Dakota

Forever, For Always, For Love: Celebrating the Life & Music of Luther Vandross
2026-10-31 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-10-31 21:00 - 23:00 (America/Chicago)
21st Annual Show!
Luther Vandross lives on as one of the greatest R&B/soul singers of our time. Hailed for his ballad work, Vandross sold over 40 million albums and won eight Grammy awards. Here, an all-star lineup assembles to pay tribute to the premier male R&B vocalist of the last several decades.
The show will include live performances of all of Luther’s greatest hits by some of the Twin Cities’ finest vocalists and musicians. These include vocalists Jay Bee, Ray Covington, LaMont Keten, Patricia Lacy, and Erica West.
The band:
Tony Axtell, bass
Brian Ziemniak, keyboards
David Feily, guitar
Brian Kendrick, drums
Daryl Boudreaux, percussion
And some very special surprise guests!
Recommended for fans of Luther Vandross, Peabo Bryson, Patti LaBelle and Teddy Pendergrass.

Kenny Garrett
2026-11-01 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-11-01 20:00 - 22:00
“genre-blurring, spiritually deep sounds” – Glide

Kenny Garrett’s latest release, 2021’s Sounds from the Ancestors, is a multi-faceted album. The music, however, doesn’t lodge inside the tight confines of the jazz idiom. Here, this is not surprising: the alto saxophonist and composer acknowledges Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye as significant touchstones. Miles Davis’s seminal LP, On the Corner, subverted its main guiding lights – James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone. Then, Davis crafted his own unique, polyrhythmic, groove-laden, improv-heavy universe. Thus, Sounds from the Ancestors occupies its own space with intellectual clarity, sonic ingenuity and emotional heft.
“The concept initially was about trying to get some of the musical sounds that I remembered as a kid growing up. Sounds that lift your spirit, like John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”, Aretha Franklin’s “Amazing Grace”, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”. And the spiritual side of the church,” Garrett explains. “When I started to think about them, I realized it was the spirit from my ancestors.”
Indeed, Sounds from the Ancestors reflects the rich jazz, R&B, and gospel history of his hometown of Detroit. More important though, it also reverberates with a modern cosmopolitan vibrancy. Notably the inclusion of music coming out of France, Cuba, Nigeria, and Guadeloupe.
Garrett is easily recognized as one of modern jazz’s brightest and most influential living masters. His illustrious career includes hallmark stints with Miles Davis, Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Donald Byrd, and Freddie Hubbard. Also, Woody Shaw, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Moreover, he has enjoyed a heralded career as a solo artist that began more than thirty years ago. And with the marvelous Sounds from the Ancestors, the Grammy-winning Garrett shows no signs of resting on his laurels.
Recommended for fans of Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, Branford Marsalis and Miguel Zenón.
📸: Hollis King

Edwin McCain
2026-11-03 19:00 - 21:00
“immensely satisfying… powerful songwriting talent” – Pop Matters

Veteran singer/songwriter Edwin McCain had his major-label breakout in the mid-’90s with Honor Among Thieves. There, McCain became a Top 40 radio star. Also, he achieved chart-topping singles and soundtrack success with the songs “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask For More”. More recently, Edwin has been touring with Hootie & the Blowfish, Collective Soul, and Train. Further, he described performing hit songs disguised as Nessy, The Loch Ness Monster, as a “breathtaking” experience. There, he performed this way during season thirteen of the hit U.S. TV show “The Masked Singer”.
McCain released his first full studio album in fifteen years, Lucky, in 2025. Here, the album’s ten tracks span blues, soul, rock, and folk influences. Lucky reflects McCain’s musical roots while embracing modern inspirations, including an electronic edge on “Empire”. Then, McCain covers rollicking rock on “Chasing a Memory”, aching ballad “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” and Southern rock on “Sing for You”.
The New York Times dubbed McCain a “great American romantic”, and McCain continues to connect with fans through his music. Additionally, he also appears in viral TikTok videos where his witty, self-deprecating humor has won over a new generation of fans. Also, he often directs that humor at his exasperated daughter. McCain plans to launch a podcast based on his TikTok life and continue touring in the near future. However, fame does not phase him. “I found myself in this sweet spot doing this for thirty-five years,” Edwin muses. “And if I end up playing for tourists on a deck in Hilton Head one day? That would be OK, too.”
Recommended for fans of Hootie and The Blowfish, Howie Day, Matchbox Twenty and Sara Bareilles.
📸: Jennifer Troche Walsh

Billy Prine Presents: Songs & Stories of John Prine
2026-11-04 19:00 - 21:00
“Billy sings and shines from the inside out. Unlike many things in this world, he keeps getting better” –American Songwriter

Telling stories and playing his brother’s music in a uniquely personal and entertaining tribute.
Billy Prine is a natural-born storyteller just like his late, great brother John Prine was a natural-born songwriter. John was a great communicator of the human experience whittled down to the best words. His big, little brother, owner of a rich, booming voice yet full of subtleness, is one of the finest orators you’ll ever hear – also choosing just the right turn of phrase.
During these concerts celebrating John’s life in song, Billy will tell stories about or surrounding some of John’s most beloved songs. Then, he will lead his band through his version of John’s timeless masterpieces. As an example, fans will get to hear the first time John played his classic song “Paradise” for their father as the family sits around the kitchen table.
Songs are stories, novellas if you will, and stories often become songs. Thus, it is only fitting that Billy relates the stories that surround the songs of his dear brother John. Each show becomes a vivid, intimate look into John’s life through the eyes of Billy.
Billy Prine formed and led his first bar band in Chicago at the tender age of twelve. Growing up in such a rich musical city allowed Billy to develop his unique style of American roots music. Billy absorbed a myriad of influences firsthand by seeing Buck Owens, The Rolling Stones, and Chicago’s innumerable blues legends. These included Howlin’ Wolf, Paul Butterfield, Muddy Waters, and Michael Bloomfield.
Recommended for fans of John Prine, John Hiatt, Drive-By Truckers and Doc Watson.

Lizzy & The Triggermen
2026-11-05 19:00 - 22:00
“one part Eartha Kitt, one part Ella Fitzgerald, one part Amy Winehouse” – NPR

LA-based big band Lizzy & the Triggermen make vintage music for modern times. Underneath the retro glamour is a captivatingly modern band who can sell out legendary venues like the Troubadour. Additionally, they can top the jazz charts alongside heavyweights like Miles Davis and Kamasi Washington.
Their shows joyously mix subversive vintage gems, showtunes, and swinging originals about everything from fast fashion to fascism. Like the Prohibition Era songs that inspire them, their music boldly tackles our troubles. Then, they create killer dance songs that fill the audience with joy the way only a wailing horn section can.
Lizzy leads the band: a charismatic siren with a searing wit and soaring voice. Her “powerhouse vocals” (Broadway World), forged singing opera, recall the great old divas while still sounding completely unique and new. Her songwriting, which Janis Ian likened to Leonard Cohen, is filled with the same biting humor she used to create TV comedies. There, she earned multiple Emmy nominations for shows on HBO, Amazon, Legendary, CBS, and the History Channel.
But the star power doesn’t stop with Lizzy; it emanates through her entire incredible band. Here, they are a multi-generational dream team of crushers who worked with Harry Connick Jr. and Benny Goodman. In fact, their arranger played lead trombone and arranged for Goodman’s last orchestra.
There is no doubt that Lizzy & the Triggermen are going audaciously against the grain. Moreover, they are clearly resonating across a broad range of audiences.
Recommended for fans of The Hot Sardines, Bria Skonberg, Harry Connick, Jr. and Davina and The Vagabonds.
📸: Spike Marble

Arrested Development
2026-11-06 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-11-06 21:30 - 23:30
“deeply thoughtful with a generous splash of wit… invincible” – BBC

Arrested Development delivers onstage energy to thirsty audiences looking to quench their soul! Thirty years ago, Arrested Development slammed the gangsta dominated world of hip hop with defiant lyrics of hope. The message worked, as AD became the first, and only, hip-hop artist to receive the Best New Artist Grammy. Additionally, the group also received a Grammy award for Best Rap Single for their anthemic prayer- like hit song, “Tennessee”. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named it one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Also, VH1 listed it in their 100 Greatest Songs of the 90’s.
Money came in, but not for precious stones and big cars. Instead, they gave back, becoming the first African American artists to donate money to Nelson Mandela and the ANC. They used their voices and their status to the benefit of many underprivileged brothers and sisters around the world.
With the success of the single “Mr. Wendal”, Arrested Development brought the issue of homelessness to the forefront. Then, the group donated half of the royalty earnings from “Mr. Wendal” to the National Coalition of the Homeless. Awards, chart success and accolades continued to follow. Their song “Revolution” was written for Spike Lee’s Malcolm X film, X. There, it would forever be associated with one of the most important Spike Lee joints.
Their album, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of…, earned them two Grammy awards. Additionally, they won two MTV awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and the NCAAP Image Award. Rolling Stone named them 1992’s Band of The Year, while VH1 named them one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time!
Recommended for fans of De La Soul, Digable Planets, Yasiin Bey and A Tribe Called Quest.

Blind Boys of Alabama Present Songs In the Key of Life
2026-11-09 19:00 - 21:00
“always hunting for – and finding – the perfect note or harmony that lifts an old tune into the sublime” – Time

Six-Time Grammy Winners
Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductees
The legendary Blind Boys of Alabama bring their transcendent harmonies and spiritual power. Here, they celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Stevie Wonder’s iconic album Songs in the Key of Life. This special presentation pairs many of Stevie Wonder’s classic songs with beloved selections from the Blind Boys’ own celebrated repertoire. Moreover, they blend gospel, soul, and Americana in a joyful performance that honors both musical legacies.
Now, the Blind Boys have lifted spirits and moved souls for over seventy-five years. Furthermore, they continue their mission of spreading light and love through the universal language of music. In 2003, the Blind Boys earned a Grammy Award for an album that included their acclaimed cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” Further, this version later featured in film and television, including FX’s Fargo. In 2007, Stevie Wonder presented Blind Boys singer Jimmy Carter with a Vision Award for Lifetime Achievement. Thus, this underscores their enduring impact on music and culture.
Here, this show features classics like: “Sir Duke,” “I Wish,” “As,” and more.
Recommended for fans of Mavis Staples, The Holmes Brothers, Stevie Wonder and Taj Mahal.
📸: Cole Weber

Alison Brown
2026-11-10 19:00 - 21:00
“Brown’s banjo is an instrument possessed of a unique sonic signature and an inescapable beauty” – Billboard

One of the most multi-faceted minds in roots music, Alison Brown is a Grammy-winning musician and a Grammy-nominated producer. Additionally, she is a former investment banker (with an AB from Harvard and an MBA from UCLA). Also, she co-founded The Compass Records Group which celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2023.
Alison began her musical career as a teenager in the Southern California bluegrass scene. Now, she has built a reputation as one of today’s most forward-thinking and innovative banjo players. She is known for taking the instrument far beyond its Appalachian roots by blending bluegrass and jazz influences into a sonic tapestry. Thus, she has earned praise and recognition from a variety of national tastemakers. For example, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, and USA Today.
Steve Martin and Alison Brown released their debut collaborative album, Safe, Sensible and Sane, in 2025. There, it features guest appearances from Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, the Indigo Girls, Tim O’Brien, Jason Mraz, Della Mae, and more. Moreover, Safe, Sensible and Sane emerges as a captivating new turn in the evolution of banjo music.
There, the album follows their chart-topping collaborations “Foggy Morning Breaking”, “Bluegrass Radio”, and “Wall Guitar (Since You Said Goodbye)”. Here, these longtime friends and banjo aficionados have crafted a collection of banjo-inspired songs. Further, they are built on Brown’s daringly inventive melodies and Martin’s idiosyncratic yet ineffably tender lyrics.
Recommended for fans of Steep Canyon Rangers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Della Mae and Béla Fleck.

John Scofield's Electrospective
2026-11-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-11-11 21:00 - 23:00, 2026-11-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-11-12 21:00 - 23:00
“Scofield is one of the most prolific and admired jazz musicians of his generation” – NPR

Through his fifty-four-year career, three-time Grammy Award winner John Scofield has occasionally detoured from the traditions of straight-ahead jazz. There, he explores a blend of funk and jazz that has led to some of his most popular projects. In 2026, Scofield looks back at many of his now classic fusion groove compositions with Electrospective.
Not intending to replicate earlier fan favorites, he plans instead to revisit them with the seasoned perspective of several decades. Here, he culls tunes from his Blue Matter, Uberjam, and AGoGo bands, each responsible for a few recordings. Additionally, he will play new material in the same vein.
Moreover, Scofield looks forward to teaming up with a stellar band of colleagues. Electrospective will rely on interpretative input from Scofield alum and super funk drummer/producer Adam Deitch (Lettuce). Also, multidimensional Larry Goldings (Scary Goldings, James Taylor) on keyboards. Additionally, legendary bassist Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Co., Tedeschi Trucks, Allman Brothers). With this repertoire so frequently (and loudly) requested by audience members, Scofield is glad to have a band that will truly do the music justice.
Recommended for fans of Pat Metheny, Lettuce, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Medeski, Martin & Wood.

An Evening with Lucinda Williams & Her Band: World's Gone Wrong Tour
2026-11-13 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-11-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-11-18 19:00 - 21:00
Acoustic Shows with Lucinda Williams & Her Band:
Blues, Ballads & More: A Quiet Night with Lucinda Williams & Her Band
NOV 16 • 7:00pm Performance
Blues, Ballads & More: A Quiet Night with Lucinda Williams & Her Band
NOV 17 • 7:00pm Performance

“perfect… clearly in a league of her own” – Chicago Reader

“My dad, as a poet, always told me to never censor myself – that’s one of his cardinal rules of creative writing,” says multiple-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. “That became my motto which I’ve stuck by all these years.” Miller Williams’ advice clearly is borne out on Lucinda’s powerful eighteenth studio album, 2026’s provocative World’s Gone Wrong. “I felt a sense of urgency in making this record,” she adds.
Filled with gut-wrenching topical songs, the album’s ten tracks were written and recorded in a blast of collaborative creativity. There, Lucinda and her co-writers – primarily husband/manager/co-producer Tom Overby and guitarist Doug Pettibone – grappled with the events of spring 2025. Moreover, a whole other album had been in the works. However, the “urgency” to address our current cataclysmic situation motivated Lucinda and company to cut World’s Gone Wrong in direct response. “Music is a powerful weapon,” she points out. “I want this record to make people aware, wake them up. I like to push people’s buttons.”
And that’s what Lucinda fans have come to depend on over the past forty-five years. Her back catalog boasts remarkable albums, including 1998’s game-changing Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Additionally, she’s earned three Grammy awards and countless accolades, including Time Magazine naming her America’s Best Songwriter in 2001. Here, Williams is one of our most revered artists, beloved for her singular vocals and extraordinary songs. And in these troubling times, we need the light she shines on World’s Gone Wrong more than ever before.
Recommended for fans of Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle & Bob Dylan.
📸: Mark Seliger

Charles Lloyd Quartet
2026-11-15 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-11-15 19:30 - 21:30
“Charles Lloyd is an international treasure.” Carlos Santana

Charles Lloyd and Bill Frisell first joined forces in 2013 for a special project in Montreal. There, their connection was immediate and the joy of making music together endures. Over the years that followed, Bill toured and recorded with Charles in various formations; duo, trio, quartet and quintet. Additionally, their recordings together include I Long to See You, Tone Poem, and Chapel Trio. For his return to the Dakota, Charles has assembled a dream quartet. Here, renowned bassist Larry Grenadier joins the band, who was first heard with Charles on The Water Is Wide. Also, the rising young star on drums, Kweku Sumbry.
“He’s expansive in his musical discourse yet without a wasted note.” – Wall Street Journal
“Ageless wonder Charles Lloyd is as dynamic as ever.” – Music in Minnesota
NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd, now in his eighth decade, has never sounded better. Voted Downbeat’s Jazzman of the Year in 1967, Lloyd was again voted the 2023 Artist of the Year. The arc of his contribution to this artform starts in the early 1960s, and the depth of his expression reflects a lifetime of experience.
“His shows, full of momentum and intuition, perfectly represent the idea that the best jazz needs to be experienced live.” – The New York Times
Over nearly five decades, Lloyd’s compositions have punctuated the post-bop period. He infused the traditional music with a host of world cultures and avant-garde improvisation. “Lloyd is one of the greats, rather like Joan Miro in modern art, he has no peer save himself. Music of total transport and delight.” Jazzwise
Recommended for fans of John Coltrane, Abdullah Ibrahim, Dexter Gordon and Jason Moran.

Blues, Ballads & More: A Quiet Night with Lucinda Williams & Her Band
2026-11-16 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-11-17 19:00 - 21:00
Additional Shows with Lucinda Williams & Her Band:
An Evening with Lucinda Williams & Her Band: World’s Gone Wrong Tour
NOV 13 • 7:00pm Performance
An Evening with Lucinda Williams & Her Band: World’s Gone Wrong Tour
NOV 14 • 7:00pm Performance
An Evening with Lucinda Williams & Her Band: World’s Gone Wrong Tour
NOV 18 • 7:00pm Performance

“perfect… clearly in a league of her own” – Chicago Reader

“My dad, as a poet, always told me to never censor myself – that’s one of his cardinal rules of creative writing,” says multiple-Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams. “That became my motto which I’ve stuck by all these years.” Miller Williams’ advice clearly is borne out on Lucinda’s powerful eighteenth studio album, 2026’s provocative World’s Gone Wrong. “I felt a sense of urgency in making this record,” she adds.
Filled with gut-wrenching topical songs, the album’s ten tracks were written and recorded in a blast of collaborative creativity. There, Lucinda and her co-writers – primarily husband/manager/co-producer Tom Overby and guitarist Doug Pettibone – grappled with the events of spring 2025. Moreover, a whole other album had been in the works. However, the “urgency” to address our current cataclysmic situation motivated Lucinda and company to cut World’s Gone Wrong in direct response. “Music is a powerful weapon,” she points out. “I want this record to make people aware, wake them up. I like to push people’s buttons.”
And that’s what Lucinda fans have come to depend on over the past forty-five years. Her back catalog boasts remarkable albums, including 1998’s game-changing Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Additionally, she’s earned three Grammy awards and countless accolades, including Time Magazine naming her America’s Best Songwriter in 2001. Here, Williams is one of our most revered artists, beloved for her singular vocals and extraordinary songs. And in these troubling times, we need the light she shines on World’s Gone Wrong more than ever before.
Recommended for fans of Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle & Bob Dylan.
📸: Mark Seliger

Brother Ali
2026-11-21 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-11-21 21:30 - 23:30
“clean, crisp modern soul… deeply thought-provoking work” – Pitchfork

Brother Ali is a respected hip hop artist, speaker, and community leader. His two-decade resume includes ten critically acclaimed albums and mentorships with iconic hip hop legends Chuck D and Rakim. Additionally, he has performed on late night shows with Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien.
His provocative and uplifting brand of hip hop has earned him coveted press features. Rolling Stone featured him in their fortieth anniversary edition and he was also in Source Magazine’s “Hip Hop Quotables”. Moreover, his outspoken social justice message has landed him on government watch lists. Also, he’s lectured at universities from Princeton to Stanford and delivered the keynote address at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum.
When he’s not rocking the mic at Coachella or being arrested for civil disobedience in support of marginalized communities, Brother Ali travels the world learning and teaching Islamic Spirituality under some of today’s most renowned teachers. In addition to leading worship services and classes, he co-founded The Gemali Project. There, this organization helps Muslim converts and spiritual seekers access the beauty of the Islamic tradition. Brother Ali recently launched The Travelers Podcast from his new home in Istanbul. From there, he explores life’s journey with cultural, spiritual, and thought leaders from across the globe.
Recommended for fans of Eyedea, Aesop Rock, Atmosphere and Sage Francis.

Irish Christmas in America
2026-11-23 19:00 - 21:00
“Lively and reflective…a powerful evocation of the season” — Folk Wax

The hugely popular holiday show Irish Christmas in America returns in 2026. Here, they bring a fascinating performance of music, song, dance and stories of seasonal Irish traditions.
Produced by Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, this year’s show features an incredible line-up of talented artists. Also, these include Laura Jo (vocals, guitar), Gráinne Hambly (Irish harp, concertina), Caoimhín Ó Fearghaíl (uilleann pipes, flute), Samantha Harvey (piano, dance) and Jack Warnock (guitar, vocals).
Exceptional Irish music, song and dance, combined with evocative photographic images, provide the perfect backdrop to a heartwarming celebration. Here, they bring of the Christmas traditions of Ireland to life. Further, take a memorable glimpse into the enchanting spirit of Christmas. Then, the finest traditional artists from Ireland bring you on a fun-filled start to the 2026 holiday season.
The holiday show was first conceived in 2005 with past tours featuring a stellar list of guest vocalists. Mac Diarmada enthuses about the program as a way to bring traditional and often unknown Irish customs to the U.S.
Recommended for fans of Téada, Altan, The Dubliners and Caladh Nua.
📸: Brendan Duffy

Rickie Lee Jones
2026-11-27 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-11-28 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-11-29 20:00 - 22:00
There will be no dinner service during this show. Dinner service will end at 7PM.

“originality, intimacy, and volcanic expressiveness” – Boston Globe

Rickie Lee Jones is an American musician, storyteller, two-time Grammy winner and eight-time nominee. Here, she has been inspiring pop culture for decades, beginning with her star-making self-titled debut and the seminal Pirates. Moreover, The New Yorker named her the “premiere song-stylist and songwriter of her generation”. Also, Time magazine called her “The Duchess of Coolsville”.
Jones released her Grammy-nominated album Pieces of Treasure in 2023, a reunion with Russ Titelman. There, Russ produced her first two records. Additionally, Jones’ celebrated 2021 memoir Last Chance Texaco was named Book of the Year by MOJO. Then, it made Best of Year lists by NPR, Pitchfork, and many more. The Independent writes, “There has always been something defiant about Rickie Lee Jones… a voice from a dream, elusive yet familiar, transcendent, a messenger from another place.”
Recommended for fans of Joni Mitchell, Edie Brickell, Randy Newman and The Lounge Lizards.

Rachael & Vilray
2026-11-30 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-11-30 21:00 - 23:00
“tunes that echo the feel of standards, without dipping into a single musical or lyrical cliché.” – Downbeat

Brooklyn-based duo Rachael & Vilray have achieved a certain timeless quality with their singular take on traditional pop. There, they have accomplished this since their 2015 formation. Rooted in the language of an earlier age, their songs transcend nostalgia with wit and a flair for the theatrical. On their third album, 2025’s West of Broadway, vocalist Rachael Price (also of Lake Street Dive) and guitarist/singer/songwriter Vilray evolve. Moreover, they shed their music’s previous dreaminess to achieve a refreshing angularity built on left-of-center instrumentation. For example, vibraphone and alto saxophone coast above the moody strains of baritone sax and trombone. Thus, West of Broadway unfolds in a series of sharply drawn vignettes inspired by a recent fascination with classic musicals. Here, they bring their luminous vocals to offbeat tales of love and heartache along city streets.
Furthermore, West of Broadway took shape with renowned musicians like saxophonist Steve Wilson (formerly of Chick Corea’s Origin sextet). Additionally, drummer John Riley (Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie). Over the course of ten lush and effervescent tracks, the album delivers standouts like “Love Comes Around”. Here, this joyously romantic piece set the direction for the LP’s West Coast jazz-inspired aesthetic. Also, “My Key to Gramercy Park”, a fantastically salty number narrated by a well-to-do character. They live in lonely suspicion of all those who covet their key to the notoriously exclusive private park. Further, “Off Broadway”, where golden-voiced comedian Stephen Colbert joins in for what the duo dubs an “oddly grumpy anti-Broadway screed”. The album comes to life in the colorful detail and extravagant personality of Rachael & Vilray’s storytelling. West of Broadway ultimately immerses the audience in an exquisitely out-of-time vision of their beloved New York City.
Recommended for fans of Madeleine Peyroux, Stella Cole, Cyrille Aimée and Lake Street Dive.
