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When Steve Heckler and Steve Adams put together the first “Hot Summer Jazz Festival” in 1999 at Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis, their goal was to attract a few hundred people and get some attention for their Hot Springs Record label. Thanks in large part to the drawing power of the legendary Brother Jack McDuff on the B-3 organ, over 1,000 people turned out and a new Twin Cities tradition was born. Over the ten years since its inception, the Festival has changed its name to the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Ravi Coltrane found support from generous sponsors, expanded to multiple locations (including Mears Park in St. Paul) and added tens of thousands of loyal (and casual) jazz fans to the ranks of the ever-growing crowds. The 10th annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival promises to celebrate the milestone in grand style. The return of the seminal ‘70s fusion band Return To Forever (RTF) kicks off the whole affair on June 19 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. Featuring Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, and Lenny White, the classic lineup of RTF had not shared the stage in nearly 30 years prior to their current tour. Tickets are required for the RTF show. (See article in the current TCJS Jazz Notes page 6.) |
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