8:00pm Paul Harper Quartet

Paul Harper - Saxophones / woodwinds Phil Aaron - Piano Tom Lewis - Bass Nathan Norman - Drums

The Paul Harper Quartet plays jazz compositions written by many of the greats from jazz history (Chick Corea, Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, John Abercrombie, etc.) as well some original compositions from the band. The band focuses on compositions in a variety of different styles, harmonic conceptions, rhythmic feels. Regularly performing at a variety of venues around the Twin Cities the quartet’s members have developed a cohesive and inventive approach to improvisation that keeps both the band and the audience engaged and interested. The music is thoughtful, swinging, entertaining, and intellectually stimulating. You want to listen to this band.

9:30pm “Lila Ammons Jazz Group”

Lila Ammons - Vocals Ted Godbout - Piano Ted Olsen - Bass Jay Epstein - Drums

A native of Chicago, Lila has had many musical influences from family to a myriad of musicians and from the musical styles of Mozart to Monk. And she has inherited an illustrious legacy through the gifts of her grandfather and uncle: Albert Ammons (piano) and Gene Ammons (tenor sax).

Ammons was previously based in New York City where she attended graduate school at the Manhattan School of Music, and for 13 years performed opera, oratorio and recitals around the US and Europe. It was then that she began her international travels through music. In Ammons’s debut jazz recording, Nearness of You (2013) she is partnered with top musicians, including tenor saxophonist, Houston Person. Her newest album, Genealogy, was released August 2019 and includes a wide variety of exciting material and a very notable crew of musicians.

From 2007-2018 she has toured internationally singing classic blues and boogie woogie in major concert halls, international jazz and blues festivals, theaters and jazz clubs throughout Austria, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Brazil, Bulgaria, Italy, France, Belgium, England. In the US she performed in Chicago, New York City, Cincinnati, Ohio, Ann Arbor and Detroit Michigan, and Houston, Texas. Still not quite satisfied that she was realizing her dream, in 2015 Lila began reducing her classic blues touring to focus on the jazz music she truly loves. And in 2016 she began receiving international invitations to perform as a solo jazz singer in England, Ireland, France and Spain.

Since 2007, Ammons has worked with numerous internationally acclaimed musicians such as, Axel Zwingenberger, Charlie Watts, Ben Waters, Jools Holland, Chris Jagger, Judy Carmichael, Sonny Leyland, Bruce Barth, and Tony Sola, to name a few. In the Twin Cities, she performs with many of the area’s best jazz and blues instrumentalists.