The crown of the event, though, was the first ever show at CHS Field by Dr. John.  One of the last living legends, his 90 minute set summoned the swampy byways of his Louisiana home. Highlights included a a mystic take on vintage minor key standard "St. John's Infirmary" and a spirited version of his classic "Such a Night." CHS Field proved to be a significant upgrade on the old Saints stadium, Midway, as the sound was cleaner and monitors made is possible for people who sat further away to get a better view.

After the main event I decided to catch a couple of the more intimate, slightly off the radar performances that might not get as much attention. The sleek, clean rails of the Green Line took me to legendary St. Paul barbecue Big Daddy's for local bluesman Detroit Don King. The stage was set up outside on Big Daddy’s patio, University Avenue providing an authentic St. Paul backdrop to go with the genuinely local music and ribs. King’s soulful blues, much in the vein of his namesake B.B., was a perfect match for the warm afternoon.

by Erik Ritland



Rambling On is a seriously fun blog and podcast covering sports, music, culture, and more. Check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.

What: The Twin Cities Jazz Festival
When: Thursday June 25 - Saturday June 27, 2015
Where: Lowertown St. Paul and surrounding area

Check out part one and part two of our Jazz Festival coverage.

Jazz legends, new bands, and local talent filled each day of the 2015 Twin Cities Jazz Festival. There were plenty of highlights on Saturday, including lauded trumpeter Marquis Hill, eclectic artists like the Gypsy Mania Hot Club Quartet and Moors Blackman, and a finale featuring festival Artistic Director Francisco Mela and all-star trumpeter Nicholas Payton.

Although King's voice showed some signs of age his guitar playing was smooth and subtle, seamlessly switching between rhythm and lead with the second guitarist. The small combo behind them of drums, bass, and saxophone provided steady, unobtrusive accompaniment. Their versions of “The Thrill is Gone” and “Stand by Me” were loving tributes to two recently fallen Kings, B.B. and Ben E., and their takes on Bill Wither's "Aint' No Sunshine" and blues standard "Pay the Cost to be the Boss" were gritty and soulful.

From Big Daddy’s the Green Line brought me to the stage at Union Depot, where London’s Cloudmaker’s Trio headlined after a set from experimental local band the Atlantis Quartet. The leader of Cloudmaker’s, vibes player Jim Hart, played both quickly and fluidly (often while using four mallets at a time). Their songs contained lengthy, furious sections of improvisation that showcased his talent and that of his partners, bassist Michael Janisch and drummer Dave Smith. Think the experimentation of Sun Ra with the hard, driving tightness of Thelonious Monk. Although they pulled out a couple covers they played mostly original material, including the fittingly mellow “Early Hours,” Larry David tribute "Social Assassin," and the out there, sometimes disorienting (in a good way) “Post-Stone.”

The 2015 Twin Cities Jazz Festival was the most impressive yet. While the music is at the forefront, the best part is how well it showcases St. Paul, from Lowertown to University, Robert Street to Como Lake. Events like this, along with others like Music in Mears, the Lowertown Blues Festival, and Concrete and Grass, are revitalizing the sometimes overshadowed capital city.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

by Erik Ritland



Rambling On is a seriously fun blog and podcast covering sports, music, culture, and more. Check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.

What: The Twin Cities Jazz Festival
When: Thursday June 25 - Saturday June 27, 2015
Where: Lowertown St. Paul and surrounding area

Read part one here.

The second day of the St. Paul Jazz Festival started out with a bang – of thunder, that is. A pleasant afternoon changed suddenly when a thunderstorm moved in so quickly that it forgot to tell the pesky sun to stop shining. It was definitely the strongest sunshower I’d ever seen. Humid sunshine rolled in after the rain stopped, however, so the sidewalks and benches dried off quickly and the outdoor festivities rolled on.

Going into the festival I was especially excited to see the Araya Orta Latin Jazz Quartet. They’re fantastic on their own (members have played with stars Michael Brecker, Chick Corea, and Gloria Estefan) but this performance promised to be special, as legendary Trinidadian steel-pan artist Othello Molineaux joined them for most of their set. Early in his career he played with one of my heroes, bassist Jaco Pastorious.

Their multi-song tribute to Pastorius was a highlight but the entire performance was spirited. Their varied, tight dynamics kept the crowd moving, as Latin jazz tends to do. The interplay between the bongos and drum kit, played by brothers Carlmongo and Ramses Araya, was dazzling. Once Molineaux joined they had a completely different dynamic with the steel-pan drum in the foreground. Their sweet, grooving take on Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” was a highlight.

My one complaint about the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, and most events in Mears Park, is that they have a limited, expensive beer selection. Plus it’s all out of cans, which isn’t a bad thing in itself, it’s just that tap beer fits the festive outdoor atmosphere a lot better. Alas, after Araya and company I enjoyed a crisp, refreshing Steel Toe Sommer Vice at one of my favorite St. Paul bars, the Bulldog.

No Room for Squares played the 6th Street Stage shortly after the Araya Orta band finished their set. The quartet of sax (Jimmie Wallace), trumpet (Jon Pemberton), bass (Adam Tucker), drums (Bill Stieger), and keys (Mikkel Romstad) was straightforward and bopping. Tucker, though he rarely took a solo, always looked intense as he kept each song rolling with his fluid bass lines. Stieger was the ringleader, his drums loose and swinging and his between song banter charming, but the star of the show was the tenor sax of Jimmie Wallace. His wild playing danced around rhythms and often summoned Coltrane.

After an introduction from honorable St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman an all-star band took the stage in Mears Park: Chris Potter (sax), Dave Holland (bass), Lionel Loueke (bass/vocals), and Erik Harland (drums). I was only able to catch the first few songs of their set, as space in the park was limited and the humidity had risen considerably, but their playing was as virtuosic as advertised. When you’ve played with Coleman Hawkins, Miles Davis, Monk, and many others, as members of the quartet have, it sort of comes with the territory.

Finding the crowd and heat a bit overbearing I made my way up the 5th Street hill to another one of my favorite St. Paul spots, the Amsterdam, to see Black Market Brass. The intimacy of the Amsterdam highlighted the musicianship of the nine-piece, although their up-tempo combination of funk, Afrobeat, jazz, and rock fits better at a party with a dance floor. Their first set was looser, featuring many trippy, droning extended sections for each member to solo.

Despite a section of inclement weather the second day of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival was as successful as the first (and I only scratched the surface of variety of bands that played throughout my beloved St. Paul). The event, which gets bigger and better every year, is certainly on the verge of becoming nationally-recognized.

Read part three of Rambling On's coverage of the Twin Cities Jazz Festival here.

Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.