Paul Renz: Lessons in jazz guitar

After five CDs and almost three decades of composing and teaching, jazz guitarist Paul Renz knows all too well that inspiration can come in the funniest ways. But even he was a bit surprised by the main idea that percolated for his new album, "ReBop."

When he started composing for the CD, Renz heard the sound of a guy he performed with 23 years earlier, a flutist named Anders Bostrom. The two were students together at Berklee College of Music, but they hadn't crossed paths or even talked since 1984.

"The idea was just sort of spontaneous combustion," Renz recalled. "I remembered very clearly how it sounded when Anders played on compositions of mine at recitals at Berklee, and I wanted that sound on this record."

"First," he added with a laugh, "I had to track him down and remind him who I was."

Renz is equal parts educator and performer, and in both cases he has become an integral player in the Twin Cities jazz scene since relocating from Norfolk, Va., in 1993, when his wife, Jan, got a job in advertising here.

Talking at their home in south Minneapolis last week -- when their youngest of two sons, 10-year-old Gabe, was home sick -- Renz recounted coming to town somewhat blindly.

Instead, Renz wound up at the West Bank School of Music in Minneapolis, where he's now the head of the jazz studies department. Also an instructor at MacPhail Center for Music and a private tutor, he usually has a full day of teaching every weekday. But Renz still blocks out two to three hours per day to compose and rehearse.

David Alderson, executive director at the West Bank school, praised Renz's "disciplined nature."

"He is known for running a tight ship in his rehearsals and lessons, and it shows in the well-honed performances his students deliver," Alderson said. "Paul inspires loyalty. Some of his ensemble students here have been with him for a decade or more, some of our longest."

Loyalty and discipline have paid off on Renz's CDs. "ReBop," his fifth in 10 years, features three of the same guys from his last album: drummer Nathan Fryett, bassist Eric Graham and keyboardist Brian Ziemniak. Renz also managed to recruit his old Berklee mate to fly in from New Jersey for the recording. Bostrom has performed with McCoy Tyner and for Broadway productions, and he will return to Minneapolis for Saturday's CD party at the Dakota.

With six original compositions and one retooled cover (Bud Powell's aptly titled "Un Poco Loco"), "ReBop" is as much a showcase for the flute and organ as it is guitar.

"I've always loved the sound of guitar and organ together, and I think they really blend well with the flute here," Renz said. "Those three instruments together create very seductive textures. There's a warm quality to this album that's rare."

The sprinkled-sounding title track and the slow-funk jam "Sloppy Joe" feature Renz at his most playful, but there are also some elegant and refined gems on the album. The best is "Farewell HP," a somber but celebratory ballad that's a tribute to one of Renz's Berklee instructors, trumpeter Herb Pomeroy, a Charlie Parker protégé who died last August.

"Herb was just an incredibly effective, dynamic teacher," Renz said. "I studied with guys who were brilliant musicians but abysmal teachers. That's often the case. Teaching is a whole other thing, and Herb was deservedly renowned for it."

Later in the interview, I asked Renz to name some of his favorite players in the not-so-renowned world of jazz guitar (Mike Stern, John Scofield, Larry Carlton and many more came up). But after hearing him talk about Pomeroy, it was evident that being another hot-shot six-stringer is hardly what this guy's all about.

R.I.P., Earl Root Nobody knew or championed death metal and other subterranean brands of metal like Earl Root, the musician and proprietor behind Root Cellar Records in St. Paul and the cult-loved "Root of All Evil" radio show on KFAI. Root, 46, passed away Friday from cancer. His funeral service will be held today from 6-8 p.m. at Henry W. Anderson Mortuary, 3640 23rd Av. S., Mpls. "He was pretty courageous through it all, said Bill Lindsey of Impaler, one of the bands Root championed after the demise of his own group. 80s thrash pioneers Disturbed (not the 90s-00 Disturbed from Chicago. "Earl wore many different hats, and he pretty much became the biggest purveyor of metal in the Twin Cities."

In demand (out of town) The Magnolias have not played a gig in their hometown for more than two years and have mostly been inactive. So how did it happen that when the punk-popsters finally did book another gig, it was a sendoff to a first-ever European tour?

"We sort of lucked into a booking agent/management deal over there," explained frontman John Freeman, whose band performs Saturday at 7th Street Entry as a warmup to a dozen gigs in France and Spain. The group's classic album "Off the Hook" was issued on Virgin in France in 1992, but Freeman joked that they "wanted to wait until the exchange rate got outrageous" to tour there. Instead, they can now promote "Better Late Than Never," a new collection of outtakes and live tracks.

Meanwhile, Willie Murphy will cross the Red River instead of the Atlantic this weekend to perform at the historic Mystic Theatre in Marmarth, N.D., where a film crew is shooting for a documentary about Murphy's storied career. He'll have a new CD in tow titled "The Devil's in the White House." Hmm, wonder what that one's about?

Ahh! More outdoor gigs Two of the best summer patio music series kick off next week, starting with the Mill City Live gigs at the Mill City Museum's ruins courtyard in downtown Minneapolis, where the Owls play Wednesday. The shows are biweekly and always free, with future players including Romantica, M.anifest and Roma di Luna (see MillCityMuseum.org).

On Thursday, the Minnesota Museum of American Art in downtown St. Paul rolls out its weekly series with the Awesome Snakes, Talkers and Vignettes. These gigs are at 7 p.m. and cost $7, or you can buy a monthly pass for $24-$30. Upcoming acts include Storyhill, Kid Dakota, Best Friends Forever and Vampire Hands (MMAA.org/PatioNights).

Random mix It's a wee bit ironic but also plenty exciting that the local label/promotions company Modern Radio has booked some not-so-modern bands to play its ninth anniversary celebrations over the next two weeks. Malachi Constant and Volante, both of whom called it quits a few years ago, will regroup for Saturday's show at the Turf Club. Sicbay, also on the defunct list, will also reunite for the June 6 party at Triple Rock. Modern Radio's festivities kick off tonight at Triple Rock with the Chambermaids, Danforths and, from Portland, Ore., Mirah. Look for the full lineup and several other shows at Modern-Radio.com. ...

After talking to many of the Rhymesayers rappers at Sunday's triumphant Soundset festival -- 12,000 people strong and not a single incident or rain drop -- I can confirm that both I Self Devine and Eyedea & Abilities are working on albums for release later this year or early next. Meanwhile, Brother Ali said he's rooming with Ant during this month's Atmosphere/Ali European tour to start work on his next one. Ali has otherwise been busy at home with a one-month-old daughter. ...

Another semi-defunct band reuniting this weekend: The Big Wu will perform at a rally for Barack Obama on Saturday at Trocaderos with Roma di Luna and the Honeydogs. Apparently, Honeydogs frontman Adam Levy is just getting started. He, John Munson and Matt Wilson are planning a big block party outside the Black Dog Cafe in St. Paul the weekend of the Republican National Convention. They're calling it ProVention and are asking some big-name players to participate. Sounds like Willie Murphy might be up for it.

chrisr@startribune.com • 612-673-4658