Triple Delight: Triplicate’s Three Gigs in November
by Andrea Canter - Jazz Police

“This polished band more than capably covers a lot of hip turf: hard bop, jazz-rock, Monk, Mingus, New Orleans funk, even a snatch of Led Zeppelin." -- Tom Surowicz, Star Tribune

Good things come in threes, the saying goes, and in jazz that often comes in the form of a trio. Such is the case with Triplicate, a collaboration featuring Joel Shapira on guitar, Bruce “Pooch” Heine on bass, and Dave Stanoch on drums. And there are three opportunities to enjoy their creative repertoire in November, over four consecutive dates, with gigs at The Artists Quarter (November 7th), the pre-concert lobby performance at Orchestra Hall (November 8th), and via the Late Night at the Dakota series (November 9-10).

Triplicate grew out of informal jam sessions as the three musicians developed their own repertoire of original compositions and arrangements. Their unwavering allegiance to presenting their work as a collaborative unit has paid off in critical and popular acclaim as well as diverse bookings, including appearances at The Twin Cities Hot Summer Jazz Festival, KBEM Winter Jazz Festival and Grand Marais Jazz Festival; at the Artists' Quarter and Dakota jazz clubs; as opening acts for touring artists at The Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater and the Cedar Cultural Center. The trio has released two recordings, its self-named debut in 2001 (nominated for the Minnesota “Grammy” for best jazz album) and Dawn and Age in 2005. Described by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as “dedicated, democratic, dogged in their vision yet never myopic,” the music of Triplicate stretches the boundaries of jazz into global realms with exquisite results.

The Boys in the Band
Once a rocker with the band Boy Elroy in the 80s, guitarist Joel Shapira has appeared with such international artists as Jack McDuff, Bernard Purdie and Herb Graham, Jr. His many projects include small jazz ensembles, classical duets with saxophonist Paul Harper (Sunset Park Music), a popular duo with Charmin Michelle (Charmin and Shapira), and appearances with a long list of Twin Cities artists such as Dean Magraw, Doug Little, Pete Whitman, Signe Hensel, Judi Donaghy and Vic Volare. Schooled at Berklee in Boston and Mannes in New York, Joel has studied with Tal Farlow, Joe Pass, Sharon Isbin and Anthony Cox, and teaches in Stillwater and Roseville.

Bassist Bruce “Pooch” Heine has an eclectic resume that includes work with Mose Allison, Jack McDuff, Bob Mintzer, Bob Berg, Barrett Deems, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Paul Wertico, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and Joan Rivers. Locally he’s played with the Cedar Avenue Big Band, Eddie Berger, Chris Lomheim, Christine Rosholt, Jay Epstein and Big Walter Smith, as well as with local and touring theater productions. He’s on the faculty of St. Cloud State University.

Freelance and studio musician Dave Stanoch has handled the trapset for a multitude of diverse artists, including Jack McDuff, Ben Sidran, Bernard Purdie, Clyde Stubblefield, Herb Ellis, Hiram Bullock, Stanley Jordan, Anthony Cox, Bobby Bradford, Mary Wilson, the New Kids on the Block, Shirley Jones, Robert Goulet, Charo, Joan Rivers, and Shari Lewis; as well as the Minnesota Orchestra and the Empire Brass. He’s studied with such giants as Max Roach, Jeff Hamilton, and Ignacio Berroa, and has taught at MacNally Smith for over a decade.

Catch Triplicate at any of their upcoming gigs, at the AQ, Orchestra Hall or Dakota—you’ll be delighted times three.

Triplicate performs at the Artists Quarter on November 7th at 9 pm (408 St. Peter Street in downtown St. Paul, in the lower level of the Hamm Building); in the lobby of Orchestra Hall before the Friday Morning Concert on November 8th at 9:30 am (11th and Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis); or at the Dakota Jazz Club on November 9-10 at 11:30 pm (1010 Nicollet Mall).

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