Jazzfest 2010: July 15–17, 2010

Thursday, July 15th:

Joanna Connor Band 6:30pm

Once she stepped off a greyhound bus in Chicago in October of 1984, it took Joanna but a few months to take the city’s highly competitive blues circuit by storm. Chicago magazine hailed her as “the most exciting new talent on the blues scene.” Joanna Connor and her searing slide guitar work have been raising eyebrows of blues aficionados and critics everywhere ever since. Connor set the The Windy City’s hallowed blues bars on fire with her slashing lead guitar work, her passionate slide solos, and incendiary vocals. Expect nothing less at JazzFest.

Friday, July 16th:

Thursday, July 15th

Kickin’ Analog 6pm

Kickin’ Analog is a blend of mostly acoustic music with powerful female vocals by Becka Cavin and Laura Jean Pulscher, along with Jim Dews and Jay Kirschenmann on guitars. Cavin oozes Corinne Bailey Rae-like vocals, soul-filled strains punctuated by controlled gravelly rasps. Dews can growl it out like the old blues guys and Pulscher brings you along with soulful melodies and story songs, smooth vocals reminiscent of Alison Krauss. Kirschenmann fills in with lead guitar work. It’s a streamlined band without drums, but full-sounding with instrumentation from the guitars geared toward filling the lows and mid-ranges.

Pasque 8pm

“Pasque is an attempt at a soundtrack for a Midwest Saturday night”, says Thomas Hentges, front man of the unique blues-rock band. The five members of the Sioux Falls based band have seen their share of stage time. Thomas Hentges, Tim Munce, John “slap” Myers, Adam Jones, and Martin Lien have all put in ten years or more of writing, performing, and recording original music. All old friends and admirers of one another’s talents, this group, sound as if they are destined to work together. Influenced heavily by the music of the early 1970s, Pasque delivers their interpretation of what most call classic rock. Basking their collective ear in classic blues, R&B, and a healthy dose of roots, Pasque manage to bring something unique to the SD live music scene. (Photo credit: Alix Hentges.)

Friday, July 16th

Polyphase 6pm

Polyphase is a 5 piece jazz group that is dedicated to playing music somewhat different from the norm. The instrumentation consists of Jim Speirs on trumpet, Joel Shotwell on saxes and the occasional jazz flute, John Kelly on keyboards, Andrew Reinartz on bass and effects and Al Bervin on drums. The group also features Vermillion vocalist Jami Lynn. Polyphase has been a band for almost 2 years, and limits itself to playing once every few months. This keeps the music fresh and interesting for the musicians and the listeners. (Photo credit: Greg Latza.)

We All Have Hooks For Hands 7:30pm

Originally starting in a downtown Sioux Falls apartment as a simple project to create happy pop tunes, We All Have Hooks for Hands recorded “Hold on, c’mon” with minimal members or a name for the project. Afterward a six piece set off for a short west coast tour. Upon returning, a full-length album was put into production. The result is a full band with a radiant sound, which includes dueling drummers, a violinist, three guitars, two horn/keyboard players, and a lonely bass. The size of the band and collective feel is a means to experiment with sound and dynamics. The influences that formed the subsequent album, “The Shape of Energy,” are as colorful as they are plentiful. The party lifestyle in a rural city fuels the music: “We love everyone and the party’s at our place.”

Trey Lane 9pm

Trey Lane is a creative artist that takes every opportunity to craft music that uses more than one style of hip-hop. With influences ranging from old school Biggie to the newest Jay-Z, Lane clearly knows how to create killer beats and catchy rhymes. Using lyrics based around his own life, it’s easy for listeners in any area to relate to his songs. Lane has used his hardworking ability to build his name on a purely do-it-yourself mentality. He has shared the stage with artists like The Game, David Banner, Flo Rida, and Murs, and his latest single, “Far Away,” is quickly gaining radio airplay on pop stations. (Photo credit: Studio Blu & 605 Magazine.)

Soulcrate Music 10:30pm

Blossoming during an age in which independent hip-hop was creating its own self industry, much of the Midwest was watching its artists putting their cities on the map, Soulcrate Music took the model to a new plateau. DJ Absolute and siblings Attention Def and Dirt Dee built their following from scratch in their hometown of Sioux Falls, SD, focusing on creating new style of energetic music with a high regard for soul and classic hip-hop. Quickly, the trio found itself opening local shows for national heavyweights, from Atmosphere, 311, and The Spill Canvas. “The Heartland Panic,” Soulcrate’s newest release is a ground breaking effort that shatters the genre boundaries that will be supported by multiple national tour throughout 2010. (Photo credit: Studio Blu & 605 Magazine.)

Saturday, July 17th

Houdek 12pm

A concept band conceived by Minneapolis musicians Patrick Baker and Tom Valentine, Houdek is comprised of SD native musicians performing original music inspired by their early lives growing up and coming of age in the rural state. The project takes its name from Houdek loam, the official soil of South Dakota and native only to that state. The music represents a wide array of perspectives and musical styles, from rock and blues to alt-country and folk. This is reflected in the diversity of the band members’ other groups, such as Wumpus, Marlys Roe & The Talismen, P. Skunk Willy, and Brandon Sprague Blues Band.

The Public Domain Tune Band 1:30pm

The Public Domain Tune Band was formed 30 years ago by Nick Schwebach (guitar/vocals) and Owen DeJong (violin) when they discovered their common interest in music from America’s Big Band era. The music adapts to the Public Domain Band acoustic setting of guitar, violin, Sax, and bass in the Jango Reinhardt musical tradition. The music and performance brings back musical performance from the early days of radio broadcasting and recording. Members of the band also include Larry Rohrer on bass/vocals, Dr. CJ Kocher on saxophone.

Elisabeth Hunstad and Take Two 3pm

Take up-and-coming vocalist, songwriter, and pianist influenced by many genres of music, Elisabeth Hunstad and combine her outstanding vocals with Take Two, a classic jazz band with a twist and you’ve got a fantastic jazz experience. Dan Peterson on guitar, Will Prines on keys, Dave Fermenich on bass, and Fred Evans on drums. Elisabeth Hunstad and Take Two will renew your love of jazz with a mixture of instrumental and vocal arrangements to entertain and enlighten music fans of all ages. (Photo credit: Brienne Maner.)

“Jazzed” 4:30pm

“Jazzed” is a state of being – an anticipation of something special unfolding as you’re witnessing it, in this case, in a musical context. They will be playing compositions by artists such as Cole Porter, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and a host of other jazz and blues classics and standards. The members of “Jazzed” will bring their own unique approach to this music. Drummer Bobby Gripp leads the group with Jeff Moe on bass, Tom Church on sax, Jonathan Kelly on keyboard, Dan Donahoe on guitar. (Photo credit: Greg Latza.)

Lazer Rocket Arm 6pm

Lazer Rocket Arm is a group that tows the line between hip-hop and jazz. Hip-hop beats twisted by The Sound Insurgent mixed with the live saxophone played by Primetime are laced up with lyrics by EBOLI and Biggs to bring your ears a sound that you are likely not accustomed to. Whether you have felt a groove like this before is moot, you will definitely enjoy the laid-back style and pleasant sounds this Sioux City band provides.

Lunar Funk Theory 7:30pm

Sioux Falls based Lunar Funk Theory have been at it for over 6 years. During this time, they have developed a cohesive Jam Band sound that includes some funk, reggae, rock, blues, and even hip-hop, while growing a committed base of the best freaky, furry, fuzzy, fun loving fans. Inspired from music of all genres, the exceptional talent of each member is only surpassed by the melding of sound that can only be described as the Lunar Funk.

Blues Bashers 9pm

A force as powerful as a Midwest tornado is gathering steam and rolling out of America’s forgotten state and into your eardrums – The Blues Bashers. The band features a man who’s forgotten more musical adventures than most of us will ever have: Bobby Berge. Wanting to add some new blood to the mix, Bobby hooked up with Jesse Christen. On harmonica and vocals is Derek Snow and rounding out the group on piano is Terry Brooks. (Photo credit: Kristen Mors.)

The Kickback 10:30pm

Comprised of brothers Billy and Danny Yost, Zachariah Verdoorn, and recent addition Tyler Zee, The Kickback is primarily a group of South Dakotans living in Chicago. The band’s continually evolving sound and penchant for choir-inspired harmonies and intertwining guitar lines has found growing success in its new home. Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote of the group: “… since the group… immigrated here from South Dakota last summer, the stories have begun to spread about its explosive live performances…” J. Edward Keyes of Rolling Stone claimed the band “conjures the very best parts of the Veils and the Walkmen and the Killers, writing lean, nervy songs that snarl and snap…”

Each year we have a fine lineup of artists! Take a look at the 2009 JazzFest Performers.

2008 JazzFest Performers:

Jonny Lang, Joyce Cooling Group, Tab Benoit, Taj Mahal, Blues Bashers, Slim Man, Jonah Smith, Simone, Robben Ford, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, BlueTanes, Soulcrate Music, M80, Jazz Portraits, Victoria Pennock Band, Dakota Jazz Collective, Snakebeard Jackson, Truth & Adapt, Solution, Little Bird Band

2007 JazzFest Performers:

Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks Band, Robert Cray Band, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, The Lee Boys, Bonerama, Jeff Golub, Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Northlanders Jazz Band with Chris Vadala, Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, Steve Weingart and Mike Miller, Solution, Soulcrate Music, Snakebeard Jackson, Kyle Knutson, Derek Postini, Dakota Jazz Collective, Urban Blues

Medeski, Martin and Wood, Shemekia Copeland, Mavis Staples, Ticket to Brasil, Albert Cummings, Hubert Sumlin and the G.E. Smith Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Ana Popovic, Quarter Round, Derek Postini Band, Dan Mahar, South Dakota Jazz Orchestra w/Denis DiBlasio and Steve Wiest, Sioux Falls Municipal Band, Northlanders Jazz, Serenata, The BlueTanes

Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Tommy Castro, Joe Bonamassa, Kelley Hunt, Greyhounds, Claudia Acuna, Dotsero, Guitarboy, SD Jazz Orchestra, Stallions, Violet, Hailey Soyland Band, DNR, Dan Mahar, That’s The Time, Jazz Portraits, Red Road, Phil Baker and Jeremy Hegg

John Hiatt, Little Feat, Chris Botti, the subdudes, Dickey Betts and Great Southern, Roomful of Blues, Shane Henry, The Mezcal Brothers, Standard Time, Reggae Cowboys, P. Skunk Willy and the Antibots, Spooncat!, Sleepeater, Wumpus, Isaiah and Joe, That’s the Time, Grant Manhart/Brian Harding Quintet

Mighty Sam McClain, Chris Duarte Band, Tower of Power, The Rejivenators, The Mezcal Brothers, SF Big Band with Chris Vadala, Nachito Herrera and Puro Cubano, Tony Monaco Trio, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, The Neville Brothers, Rosie Ledet and Her Zydeco Playboys, Sioux Falls Municipal Band, Dave Moore, The Fabulous Jadesmen, Standard Time, Spooncat!

Tinsley Ellis, Walter Trout and the Radicals, Delbert McClinton, Third Verse, Harmonious Wail, Billy Music, CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Los Hombres Calientes, Sista Monica, Tommy Castro, Jazz Portraits, Deadline, Rochford Jazz Ensemble, Jay Stulo, Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans

2001 JazzFest Performers:

Los Lobos, The Neville Brothers, Steel Pulse, Marcia Ball, Debbie Duncan, Kelly Hunt, Nelson Rangell, Omar & The Howlers, Bio Ritmo, Otis Taylor, Hadden Sayers Band, Spooncat!, Reggae Cowboys, Life B4 Color, Violet, North Main Blues Revue, Leghorn, Dr. Hector & The Groove Injectors

2000 JazzFest Performers:

Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Liquid Soul, Bernard Allison, Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers, Slim Man, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band, Connie Evingson, Spooncat!, Boom Shaka, Radio X, Little Slim & The Back Alley Blues Band, Blues Exchange, Friends, Standard Time, Bill Gibson Dixieland Band

1999 JazzFest Performers:

The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Terrance Simien, Big John Dickerson & Blue Chamber, Tommy Castro, Luther “Guitar” Johnson, Charlie Musselwhite, Eric Marienthal, Reggae Cowboys, Joanna Connor, Native Vibe, Sioux Falls Big Band

The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Spyro Gyra, Kevin Mahogany, Johnnie Johnson, The Senders, Radio X, Spooncat!, Bill Gibson/Stephen Fulton Septet

Nathan & The Zydeco Cha-Cha’s, Indigenous, Phil Perry, The Rippingtons, Dave Koz, Boom Shaka, Left Bank Jazz Society, Greg Koch, Pascal Bokar

Earl Klugh, David Benoit, Little Scotty & The Spinners, Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, Irie, Native Vibe, Scotty Spenner