards create an intriguing blend of everything from classic cabaret to punk rock. Here, they blend the freedom of jazz with the soul of pop and rock. They make it work through offbeat humor and sheer musicianship. The instrumentation is simple: John Munson of Trip Shakespeare/Semisonic fame on bass; Chan Poling, founder of the new-wave group The Suburbs on piano; and Steve Roehm on vibes. Chan and John split the singing. A footstomp here, a shout-out there, a fiery solo, and it’s cooked. Simple, elegant, illuminating.
The New Standards started in 2005 as an off-shoot project. Since then, TNS has grown into a globe-spanning adventure, filling theaters and clubs around the world. Additionally, they have created several albums, videos, cartoons, dance/theater projects, and ancillary gewgaws that have charmed and delighted faithful fans.
All three are fans of great songwriting. However, they sensed a lack of an interesting jazz trio repertoire beyond the usual “old standards”. Thus, they got together originally to play and sing their favorite songs from every era, particularly post-1960s pop music. Familiar tunes in a stripped-down acoustic setting, leaving room for solos and arrangements with the freedom of jazz. Yet, they never fully abandon the modest soul of pop and rock.
Another thing: though you may associate an acoustic tango version of Britney Spears’s “Toxic” with camp, TNS is not a lounge or novelty act. One listen to their music reveals that they take their music-making as well as their jobs as entertainers seriously.
And yet, they are very funny.
Recommended for fans of Joe Henry, Semisonic, The Suburbs and Dylan Hicks.

Travis Anderson Trio: The Music of Studio Ghibli
2026-05-18 19:00 - 21:00
“They swing like there’s no tomorrow.” – Jazz Police

With 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.
Here, The Travis Anderson Trio celebrates the music of the greatest animated films ever made. With fresh takes on classics like Spirited Away 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!
Travis 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.
Steve 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.
Versatile, 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.
Recommended for fans of Oscar Peterson, George Gershwin, Art Tatum and Vince Guaraldi.

Southside Aces: A Night in New Orleans
2026-05-19 19:00 - 21:00
“flawlessly replicate the sound of classic New Orleans” — Prairie Uprising

For 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.
In 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”!
“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
“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
Recommended for fans of Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tuba Skinny, Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller.
📸: Paul Udstrand

Steve Cole: Record Release
2026-05-23 19:00 - 21:00
“Cole is redefining smooth jazz” – All About Jazz

Join us to celebrate the release of Steve Cole’s twelfth solo album, Sleight of Hand. This dynamic new recording showcases Cole’s signature saxophone sound. Moreover, it features standout guest performances from guitar virtuoso Cory Wong. Additionally, legendary bassist Will Lee (David Letterman Band), and renowned B3 master Ricky Peterson (Stevie Nicks).
Steve Cole is widely recognized as one of contemporary jazz’s most influential and expressive voices. The Chicago native exploded onto the scene with 1998’s Stay Awhile, which fellow Chicagoan Brian Culbertson produced. The disc scored multiple Number One hits and earned Cole the Oasis Smooth Jazz Award for best new artist. Then, he released his sophomore set, Between Us, in 2000. Also, he recorded 2003’s NY LA, 2005’s Spin, 2006’s True, 2009’s Moonlight, 2013’s True, 2016’s Turn It Up, 2019’s Gratitude, and his latest, 2023’s Without a Doubt. Then, Without a Doubt landed four singles on the top of the Smooth Jazz Chart.
Beyond his solo career, Cole has brought his signature sound to collaborations with an impressive roster of artists. For example, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Boz Scaggs, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Jim Peterik, Freddie Cole, Cyrus Chestnut, and KMFDM. He has also appeared as a featured soloist with the City of Prague Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Cole is a founding member of The Sax Pack, the celebrated sax trio with Kim Waters and Jeff Kashiwa.
Additionally, Dr. Cole serves as a Clinical Professor and Teaching Fellow at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. There, he teaches music industry entrepreneurship and mentors the next generation of artists and innovators.
Steve Cole, saxophone
Kavyesh Kaviraj, keyboards
Jeff Bailey, bass
David Feily, guitar
Kirk Johnson, drums
Recommended for fans of Chris Botti, Brian Culbertson, Eric Marienthal and Mindi Abair.

Glen David Andrews
2026-05-25 19:00 - 21:00
“the most charismatic performer in New Orleans… spectacular” – Offbeat

Glen David Andrews is a native son and a beloved musician of New Orleans. Furthermore, he is a warrior for cultural preservation at a time when indigenous traditions are being threatened in the city. Here, his commanding voice and disarmingly honest manner provide a musical experience that never fails to meet the moment. Also, he is hailed for his fierce trombone sound – a powerful, emotional, and resonant blend of smoothness and grit.
Glen’s music is packed with beauty, hard-earned truths, compassion, humor, anger, joy, and – most of all – hope.
Glen comes from a storied and extended family of musicians. He was born in New Orleans’ historic Tremé neighborhood, widely considered the oldest Black community in the United States. There, he was transfixed by the magic and mystery of the city’s second-line parades. Then, Andrews and his older brother, Derrick Tabb (Rebirth Brass Band), along with cousin Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, learned the history of the brass band tradition firsthand. They learned from iconic figures like Tuba Fats.
Glen has been touring since the age of fourteen, performing in cities around the world. Moreover, he has played in New Birth, Lil Rascals, and Tremé brass bands. He brings equal measures of musicianship and showmanship to each. He now fronts his own high-powered ensemble that expertly fuses traditions from jazz, gospel, rock, blues and funk.
In recent years, he earned prestigious recognition and began making headliner status at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Glen has released several recordings under his own name including the popular Redemption and Portrait of the Treme Prince. Additionally, he is featured on the Galactic hit “You Don’t Know” from the album Ya-Ka-May.
Recommended for fans of Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic and Davina and The Vagabonds.

Kurt Rosenwinkel Trio
2026-05-26 19:00 - 21:00
“Kurt Rosenwinkel is a genius” – Eric Clapton

The New York Times hailed, “Kurt Rosenwinkel can say more in a few lines [of music] than most guitarists manage over the course of an entire career. A relentless explorer … Rosenwinkel has staked out a singular position in jazz’s firmament as a player, composer, and bandleader with a vast and supremely sophisticated harmonic vision and melodic sensibility.”
Kurt Rosenwinkel is a highly acclaimed and influential jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader. Furthermore, critics and fans laud him as one of the most important jazz musicians of his generation. Rosenwinkel has spent decades pushing the boundaries of the jazz genre. Additionally, he developed a signature sound that has captivated audiences worldwide.
He has been a distinct and prominent creative voice at the forefront of modern music for more than three decades. Since his 1991 debut on the New York music scene, Kurt has gained international recognition for his deft artistry and unabated individualism. His fifteen albums plainly demonstrate his legacy as the preeminent jazz guitar voice of his generation. Here, each one inspires legions of musicians young and old around the globe.
Over the last thirty-plus years, Rosenwinkel has released a series of groundbreaking albums and collaborated with jazz legends. Moreover, he continues to inspire the next generation of jazz musicians. Here, his innovative approach to composition and improvisation has made him a household name among jazz enthusiasts.
Recommended for fans of Brad Mehldau, Pat Martino, Ben Monder and Kenny Wheeler.
📸: Marco Preikschat
