Regional Jazz Trio
The Nomad World Pub

For this Nomad Jazz Series event, Mike Lewis (reeds), J.T. Bates (drums) and Anthony Cox (bass) are collaborating on an evening of music that could go in pretty much any direction, given the pedigrees of the principals involved. I have to be honest: there seems to be approximately diddly-squat out there on the Interweb in terms of exactly what to expect, so let’s just guess that it’s going to consist of more creative, improvised music than you can shake a stick at. I was fortunate enough recently to get to watch Bates in the studio with French reedman Michel Portal and a cast of other French and American performers as they worked on recording an album for release in conjunction with Universal France and the Minnesota Sur Seine festival. I was struck by how, after extending discussions back and forth amongst the musicians in French and English that seemed more confusing than helpful, the minute they began playing everything became fluid. More than in most genres, the structured improvisation inherent in jazz requires trust, discipline and a shared vocabulary, and one of the truly beautiful things about an evening like this one (or the session I got to check out) is seeing each musician’s personality come forward, shake hands with the others and make an eloquent contribution to the group’s conversation. 9 p.m. $4. 21+. 501 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-338-6424. STEVE MCPHERSON

Truth Maze
Fine Line Music Cafe

If you like your hip-hop in the spirit in which it was founded, look to Truth Maze, sustaining the legacy of The Last Poets with integrity borne of what the true old-school calls “grit” and “mother wit.” This fiery young brother isn’t the least bit scared to pull the black community’s coat with a tough-love kick, square in its collective ass. To wit: “North Side Blues Song“ from his CD Expansions + Contractions (Psoems 1:1) on Tru Ruts/Speakeasy Records. Ominous verse, backed by an originally hellacious, down-in-the-alley soul groove, it pontificates along the lines of “Summer time, off the chain/unleashing animosity causing confused souls to attack on sight/and in the background of this blues song/you hear kickin’ it in death/mixed with gunshots and fireworks/and the sound of death/becomes the strangest silence/as the sound of death becomes strangest silence/ever felt, y’all.” Somebody git off an “Amen!” and savor some Truth Maze live, in full-effect. He’s on the bill at the release of hip-hop band Leroy Smokes’ new CD Love, Hustle, Theater. Headlining or not, Truth Maze is somebody you need to get next to. 9 p.m. $12/$15. 318 N. 1st Ave., Mpls. 612-338-8100.DWIGHT HOBBES

HOT PICK OF THE WEEK

José González
Cedar Culture Center

José González is an interesting creature, a human manifestation of the concept of bricolage, where powerful symbols and ideas are thrown together, canceling each other out in a newly neutral soup. This practice was all the rage with punks back in the day, and it returns incarnate in González, a Swede with Argentinean blood who is fond of applying a dreamy, acoustic folk treatment to dance-pop hits. González’s presence is all in the effect that his voice and guitar have on the music; frankly, he could play the phone book and I would listen. Reviewers seldom miss an opportunity to compare him to Nick Drake, but I disagree. Drake played good, solid folk that stood on its own. González makes musical soup, throwing a dash of Scandinavian curiosity into a base of Argentinean guitar, and seasoning with plenty of pop. The result? So punk rock. With Juana Molina and Psapp. 8 p.m. $15. 416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-338-2674. MEREDETH BARZEN

Sisters in Law
Bell Auditorium

The U Film Society presents “Sisters in Law,” a docu-drama about law and male privilege in Cameroon. Two female judges are making a difference by punishing the abuse of women and children. They’re funny and loveable, but they’re tough as nails. They’ll be present at the screenings Friday and Saturday for questions and answers. The film by Florence Ayisi and Kim Longinotto has won many international awards. You will stand up and cheer. Through June 29. 7:15 & 9:15 p.m.; also 5:15 p.m. Sat & Sun. 17th & University Ave. SE, Mpls. 612-331-3134. ED FELIEN

Guthrie Theater Grand Opening


I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but all sorts of building projects are happening in Minneapolis. If it’s not entirely new buildings, such as the Cesar Pelli-designed Central Library downtown, then it’s elaborate additions to existing buildings, such as the Walker Art Center, which now resembles the old Walker Art Center, but with a metal robot wrapped around it. The most recent addition to the Minneapolis skyline is the Guthrie Theater along the Mississippi riverfront. Some have sniffed at the new design – or, more properly, the color scheme for the new design, which has caused cynics to dub the new building “Ikea on the River.” But cynics-be-damned. Early word is that Jean Nouvel’s structure is likely to become a popular favorite, with dazzling panoramic views and a suspended lobby bridge. Best still, the building maintains one of the old building’s most significant features – its thrust stage, which founder Tyrone Guthrie labored over, both to make certain that everybody in the house was seated close to the stage and to imitate the traditional theatrical design of Shakespeare’s era. Finally, and for the first time in its history, the Guthrie will have its main stage and its inventive “Lab” stage in the same building, rather than across town from each other. The physical separation of the two stages has seemed to reflect a difference in mission and audience in the past, with the main stage sometimes offering selections that were a tad quotidian while the Lab stage offered selections that were overly eclectic. With the two performance spaces in such close proximity, perhaps there will be greater crossover of missions, with the main stage benefiting from its partner’s off-beat sensibilities, and the Lab stage benefiting from the main stage’s awesome professionalism and production values. The opening event will feature live music, dancing and fireworks, and, best still, most of it’s free. Noon. 818 S. 2nd St. Mpls. 612-377-2224SPARBER


We Are One—the Motherland Campaign
Plymouth Christian Youth Center

You won’t find a more worthy cause these days than “We Are One – The Motherland Campaign”—workhorse jazz performer T. Mychael Rambo’s benefit to help fund his upcoming outreach to South Africa. On July 8 will travel to Africa for 3 weeks to work against HIV/AIDS. He joins a delegation of artists and educators who’ll be consultants to principals, school boards, governing bodies and policy makers. Their purpose is to heighten awareness of the disease, dispel misinformation about it and improve prevention in a land where this health epidemic has spread like wildfire. Joining stellar song-and-dance man Rambo for the benefit are fellow Twin Cities luminaries Debbie Duncan, Bruce Henry, Yolanda Bruce and Ginger Commodore. Proceeds go directly to NdCAD – The Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (if you can’t make it to the concert, tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to NdCAD-We Are One Campaign, c/o Network for the Development of Children of African Descent, 655 North Fairview Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104). 4 – 7 p.m. $15. 2027 Broadway Ave. N., Mpls. 651-225-4204. DWIGHT HOBBES

Diane Arbus Revelations
Walker Art Center

Before we talk about Diane Arbus, we need to mention a 1932 film by “Dracula” director Tod Browning. The film was titled “Freaks,” and, even if you’ve never seen it, chances are you’ve heard of it. The Ramones, for example, took the “Gabba gabba hey” chorus of their song “Pinhead” from a chant spoken by sideshow performers in one of the film’s many shocking sequences. “Freaks” was notorious – and frequently banned – for using actual sideshow acts as characters in the film, and while Browning (himself a former carnival employee) lensed them sympathetically, the resulting film was just too startling for many audience members. Not for Diane Arbus, though. Reportedly the New York-born photographer repeatedly sat through midnight screenings of the film, and its impact is instantly obvious in her work. Arbus photographed Coney Island roustabouts, movie stars (most notoriously, an aged Mae West embracing her pet monkey) and everyday New Yorkers with the same peculiar carnival sensibility. Her black and white photographs, shot from the waist looking up, seem to view its subjects with a puzzling curiosity about humanity, regarding people as perverse curiosities. In Arbus’s world, children wield toy weapons and make hideous, violent faces. Young parents mope around in mile-high pompadours and raccoon-like makeup. Jewish circus giants double over, brushing against the ceiling of their tiny parent’s apartment. Thanks to the Walker, we can now look at the strange creatures that inhabit Arbus’s world, and with some studied reflection, see what is rarely immediately evident in Arbus’s photography: Look closely to see her subject’s humanity. Through Sept. 10. $8/Free for members. 1750 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. 612-375-7600.SPARBER

Chris Mills
7th Street Entry

Windy City native Chris Mills did something pretty extraordinary on last fall’s The Wall to Wall Sessions. The album featured orchestral arrangements for a 17-piece band that introduces an aggressive sound to alt.country. It was a brilliant move that exemplifies what it means to be musically daring and not musically stupid. Getting 17 pieces to work together for an album is like communal living. For it to be successful, everyone has to work together and be respectful of everyone’s space. Mills has achieved this, in the process crafting an excellent, if underappreciated, album. It’s a mystery to me why he hasn’t been able to grow past a cult following. Mills’ unique live shows are an excellent example of his comprehensive musical facility that should impress any music lover. With Catfish Haven and Matt Jennings. 8 p.m. $7. 21+. 29 N. 7th St., Mpls. 612-332-1775.(Louis Lenzmeier)

Jason Leopold
Borders Books

“Journalism’s current bad boy.” “Gonzo journalism gone amuck!” Jason Leopold has gotten plenty of grief for his exclusive report on Karl Rove’s indictment. Of course, Karl Rove didn’t get indicted and Leopold lost tons of credibility, but Leopold has scored a genuine triumph in reporting on Enron’s phony energy trading in California. He’s in town to push and read from his new book “News Junkie.” 7 p.m. Free. 1390 University Ave. W., St. Paul. 651-641-0026.ED FELIEN

Newmad Tuesday
The Nomad

If you missed the first Newmad Tuesday at the Nomad a few weeks back, here’s your chance to catch another batch of spanking new bands for the low, low price of free. After catching the raging war that was Radio K’s Battle of the Underage Underground at First Ave last Sunday-- and be assured, we’re going to try and get some of those bands over to the Nomad for future installments of the Newmad series—I wandered over to the Seventh Street Entry and got to catch most of Lazer Forever’s set opening for Askeleton. There just aren’t enough killer power trios in the world out there, but with Lazer Forever we’re at least one closer to the goal. It’s independent, it’s rock, it’s pretty much everything you could want from three guys, two stringed instruments and a kit. Small White’s brand of tongue-in-cheek rock, delivered in duo format by Chout and Alsex, will surely remind some of Tenacious D, while opener Harbor draws their inspiration both from across the pond (Coldplay, Radiohead) and right here at home (Clem Snide, The Strokes). Trust me: you’re in for a rockalicious evening. 9 p.m. FREE. 21+. 501 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-338-6424.STEVE MCPHERSON