Jason Weissman Quartet, Hell's Kitchen, 10:00 am on Dec. 24

Start Christmas early.....very early, with brunch at Hell's Kitchen.  Jason's quite a singer, sax player and songwriter.  His band is always a top-notch collection of the area's best jazz musicians.

Babatunde Lea at Studio Z on Saturday, Dec. 17

This Saturday I'll be at Studio Z in St. Paul with Babtunde Lea (great percussionist).  We're doing his compositions that are based on traditional African chants.  He's an absolute powerhouse.  The concert starts at 7:00 pm.

Phil Aaron, Anthony Cox and Phil Hey at The Khyber Pass Cafe, Thursday, Dec. 15

I'll be playing with a great trio that's doing all original material that I've composed as well as a few free improvisations.  Anthony Cox is on bass and Phil Hey is on drums.  These guys are world-class musicians - known nationally and internationally.  I haven't been this excited about a gig in a long time.  The Khyber Pass Cafe is ion Grand Ave. in St. Paul (they have a Thursday night new music series).  It's an Afghani restaurant.  I've heard from others that the food is "out of this world".  WE'll play from 9:00 to 11:30.

Babatunde Lea, Wednesday, November 16 at Jazz Central

The great drummer/percussionist Babatunde Lea will be presenting his original music.  We'll be joined by Pete Whitman who will also add to the repertoire.  We'll lay from 8:30 to 10:30.

Joyce Lyons, Tuesday, Novemeber 15, in The Dunsmore Room at Crooners

Great jazz in what I think is the Twin Cities finest jazz room (world class!).  Joyce is a wonderful singer who swings hard and "kills" a ballad.  Great band too, with Graydon Peterson on bass and Jay Epstein on drums.  We'll play form 7:00. to 9:00.

Joyce Lyons, Tuesday, November 15, in The Dunsmore Room at Crooners

Great jazz in a world class jazz room.  Joyce is a wonderful singer who swings hard and "kills" a ballad.  Great band too, with Graydon Peterson on bass and Jay Epstein on drums.  We'll play form 7:0. to 9:00.  What's more, I get to play a 9' Steinway!

Twin Cites 7, Thursday, November 3 at Vieux Carre

We're back yet again, and swinging like crazy!  Doug Haining leads a great band with an all-star horn section.  We'll be playing from 9:00 till midnight.

Baba Tunde Lea, Saturday, October 15 at The Black Dog

If you haven't caught Tunde........you should.  He's an absolutely stunning drummer and percussionist; a master of African and Latin rhythms.  We'll be playing from 8:30 to 11:00.

Peter Kogan's Monsterful Wonderul Band, Saturday, Oct. 1 at The Dakota

This is Peter's larger band with a three piece horn section.  We'll start around 10:30 - 10:45.  it all depends on when Eric Burdon and the Animals wrap set. (Yes, that Eric Burdon and the Animals!)

Peter Kogan Quintet, Friday, Sept 30 at Jazz Central

I think we start at 8:00.  Peter's quite a composer and his band has some really great players in it.

Twin Cities 7, Thursday, Sept. 29 at Vieux Carre

We're back and swinging hard!  Doug Haining leads a great band with an all-star horn section.  We'll be playing from 9:00 till midnight.

Phil Aaron Trio, Wednesday, September 14 at Vieux Carre

I'll be joined by two very special musicians (and friends): Gary Raynor on bass and Jay Epstein on drums.  We put our own spin on everything.   Nothing sounds the same twice.  After all, this is jazz improvisation.  That's what we go for!

Debbie Duncan, Saturday, Sept. 10 at Crooners

Always swinging, always fantastic and always entertaining.  It's a joy to accompany Debbie.  We'll go from 7:30 to 10:30.

Paul Harper Quartet, Saturday Sept. 3 at The Black Dog

A great quartet consisting of Paul on sax. Tom Lewis on bass and Nathan Norman on drums.  The focus is on jazz from the 60's and 70's (really great years!)  We'' play from 8:30 to approximately 11:00.

Peter Kogan Quintet, Friday Sept 2 at Vieux Carre

We're back for another night  of Peter's originals and some swinging post-bop.  Besides Peter on drums, the band has an all-star cast: Pete Whittman on sax, Soloman Parham on trumpet and Anthony Cox on bass.  We'll play from 9:00 to midnight.

Vicky Mountain, Lucia Newell and Judy Vinar, Wednesday, August 10 at Crooners

Graydon Peterson and I will be accompanying these three great singers in the Dunsmore Room.

Suzanne Paris, Thursday, July 14 at Jazz Central

We'll continue our interpretaions of great jazz standards.  Jim Chenoweth will be joining us on bass too!

Suzanne Paris. Wednesday, July 13 at the Marsh

I'll be accompanying Suzanne as sings classics from the great American Songbook.  We'll go from 6 to 8.

Maryanne Sullivan. Tuesday, July 12 at Vieux Carre

A singing quartet with a swinging singer! We'll be going from 8 to 11.

Pete Snell Trio. Saturday, July 9 at the Black Dog

Tom Lewis (bass) and I will join Pete Snell and his tenor sax at The Black Dog in St. Paul.  We'll start at 6:00 and finish up around 8:00.

The Peter Kogan Quartet. Friday, July 8 at Vieux Carre

This all-star ensemble returns to Vieux Carre for a night of Peter's originals and some standards mixed in.  We'll start at 9:00 and wind down around midnight.

The Phil Hey Quartet. Thursday, July 7, at Reverie

Fresh form the Iowa City jazz festival, we'll keep the groove going at Reverie - a new club on Nicollet Ave in Mpls.  We'll play two sets, beginning at 9"00 and ending around 11:00.

Twin Cities 7, Monday, June 20 at Crooners

We're back again!  Always swinging hard and having fun.  An all-star ensemble that plays the music of Ellington, Basie, and other great big bands.  We play from 7 to 10.

Babatunde Lea, Saturday, June 18 at The Black Dog

Babatunde is amazing.  He's one of the most exciting drummer/percussionists I've ever played with.  The music is deeply rooted in African and Latin rhythms.  We'll play from 8:30 to 11:00.

Phil Aaro Trio, Wednesday, June 15 at Vieux Carre

I'll be joined by Gary Raynor on bass and Jay Epstein on drums.  I love this trio.  We really explore the music and dig deep.  It's about improvisation and discovery.  We'll play from 8:00 to 11:00.  Vieux Carre  is on 7th Place in St. Paul, across from the St. Paul Hotel.

Maud Hixson, Wednesday, May 4 at The Marsh in Minnetonka

Once again, I'll be accompanying silky vocalist Maud Hixson.  We perform from 5:30 to 7:30.  Just the two of us.  Warm and intimate jazz.  It was GREAT last time.  Looking forward to it again.

Debbie Duncan, Friday April 22 at Hell's Kitchen

It's my privilege to be working with Debbie Duncan.  She's inspiring....and boy can she sing.  Music starts at 6:00.

Twin Cities 7. Monday, April 18 at Crooners

The Twin Cities 7 is an all-star cast playing jazz the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and other swing bands.  We'll play from 7 to 10 in the lounge.

Minnesota Jazz Legends, Sunday, April 24 at The MN History Center

I'll be part of the rhythm section that will honor and accompany three Minnesota jazz legends: Dave Karr, Leo Fine and Tom Tipton. Music starts at 2:00.

Patty Peterson, Friday, April 29 in the Lounge at Crooners

Crooners just keeps happening. This time we're in the lounge with Twin Cities' legend Patty Peterson. We'll be going from 7:30 to 10:30.

Lucia Newell, Sunday April 24 in The Dunsmore Room at Crooners

This should be sweet.  Just the wonderful Lucia Newell and I with a 9 foot Bosendorfer in the Dunsmore Room (best jazz room in town).  Can't get any more intimate than this. We'll sing and play from 7:00 to 9:00.

Maryann Sullivan, Friday, April 15 at Parma

What better way to celebrate "tax day"?  Maryann is a really swinging singer who brings those old standards to life.  The band will be swinging to: Graydon Peterson on bass and Trevor Haining on drums.  We'll play from 7:30 to 10:30

Lila Ammons, Wednesday April 13 at Tangiers

Tom Lewis and I will be joining vocalist Lila Ammons for an evening of jazz.  We'll play from 6:00 to 9:00.

Joyce Lyons, Sunday April 9 in The Dunsmore Room at Crooners

Great jazz in what I think is the Twin Cities finest jazz room (world class!).  Joyce is a wonderful singer who swings hard and "kills" a ballad.  Great band too, with Graydon Peterson on bass and Jay Epstein on drums.  We'll play form 7:0. to 9:00.

Lila Ammons. Thursday, April 7th at Jazz Central

Tom Lewis, Jay Epstein and I will accompany vocalist Lila Ammons from 7:30 to 9:30.  Lila sings with a great combination of jazz and soul (must be those Chicago roots).  This should be swinging!

Maud Hixon, Wednesday, April 6th at The Marsh in Minnetonka

I'll be accompanying silky vocalist Maud Hixon.  We perform from 5:30 to 7:30.  Just the two of us.  Warm and intimate jazz.

Jason Weissman Quartet. Easter Sunday at Hell's Kitchen.

With Jason on vocals and sax along with Gordy Johnson on bass and Pete Henning on drums.  From 10;00am to 1:00 pm.

Twin Citites 7. Tuesday March 22 at Crooners

We're back and swingin'. We'll play form 7:00 to 10:00.

Peter Kogan Quartet. Saturday, March 19 at Vieux Carrie

With Peter Kogan on drums, Pete Whitman on sax and Anthony Cox on bass. We'll play from 8:00 to 11:00.

Lila Ammons Trio. Wed, March 16 at Tangiers in Mpls.

Tom Lewis and I will be accompanying vocalist Lila Ammons.  Lila sings with a wonderful blend of jazz and soul.  Great tunes too.  Form 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Twin Cities 7, Monday, Jan 18 at Crooners

The Twin Cities 7 is an all-star cast playing jazz in the tradition of Count Basie and other swing bands.  We'll play from 7 to 10 in the lounge at Crooners in Fridley.  It's much closer than you think.....and the food is great too.