Connie Evingson Has Planned a Star-Studded Farewell to Beloved Twin Cities Venue The Woman’s Club

 

This interview originally aired on The Afternoon Cruise on 05/19/25

READ THE COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

Sean McPherson (Jazz88) 

It is the Afternoon Cruise. I’m chatting with vocalist Connie Evingson. She’s getting ready to do her final performance at the Woman’s Club in Minneapolis. It’s next Wednesday, May 28 and Connie and Lori Dokken are co presenting a concert title our hearts will go on. This event features an incredible list of Twin Cities talents such asMary Jane Alm, Doug Anderson, Ginger Commodore, Lori Dokken, Joan Griffith, Jennifer Grimm, Rachel Holder, Patty Peterson, T. Mychael Rambo, Emily Rubbelke, Erin Schwab, Dane Stauffer, Judi Vinar, Charmin Michelleand truly, many more. And in addition to this star studded lineup, it’s commendable that this performance benefits two current Women’s Club tenants that would be involve MN and Project DIVA International, the funds will help them secure a new physical space for their organizations. Connie, we got a lot to talk about, but first off, I had the chance to see you perform last night at a private party. I was just reminded you have an awesome voice and an incredible command of this music. No question. I just want to let you know it was a joy to see you sing.

 

Connie Evingson 

Oh, wow. Thank you so much.

 

Sean McPherson (Jazz88) 

Now, Connie, you’ve been at the Women’s Club for quite some time. Do you say 2011 is that? 11? Is that?

 

Connie Evingson 

Yes, I started jazz in the lounge in 2011!

 

Sean McPherson (Jazz88) 

Yeah, that’s a while ago. And let’s be honest, we are both been working musicians. And sometimes venues close and you go, good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you. But here’s the situation, it’s not that way for the Woman’s Club. You’ve had a beautiful tenure there. What makes you love this club as part of your performing career?

 

Connie Evingson 

Well, number one, it is a beautiful, physical space, and it has a historic significance. It’s been there since 1929. You know, just in the very gracious feeling, very welcoming. My shows have been open to the public, so we’ve had lots of people. Lots of people come in and they go, “oh, wow, I’ve never been here before” and they just fall in love with it, you know, it’s great. Just it’s, you know, you can imagine all those years being right there, anchored at Loring Park, all the history that’s come in and out and around that place. So I’ve just loved it, and also just working with the people that work there, I’m going to miss them a lot.Yeah, it’s just, it’s we don’t know yet what’s going to happen. Anything can happen, but the building will be for sale, and the club itself may go on in another venue, but for right now, we are going to celebrate the place that it has been and that it is until May 31 and with this big last hurrah with, you know, as you mentioned, quite a list of fantastic musicians and so, yeah, it’s going to be fun.

 

Sean McPherson (Jazz88) 

I’m chatting with Connie Evenson. She is part of the final show at the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis before they close. “Our heart will go On” happening next Wednesday, May 2. Nnow Connie, when we lose a great and supportive venue, and as you mentioned, it’s TBD, perhaps that this, this, this venue and this vibe will reconstitute it somewhere else. There’s a big impact, not just on the musicians who play play there, but on the neighborhood, on the scene, on the people who work there, on the whole thing. It seems like you must have had a really easy time getting people to show up to support the end of this venue, as you were going around and calling a lot of friends and a lot of people on the scene. Was it just this thing where folks go, if I’m available, I’m going to be there to support this venue?

 

Connie Evingson 

Yes, in fact, we had many more who really wanted to to join us, but were busy, either had a gig or were out of town or couldn’t make it. And you know, many of these people, many of the people that you listed, have performed there before, and love the club as well. There’s it’s just it, you know, it’s a special place for all of us. So yes, it was not hard to corral. Yeah, I think we’ve got 30 some people, including, I don’t know if you mentioned the isles ensemble, six or seven people. I think, you know, or is it a quintet? I carry out, it’s the, it’s the isles ensemble. Is a string ensemble. And I’m not sure if there, if it’s a quintet, sexted, I’m not sure. But anyway, there’s, there’s a number of people in that one and then, and so, you know, yeah, and then we’ve got like, 25,26 other singers, performers.

 

Sean McPherson (Jazz88) 

Now, Connie, you have a real gift, as I just witnessed last night, performing live. But you’re no stranger to recording studios. You’ve released a bunch of records. In effect, you have a new record on the way, but there’s something special about playing live, and there’s something special about playing in a setting where you really get to know the venue, get to know the sound system, get to know the staff, even just get to know your parking spot where you go, Oh, this is where I go. I’m going to go in. I got my band. I’m going to do my thing. What? What still sort of gives you that energy when you get to step up on a stage and perform,

 

Connie Evingson 

yeah, well, I think that is a conditioned response that we have to have. Let’s just be honest, we rise to the occasion no matter where we are, you know, and also, let’s it’s also inspired by the people you’re working with. You know, as soon as the downbeat happens and the music starts to happen. You just go into that zone, and that’s still, you know, kind of a my inner home. As soon as that happens, I feel I’m at home. And in certain venues, you know, that, like the Woman’s Club, you know, it has become a home, as you mentioned, all those, those things, the familiarity of the people who work there, the sound system, the place to park. You know, it’s all kind of a known quantity, and you start to feel, you know, at home sometimes, you know, a new venue is also exciting. I’m not going to turn down. I’m not going to say that a gig in a new venue would would not be desirable either. But, you know, it’s all you know, the home you have to feel at home on the stage, and the people that you’re working with are part of that feeling, and also the venue as well. If, you know, if, especially if you’ve been there a while, and people are very supportive, and you know, it’s just a cozy, wonderful thing, oh man, well, it’s, it’s always a sad thing when we lose a venue that’s supportive of musicians, because we always need more. And there’s some venues that aren’t as supportive of musicians as others are. So this is a big loss for the community.

 

Sean McPherson (Jazz88) 

I do appreciate you ending it on a high note with so many other fellow musicians. The event is “Our Heart Will Go On.” It’s Wednesday, May 29 excuse me, Wednesday, May 28 over at the Woman’s Club, Connie and Lori Dokken co presenting this concert, Connie, I just kind of play a little bit of your music before, yeah.

 

Connie Evingson 

Can I say one other thing, though? Yes, tickets. Tickets are at womansclub.org, and there’s two levels I mentioned, the VIP thing that’s happening in the lounge. You get some special things with that, like a parking place, designated parking and and you, and then you also get to, you know, come to the that’s at 530 doors, I think at four, and maybe at five and but all everything will be on the website. And then the other show that starts in the theaters at seven. There’ll be food like, as I had mentioned, in the food truck, there’ll be drinks all over the place, and it’s just gonna be a great time, and it’ll be your last chance to see the Woman’s Club.

 

Sean McPherson (Jazz88) 

Connie, thank you. Thank you for the information. We’re going to play a little bit of something from your forthcoming record, hornucopia. We’ll get to a couple minutes of whisper, not featuring the legend Benny Golson joining you on tenor sax. Connie, thank you for visiting jazz 88 and thank you for celebrating this venue and ending their tenure in a really nice way with this.  Oh,

 

Connie Evingson 

Oh, thank you for having me.

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