On Friday, Nov. 13, the Grassroots Concerts series will welcome the Sidewalk Cafˇ and Rhonda Laurie to the Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar in Nisswa for a 7:30 p.m. concert.
Sidewalk Cafˇ is well-known in the Twin Cities.
The Sidewalk Cafe CD, "Musette Cinq," is its debut CD. It was recorded in three hours one afternoon, and all but one tune were first takes. The music is mostly originals with some standards and contains some inspired soloing from all members.
The ensemble features Gary Schulte on violin, Reynold Philipsek on guitar and Jeff Brueske on bass. Rhonda Laurie, jazz vocalist and native New Yorker will join them in Nisswa.
Schulte is a veteran of "A Prairie Home Companion,"
Philipsek has played in national rock bands and jazz ensembles and recently released the 25th CD under his own name. An active composer, he contributes many of his own compositions to the group.
Multi-instrumentalist Brueske has studied under jazz bass virtuosos Anthony Cox and Rodney Whitaker, as well as Robert Anderson of the Minnesota Orchestra.
The last concert of the fall season is Dec. 4, with Rachael Kilgour coming to Nisswa.
All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. in the Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar across from the A and W restaurant in downtown Nisswa. Admission is $10 at the door, which opens at 6:30 p.m.
Grassroots Concerts welcomes nonperishable food donations to the local food shelf.
Volunteer-led Grassroots Concerts are made possible in part by a grant from the Minnesota Legislature awarded by the Five Wings Regional Arts Council.
For information, call (218) 829-4092, go to www.grassrootsconcerts.org or e-mail grassrootsconcerts@charter.ne.t
