Glen Helgeson guitar Gary Schulte violin Steve Pikal bass

Matteo Mancuso was born in 1996 and raised in the province of Palermo. There, people quickly recognized him as a musical prodigy. His father, Vincenzo Mancuso, a well-known guitarist and producer, guided Matteo’s introduction to the world of music. Teaming up with his father, Matteo made waves in Sicily’s jazz scene, participating in local festivals at […]

Kavyesh Kaviraj imbues his life and stories into his music, carefully weaving his influences into a boundary-breaking modern jazz outfit. He is well-known in the Twin Cities and beyond as a pianist, composer and arranger. Kavyesh has garnered acclaim in many musical climates, and currently calls St. Paul, MN home. Primarily a jazz pianist, he is […]

Twins is a Minneapolis-based trio that performs the work of Thelonious Monk. With their unconventional line-up—Brad Holden (Original Minds) on sax, Mike Wolter (Early Planets) on guitar, and Chris Hepola (The Real Chuck NORAD) on drums—they bring a new and open approach to the Monk songbook. Chris Hepola is a Minneapolis-based drummer, pianist, and composer who […]

Glen Helgeson guitar Jim Chenoweth bass Will Chenoweth drums

Brian Handeland is a musician and music educator based in Minneapolis, MN. Equally at home on all of the different saxophones, clarinets, and flutes, he regularly performs with a wide variety of ensembles including the JazzMN Orchestra, Riverside Entertainment, Jack Brass Band, the Drums of Navarone, and his jazz quartet BH4. Brian also stays busy […]

Music producer and DJ Akko digs into his rich crates of vinyl and digital tracks to blend a narrative across jazz, funk, house, and boogie. Andrew Koalska (aka Akko) is a music producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist from St. Paul, MN. With roots stretching back to classical piano and guitar, he started producing his own records in 2011. […]

Veteran Milwaukee-area guitarist Paul Silbergleit returns to JCS, once again with fabulous Minneapolis/Wisconsin bassist Jeremey Boettcher and the Twin Cities' own Pete James Johnson on drums! There'll be original tunes and arrangements, as well as spontaneous re-interpretations of classic repertoire in this fortuitous meeting of musicians. Featuring: Paul Silbergleit - guitar Jeremy Boettcher - bass […]

Led by chief detonators Doug Haining, sax, and Scott Agster, trombone, the Explosion Big Band draws from the area’s finest musicians. The EXPLOSION is ready to detonate with the classic sounds of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and more modern sounds of Thad Jones, Clare Fischer, Pat Metheny & others.

Freedom to Listen is a group dedicated to the crucial art of listening and being in the moment. Bassist Peter Brendler, drummer Mark Ferber, and saxophonist Jon Irabagon will play an exciting mix of originals and jazz standards. Bassist Peter Brendler has performed at world-famous venues in New York and throughout the country, including the […]

Rope Ladder is saxophonist Nathan Hanson's string group, featuring Erik Fratzke (bass), Josh Granowski (bass), and Laura Harada (violin). They play Nathan's compositions in an expansive, improvised style that is equal parts familiar and unexpected, drawing from folk, classical, and jazz sources. Saxophonist and composer Nathan Hanson makes music that invites listeners to stand outside […]