Jazz
Tim Sparks, Tom Lieberman & Ben Abrahamson
“He’s one of the best musicians I know” – Leo Kottke A special show of duos, celebrating the versatility and dynamic range of the acoustic guitar! Guitar guru Tim Sparks will play a set with jazz and flamenco rising star Ben Abrahamson. Then, he will play a set with folk blues guitarist and longtime Rio Nido bandmate Tom Lieberman. 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. Equally at home with country, blues, jazz or global music, Sparks’s extraordinary ability has earned him an international reputation as one of the most innovative guitarists working today. Ben Abrahamson is a fresh, dynamic voice on the acoustic guitar. His compositions evoke the dexterity of flamenco and the harmonic storytelling of jazz. His passion for flamenco guitar drove him to Taller de Músics School of Music in Barcelona. There, he studied under Juan Ramón Caro. He has composed works for the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet, Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, Mac Jazz big band, and more. Furthermore, Ben has shared the stage with mentors like Michael and Tony Hauser, Susana di Palma, La Conja, and Chuscales. As creative director and producer, Tom Lieberman has contributed to productions that have received numerous awards of distinction. As a guitarist, Tom has performed all over the country, including a ten-year run on A Prairie Home Companion (he was replaced by Chet Atkins). In addition to Rio Nido, Tom performs both as a solo artist, and with his group, Tommy & The Liebermen. His 2013 album, Common Denominator, made Star Tribune’s Top Ten list for the year. It was described as “bluesy, simmering, profoundly philosophical” and “a charming, eclectic album of original songs.” Recommended for fans of Leo Kottke, Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell and Rio Nido.
Southside Aces: A Night in New Orleans at Dakota
The Dakota 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN, United States“flawlessly replicate the sound of classic New Orleans” — Prairie Uprising Southside Aces are celebrating twenty years of performing the repertoire of the Jazz Age greats and beyond. From the early New Orleans of Jelly Roll Morton to the world-changing joys of Louis Armstrong. The barrel house sounds of Preservation Hall to the Crescent City rhythms of rock and roll pioneer Fats Domino. Treat yourself to a century’s worth of New Orleans jazz. The band first began as the brainchild of clarinetist Tony Balluff and sousaphone player Erik Jacobson. Their whispers and rumors materialized in Tony’s foyer in South Minneapolis, in August 2003. Since their first gig on a flatbed truck in Apple Valley, the Aces have released eight albums, including their most recent —2022’s Minneapolis Bump— fifteen original songs inspired by the Jazz Age. In New Orleans, the jazz tradition thrives off a wide array of styles. The Aces possess a diverse repertoire, with a roll call that includes the names of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, and Bix Beiderbecke. Plus Crescent City classics like “Bourbon Street Parade”, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee”, and “St. James Infirmary”. And let’s not forget the funky rhythms of brass band powerhouses like “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” and “Palm Court Strut”! The Southside Aces have performed at Dakota, Icehouse, Crooners Supper Club, Vieux Carre, Twin Cities Jazz Fest, Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival, and Minnesota Orchestra Sommerfest, to name a few. They’ve driven dancers to a frenzy at national dance competitions and led second-line parades through the streets of the Twin Cities. And they’ve played events in Denver, Omaha, Chicago, Des Moines, and all across the great state of Minnesota — which, if you’re keeping score, makes them a “territory band.” Recommended for fans of Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tuba Skinny, Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller. 📸: Paul Udstrand