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Jazz is a worldwide phenomenon that has influenced musicians around the world. But jazz musicians also draw heavily from their international counterparts.


Among those to do so is saxophonist Jason Squinobal, a jazz instructor at the University of Minnesota-Morris, who performs tonight at Studio Z in St. Paul.


Squinobal tops the list of shows discussed this week by Twin Cities bass player Chris Bates and MPR News editor David Cazares.

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"You'll get to hear Jason's approach, which is very rooted in West African and North African music so a lot of really cool polyrhythms and meters and just grooves that are going to be really a lot of fun to play," who performs with Squinobal.


They'll be joined by vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn and drummer Cory Healy on Squinobal's tunes and on jazz standards.


Also tonight, drummer Eric Gravatt brings a group to Jazz Central Studios that includes guitarist Zacc Harris, saxophonist Brandon Wozniak and a 17-year-old Charlie Lincoln on bass.


"Charlie's stepping up big time," Bates says. "I haven't heard a young [musician], especially a young bassist that's been that complete and that willing to immerse himself in the music. Charlie draws inspiration from tons of different areas but his jazz playing somehow has really solidified over the last couple of year."


The grooves continue on Saturday, when the Paul Harper Quartet takes the stage at the Black Dog. Harper, a sax player, is a mainstay in the Illicit Sextet, a top Twin Cities group. He'll be accompanied by drummer Nathan Norman, who also plays in that ensemble, Mike Cramer on guitar and Charlie Riddle on bass.


They follow the group Central Standard Time, which features two other Illicit Sextet members: Dave Roos on guitar and Steve Kenny on trumpet. Filing out the bandstand will be Alex Burgess on drums and Charlie Lincoln, again, on bass.


On Monday, Chris Bates gets together with sax player Chris Thomson, guitarist Park Evans and drummer Joey Van Phillips in the Enormous Quartet, which performs at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. They promise an organic show that includes original compositions, "jazz oddities" and reworked pop tunes.


Before that the group Iron Chops performs at Jazz Central in Minneapolis. It features guitarist Jon Wood, sax player Dave Brattain and others.

Arts and Culture

David Cazares

Author

Among the shows discussed by MPR News editor David Cazares and bassist Chris Bates is one tonight by saxophonist Jason Squinobal, a University of Minnesota-Morris instructor inspired by Africa.

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