Textile Center Presents:

Dennis W. Spears & The Wolverines Jazz Trio

Monday, June 8, 2015 - Surly Brewing Co.

Bringing together music, fashion, food and fun, Textile Center's first Jazz Threads will showcase the incomparable Dennis W. Spears and The Wolverines Jazz Trio at Surly Brewing Co. 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 8, 2015.

The evening will include great music and hearty hors d'oeuvres from Surly's kitchen, with a cash bar of Surly brews. Attendees are encouraged to sport their wearable art to showcase their artistry ... adding flair to the festivities!

Tickets, priced at $75, are limited. Fifty percent of the ticket price will be a tax-deductible contribution to Textile Center, supporting its youth education programs. Tickets may be purchased online at textilecentermn.org, at the Textile Center Shop or by calling 612-436-0464.

"Thanks to a $10,000 challenge grant from Pohlad Family Foundation, Jazz Threads contributions from new and lapsed donors to Textile Center will be doubled up to $500 per person," says Executive Director Karl Reichert. "We're also grateful to Surly for donating use of its Scheid Hall as part of its Non-profit Mondays program."

Reichert adds: "Dennis Spears and I worked together for nearly eight years in North Minneapolis, creating and producing seven seasons of the Legends jazz series. During my transition to Textile Center this past November, we agreed that we had to find new ways to continue our artistic collaborations, and he said: 'We'll call it Jazz Threads.' I'm thrilled that we are bringing fiber art and some of the Twin Cities' great jazz musicians together at one of the Twin Cities' hottest destinations ... just blocks from Textile Center in the Prospect Park neighborhood."

Dennis Spears

2013 Minnesota Music Hall of Fame Inductee

"Dennis Spears' voice isn't just an instrument, it's a continent: He sings of the rich earth of the south where the roots of the blues and jazz are deeply planted, of the lucid north where freedom of expression thrives. He deftly touches on the sharp sophistication of the east coast and the eclectic energy of the west, striking a common chord among us with every turn of phrase."

- M. Dodge (Criterion Jazz Review)

Dennis Spears became known as the male voice of Moore By Four, the locally-based, internationally heeled quartet headed by pianist/arranger Sanford Moore, featuring the voices of Spears, Yolanda Bruce, Ginger Commodore and Connie Evingson. Dennis has kept himself busy and visible ever since, performing in theater, in music ensembles, and gigging with his own band(s). He is one of the best entertainers around this area, and his renown is growing. His theater piece about Nat King Cole was presented at the Kennedy Center in spring 2011. He serves as the artistic director of the Capri Theater's Legends series.

The Wolverines

The Wolverines are well known for their standing gigs at Hell's Kitchen-Minneapolis and from their time at the Times Jazz Brunch. Rick's hard swinging keys, Steve's thumping bass, and Jendeen's power on the drums continue to make for an amazing night of music.

About Textile Center

Textile Center is unique as America's only national center for fiber art. Now in its 21st year, it was originally formed by a group of fiber artists and arts patrons desiring a place to come together and celebrate the region's vibrant textile community. Fiber art encompasses a wide range of forms, both creative and crafted, including weaving, quilting, knitting, sewing, dyeing, felting, needlework, lace making, basketry, beading, soft sculpture and multi-media pieces.

The community resources of Textile Center include classes for all ages and skill levels, exceptional fiber art exhibitions, an artisan shop, professional-grade dye lab, natural dye garden, and the largest circulating textile library in the nation. The facility serves as a hub where people come together to create, learn, share, explore, and be inspired by fiber art.

Textile Center's mission is to honor textile traditions and promote excellence and innovation in fiber art.

GALLERY AND SHOP HOURS

Monday - Thursday 10 am - 7 pm

Friday - Saturday 12 ? 5 pm

Free and Open to the Public

EVENT SUPPORT

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Textile Center | 612-436-0464

3000 University Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55414

info@textilecentermn.org | textilecentermn.org