Dakota Street Fest 2011 Artist Videos
Davina and the Vagabonds: Roots Blues Jazz – 2011
“Hardest -working Blues woman in Minnesota, but……two things remain consistent at all her shows, though: her throaty but cushiony voice, which has a sort of hard-mattress comfort to it that’s part Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and a little Amy Winehouse, and her band’s rollicking New Orleans flavor, driven home by dueling horn players and a bayou-thick standup bass”
-CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER, Star Tribune
Sharon Little: Pop/Soul – 2011
Polished pop with soulful vocals from this Philadelphia native. Sharon’s 2008 debut tour as the opening act on the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss/T Bone Burnett tour put her on the national map in a big way. Little’s music has been all over TV lately, including CSI: NY, The Good Wife, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS and the theme song for The Cleaner on A&E.
Cedric Burnside: Blues – 2011
“Cedric Burnside is widely regarded as one of the best drummers in the world. Growing up at his grandfather’s side, he began touring at age 13, and has been playing music all his life, developing a relentless, highly rhythmic charged style with strong hip-hop and funk influences.”
Zoo Animal: Pop/Rock – 2011
“A paradox is not an impossibility. ‘Zoo Animal,’ the band’s self-titled second record, reveals itself to uphold such a maxim with a sharp yet subdued sound that is informed by equal measures of classical minimalism and ‘90s grunge. This contrast is just one of many as Zoo Animal’s stark, articulate pop music vacillates between gentle and aggressive, volatile and peaceful, light and dark.”
City on the Make: Rock/Blues/Hip-hop – 2011
“Their music pulls from a variety of genres—strains of blues mix with hip hop and punk, while the band members feed off one another like a jazz combo gone mental—and the addition of more experimental sounds on the new record shows that City on the Make is evolving into one of most interesting and forward-thinking bands around.” -City Pages
Dave King Trucking Company: Modern Jazz – 2011
“So here’s where the jazz meets the country. There’s definitely something very heartland, something very Frank Lloyd Wright and wheat fields to this music, and it often seems centered around the bass and guitar parts of Linz and Fratzke. Which is kinda funny – as these gentle tones emanate from his guitar, Fratzke is poised as if he could be fronting a speedo-adorned, glittery-faced Maynard James Keenan at a Tool show.” – City Pages
Nachito Herrera: Stunning Cuban Pianist – 2011
Nachito is one of the world’s great Cuban pianists. His jaw dropping technique and the rich, powerful soulfulness of his playing blend in what is often an amazing display of musical power and emotion. “Hotter than the burning tip of a contraband Cuban cigar. Stronger than a straight shot of Havana rum. As exciting as a World Series game, with ‘El Duque’ on the mound. Explosive. Crowd pleasing. Rhythmically intense. Romantic. Dynamic. Jaw-droppingly good.” - Tom Surowicz, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Patty Peterson: Pop/Soul/Jazz Vocals – 2011
Patty Peterson is a dynamic vocalist, radio personality as well as an inspirational and motivational speaker. She is a world class Jazz/ R&B singer, a radio jazz show host on KBEM Jazz 88 in Minneapolis, is a mainstay in the radio jingle and voice over industry.
Seven Steps to Havana: Latin Jazz – 2011
Seven Steps To Havana is a septet of international talent featuring musicians from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Ethiopia, and America. Their music combines the rhythmic sizzle of salsa with the harmonic richness of jazz. The resulting sounds swim the seas between musical genres- intriguing, entrancing, Latin jazz at it best!
A Love Electric: Modern Jazz – 2011
“A young, genre-defying guitarist, composer, and writer, Todd Clouser is an accomplished musician across the modern jazz and rock spectrum, leading a unique path to recognition as an up and coming act. Clouser’s impassioned performances run from piano balladry to dense jazz and groove, exciting audiences with an approach meant to bend the rules of artistic labeling.”
Debbie Duncan: Soulful Jazz Vocals – 2011
“Debbie Duncan, the Twin Cities’ First Lady of Song (as she is so often referred to by media people, club owners and djs) is a stunning and versatile vocalist who captivates audiences and jazz musicians. “Duncan is quite simply the star of the show…” -Star Tribune
Maud Hixson Quartet: Classic Jazz Vocals – 2011
“I think she’s the new Peggy Lee–a young singer out of the Midwest. If you like cool, artful storytelling in jazz, check her out!”- Amanda Mcbroom
Galactic Cowboy Orchestra: Bluegrass/ Blues Fusion – 2011
“Musically inventive and sonically charged, The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra transported the audience to a new artistic plane. What energy! What joy! What a terrific show!” – Steve Schmidt
George Maurer Band: Jazz – 2011
“A diverse array of musical styles erupts from George Maurer’s latest compilation of eclectic compositions,Songs From the Wayward Journey. Be-bop bumps into ballet, music-theater tangles with pop music, and poetry gets infused with jazz on this musical journey”
Paul Metsa with Willie West and Willie Walker: Blues – 2011
Guitarist/folksinger/eclectic musician Metsa was responsible for the first meeting of blues/soul singers Willie West and Willie Walker (of the Butanes), and the collaboration continues. Memphis soul man Walker and New Orleans blues/funk veteran West converge for some sweet sounds together.
Willie Murphy: Rock/Blues – 2011
“It is impossible to classify Willie Murphy as just a “blues” performer. His musical vocabulary defies and cuts across the simple classifications of blues, rock, reggae, soul, funk, jazz and rhythm & blues. An accomplished musician, composer, band leader and social commentator, Willie Murphy has been performing since the 1960′s locally, nationally and internationally.”
Bobby Lyle with Irv Williams – 2011
Dazzling keyboard master Lyle has done it all, from working with Sly & the Family Stone, Al Jarreau, Bette Midler, Anita Baker and more to setting the blueprint for contemporary jazz with his solo recordings. 93-year young sax man Williams is an Arts Midwest Jazz Master, and his warm, burnished tone has inspired his nickname, “Mr. Smooth.”
Lynhurst: Modern Pop – 2011
Lynhurst is a sibling alternative-pop band from Minneapolis, MN. Younger sister Mari fronts the group as its lead singer-drummer. With brothers Matt andJake on guitars, keyboards, and harmonies, the trio delivers a big sound. Mari’s sultry-sweet voice beautifully contrasts her rocking drumming and wry lyrics about love and all that goes with it. In August 2009, they released their album “Field Day.” Since then, Lynhurst has toured across the U.S., and has opened for a wide range of artists including Owl City, Hanson, Sheryl Crow, and Ingrid Michaelson.
Bootstrap Family Band: Bluegrass/Country – 2011
Originally from Kentucky, this traditional country quintet is making some serious noise on the local scene.
Sophia Shorai: Jazz/Pop Vocals – 2011
“the prominence of her enthusiasm is hard to ignore… Shorai’s project represents the best of what music is all about,” -All About Jazz
“There’s been buzz about Sophia Shorai for some time. I think I heard Leigh Kamman rave about her a while back on his radio show The Jazz Image, and Tanner Taylor wants to record with her, and she’s versatile, singing jazz standards and pop tunes and Latin classics … I like Shorai’s voice a lot. It’s very pretty, sometimes little-girl, sometimes breathy, sometimes tough, reminiscent of Stacey Kent but not derivative.” – Pamela Espeland, Bebopified
Sarah Morris: Pop/Country – 2011
Sarah Morris is a Minnesota-born singer-song writer with a flair for songs about the highs, and lows of love. Her writing is evocative – a kind of melodic poetry that can make you sing along even when you don’t know the song. Sarah balanced her classical training with a 4 year immersion in Nashville’s singer-songwriter community, allowing her voice to transition easily from genre to genre, creating a sultry sound that’s all her own.