Join local jazz vocalist and songwriter Dakota Andersen at the release show for his debut album, Switchgrass! Featuring all original jazz compositions in a variety of styles and folk/fusion openers, this show has a little bit of something for everybody.
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Dakota Andersen is a vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and educator based in Minneapolis. A newcomer to the Twin Cities, he is quickly becoming established in the jazz scene with performances at Jazz Central Studios, Aster Cafe, The Lexington, MetroNOME Brewery, Hook and Ladder, and Resource. Most recently, he released his debut album of 10 original songs entitled Switchgrass. The album encompasses a wide range of vocal jazz styles – funk, bebop, bossa nova, Tin Pan Alley era swing, modal jazz, jazz folk, etc. – and draws heavily on inspiration from nature. Past collaborations include Kurt Elling, Sinne Eeg, Darmon Meader, Laila Biali, Miguel Zenón, Myra Melford, Carl Allen, the One O’Clock Lab Band, and the Minnesota Jazz Orchestra. Dakota is originally from Fairfield, Iowa and earned his undergraduate degree in choral music education from the University of Northern Iowa and his master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of North Texas.
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Cass and Rachel are a guitar and vocal folk duo ready to sing and play their way into your hearts! Comprised of Twin Cities singer-songwriter-guitarists Cassandra Johnson and Rachel Bearinger, the two combine their own songwriting with folk/americana favorites from their songwriting heroes. When they’re not playing together or solo, you can catch them with their respective groups: Astronomy Town and St. Rangers.
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Ryan Garmoe is a trumpet player and composer based in Minneapolis, MN. He currently leads multiple original projects, including the fusion group, Wave Cage, who was awarded a 2025 Jazz Road Tours Grant to tour the Midwest. The band’s debut album, Even You Can See in the Dark, was released on Shifting Paradigm Records in 2023. Ryan also performs original music with his sextet and has released collections of ambient tracks entitled “Sketches”. Ryan has performed at Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Artprize International Art Competition, Iowa City Jazz Festival, 80/35, Mission Creek Festival, GDP Festival, Greeley Jazz Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Iowa Soul Festival, and 515 Alive.