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UMD Jazz Ensemble I

That’s right, Jazz Appreciation Month has wound down just in time for Homegrown’s 2025 kickoff this past Sunday, April 27. Of course we will still be able to find jazz performances in the months ahead, but the number and types of jazz gigs won’t be as readily available as they have been thanks to JAM! Duluth.  

The Spring Jazz concert featuring UMD’s Jazz Ensembles I and II took place Wednesday, April 23, at Weber Music Hall. Jazz Ensemble II, under the direction of Ben Jorge, was the first to perform. The tune-up sounded like a blast from a freighter entering the Duluth ship canal! Musical selections for this spring concert reflected a Latin theme, which was intended to give the students a chance to experience jazz from an aspect other than “Swing.” 

Only four compositions were in this half of the program. The first was Jim Swearingen’s “Valero.” It was followed by “I Wish You Love” by Les Brown, which indeed expressed that identifiable Latin beat and showcased the talents of Felix Hyde Owen with a guitar solo. The rich, mellow sound of saxophones were also highlighted on this latter number as was a flute interlude by Nik McCluskey (who otherwise plays alto sax). That was especially sweet. 

Next was “Something Borrowed” by Wade Clark, a bossa nova number that also featured Owen on guitar. He clearly was into that beat. They ended their portion of the program with “Sonidos de la Calle” (translation: Sounds of the Street) by Lars Halle; great rhythm and nice crisp finish.

The second half of the concert, by Jazz Ensemble I (comprised of advanced students) included five numbers and was conducted by Gordon Lewis. The selections here were more varied and included “Children of the Night,” “Riverscapes,” “Bonehead,” “Bugle Call Rag” and “Woody n’ You.” 

Lex Bengtson, playing a mean tenor sax soloed in three of these, demonstrating a talent that is ready for prime time. Another talented saxophone player, Devon DeFoe, was featured on “Riverscapes” along with pianist Haven Andersen. Beck Fulin, soloed on trumpet on two numbers, the last, Dizzy Gillespie’s mambo tune “Woody n’ You” was just right and tight.

All in all, this was a short but very satisfying concert for those of us expanding our appreciation for the extensive variety that jazz offers.

The next evening was the last of the Thursday evening jazz gigs hosted by Duluth Cider throughout April. Arriving at 7:30, the Curmudgeon and I got to hear the Big Time Jazz Orchestra play two sets. (Unfortunately we arrived too late to hear the St. Scholastica Jazz Band that preceded the BTJO.) 

Randy Lee is the founder of BTJO, which is a 501.(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of top-notch area musicians. (Donations tax-deductible!) The focus was on the music of Duke Ellington. Not only did we get to hear some great jazz standards, but saxophonist and composer Bradley Bombardier provided detailed background information for most of the pieces played, starting off with Duke Ellington’s “Stompy Jones.” 

A combo that had Randy Lee on sax, Ryan Frane on keys plus trumpet, standup bass and drums, played “Zigaboogaloo.” From the neurotic trombone vibrato of “Blues Cellophane” and the groove of “Opus de Funk” to the smooth and sensuousness of “I’ve Just Seen Her” and silky saxophone tones of “Opus in Pastels,” this was a tour de force. “Moon Over Cuba” gave us a great Latin beat while “Ko-Ko” by Charlie Parker had a really nice bass line in the mix.

This was a substantial, well received concert that had a fun assortment of the various roots and flowers of jazz. For those who missed this performance, consider getting over to Manion Hall on the UWS campus on Thursday, May 8, for the Music Department’s Jazz Band concert featuring the BTJO. 

This concert, which starts at 7:30 pm, will benefit the University of Wisconsin’s Music Scholarship; $15 is the suggested donation amount.  

Christian Swenson Trio

Then on Friday, April 25, with early evening sunlight streaming across the Cosmic Lounge stage at Bent Paddle Brewing Co., the Christian Swenson Trio began the final JAM concert. Members include Swenson on standup bass, Ethan Ostrow on keys and Everett Needleman on drums – all live in Minneapolis. It was almost exclusively bebop numbers such as “Cute” and Ray Brown’s arrangement of “O Lady Be Good” One exception was “Darn That Dream” which was more in the vein of cool jazz. 

I was amazed by there being six different mics focused on the drum kit. The mix of tunes included in this gig was quite appealing. Their set made me realize I enjoy jazz trios because one can really hear the intersecting bass and piano lines as well as the interplay between keys and bass.

At about 8 pm, a second jazz trio, the Cody Steinmann Trio took to the Cosmic Lounge stage. Steinmann played a hollow-body electric guitar and was accompanied by an upright bassist and a drummer (I didn’t get the names of the other two). 

In this case, the music was far more of a listening challenge. It was as abstract a sound as the several album covers that were on display. Here and there I heard fleeting hints of ethnic music and sounds from other cultures. In this case, I must agree with Dylan when he said “Jazz is hard to follow; I mean you actually have to like jazz to follow it.”

The grand finale to Jazz Appreciation Month was the wrap-up of the Depot Jazz Quartet’s 2025 season on Saturday, April 26, at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. There have been 17 jazz performances at this venue since the first of the year. 

The Depot Jazz Quartet’s last concert of the season at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Photos by Jill Fisher.

The ubiquitous jazz multi-instrumentalist Randy Lee leads the group. Bobby Purdy on guitar, Mark Glen on bass and Rick Bruner on drums fill out the rest of the quartet. On this occasion, pianist Ryan Frane, head of UMD’s Department of Music and Professor of Jazz Studies and Piano, joined in on several numbers, including “Chach” by Kenny Werner which was performed as a tribute to the late Paul Ierino, a founding member of the Saratoga Jazz Quartet. That group became the Depot Jazz Quartet several years ago. Paul died on March 3 this year. And so we heard the tune “Take the A Train,” which has signaled the end of all their concerts and on this evening, the end of jazz concerts at the Depot for 2025.

Starfire (left) opens Homegrown.

HOMEGROWN! This year’s Homegrown Music Festival kicked off with the Founder’s Reception at Hoops Brewing in Canal Park, with Starfire (Scott Lunt) providing an overview of the event’s history in a nutshell. (There was a “pre-launch of the festival with a Children’s Music Showcase at the Duluth Zoo, which I did not get to). 

Rick McLean

Because I was intent on seeing bands I hadn’t heard before, I stuck around to see what the opening band, Rick McLean, was like. Rick (electric guitar and vocals) had Pete Biasi (bass guitar) and Mike McLean (drums) with him. This was some heavy shit; real head banging music that required earplugs! 

Iron Range Outlaw Brigade

The second band playing here was Iron Range Outlaw Brigade – also very loud, but more melodic than Rick McLean with songs one could actually understand the lyrics to. This group was also helped by a pedal steel guitar. 

Hardaybra

After that it was over to Zeitgeist to take in Hardaybra, an amusing and not so loud rock-fusion group, then Hobo Revival from The Range, where they don’t hesitate to share tuners. 

Hobo Revival

Interstellar Overdrive

It was on to Blacklist Brewing Co. after that to see Interstellar Overdrive – another super loud group that played Metallica covers, for which ear plugs were mandatory. Ditto for the goth-like God’s Holy Blood at Carmody Irish Pub. This group included Andy Lipke on electric guitar, one reason I chose to see this act. Thus it was a very LOUD beginning to this year’s Homegrown. 

Unlike the jazz concerts of the previous week, it was a young crowd that appreciated these performers (and surprisingly, the Curmudgeon as well) more than I.

There are plenty of other types of music that Homegrown showcases, so you are sure to find some you dig. I plan to see as many of the festival offerings as possible and hope to discover some real jewels in our midst. See you out there!

God's Holy Blood