Twin Cities Jazz Fest rolls in with new acts; new leadership

This year’s Twin Cities Jazz Festival, held June 21-22, will feature everything people have come to expect and love of the festival over the past 25 years: great music, food and beverages, and the chance to enjoy the genre with other jazz aficionados. The festival typically draws about 35,000 people and is streamed online across the world.

Free performances will be held Friday evening and all day Saturday on two outdoor stages at Mears Park. People are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. A handful of food trucks will be parked along Wacouta as usual, and some vendors will be in Mears Park including Grand Ole Creamery ice cream and Erta Ale samosa cart. St. Paul-based Dual Citizen Brewing Company is the beer sponsor this year and will have its brews and seltzers at three bars. Gallo is the wine sponsor. Those looking to extend their jazz experience can also visit 19 independent businesses that are hosting live music throughout the weekend, although some may have a cover charge. Free Metro Transit passes are available June 21-22.

Several of the performers will host a master class teaching session while in the area, and two indoor youth stages will be set up June 21-22 to allow middle school, high school and college students to perform. New this year is a black dance improvisation performance at 4:30 p.m., June 22, at Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. in Minneapolis. It’s being held in partnership with choreographer Leslie Parker and will feature a jazz band with DiCarlo Jackson on trumpet and Damien Strange on multiple instruments.

Here’s the lineup. Details were accurate as of press time but are subject to change. For more information, visit twincitiesjazzfestival.com.

Jazz88 Main Stage at Mears Park, 221 5th St. E. On Friday, June 21: Claudia Medina’s Peruvian Project, 4 p.m; Karrin Allyson, 6 p.m.; Stefon Harris & Blackout, 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, June 22: Joe Lovano master class, 11 a.m.; youth performances from Walker West Music Academy and MacPhail Center for Music, noon; Kavyesh Kaviraj Quintet, 2 p.m.; Walker West Jazzwomen Collective, 4 p.m.; Kandace Springs, 6 p.m.; and Joe Lovano Quartet, 8:30 p.m.

United Healthcare Jazz on 5th St. Stage at Mears Park, 221 5th St. E. June 21: Gypsy Mania Hot Club Quartet, 5 p.m.; Jack Brass Band, 7:30 p.m. June 22: The Avant Garde, 3 p.m.; Salsa del Soul, 5 p.m.; and Swingin’ on a Star, 7:30 p.m.

The Jazz88/MPSVoices.com stage will be at Twin Cities PBS, 172 4th St. E. June 21: Washburn High School Jazz Combos, 2 p.m.; Aberration Combo, 3:45 p.m.; Take That Back, 7 p.m,; and Connie Evingson, 8:45 p.m. June 22: Zorevo, 11 a.m.; Southwest High School Jazz Combo, 12:45 p.m.; South High School Jazz Combo, 2:30 p.m.; Courtney Burton and Court’s in Session, 5:30 p.m.; Omar Abdulkarim Quartet, 7:15 p.m.; and Lenore Raphael Trio, 9 p.m.

The Walker West Music Academy Youth Stage will be in Saint City, 281 7th St. E. June 21: Karrin Allyson Master Class with Walker West Jazzwomen Collective, 12:30 p.m.; Walker West Women in Jazz, 2 p.m.; Walker West Youth Jazz Ensembles, 2:45 p.m.; Kamoinge Strings of Walker West Music Academy, 4 p.m.; and MN Hard Bop Collective Sit-in Series, 5 p.m. June 22: High School for Recording Arts & Purple Playground, 11 a.m.; Matthew Bennett Quartet, noon; Collin Roycraft Quintet, 1:30 p.m.; Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands, 3:15 p.m.; Parkview Center School Jazz Band, 4:15 p.m.; and Minnesota Hard Bop Collective Sit-In Series, 5 p.m.

New leader
For the first time since its founding in 1999, the Twin Cities Jazz Fest has a new executive director. Dayna Martinez assumed the role last fall after founder Steve Heckler announced his retirement. She comes from the Ordway Center for Performing Arts where she worked for 25 years, most recently as vice president of programming and education. For the past 12 years, she oversaw the Ordway’s Flint Hills Family Festival, a 4-day event that draws upwards of 50,000 people annually.

Martinez and Heckler have known each other for about a decade. They served together on the St. Paul Cultural Star Board for the City of St. Paul and were both founding members of the St. Paul Festival Association, which supports community festivals in the Twin Cities. Upon hearing of his impending retirement, she called to congratulate him. During their discussion, he encouraged her to apply for his position with the Jazz Fest, and it didn’t take much convincing. Last spring Martinez joined the Jazz Fest team in a part-time role and shadowed Heckler as he organized his final Jazz Fest. She officially took the reins in November after his retirement in October.

“I learned a lot over the last year and was so grateful to be able to have that time with Steve,” said Martinez. “He’s been a pillar of the jazz community, and the festival community for that matter, and he agreed to stay on with the Jazz Festival as an emeritus board member.”

Martinez’s first order of business was rolling out the Winter Jazz Fest, held in late February at Park Square Theatre and the now-closed KJ’s Hideaway. She said the event had a good turnout, and she met many passionate jazz fans. It was a surprise to her when she heard in March that KJ’s abruptly closed. The owners cited unexpected personal matters as the reason for closure.

Martinez said she’d like to expand the Jazz Fest into more Minneapolis venues in the future. She also aims to bring jazz musicians into K-12 classrooms to keep the next generation interested in the genre. For now, though, she is focused on making this year’s festival a success.

“I’m really proud of the headliners we booked for both days,” said Martinez. “I’m also excited about some of the other bands that we announced. For example, we’ve got Claudia Medina. She’s originally from Peru and is a saxophone player…. She and some local women are going to open up the Jazz88 main stage on Friday, June 21 at four o’clock. I’m really excited about that.” She also noted that Lenore Raphael, a pianist from New York, will play with local drum and bass musicians on June 22.

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