Jazz Notes

Site Update (September 2025)

vusleeper September 20, 2025

Since September 1st, I have been really busy backing up the TypePad website, month by month… starting in August 2025 and working backward to January 2007. With everyone also backing up, they knocked the host offline for a few days, so I was worried for a while about getting all my data off of TypePad. It’s all fixed now, so as of a few days ago, I’ve grabbed all the pages and their thumbnails (displayed images). The next step is to drill down and download all the full images… which might not be possible, given the short time frame. We only have a week before they pull the plug.

Selby Avenue Jazz Fest (September 13, 2025)

dave@weheartmusic.com September 14, 2025

The Selby Avenue Jazz Fest is in the heart of St. Paul, specifically, the Rondo neighborhood. It was founded in 2002 as a response to the one-year anniversary of 9/11. Co-founder, Michael Wright, felt a need to celebrate the good things going on in the world and in the heart of St. Paul, and he felt, “Nothing gets people together like a good old-fashioned block party.” The inaugural Jazz Fest had 600 people. There were quite a few more on Saturday.

Southside Aces at 370 Sets, St Paul (June 24, 2025)

Thaddeus-WHM June 24, 2025

Southside Aces at 370 Sets (June 24, 2025) Southside Aces Setlist Anytime (Emmett Miller cover)...

Adi Yeshaya Jazz Orchestra with Jennifer Grimm 2

Twin Cities Jazz Festival at Mears Park, St Paul (June 20-21, 2025)

dave@weheartmusic.com June 22, 2025

On a balmy summer evening in downtown St. Paul the Twin Cities Jazz Festival kicked off its 27th year. Earlier in the week the Star and Tribune noted that the TCJF is bigger than the Taste of Minnesota and boasts more musical acts than the Minnesota Yacht Club. In fact, there were over eighty artists playing 20 venues over two days and a lot of it was free. So, it was my intention to catch five of these acts at Mears Park.

Minneapolis: March 14, 2025

vusleeper February 14, 2025

Minneapolis: March 14, 2025 Pre-game your St Patrick’s Day with Irish traditional band Lúnasa at the Pantages Theatre, in Minneapolis, on March 14. The band now features guest artist award-winning fiddler Colin Farrell (from Manchester, England), bassist Trevor Hutchinson (former member of The Waterboys, piper and Riverdancer, Cillian Vallely, flutist Kevin Crawford, All-Ireland fiddle champion Sean Smyth (founding member of Donal Lunny’s Coolfin), and guitarist Ed Boyd (worked with with Flook and Kate Rusby.)

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Rocktober: October 15, 2024

vusleeper September 19, 2024

Rocktober: October 15, 2024

Cyrille Aimée – à Fleur de Peau

dave@weheartmusic.com March 6, 2024

We Heart Music had the opportunity to chat with Cyrille Aimée as she embarks on a world tour to promote her latest album à Fleur de Peau out on Via Recordings March 8th with a stop at the Dakota on March 19th.

Veronica Swift at the Dakota (09-22-23)

dave@weheartmusic.com September 23, 2023

What’s neat about writing for We Heart Music is to see fans of all ages at shows. In fact, the age gap between the audience at the Varsity Theater to see David Kushner on September 21st and Veronica Swift at the Dakota the night after is almost three generations. And although the crowd at the Dakota was a little greyer, they were no less enthusiastic in their applause for they were treated to an eclectic, dynamic show from a performer not yet thirty.

Hiromi at Dakota Jazz Club (05/17/2023)

dave@weheartmusic.com May 18, 2023

After a nine year hiatus, Hiromi Uehara returned to Dakota Jazz Club to offer the audience an inside peak to her new band, Sonicwonder, with Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Hadrien Feraud on electric bass and Gene Coye on drums.

World Beat: Seun Kuti, Linda Ronstadt, Lucibela

vusleeper September 13, 2022

World Beat: Seun Kuti, Linda Ronstadt, Lucibela

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A Jazzy Christmas

vusleeper December 3, 2021

A Jazzy Christmas. This year, Putumayo is releasing Jazz Christmas, an uplifting collection of mostly instrumental jazz for the holidays. If you like World Music, chances are, you probably own a Putumayo album. They are known for compiling some of the best music from around the world.

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R.I.P. Nancy Wilson and Anca Pop

vusleeper December 21, 2018

American singer Nancy Wilson has died on December 13th. I know we’re late to mention the news, but her contribution to blues and jazz is so important that we had at least acknowledge the sad news of her passing.

Cyrus Chestnut Trio at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, St Paul (06/29/13)

Cyrus Chestnut Trio – Twin Cities Jazz Festival (06/29/13) St Paul, MN live review

JohnC@weheartmusic.com July 2, 2013

The Baltimore-born Chestnut, who cut his chops playing piano for the likes of Terrence Blanchard, Wynton Marsalis, and Betty Carter assuredly led his Trio (bassist Eric Wheelerbass and 19-year old drummer Evan Sherman) through an enjoyable 100 min set of standards, covers, and playful original compositions, on a perfect Saturday evening under the stars at St. Paul’s Mears Park.

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Jazz #19 – Have a Family Reunion

dave@weheartmusic.com March 5, 2012

What makes New Orleans not only a musician’s town but also a place that produces musical families? Take the Marsalis family. There’s Wynton, one of jazz’s more tireless promoters. Then you have Branford, Delfeayo and Jason. Plus, don’t forget the man who started it all, Ellis.

Jazz Note #18 – Love What You Do

dave@weheartmusic.com January 27, 2012

If you want to know why I love jazz, look at the aside picture. It’s Art Blakey and he is smiling. In fact, any picture of him behind a set of drums wielding a pair of sticks has a beaming face. That’s unless he’s brandishing a lit cigarette. Then, with lips pursed he reveals a sly grin.

Jazz Note #17 – Learn Something New

dave@weheartmusic.com December 1, 2011

Sometimes I wonder if jazz musicians are born to continually hone their craft. For them, music isn’t an arc where a creative flourish is followed by future reunion tours. Instead, it’s a rise and expansion of musical proficiency and knowledge. For example, take a look at bassist, Dave Holland.

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Jazz Note #16 – Name That Tune

dave@weheartmusic.com August 28, 2011

I’m not a big fan of hastily put together cover albums, especially when the musical cannon comes from the Disney Vault. It seems every song that has been done has been covered again. Do we really need another rendition of “It’s a Small World” after hearing Slim Whitman and The Baha Men? But even with my reservation, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with Everybody Wants to be a Cat.

Jazz Note #15 – Highlight a Town Part II

dave@weheartmusic.com July 1, 2011

There is a lot of great music in the Crescent City. More than any other New Orleans is a musician’s town. After all, how many other cities have their airport named after a trumpet player?

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Jazz Note #15 – Highlight a Town Part I

dave@weheartmusic.com June 29, 2011

When TV Creator, David Simon, chose to set his new HBO series in post-Katrina New Orleans, critics wondered if he was going to bring the same Dickensian scope he brilliantly illuminated in The Wire. The short answer is no.

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Michael

vusleeper June 4, 2011

Michael is a name that means "Who is like God". If we can afford it, we would love to head down to the annual New Orleans Jazz Festival someday. I suppose the next best thing is to get music from the New Orleans area, and like various tributes, Dr Michael White, a clarinetist, basically dedicate his fifth album to the city with Adventures in New Orleans Jazz, Part 1. I have put in a request for the album to be reviewed (Dave has agreed to review it), but I wanted to pass on the news that his album is coming out on June 21st. I have posted a preview track, "West African Strut" for you to check out. As the song title suggests, the song's melodies were influenced by African rhythm, but if you listen some more, it definitely also feels like a fun 50s bop.

Jazz Note #14 – Capture an Era

dave@weheartmusic.com May 14, 2011

We here at We Heart Music are big fans of Putumayo and their focus on music from around the world. They are like a cool friend who makes really great mixed tapes. Forget splapdash and haphazard, the selections they chose have something to say and blend so well with the others.

Jazz Note #13 – Go Global

dave@weheartmusic.com April 27, 2011

If you need someone to blame every time you hear “The Girl from Ipanema” in a hotel lobby or office elevator, you can take it out on Stan Getz. But how did a Jewish kid from the Bronx usher in a new global sound?

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Jazz Note #12 – Frame the Moment

dave@weheartmusic.com April 4, 2011

Growing up in Ohio, Nancy Wilson knew early she wanted to be a singer. After winning talent shows, working clubs, touring with a big band and studying briefly to become a teacher, she decided to make a move to New York City in 1959.

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Jazz Note #11 – Find a Groove

dave@weheartmusic.com February 26, 2011

“If you make a mistake, don’t stop. Make it part of what you are playing.” I think of this quote by Oscar Peterson every time I hear one of his songs. He doesn’t so much play the piano as propel it. In the middle of a solo, every key is under his domain as he deftly dashes the ebony and ivory with contradictory urgency and ease. Even if Peterson made a mistake, you may never hear it.

Jazz Note #10 – Baby It’s Freaking Cold Outside

dave@weheartmusic.com January 21, 2011

The other day I took out the garbage. And as I headed inside, I noticed a mound of snow, which had been piling since early December, was now over my head. I took this as a bad sign. If Punxsutawney Phil lived in Minnesota, he would certainly wait until July before moving to Mexico. The weatherperson verified this sentiment the other night. She said that spring will be delayed because the endless acres of fallen snow will act as a giant fridge when warmer winds appear. But that’s many days away. Today its four degrees above zero. Like Vu, I find January to be about survival.

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Jazz Note # 9 – Then and Now

dave@weheartmusic.com November 10, 2010

One reason I like jazz is how incorporates other musical genres like Blues, Soul and Samba. Does Hip Hop have a future in this stream? Nas certainly floated the question when he released his album, “Hip Hop is Dead.” His statement wasn’t if Hip Hop is viable but was it more than a product. Can it survive as an independent art form or like disco will it be gobbled by a music industry looking for steady revenue?

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Jazz Note # 8 – Pay Tribute

dave@weheartmusic.com September 27, 2010

Allen Toussaint is one of those musicians you may have never heard of but you know his work. His collaborations run from Patti LaBelle and Otis Redding to The O’Jays and The Rolling Stones. He wrote the Grammy nominated song, “Southern Lights”, famously sung by country singer, Glen Campbell. Recently he did an album with Elvis Costello and even appeared with Cyndi Lauper on David Letterman. Songwriter, producer, musician, there isn’t a facet or genre Toussaint hasn’t touched in his forty years in the business, but what drew my attention was an album he released a couple years ago, “The Bright Mississippi.”

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THE IMAGINE PROJECT – HERBIE HANCOCK

dave@weheartmusic.com July 10, 2010

In the liner notes Herbie Hancock apologizes to anyone he may have left out. After listening to his latest album, The Imagine Project, I wonder who it might have been. The purpose of the project “is an effort to show the power and beauty of global collaboration as a golden path to peace.” How do you do that? By inviting everybody to be on your album from Pink and Chaka Khan to John Legend and Seal. Even my two favorite bands, Los Lobos and The Chieftains make an appearance, as well as international stars like Anoushka Shankar and Juanes.

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Jazz Note # 7 – Whip Something Up

dave@weheartmusic.com September 21, 2008

When Duke Ellington ran into Colman Hawkins and said the above quote, I don’t think either of them thought it would take twenty years to put an album together. It did but they never forget the date.

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Jazz Note #6 – Kick Back and Relax

dave@weheartmusic.com June 16, 2008

What I like about jazz is how multi-dimensional it can be. From Dixieland, Big Band to a small trio playing in a hotel lounge, jazz can stir a swell of emotions from wooing a lover to putting a spring in your step. It can even make you want to kick back after a long day and relax.