NO COVER 4:30pm Show
Guitarist Zacc Harris will lead a jazz trio featuring Dan Carpel on bass and Pete James Johnson on drums.
Zacc Harris is a guitarist and composer based in Minneapolis. His musical journey spans various genres, but Harris has found his true calling in jazz. His guitar playing is characterized by its versatility, seamlessly navigating through intricate melodies, harmonies, and improvisational passages. Harris has established himself as a leading voice in the Twin Cities jazz landscape, garnering praise for his technical prowess and emotive expression. In 2017, following the release of his folk jazz trio recording, American Reverie, he was named Best Twin Cities Jazz Artist by City Pages. His 2021 Zacc Harris Group album Small Wonders received wide critical acclaim, including an elusive 4-star review in DownBeat magazine and a place in their Best Albums of the Year list.
Dan Carpel attended Berklee College of Music, where he was in the school’s Monterey Quartet. He was a member of Jason Palmer’s band throughout his time in town, and was a mainstay in their residency at Wally’s Jazz Cafe. His time out east also notably included playing in groups led by Godwin Louis, Noah Preminger, and Melissa Aldana. Since relocating to the Twin Cities, Carpel has regularly worked with Javi Santiago, Zacc Harris, and Abinnet Berhanu. He frequently performed with singer/guitarist Mary Cutrufello as well as Sonny Knight and the Lakers, and he recently became a part of Dylan Hicks’s Small Screens.
Pete James Johnson is a drummer, composer and educator in the Twin Cities—most often seen playing jazz and improvised music but at home in a variety of musical worlds. He has performed with local artists including Bryan Nichols, Javier Santiago, Omar Abdulkarim, Dosh, Michael Cain, Chris Bates’ Red 5, Will Kjeer, Andrew Walesch, Nooky Jones, Adam Meckler, Aaron Hedenstrom, and JazzMN Orchestra. Johnson has also performed with international artists including the Bob Mintzer Big Band, Alan Broadbent, Russ Ferrante, Alan Pasqua, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Bob Sheppard. Johnson has taught at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, the University of Minnesota Morris, Hamline University, and the University of Southern California. He has served as a clinician and guest artist at several jazz festivals around the Midwest. Johnson’s primary instructors included Peter Erskine (Weather Report, Steely Dan), Ndugu Chancler (Miles Davis, Michael Jackson), Bill Platt (Cincinnati Symphony), and National Medal of Arts recipient Morten Lauridsen.
