MANKATO — By this time, anyone who doesn’t know about the incredible lineup of musicians from near and far that Dale Haefner brings to Mankato each year with his performance series may be eligible to lose their fan credentials.
The next example of that lands at Minnesota State University’s Halling Recital Hall Jan. 27 when the duo of Jennifer Grimm and Joe Cruz arrives to perform music from such historic combinations as Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass and Tuck & Patti.
Writes Haefner: “The performance features Grimm’s charisma, versatility, and pitch-perfect singing coupled with Cruz’s genre-bending Latin-infused pyrotechnic guitar style.”
The songlist takes a turn Feb. 8 as MSU’s own David Viscoli, Daniel Rieppel, Matthew McClung and Erick Rieppel bring two classical pianists and two classical percussionists to the stage. They will perform works by Bela Bartok, Samuel Robles and Cesar Bresgen.
Pianist Viscoli and Daniel Rieppel have performed as soloists internationally, while McClung is the timpanist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Erich Rieppel principal timpanist with the Minnesota Orchestra.
The Feb. 11 performance is too big for the recital hall, with Martin Zellar and the Hardways instead taking over The Venue on Madison Avenue. Zellar first appeared in the 1980s as lead singer for The Gear Daddies and continues to make his living writing, recording and performing music.
Fan favorite and native Mary Jane Alm returns to her MSU stomping grounds Feb. 19, joined by Richard Kriehn, Brian C. Peters and Haefner himself. Alm has been hailed for her pristine vocals and charming stage presence, resulting in induction into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame and double induction into the Midwest Music Hall of Fame.
Attention turns to Hooligan’s as the venue on Feb. 21 with the high-energy live music experience of Electric Diva. Fronted by North Mankato’s own power vocalist Mollie Fischer, the performance is expected to provide a nostalgic, high-energy night of popular sing- and dance-along music.
Original music takes the MSU stage Feb. 21 with the Luke LeBlanc Band’s warm, organic merging of rootsy folk and pop. The Current calls the singer/songwriter’s music “delicate, understated, and careful in its construction, taking apart how to live in such an unstable world while giving solace and a place for rest.”
It’s back to Hooligan’s March 21 for the soulful Americana-rooted storytelling of the Erik Koskinen Band. He blends folk, blues and roots-rock with his warm baritone vocals for an honest, melodic and deeply human sound.
Healing comes to the Halling stage March 26 with John McAndrew, who often explores themes of transformation and recovery in his music. As music services coordinator at Cumberland Heights, a treatment center in Nashville, he uses music therapy to assist in substance abuse and addiction recovery.
Rootsy singer Sarah Morris & The Sometimes Guys are next at MSU’s stage March 30. A top four finalist in the NewSong Music Contest at Lincoln Center in New York City, second-place winner of the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition and an Americana semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville, her songwriting is compared to John Prine and Norah Jones.
Minnesota-born Dessa & Friends return to Mankato at The Venue for a concert of wide-ranging music April 11. She will be joined by her frequent collaborators vocalists Aviva Jaye and vocalist/saxophonist Joshua Williams for a collection of new and original music.
April 18 brings back a Mankato favorite, Reverend Raven featuring Westside Andy at Hooligan’s. Winners of multiple Wisconsin Area Music Industry awards, Reverend Raven and CSAB specialize in traditional blues that features smooth guitar and hot harmonica from Andy Linderman. They have opened for many legendary blues artists including B.B. King.
The visiting artist lineup concludes April 21 with an appearance by Cruzando with Latin music that pays tribute to classic Cuban Son, Puerto Rican bomba and salsa, and boleros from the Buena Vista Social Club.
In addition, the Department of Performing Arts offers a number of student ensemble concerts including the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Elisabeth Cherland conductor; University Chorale, Angela Kasper conductor; Concert Wind Ensemble, Amy Roisum Foley conductor; the Jazz Mavericks Big Band, Sarah Costello director; and Contemporary Vocal Ensembles, Nick Wayne, Christi Smith and Stephanie Thorpe as co-directors.
Online ticketing is available at hss.mnsu.edu/music-events or call the Performance Series office at 507-389-5549.