For over two decades, Southside Aces have been playing the repertoire of the Jazz Age greats and beyond. Here, they play the early New Orleans of Jelly Roll Morton and the Chicago joys of Louis Armstrong. The evocative compositions of the young Duke Ellington to the barrel house sounds of Preservation Hall. Even the early rock and […]

Nancy Bierma has a classical degree in piano and has been leading her own jazz groups for many years. She is in the Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame. Her husband, […]

Dale Alexander at the age of 24 had a rich and varied musical background than many musicians achieve in a lifetime. Studying with prominent musicians such as Marvin Dahlgren and Dr. Reginald Buckner of the University School of Music served to enhance Dale’s unlimited natural musical talent. He was recognized by the University of Wisconsin […]

The trumpet has been a key instrument in the history of jazz, dating back to Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong, through the big band era, and modern small ensembles. The Larry McDonough Quintet will scratch the surface of this history with their new show Trumpetocity, featuring Josh May. The quintet will cover the music of […]

This Dunsmore room performance will include selections by Django Reinhardt, Jazz Manouche standards, and the unique arrangements and energy that Mississippi Hot Club has become known for. This audience will also have the rare opportunity to see bandleader Joshua Parlanti set down the guitar and dazzle us with his exceptional piano chops! Joshua Parlanti is the […]

For our May 21 concert, we will feature trumpeter Riley Helgeson on numerous selections, including People, arranged for Maynard Ferguson, and Georgia on my Mind , arranged for Doc Severinson. Also vocalist Bekah Peterson, from Hastings, on Will You Still Be Mine, and a medley of You’re Driving Me Crazy and What Did I Do? Other selections by […]

Nathan Stanley - Dove Award winner, Grammy nominee, ICM Award winner, and the grandson of bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley. Roe Family Singers Bonfire Music Group recording artists the Roe […]

Three-time Grammy-winning powerhouse Jamecia Bennett captivated in a sold-out, unforgettable tribute to Brandy & Monica. Now, she returns to the iconic Dakota stage with the next installment of her electrifying Icon Series. Here, this one is set to be nothing short of extraordinary. This time, Jamecia pays homage to two of the most emotionally captivating […]

Bryan Nichols is a pianist, composer, and educator based in Minneapolis. Often found playing jazz and improvised music, but at home in a variety of musical worlds, he leads and composes for his own trio, quintet, and nonet in addition to performing, recording, and touring with forward-thinking artists like Nicole Mitchell, Ron Miles, and Olga […]

Minnesota-raised trumpeter Ella Grace joins forces with Marisa Cravero—a young vocalist who has already made a name for herself in jazz on a national scale—for a special show as part of their joint Midwest tour. Backed by a tasteful, gifted rhythm section, Grace and Cravero will blend their songbooks for a unique mix of original […]

Join us to celebrate the release of Steve Cole’s twelfth solo album, Sleight of Hand. This dynamic new recording showcases Cole’s signature saxophone sound. Moreover, it features standout guest performances from guitar virtuoso Cory […]

The Joe Policastro Trio is a forward-thinking, Chicago-based jazz trio hailed by DownBeat for its “deft analysis of choice repertoire” and by the Chicago Reader for its “diversity of approaches to all kinds of source material.” While firmly rooted in jazz, the band’s open-minded, inclusive nature draws upon a wide array of musical styles and […]

Tommy Boynton’s Rchrd Rdgrs Bnd presents the music of Richard Rodgers.    Featuring: Tommy Boynton - voice, piano Alec Watson - celeste Pat Keen - bass

Kenny Reichert has spent much of the past decade on the road: driving across North America and Europe, sharing meals with bandmates, and performing gig after gig. His original music has been shaped by those travels and the people he has met along the way. Now based between Minneapolis and Chicago, Reichert will be bringing […]

Tim Sparks has been redefining the acoustic guitar repertoire since he won the National Fingerpicking Championship in 1993 with a ground-breaking arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Sparks continues to surprise, challenge, and thrill audiences with his diverse repertoire and stunning technique. Equally at home with Country Blues, Jazz or World Music, Sparks' extraordinary ability has […]