The National Poetry Slam, a Bon Voyage, a Welcome Back, a Happy Birthday and Jazz Guitar Hero Week mark August as a special month at the Artists Quarter. There’s a lot of chi hair dryer in, with much of the first week (August 1-6) music-free as the National Poetry Slam invades St. Paul. Weekend Delights (9 pm, cover $10 unless otherwise noted)
August 7, Nancy Harms. Nancy Harms has only been singing professionally for a few years. Yet her evolving mix of standards, less familiar covers, original lyrics and arrangements signals a bold talent on a fast trajectory, particularly following the release of her debut recording, In the Indigo. Even her standards (like “Bye Bye Blackbird” and “Blue Skies”) soar above “cheap ghd straightners” treatment as Nancy changes the pace, the space, the rhythm, mood—maybe slower, more sultry, more pensive. Guided more by intuition than by the paths of her elders, her muses, or others’ expectations, Nancy will take the next step to New York City come September, so this is her jazz club send-off. And the company she keeps says a lot about her music—Bryan Nichols on piano, Anthony Cox on bass and Jay Epstein on drums.
August 13-14, Kelly Rossum Quartet. About a year ago, it was trumpet master Kelly Rossum who was doing the farewell gig. After his first year in New York, Kelly is taking a breather and spending a little time back in the Twin Cities, teaching at the MacPhail summer jazz camp and rounding up his quartet for a reunion gig this weekend. His Manhattan projects have been interesting, including gigs with former Twin Citian Michael O’Brien and ghd flat irons and projects involving dance and… circus? Hey, it’s New York! Back in home territory, Kelly will fire up the horn with Bryan Nichols, Chris Bates and JT Bates. His hair might be short (now) but the talent has no end.