Manhattan Transfer at the Dakota

Three weeks ago Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant proprietor Lowell Pickett jumped at the opportunity to book the Manhattan Transfer to perform at the club on Monday and Tuesday nights this week. Jazz is Lowell’s first love and the MT are world-class artists. The Dakota has set up this page to tout their appearance.

I didn’t know about the shows until we picked up an email from the Dakota yesterday afternoon. We ran downtown Minneapolis for the second show at 9:00 last night and were blown away. They put on a completely winning show, starting with “Spain” and ending with “Birdland” (video below) and “Route 66.” In between there were no lulls; it was an unadulterated expression of pure joy. Can the local warming trend can be attributed to the arrival of MT in town? Probably.

MT have won ardent fans all over the world in the 35 years they’ve been performing together and collecting their 10 or so Grammys. Compared to the venues at which they usually perform, the Dakota is like your living room. It was a privilege to see them perform there.

I think there are tickets left for tonight’s two shows, at 7:00 and 9:00, as well as the wine lunch with Janis Siegel at noon (call the box office at 612-332-5299 for tickets to tonight’s shows or to the lunch). If you can make it, I think you’ll thank me for sending you their way.

I should add that the talented Katie Campbell is filling in for Cheryl Bentyne during the MT’s current tour. I thought she was terrific.

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