For more than seventy years, Dave Karr was the sound of Minnesota jazz. Here, he was a tenor saxophonist with a tone so beautiful it could stop a room. Further, he had a swing so deep it pulled everyone in with him, and a wit that turned every bandstand into a party. Widely regarded as the “dean of Minnesota saxophonists,” Dave passed away in July at the age of ninety-five. Moreover, he leaves behind generations of musicians who are better for having stood next to him.Now, the people who knew him best are gathering to send him off the only way that makes sense: with a night of music.

Join the seventeen-piece JazzMN Orchestra — the big band Dave called home for decades. Here, they present A Musical Celebration of the Life of Dave Karr. Expect the tunes he loved and the sound of a 52nd Street he carried with him throughout his life. Additionally, hear stories about a man generations looked up to. Here, Karr truly left an indelible mark on the Twin Cities jazz scene.

The evening is produced by Andrew Walesch, Artistic Director of JazzMN, and Joe Pulice, who will serve as Music Director. Special guests include Connie Evingson, Andrew Walesch, Patty Peterson, Prudence Johnson, Adi Yeshaya, Tommy Peterson, Ricky Peterson, and Billy Peterson. Also, Brian Grivna, Kenny Horst, Keith Boyles, and more. Furthermore, this is a lineup of longtime collaborators that reads like a map of Dave’s remarkable musical life.