You’ll see some changes here. We’re paring things down, refocusing. A little spring cleaning.

If you loved all the old content, don’t worry—It’s still available, though it won’t be updated in the foreseeable future. Just click here to access it.

There’s nothing immediate on the books but we’re working on some exciting things for this summer and fall, so stay in touch and visit often.

Thank you for listening.

WHAT: Acclaimed Denver-based trumpeter Ron Miles with the NOWnet
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009
WHERE: MacPhail School For Music
TICKETS AND OTHER DETAILS: $10 ($5 students!). At the door or click here to buy online.

 Miles is an internationally recognized performer and composer who has played with an extensive list of jazz greats, including guitarist Bill Frisell. Miles, who studied at the Manhattan School of Music and who now teaches in Denver, is often compared to the famed trumpeter Miles Davis. Miles’ performances and compositions have been praised by everyone from the New York Times to the Times of London. The Washington Post said that “Ron Miles’ strongest playing reveals itself through his simply stated yet immensely expressive melody readings.” Downbeat, the premier magazine covering jazz, said: “As a composer, Miles scores top grades.”

Co-sponsored by:

Co-presented with:

The details:
What: The NOWnet performance
When: Saturday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Minnesota Opera Center (620 N. 1st St. in downtown Minneapolis)
Tickets: $10/$7 students, available at the door or online.

Three weeks and counting to the premiere of the NOWnet. This is the big one, our first formal performance since Jazz is NOW! returned last year from hiatus. We’re back and we’re strong, and it’s because of all of you. Thank you. We’d like to say that in person on Oct. 7, so please join us.

The details, if you haven’t already checked them out:

WHAT: Formal premiere of the Jazz is NOW! NOWnet composers’ ensemble
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Bemis Hall in The Minnesota Opera Center (620 N. 1st St. in Minneapolis)
COST: $15 regular, $10 students (special discounts available online. Just keep checking in!
TICKETS: available at the door or online here

–Brian

If you’re here because you saw us for the first time at these shows, we recommend you spend some time digging into our ‘Inside JIN!’ site, where you’ll find everything from free downloadable music to movies, photos, scores and more. If you like what you see, go ahead and sign up for our email list so we can stay in touch.

If you’re here because you’ve been reading every blog entry since we began, than thank you!

Either way, thank you for listening.

–Brian

Come early, because we’ll be handing out free NOWnet demo recordings! Each CD features five songs recorded live this spring during NOWnet performances at The Minnesota Opera Center.

–Brian

Anyway. The details:

What: SPARK 24 FESTIVAL
When: 10:30 a.m. (we know, we know, but if you live in the sister city, you might already be in Minneapolis trying to avoid all the hullabaloo, and there are some great brunch-friendly restaurants within a few blocks)
Where: Peavey Plaza (11th and Nicollet in downtown Minneapolis)
Details: Spark 24 is a brand-new, 24-hour music festival that spotlights local artists and musicians. We think it’s pretty cool and we’d love to see it continue, so come down and show your love.

You have two opportunities to see the NOWnet before fall is upon us. Both shows will feature the NOWnet quartet, with Jeremy, Kelly, Kevin, and our good friend Jeff Brueske filling in for Anthony Cox on bass. Both shows are outdoors and absolutely free. So come on down and hang with us, listen to some new compositions, and take in the last rays and days of summer.

Hope to see you all there. Come say hello. Don’t be bashful, now.

–Brian

AUGUST 31: SPARK 24 FESTIVAL
When: 10:30 a.m. (we know, we know …)
Where: Peavey Plaza (11th and Nicollet in downtown Minneapolis)
Details: Spark 24 is a 24-hour music festival spotlighting local artists and musicians. It’s a new thing and we’d love to see it continue, so come down and show your love.

SEPT. 7: CONCRETE AND GRASS FESTIVAL
When: Noon
Where: Mears Park (5th and Wacouta in downtown St. Paul)
Details: The annual SPCO-sponsored festival features a stacked lineup of the scene’s most stellar musicians from all genres. We’d be down here listening even if we weren’t playing.

Your support means more than we have words for. We do so much of the work for Jazz is NOW!—grantwriting, composing, organizing, etc.—alone, at computers and telephones and pianos, in our respective homes. We do it for free and we love it, but sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that what we’re doing is as important to other people as it is to us. Thank you for last night’s powerful reminder.

To those of you who made donations, expect your gifts in the mail soon.

And please, everyone, stay in touch. We love to hear from you. Visit our website. Explore. Sign up for our email list. And above all else, come out to the shows.

Thank you for listening.

–Brian