Eli “Lucky” Thompson (June 16, 1924 – July 30, 2005) was an American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist whose playing combined elements of swing and bebop. While John Coltrane usually receives the most credit for bringing the soprano saxophone out of obsolescence in the early 1960s, Thompson (along with Steve Lacy) embraced the instrument earlier…

Lou Bennett (May 18, 1926, Philadelphia – February 10, 1997, Paris) was an American jazz organist. Bennett first played bebop on piano, but started playing organ in 1956 after hearing Jimmy Smith. Bennett toured the U.S. with an organ trio between 1957 and 1959, and then moved to Paris in 1960. There he recorded and…

Wilbur Dorsey “Buck” Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpet player who was a leading member of Count Basie‘s “Old Testament” orchestra and a leader of mainstream-oriented jam session recordings in the 1950s. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong. The Penguin Guide to Jazz says that he “synthesi[zed] much…

The duo performs original works and arrangements of Erik Satie, Manuel de Falla, and the mournful music of sevdah—sometimes called ‘Bosnian blues. Bosnian-born Merima Ključo is one of the world’s finest concert accordionists. She is a frequent guest soloist with orchestras including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Holland Symphonia, and has…

POSITIVE VIBRATIONS is a new Roots Band  of veteran Twin Cities Reggae musicians.  Covering many former musical projects; including the Maroons, Macumba, Ipso Facto, Shangoya and many more. There is a crucial need for the powerful Roots groove to come back to the Twin Cities. Whether it be Dub, Lovers Rock, Rockers or the vital…

Performing every 2d and 4th Wednesday at the Whiskey Junction in Minneapolis MOJO ROOTS have been performing  for the past 14 years; providing a musical alternative to the home grown, agriculturally provocative, party-down atmosphere of the Minnesota State Fair; performing nightly at Cafe Caribe. In fact the group was created by mick laBriola to exclusively…