After a musical meeting at Jazzorca in Mexico City earlier this year, Nathan Hanson and Álvaro Torres are joining forces to investigate the spaces where spontaneity meets the familiar, and where familiarity meets the unknown. Their quartet is completed by Liz Draper and Davu Seru, who expand the field of viable sound research. Pianist and […]

The Cherry Pit presents an open jam for musicians and music lovers in the Twin Cities. It’s a social hub for Twin Cities creatives, a training ground to refine musicianship, and a vehicle for high-vibrational improvisation. This is not a free-form basement jam or strictly a jazz jam. Our goal is to find an equilibrium […]

Pianist Alec Watson, upright bassist Pat Keen, and drummer Dave Power will play two sets of Alec Watson originals, improvised pieces, and jazz standards during the dinner hour. Alec Watson is a Minneapolis based pianist, songwriter, and improviser. Under the moniker DPCD, Watson has steadily released music ranging from minimalist folk to haunted parlor ballads. […]

Affinity Trio creates an intimate ambience with a strong rhythmic groove. Individually, its members have worked with some of the biggest names in the jazz world: Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, Bruce Barth, Brian Lynch, Greg Tardy, Frank Morgan, and more. The trio has held a regular Monday night residency at the […]

Guitarist Joel Shapira will perform original compositions and jazz classics off his new solo guitar release, Unscripted. He is a leader and/or member of multiple top Twin Cities jazz ensembles, and he is a master of the demanding discipline of solo guitar. He performs regularly with world-class musicians, has numerous recordings to his credit, and […]

Backed by her powerhouse Minneapolis band, Lucia Sarmiento will deliver explosive sax solos, unstoppable energy, and a bold new take on pop and jazz from her debut album, Escape. Band Members: Lucia Sarmiento - Saxophone David Feily - Guitar Jason Craft - Keys Aníbal Soares - Bass Pete James Johnson - Drums On her remarkable […]

Hailed as a “Rising Star” in the world of jazz (DownBeat Critics Poll), Nick Finzer is making waves with his dynamic original compositions and trombone artistry. Finzer has toured the globe as a bandleader and has shared the stage with some of the most respected names in jazz. As a headlining trombonist and an entrepreneur, […]

Caroline Davis Portals is an immersive sound and haptic experience, drawing upon the idea of mourning and ancestral communications as textural entities. The music has been mindfully written to offer connections to Caroline’s ancestors who have transitioned and elements they would like to explore through the life-cycle portal. Through the compositions, the ensemble engages in […]

The WPK Trio presents an enticing mix of straight-ahead jazz, Brazilian stylings, and funky soul influences as they explore the Great American Songbook with a few surprises. The trio (Mark Weisberg, Michael Pilhofer, Phil Kadidlo) will engage in spirited musical conversation with gifted multi-saxophonist Peter Vircks as they explore compositions by Brad Melhdau, Pat Metheny, […]

Composer/saxophonist Joan Hutton will perform a mix of originals, standards, and free jazz with guitarist Mike Wolter and bassist Dan Carpel. Joan Hutton is a performer, composer, and educator in Minneapolis whose diverse talents make her equally in demand in both the classical and jazz worlds. She has released two albums on Shifting Paradigm Records: […]

Miki Yamanaka lights up every room she plays, blending deep swing, sharp instincts, and a joyful presence that draws listeners in. Witness her Midwest debut at Berlin! Band Members: Miki Yamanaka - Piano Tyrone Allen II - Bass Jimmy Macbride - Drums ⊹ Japanese-born pianist Miki Yamanaka has wasted no time in establishing herself as […]

Grammy-winning saxophonist Miguel Zenón and prolific pianist Luis Perdomo will team up for two exceptional shows at Berlin. Their mission? To celebrate the Latin American songbook and the joy, tenderness, and beauty within. Grammy winner, Doris Duke Artist, and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón represents a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced […]