1555 James Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55411

612.668.1735 ~ www.jazz88fm.com

April 2, 2013

Contacts: Connie Shaver 612-308-5785 ~ connieshaver@charter.net

Michele Jansen 612-668-1735 ~ Michele.jansen@mpls.k12.mn.us

JAZZ88 KBEM 88.5 FM PRESENTSDESTINATION TWIN CITIES

FEATURING BUTCH THOMPSON AND SARAH LaROSE-HOLLAND AT THE LAB THEATER JUNE 14-15

MINNEAPOLIS - Two Minnesota artists --- Grammy Award winning jazz pianist Butch Thompson and choreographer Sarah LaRose-Holland have collaborated to present Destination Twin Cities, an impressionistic, time-traveling exploration of neighborhoods, landmarks, people and places that define urban life in Minnesota. Looking at who were we, and who are we today?

The performance includes images of Saint Paul's Swede Hollow neighborhood and iconic landmarks like the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. The audience will revisit the experience of the seedy Hennepin Avenue "strip" where jazz musicians provided the sound track and the counter-cultural antiwar lifestyle that emerged on Minneapolis' West Bank during the 1960s. And, this is just part of the story.

Destination Twin Cities features Burch Thompson and Sarah LaRose-Holland's dynamically engaging dance company Kinetic Evolutions in a new look at the areas history. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday June 14 and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday June 15 at The Lab Theater in Minneapolis' warehouse district. The performances will be recorded for later broadcast on KBEM. Click here for photos by Patrick Photography.

Butch Thompson is one of the most prominent musicians in traditional jazz. Born in Marine-on-St. Croix, he was playing Christmas carols on his mothers upright piano by age three, and began lessons at six. He picked up the clarinet in high school and led his first jazz group, Shirt Thompson and His Sleeves, as a senior. He began his professional career at age 16 in Minnesota, and two years later was visiting New Orleans frequently to learn from veteran musicians like clarinetist George Lewis. He played American and European festivals during the 1960s and 70s and began his solo recording career in 1966. In 1974, he joined the staff as the house pianist of public radios A Prairie Home Companion, an association that continues to the present. In addition to extensive touring (he has traveled the world from Cairo to Tokyo) as a soloist and with his trio and 8-piece Jazz Originals Band, he finds time to write and teach. His writing has appeared in various magazines including DownBeat and The Mississippi Rag, and among his teaching credits are residencies at the American University in Cairo and the New England Conservatory of Music. His recordings include the Grammy-winning Doc Cheatham and Nicholas Payton on the Verve label and a long-running solo series on Daring Records of Boston. ButchThompson.com.

Sarah LaRose-Holland is the Artistic Director of Kinetic Evolutions Dance Company -- a modern dance company formed in 2006 that performs virtuosic, dynamic and emotionally engaging work. Sarah began her dance career in Florida and has been part of the Minneapolis dance community since the mid-90s. Her work has been supported by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, United Way and Target Foundation. In 2004, Sarah founded the Kinetic Kitchen dance series and began presenting regional choreographers. The Kinetic Kitchen series has been produced at the Mounds Theatre, Varsity Theater, Old Arizona Center for Performing Arts and Patricks Cabaret. Sarah has enjoyed the opportunity to work with many talented choreographers and dance companies during her career including: Christopher Watson Dance Company (Assistant Director), Zenon Dance Company, 10,000 Dances, Erin Thompson & Byron Richards 45 Chartreuse, Jeffrey Peterson Dance, Bryan Gerbers Aurora Dance, Zero Gravity Dance, Klein Dance, the City Childrens Nutcracker, Kona Kai Island Dancers, and Dance Alive! Sarah has performed for several choreographers including: Tina Anderson, Kenneth Balint, Jeanne Bochette, Alyce Bochette, Rusti Brandman, Trisha Brown, Donald Byrd, Jane Carrington, Brian Chung, Brad Garner, Heidi Geier, Gerry Girouard, Sarah Gordan, Austin Hartel, Sarah Hauss, Becky Heist, Carol Huncik, Jennifer Johannesen, Myron Johnson, Patricia Kenny, Christine Maginnis, Donald McKayle, John Munger, Leslie Neal, Kelly Nipper, David Parsons, Gretchen Pick, Stuart Pimsler, Stacy Pottinger, Anna Preston, Ric Rose, Isabel Garcia-Rose, Amy Slater, Winona Sorensen, Wil Swanson, Maria Tierney, Morgan Thorson and Larry Lee Vanhorne. KineticEvolutions.yolasite.com

What: Destination Twin Cities featuring jazz pianist Butch Thompson and choreographer Sarah LaRose-Holland

When: Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 15 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Where: The Lab Theater, 700 N. 1st St., Minneapolis

Cost: $20 General, $30 Table Seating

Reserve tickets at www.jazz88fm.com or call 612-668-1735

This concert is made possible through funding provided by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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