Guitar Jazz Shows in Minneapolis–St. Paul

Mumblin’ Drew’s Oldfangled Orchestrators (MOO) are a string band from Minneapolis, MN. Purveyors of novelty, squeezed through a cheesecloth filter of eccentric entertainment, they reanimate the music of the early 20th century. Fiddle, clarinet, and saxophone weave their sound to the fringes of old-time, jazz, jug band, ragtime, and tin pan alley, while guitar and string bass hold down the rhythm. Meet MOO with an open mind, and prepare to be zazzled and zowed! You can find MOO down at the White Squirrel Bar, on W 7th Street in St. Paul, MN the 2nd Monday of every month. https://mumblindrew. com/

$20 (General Admission) 7:30pm Show Get Tickets Heavily influenced by the groove-rich soul jazz of the 1960s and 1970s, guitarist Ross Clowser and organist Mitch Towne pay tribute to the often underrated music of guitarist Grant Green's later career, which often reimagined hits from The Corporation, The Meters, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, and more. Band Members: Ross Clowser - Guitar Mitch Towne - Organ Toby Ramaswamy - Drums Anna Dolde - Alto Saxophone Jovon Williams - Tenor Saxophone ⊹ Hailing from the prairies of Iowa, Ross Clowser is an American composer, improviser, scholar, and guitarist. He has been performing his original music throughout the Midwest for the past decade, sharing stages with Ohad Talmor and Melvin Butler and opening for the likes of Chad Taylor and Joshua Abrams. His music draws on influences from all over the world, from Jeff Parker and David Bowie to Pauline Oliveros and Fela Kuti. His current projects include the Ross Clowser Quartet, the free improvisation trio Hanson/Hirsh/Clowser, the Interstellar Cowboy Band, and the intermedia/film collective People

$15 (General Admission) 7:30pm Show GET TICKETS Gritty prog-rock riffs give way to winding jams, and delicate folk balladry blossoms into free-flowing group improvisations. For fans of Julian Lage, Herbie Hancock, Radiohead, and the Grateful Dead. Band Members: Garrett Waite - Guitar/Vocals John Christensen - Bass Hannah Johnson - Drums ⊹ Garrett Waite’s music features memorable melodies, psychedelic textures, and virtuosic improvisations. Not quite rock, not quite jazz, his music harkens back to the fusion explorations of the ‘70s along with the twang of Americana and a rich host of global influences. Waite has lent his versatile guitar playing and vocals to original acts including Match Stick, Craig Baumann & the Story, Fear Joy, and Day Tvvo in addition to his own original projects. He currently tours with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Phillip-Michael Scales and is endorsed by House Guitars. In January of this year, Waite released his fourth album, Shapeshifter . ⊹ Award-winning bassist, composer, and Shifting Paradigm recording artist John Christensen supplies an open-hearted

$15 (General Admission) 7:00pm Show Get Tickets Genre-flexible instrumental groups KG4 and SpectacleCase bring a unique, fun show that traverses gospel, R&B, jazz, funk, classical, experimental, and Nordic folk influences. SpectacleCase Band Members: Mikey Marget - Cello Toby Ramaswamy - Drums Willow Waters - Guitar Christian Rassmussen - Bass KG4 Band Members: Kevin Gamble - Piano/Keys Tarek Abdelqader - Drums Nick Benish - Bass Andrew Tomten - Saxophone ⊹ For as long as he can remember, music has been a part of Kevin Gamble’s life. One of his first experiences with music was playing the piano at his uncle’s church as a kid. Gospel, jazz, funk, country, soul, and hip-hop shaped Kevin’s musical style. After years of sharpening his skills on piano and finishing his music education in 2018, he formed his fusion group, the Kevin Gamble Quartet, in 2019. While playing alongside some of Minnesota’s most talented musicians, Kevin infuses elements of gospel, R&B, jazz, and funk to create a unique and fun sound that everyone will enjoy. Mikey Marget’s music floats between Nordic-influenced f

Doors open at 6:45 for Dinner and Drink Service. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants The Explosion Big Band heats up the Belvedere Stage! The band plays many of your favorite big band chestnuts, plus some I’ll bet you’re not familiar with. Come out and enjoy an evening of big band jazz in the Belvedere room at Crooners! Doug Haining : Leader, Alto Sax Mike Benedict : Alto Sax Stephanie Wieseler : Tenor Sax Brian Handeland : Tenor Sax Connor Carroll : Bari Sax Pete Enblom : Trombone Matt Echols : Trombone Dave Graf : Trombone Brooklynne Audette : Trombone Riley Helgeson : Trumpet Jake Baldwin : Trumpet Steve Wagner : Trumpet Ryan Garmoe : Trumpet Ted Godbout : Piano Chris Olson : Guitar Matt Peterson : Bass Trevor Haining : Drums “I’ve played with a ton of big bands, and this band is right up there with the best of them.” Bijon Watson, Grammy award winning trumpeter www.explosionbigband.com

Doors open at 4:45 PM for Dinner and Drink service. Allman Brothers, Skynyrd & More! Straight out of the gate this new powerhouse show hits its stride. “Ramblin’ Man,” “Whipping Post” and “Jessica.” “ Devil Went Down to Georgia,” Orange Blossom Special,” Skynyrd’s soulful “Tuesday’s Gone,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” Whether you grew up with these anthems or you’re discovering them for the first time, prepare to be transported. The Daisy Dillman Band’s Pat Frederick leads the way with award winning signature fiddle and vocals. He’s joined by a stellar eight piece lineup of MN’s finest as they tap into Southern rock’s grit and soul. The country, rock & roll, hillbilly blues and gospel roots of its legendary hits… alongside deep cuts and jams that honor the improvisational tradition of the genre. It’s a fiery gumbo of grooves served up with smoking twin guitar leads and reverence. The spirit of Southern rock is alive and kicking. Southbound we go. Kenny Wilson : Guitar, Pedal Steel, Banjo Matt Barry : Guitars Dr. Dave Schmalenberger : Drums Steve Jennings : Drums Jason Kraft : keys Rever

$15 (General Admission) 7:30pm Show GET TICKETS Calvin Caron is a bassist and composer living in Minneapolis. His American West Quintet project is inspired by the landscapes and people of the American west; his compositions spin up unique musical atmospheres that encourage freedom of expression and listening. Band Members: Calvin Caron - Bass Toivo Hannigan - Guitar Adam Harder Nussbaum - Drums Jackson Peters - Guitar Andy Peterson - Tenor Saxophone ⊹ Calvin Caron is a bassist and composer based in Minneapolis. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth with a BFA in jazz studies, he is working as a sideman while composing, recording, and performing music of his own. His writing draws inspiration from the musical styles of jazz, folk, country, and classical traditions. His compositions create unique atmospheres for communal expression. Coming Soon: Featured Jul 12 July 12, 2026 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM 19:00 – 21:30 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM Curated by Aida Shahghasemi: feat. Christopher Rochester & Kavyesh Kaviraj July 12, 2026 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM 19:00 – 21:30 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM $15 GET TICKET

Doors open at 6:00 PM for Dinner and Drink Service. Conversations about Life and Music Ever notice that the ear is shaped like a question mark? Susan Stamberg, legendary NPR host Dan Chouinard hosts conversations around the piano with great singers, blending songs and stories about childhood, family record collections, favorite artists, first performances, trials and triumphs and travels and why we keep on singing. The Singer’s Voice series ran for six years on Sunday nights at the old Dakota Jazz Club in St. Paul starting in 1994. The first hour of each show was broadcast live on KBEM-FM Jazz88 radio. More than 250 guests appeared as guests before Dan ended the series in 2000 to pursue other projects. Prudence Johnson was his first guest, on March 6, 1994. Dan Chouinard : Host, Piano Ann Reed : Vocals, Guitar Dan Chouinard is a St. Paul-based all-purpose pianist and accordionist, concert soloist and accompanist, sing-along enabler, bicycling vagabond, Crooners regular and creator/host of live history-and-music shows for Minnesota Public Radio, Twin Cities Public Television and theat