Billy Peterson
For the first time in 21 years, the Petersons, Minnesota's first family of jazz, are not doing a family Christmas show. The weekend stand by the Peterson Brothers at the Artists Quarter in St. Paul was the perfect surrogate. There were appearances by plenty of Petersons – guests Jeanne, Linda and Patty joining a band featuring Ricky, Billy, Paul and Jason Peterson as well as super drummer Michael Bland. And the music was superlatively funky and jazzy, with a little pop schmaltz mixed in. Saturday's 100-minute second set made more sense musically than the Petersons' usually eclectic to a fault holiday concert. It began with a seasonal instrumental – "We Three Kings" mashed up with "My Favorite Things." The rest of the night wasn't exactly holiday fare but it was spirited stuff for the season. Highlights included Ricky's soulful vocals on "Who Will the Next Fool Be," the Prince-like groove by drummer Bland and bassist Paul on Paul's "Rich Man," Jason cutting loose Ray Charles style on vocals on "Georgia on My Mind," Bland's monster drum solo before Patty's jazz-fusion-y "Shadow of Your Smile" and Billy's terrfic bass work on "What You Won't Do for Love." After seeing this seldom-gigging combo for the second consecutive year, I say give Ricky and Jason more vocal opportunities. Said Patty after Saturday's gig: "Can we do this next weekend?" Said Ricky: "Can we do this every weekend?"