Celebrating 25 years and a season full of jazz milestones

Next month marks a special occasion: the 25th anniversary of James on Jazz, which debuted in September 2000. What a journey it’s been, one that’s taken me across the country chronicling the ever-evolving world of jazz and the extraordinary musicians who bring it to life.

I’m deeply grateful for the chance to report from vibrant jazz scenes in New York, Chicago, Rhode Island, California, and many other inspiring places. Closer to home, I’ve spent countless nights enjoying the music at one of our cherished local venues, The Dakota. From its early days in St. Paul to its current location in downtown Minneapolis, the Dakota has been central to Minnesota’s live jazz scene.

Fittingly, the Dakota is celebrating a milestone of its own: 40 years of presenting world-class music. I still recall reporting on the opening of the Minneapolis location in 2003, when the legendary drummer Elvin Jones headlined the night.

To commemorate the anniversary, the Dakota is hosting a free indoor/outdoor block party on September 20, from 2 to 10 p.m. in downtown Minneapolis. The event will feature performances by The Suburbs, Jamecia Bennett, Patty Peterson Presents Jazz Women All Stars, and more.

Inside the club, Executive Chef Asher Zulkosky will offer the regular menu, while the outdoor celebration will feature burgers, sandwiches, and New Orleans-inspired Dakota specials. The day will also include a craft market and a kid-friendly activity zone.

Since opening in 1985, the Dakota has welcomed an incredible range of artists, including Prince, who graced the stage in 2013. Congratulations to Lowell Pickett, founder and visionary behind the Dakota. Here’s to many more unforgettable nights of music — for me, and for you, the loyal readers who’ve followed James on Jazz through the years.

This month also brings sadness to the jazz community with the passing of vocal legend Sheila Jordan, who died in Manhattan on August 11, 2025, at the age of 96. Jordan, who was still performing earlier this year, received the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship in 2012, cementing her legacy as one of the great voices in jazz history.

As summer winds down, the jazz festival season continues strong. Detroit will host the 46th Annual Detroit Jazz Festival, the world’s largest free jazz festival, over Labor Day Weekend, August 29 to September 1. The festival features four stages and over 60 performances, with artists including:

• Trumpeter Keyon Harrold
• Pianist Emmet Cohen and his trio
• The Herlin Riley Quartet
• Guitarist John Pizzarelli 
• The Maria Schneider Orchestra
• The James Carter Organ Trio
• And a can’t-miss reunion: Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera Reunion Sextet

This year’s Artist-in-Residence, pianist/composer Jason Moran, knows just how savvy a Detroit jazz audience can be. For the full festival schedule, visit detroitjazzfest.org.

Looking ahead to September 13 at 7:30 p.m., the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis kicks off its 2025–26 Performing Arts Season with a powerful celebration: the 60th anniversary of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians). Held at the McGuire Theater, the evening will feature a performance by visionary composer/trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and pianist/composer Amina Claudine Myers, and an opening set by Minneapolis’ own Douglas R. Ewart leading a cross-generational sextet of AACM members from Chicago and the Twin Cities

Smith describes the evening as “two ensembles creating a vast musical universe where deep feeling, listening, and peaceful contemplations will be the keynote for love.” For tickets, visit walkerart.org or call 612-375-7600.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, memories, and jazz reflections.

To get in touch, contact jamesonjazz@spokesman-recorder.com.