Thursday, June 3, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Streaming from the Dakota
Presented by the Twin Cities Jazz Festival Live
Larry McDonough Sextet
Larry McDonough, piano and arrangements
Josh May, trumpet
Richard Terrill, tenor sax and poems
Jeff King, alto sax
Greg Stinson, bass, and
Dean White, drums
Guest: Carol Bergquist, flute
Register Here
The Larry McDonough Sextet returns to the Dakota to stream a celebration the birthday of Miles Davis, born on May 26, 1926, in Alton, Illinois. It also is the 61st year since the release and performance of the legendary Miles Davis album Kind of Blue. The Larry McDonough Sextet will perform a set of all of Kind of Blue, preceded by a Miles Davis piece from before Kind of Blue, and followed by another Miles Davis piece from after Kind of Blue, along with poetry about Miles Davis. The performance of Kind of Blue, Before and After in Music and Poetry filled the Dakota in January 2020. Do not miss its return!
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The 1959 Miles Davis album Kind of Blue has been regarded by many critics as the greatest jazz record, Davis's masterpiece, and one of the best albums of all time. Its influence on music, including jazz, rock, and classical genres, has led writers to also deem it one of the most influential albums ever recorded. The album was one of fifty recordings chosen in 2002 by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry, and in 2003 it was ranked number 12 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was voted number 14 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd Edition (2000).
The album features Davis's ensemble sextet consisting of pianist Bill Evans, saxophonists John Coltrane and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Jimmy Cobb, with pianist Wynton Kelly appearing on one track in place of Evans. Kind of Blue was the first Davis album to include only original compositions, and to focus entirely on modality, departing further from his earlier work's hard bop style of jazz. Evans is considered a co-author and co-arranger along with Davis of some of the pieces.
They recorded the album on March 2 and April 22, 1959, released it on August 17, 1959, and toured performing the music in 1959 and 1960. During the tour, as a sign of the times, on August 25, 1959, Davis was assaulted and arrested by a New York City policeman. In January 1960, he was acquitted of disorderly conduct and third-degree assault.
Here are the Larry McDonough Sextet members and the chairs they are filling:
Larry McDonough, piano and arrangements (Bill Evans and Wynton Kelly);
Josh May, trumpet (Miles Davis);
Richard Terrill, tenor sax (John Coltrane);
Jeff King, alto sax (Julian "Cannonball" Adderley);
Greg Stinson, bass (Paul Chambers);
and Dean White, drums (Jimmy Cobb).
The Larry McDonough Sextet will begin with a Miles Davis arrangement from before Kind of Blue, joined by flutist Carol Bergquist. The group will continue with all of the pieces from the recording: So What, Freddie Freeloader, Blue in Green, All Blues, and the rarely performed Flamenco Sketches. Larry’s arrangements follow the recording, but each member will interpret the pieces. The group will end with another Miles Davis arrangement from after Kind of Blue, again joined by Carol. Minnesota Book Award winner Richard Terrill will read his poems about Miles Davis.
Come for an evening of revolutionary jazz, poetry, and history.
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Samples
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Larry McDonough is a St. Paul jazz pianist and singer, performing around the world and recording with his group the Larry McDonough Quartet as well as solo, and in duos and trios. He has performed with legendary saxophonist and composer Benny Golson, Trombonist Fred Wesley, and trumpeter Duane Eubanks, as well as a who’s who of local jazz artists, and was inducted into the Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame for his work in the group Danny’s Reasons. He has released nine CDs and DVDs as a leader. Alice in Stonehenge and other AcoustElectric Adventures has played on radio stations and streaming services around the world. The CD charted #18 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Jazz Album Chart. Simple Gifts reached number 29 on the CMJ Jazz Chart and also has been played on hundreds of stations around the country and throughout the world. He also is a lawyer and law professor selected by William Mitchell College of Law as one of “100 Who Made a Difference” over the 100-year history of the school. Larry directs pro bono legal services for the poor at Dorsey & Whitney.
Josh May is an up and coming trumpet player based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. He attended Bemidji State University for a B.A. In Instrumental Performance and Jazz Studies; then traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to earn his Masters in Jazz Studies from Louisiana State University. Throughout his career, he's performed around the globe; in Europe, Asia, and the North Americas. Having played with many varying acts, from jazz, funk, and rock, to the symphony orchestra, Josh prides himself in being a "musical chameleon," by blending with any scenario in which he finds himself.
Richard Terrill, sax player and Minnesota State University Mankato English Professor, received the Minnesota Book Award for Poetry for his poetry compilation “Coming Late to Rachmaninoff” (University of Tampa Press, 2003). Richard has been performing with Larry McDonough since December 2001. He also has performed with guitarist Jim McGuire and with Chaz Draper’s Uptown Jazz Quartet. As a college student, Richard was a member of the award-winning University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Jazz Ensemble and performed with later-to-be Pat Metheny keyboardist Lyle Mays in the Lyle Mays Quartet, winner of small group honors at the Midwest College Jazz Festival. He has also worked with pianist Geoff Keezer. Richard is a retired English professor from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Jeff King is a multi-reed saxophonist and teacher living in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He leads the original modern jazz trio King Iden Woods, and regularly plays with the Kurt Jorgensen Band (Americana blues/rock) and Metro Jam. He’s also been featured in the Minnesota Dance Theater production of Rumblings and has been heard with The Buzz, Casablanca Orchestra, R-Factor, and Straighten Up and Fly Right (Maurice Jacox), and released the jazz CD, As the Sun. Jeff teaches at Cadenza Music and Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
Bassist Greg Stinson plays in several bands around the Twin Cities. He has been the bass player in the Century College Jazz Ensemble for more than 25 years. He also plays in the CC Septet, Shorn Hortz Quintet, Paul Berger Trio, the St. Croix Jazz Ensemble, and regularly subs with the Nova Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Classic Big Band, and Cedar Avenue Big Band. Greg spent many years playing saxophones, guitar, bass, and vocals in jazz/rock and variety bands in the area. He is an active composer/arranger with jazz charts in the books of the Century Band, Nova, CC Septet, and others. He has also written a number of choral arrangements and compositions for school and church groups. Greg was a band and choir director in public and private schools before changing to his career in telecommunications technology, now retired.
Dean White grew up in Superior, Wisconsin, and played in various working bands while attending the University of Wisconsin, Superior. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in percussion performance, he moved to Hollywood, California, to attend Musicians Institute College of Contemporary Music. Half-way through the first year, Dean was offered a main showroom gig at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas. He was the first drummer in the Legends In Concert Show that still performs in various incarnations across the country today. He left Las Vegas to join Tony Axtell and Toshi Hinata in Tokyo to write and play original music. Since settling back in the Twin Cities, Dean has performed with many groups, including Good, the Bad and the Funky; the Autobody Experience; Century Big Band; Nova Jazz; Big Time Jazz Orchestra; the Shorn Hortz jazz quintet; Power of 10; Jack Knife and the Sharps; Tubby Esquire; Hennessy Brothers jazz; and many others. He has also studied privately with Gordy Knudtson and his Open/Close hand technique. Dean feels blessed to be part of the rich music scene in the Twin Cities.
Guest flautist Carol Bergquist has been active as a performer, soloist, and teacher in the Twin Cities for 30 years. She has performed with members of the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and in local orchestras, including the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, and Allegro Sinfonia. In addition, she has performed for at The Basilica of Saint Mary for 35 years, performing Masses, special events, and NDI Production’s annual summer musicals, involving numerous Basilica members. Carol studied with Cynthia Stokes, Adam Kuenzel, and Donald Peck and has performed at master classes at the Ordway Music Theater with Carol Wincenc and DePaul University in Chicago with Donald Peck. Carol also will add her new accordion skills to show. She holds an undergraduate degree in writing and an MBA in Technology Management, teaches flute, and works as a contract proposal writer. She is married to pianist Larry McDonough.
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Contact information:
Larry McDonough
651-398-8053
