Minnesota music notes: JT's Jazz Implosion to end, Sims gigs for Hopewell Music

An announcement over the Thanksgiving break by JT Bates has Twin Cities jazz lovers singing the blues.

The ubiquitous all-purpose drummer — who's been gigging with Justin Vernon's Big Red Machine and Hiss Golden Messenger of late — is calling an end to JT's Jazz Implosion at Icehouse in south Minneapolis. The musically adventurous Monday night tradition dates back to the late-'90s, when his trio Fat Kid Wednesdays performed weekly in the Clown Lounge at the Turf Club.

"After 20ish years of booking a music series, I'm ready for a change," Bates said in his Facebook announcement.

A Dec. 17 gig by the JC Sanford Quartet will be the final night. There are two more gigs in the interim: New York guitarist Jim Campilongo's trio with Josh Dion and Chris Morrissey next Monday (9:30 p.m., $20-$25) and then the Chris Bates Red 5 on Dec. 10.

Both Bates and the Icehouse team pledged to keep up jazz bookings, but with shows spread throughout the week more and earlier start times.

Random mix

"Burn It Down" rapper Sims of Doomtree is building up support for Hopewell Music Cooperative of north Minneapolis with a big benefit Saturday at the Fine Line (9 p.m., $20-$25). The organization was founded by two longtime teachers to offset the decline of music education in schools. Sims' Chicago pals Air Credits will join the cause with more support from Chance York, Big Cats and the DJ duo Hoops. …

Friday is the release day for Semisonic's expanded 20th-anniversary edition of "Feeling Strangely Fine," with four bonus B-sides, new liner notes/packaging and a sign-of-the-times first-ever vinyl edition. The album holds up considerably better than a lot of the overly slick late-'90s guitar-pop releases. … Dan Wilson, meanwhile, has pledged to issue one new song per month digitally starting with a couple beauties, available on most streaming services or his YouTube page. …

Heads up on a rocking show in the theater scene: Sounds of Blackness vet Jamecia Bennett has taken on the role of Sister Rosetta Tharpe in a new production, "Marie and Rosetta," showing through Dec. 30 at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul. … Two preholiday markets for record collectors: The Record Show returns Saturday to the American Legion Post in Richfield (9 a.m.-4 p.m., $2), while the Twin Cities Record Show lands Dec. 8 at Able Seedhouse & Brewery in northeast Minneapolis (11 a.m.-3 p.m., free). …

After announcing their new album's late-spring due date from the stage last weekend at First Avenue, the Cactus Blossoms also revealed they'll fill time in the interim with a return to their old Monday night residency at the Turf Club in January. Tickets for all four shows are on sale now. … The Turf Club also has two cool residency series happening in December: Dave Simonett's Dead Man Winter plays every Tuesday of this month (8 p.m., $25). The next four Thursdays will be helmed by All Tomorrow's Petty, the Tom Petty tribute band with James Diers, Rob Skoro and friends. Their Dec. 20 gig will feature the live debut of the Sevateem, Christian Erickson's "Dr. Who"-inspired ensemble. …

First Ave's annual Best New Bands showcase returns Jan. 4, and this year's lineup offers an especially eclectic and diverse mix with the Gully Boys, Yam Haus, the Carnegies, Annie Mack, Faith Boblett, Static Panic and Scrunchies. Just another reminder of how these cold months really are when the local music scene sizzles.

chrisr@startribune.com

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