Trios Trio

Larry McDonough is an award-winning St. Paul jazz composer, pianist, singer, and teacher, performing around the world and recording with his group the Larry McDonough Quartet as well as solo, and in duos and trios. He has performed with legendary saxophonist and composer Benny Golson, Trombonist Fred Wesley, and trumpeter Duane Eubanks, as well as a who’s who of local jazz artists, and was inducted into the Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame for his work in the group Danny’s Reasons. His awards include the American Composers Forum Showcase Award for the composition “Strait of Gibraltar.” He has released eleven CDs and DVDs as a leader.

http://larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com/Biography.html

Bassist Jim Bierma studied music at Drake University and the University of Iowa. He started playing with the Irene Myles Trio in Des Moines when he was 18 years old. He moved to the Twin Cities in 1994. Many of his jobs in town were with singers including Debbie Duncan, Charmin Michelle, and Geoff Jones. Some of his current music jobs have been with Dave Graf and Joel Shapiro. He loves playing with this trio. It provides the opportunity to play songs recorded by some of his favorite bass players such as Charlie Haden, Paul Chambers, and Scott Lafaro.

Drummer Jimmy Olson studied and cut his teeth in and around the Chicago jazz scene. He studied with Jack Mouse, listened to Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Frankie Dunlop, and played with Pinetop Perkins, Richard Patterson, and Dave Myers. He initially hustled some gigs upon relocating to the Twin Cities. He then—for reasons known only to him—decided to largely put the stick bag away for some time. Always finding time for various musical projects with friends—mainly in the rock and funk worlds—he knew one day he’d have to scratch that jazz itch again. That time is now.