Rio Nido is one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved and enduring vocal jazz ensembles. The group began in the late 1970s, when chanteuse Prudence Johnson joined forces with ace guitarists and singers Tim Sparks and Tom Lieberman. Their Minneapolis-based group’s debut LP, “I Like to Riff,” is considered by many to be a classic of the vocal jazz genre, featuring reinterpretations of the acrobatic vocal arrangements of such fabled harmonists as The Boswell Sisters & Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. After three albums and wide popular and critical acclaim, the individual members parted ways to forge their own artistic paths, which crossed once again in 2015. Rio Nido plays two shows at the Dakota tonight at 7 PM and 9 PM.
Interview originally aired Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017 on the Morning Show with Emily Reese.
Rio Nido performs “Tee Many Martoonis” in the Jazz88 studio.
