Jazz Series Moves To Minnesota Square Park Pavilion With Free Admission, Kids’ Activities, Socially Distant Seating

    July 3rd, 2020

    SAINT PETER, MINN. – In partnership with the City of Saint Peter, the Arts Center of Saint Peter will host a four-show jazz series in Minnesota Square Park beginning Friday, July 17, with free admission, kids’ activities, refreshments for sale by local vendors, and strict enforcement of socially distant audience seating.

    At all four shows — July 17, July 24, August 7, and August 21 — music begins at 7:00 p.m. and concludes by 8:30 p.m. Admission is free, with donations to the Arts Center encouraged. Guests are required to bring their own seating, and social distance between household groups of audience members is required. Masks are strongly encouraged. Coolers are permitted; no glass bottles. Beverages and snacks will be for sale by Patrick’s on Third and other local vendors. St. Peter’s Exploration Recreation will provide free kids’ activities that adhere to social distancing from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

    Now in its seventh year, the Arts Center’s summer jazz series is hosted by KMSU Radio’s Gary Campbell, who delivers brief introductory remarks about the evening’s repertoire. Dates and acts are as follows:

    • Friday, July 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m., pianist, composer, and vocalist Larry McDonough will celebrate the final live recordings of a legendary jazz trio — pianist and composer Bill Evans, bassist and composer Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian. The June 25, 1961 recordings were the trio’s last, as Lafaro died in a car accident just ten days later.
    • Friday, July 24, 7:00–8:30 p.m., SnappDragon: Doug Snapp and the Twin Cities Jazz All-Stars performs an eclectic mix of classic to contemporary jazz. SnappDragon is Doug Snapp-trumpet, Pete Whitman-sax, Scott Agster-trombone, Chris Olson-guitar, Jeff Bailey bass, and Rich MacDonald-drums.
    • Friday, August 7, 7:00-8:30 p.m., The EZ Jazz Trio (Eric Zimmerman-bass, Evan Bierersaxophone, Ryan Rader-drums) performs new arrangements of jazz and pop standards, plus original tunes.
    • Friday, August 21, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Toni Wolff’s Dream Wedding (Evan Bierer-sax, Dan Choma-percussion, Nick Gaudette-bass, Mike Vaisch-keys), in a program of originals composed by Choma. “His work has a raw, punk rock emotional edge mixed with the complexities of a brain trained in Jazz theory,” Bierer says.

    In the case of inclement weather, shows will be canceled. Cancellation announcements will be posted via Facebook by the Arts Center and City of Saint Peter, and at artscentersp.org.

    The series is made possible by support from the State Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature to KMSU Radio. Also made possible by a grant from the St. Peter Tourism and Visitors Bureau.