Twin Cities Jazz Club | Live Jazz at The Lexington in St. Paul MN

Live Jazz Calendar

There is a $20 per person minimum at Jazz events.

May 4 Charmin Michelle

May 5 Debbie Duncan

May 10 JoAnn Funk

May 11 Maud Hixson

May 24 Connie Evingson

May 26 Nichola Miller

May31 Arne Fogel

Article from JazzPolice.com

Jazz at the Lex: Arne Fogel on Valentine’s Day and Beyond

Print

Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor

Thursday, 09 February 2012

Maud Hixson and Arne Fogel©Andrea Canter

It seems whenever we lose one jazz venue in the Twin Cities, another appears. In the past couple years, we’ve seen the closing of The Times, Rossi’s, and Sophia’s; the hopefully temporary end of the Northrop jazz season; and a reduction or elimination of jazz at a smattering of other clubs in the area like the Clown Lounge. Yet, we’ve seen new jazz programming appear at Hell’s Kitchen, Honey, the Nomad World Pub, Studio Z, and Jazz Central. And now a new series of jazz nights is set to launch at one of St. Paul’s most revered institutions, The Lexington. In addition to a major makeover in the kitchen, the Lex sought area crooner, producer and radio personality Arne Fogel to curate a twice-weekly series of jazz in the Williamsburg Room, starting on a regular basis in March. And as a preview, Fogel heads two gigs in February, including the upcoming Valentine’s Day night with Maud Hixson, Rick Carlson and Steve Pikal.

Jazz at the Lex

“The Lexington contacted me, and I was thrilled to hear from them,” said Fogel. “I think they knew, perhaps from my work in concerts or over the radio, that I would be a likely person to represent the type of music they chose to have. They are not looking at music as an afterthought; they are interested in doing this the right way, and making it count. I think that's why our opening night [February 4] was so very successful: They are all involved in making this work. Their feeling is that this type of entertainment suits the image of the restaurant, and I agree.”

“This type of entertainment” means classic jazz performed by small ensembles backing a vocalist, the bread and butter of Arne Fogel’s work. “Mostly vocals, standards, Great American Songbook, and the perfect atmosphere in the Williamsburg Room,” adds Fogel. “Very sophisticated, and a great night out!” The instrumentation typically will be piano and bass (“They have a lovely piano in the Williamsburg Room”).

Arne Fogel©Andrea Canter

The formal schedule begins in March with jazz on Thursdays and Saturdays, 6:30-10:30 pm. The first month’s line-up includes a Who’s Who of Twin Cities vocalists—Maud Hixson, Debbie Duncan, Charmin Michelle, Patty Peterson, Sophia Shorai and Fogel himself. Although the dates have not been set beyond March, Fogel notes that “Many singers have expressed interest….Jazz at the Lexington will be very cool!”

Valentine’s Day With Arne Fogel and Maud Hixson

Bob Protzman (St Paul Pioneer Press) calledArne Fogel "...one of the Twin Cities' most interesting people -- a singer, musician, actor, composer, writer, producer, music-film-comedy and entertainment historian, collector and oral encyclopedia." A native of Des Monies, IA, Arne has sung on over 1500 jingles as well as composing and producing his own music for jingles and industrial presentations. An on-air personality on MPR, KLBB, and KBEM radio, he is also frequently seen on TV commercials, lends his voice to radio and TV spots, and has experience in local theater. Arne has channeled Sinatra and Crosby throughout clubs in the Twin Cities, was a regular at the Times and now at Hell’s Kitchen, and released You Call It Madness on vinyl in 1989 and the acclaimed CD, Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams, in 2001. His duo with vocalist Maud Hixson led to their acclaimed Let’s Not Be Sensible(2005). Arne’s recent exploits include the title roles in “Bing and the Andrews Sisters” (2008) and “The Crosby-Clooney Show” (2011) at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, “The Bing Shift” on KBEM radio, and producing/co-starring in a series of musical revues saluting the music of the 30s, 40s, and 50s at the Bloomington Center for the Arts in 2010-2011. Currently his “Minnesota Voices: Certain Standards” airs twice daily on KBEM radio.

Maud Hixson©Andrea Canter

One of the Twin Cities’ most popular songbirds, Maud Hixsonhas attracted a wide following as a talented interpreter the great American songwriters. From her long-running duo with Arne Fogel to frequent appearances with the Wolverines, French 75, and particularly in duo with husband Rick Carlson, Maud has brought the lyrics of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and more to life at the Dakota, Artists Quarter, Hell’s Kitchen, Loring Pasta Bar and more. The St. Louis Park native has also received recognition well beyond the Twin Cities, from her solo cabaret show, Mickey and Maud: The Songs of Michael (Mickey) Leonard, presented in December 2008 at New York City’s oldest cabaret, the Duplex, to participation in an all-star Mickey Leonard tribute in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Room and appearance with trumpet star Warren Vache at Shanghai Jazz in New Jersey, both in 2011; and in late 2011, she was invited to perform as part of the New York Cabaret Convention’s gala revue at Rose Hall (Jazz at Lincoln Center).

Singing in duo is a natural part of Maud’s resumé, having released duo recordings with Arne Fogel (Let’s Not Be Sensible) and with husband/pianist Rick Carlson (Love’s Refrain). In addition to her appearances on club stages, Maud’s recent activities have included teaming with Erin Schwab to bring “Coward’s Women” to life on the Guthrie stage; joining Lucia Newell and Arne Fogel in a salute to Rodgers and Hart at the Hopkins Center for the Arts; pairing with Lee Engele for the 2-gal show, Chanteuse Diaries, at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center; a salute to Steve Lawrence/Eydie Gormet with vocalist Jason Richards; and appearances with Arne Fogel in “The Crosby-Clooney Story” and upcoming “Frankie Goes to Hollywood” at the Bloomington Center for the Arts.

For Valentine’s Day, the Lexington is offering a special menu. Reservations at 651-222-5878.

The Lexington is located at 1096 Grand Ave, St Paul (corner of Grand and Lexington)

Schedule for March, Jazz in the Williamsburg Room (6:30-10:30 pm):

March 1, 3 – Maud Hixson
March 8 – Debbie Duncan
March 10 – Charmin Michelle
March 15, 17 – Arne Fogel
March 22, 24 – Patty Peterson
March 29, 31 – Sophia Shorai

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2012

Jazz comes to the Lex

Arne Fogel by John Whiting

Heavy double doors open to a world of dark wood, beamed ceilings, classic food and cocktails (including ice cream drinks--Pink Cadillac, anyone?).

Founded in 1935, frozen in time, the Lexington Restaurant has had just three owners in its long and storied history. It's a St. Paul tradition, the place to go for important lunches and dinners, family events, meetings, celebrations, receptions, reunions, wakes, to talk politics, to see and be seen. And now, to hear live jazz.

If anyplace cries out for the Great American Songbook, it's the Lex, especially its elegant Williamsburg Room. Period light fixtures, handcrafted cherry woodwork and beams, serpentine bar, stained glass windows, grand piano. Make mine a Manhattan, no bitters, while someone sings "Cheek to Cheek" or "Stardust," "I Fall in Love Too Easily" or "As Time Goes By."

Beginning with two nights in February, moving to twice a week in March, Arne Fogelwill curate a new series of vocal jazz performances in the Williamsburg Room, most often accompanied by piano and bass. The music starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 10:30.

The schedule so far:

--Saturday, February 4: Arne Fogel with Steve Pikal, bass, and piano TBA
--Tuesday, February 14 (Valentine's Day): Arne Fogel and Maud Hixson with Rick Carlson and Steve Pikal
--Every Thursday and Saturday beginning in March. March 1 and 3: Maud Hixson. March 15 and 17: Arne Fogel. March 22 and 24: Patty Peterson.

Others TBA. He'll be mixing it up, but the Great American Songbook will be the core of the program.

"The new owners of the Lexington want the ambience and sophistication that comes with those great songs and that great music," Fogel said. "And the Williamsburg is not a TV room. Thank God for that."

©Copyright 2012 The Lexington Concrete5 Design and Development by Snap Social Media