MPLS String Project with an opening set by Luke Peterson Quartet

8:00pm – Luke Peterson Quartet

Peter Goggin – alto saxophone Patrick Adkins – piano Alma Engebretson – double bass Luke Peterson – drums & compositions

Minneapolis and Colorado-based composer and drummer, Luke Peterson, has been performing his original music for almost a decade. Upon moving to Colorado for graduate school, Luke studied with his favorite composer: the late Ron Miles. He continues applying the lessons learned from Ron in his new quartet repertoire presented here. In December 2019, he created, curated, and performed in Our Own Festival, a 3-night 9-band creative music festival at Studio Z in Lowertown St. Paul. He has played with Adam Linz and Brandon Wozniak, and his bands have opened for Eric Kamau Grávátt and Dave King. In 2019, he released the album Non-Trivial Problem with Twin Cities modern jazz collective SPACE. SPACE’s second album, The Approaching Coast, will be released in December 2022.

9:30pm – MPLS String Project

Ernest Bisong – violin, David Feily – guitar, Greg Byers – bass Abinnet Berhanu – drums

Exceptional musical talents converge in the Minneapolis String Project; a high-energy trio that’s breaking boundaries through eclectic pop/funk covers and genre-defying original works. Ernest Bisong, David Feily and Greg Byers performed together for years in diverse spheres of the Minnesota music scene before forming a unique musical partnership. MPLS String Project deviates from the standard repertoire of classical or bluegrass instruments and instead draws from jazz, fusion, rock, soul, folk, and Brazilian music influences.Their original compositions expand the conventional use of the many instruments they play: violin, cello, bass, guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Live performances leave audiences dazzled by their technical wizardry, simpatico improvisation, and engaging on-stage presence.