Polem and BCE Trio

Wed, Jan 28

5pm Doors 7pm Showtime Full food and beverage available for this show. Seating first comes, first serve. 21+ $15 Adv (+fees/taxes) $22 Doors (+fees/taxes) Polem features Mike Wolter on guitar, Kameron Markworth on bass, and Joey Van Phillips on drums. The trio draws its influence for its original repertoire and their own unique approach to outside material from albums including Andrew Hill’s “Time Lines,” Beastie Boys’ “Paul’s Boutique,” Bobby Hutcherson’s “Montara,” De La Sol’s “De La Sol is Dead,” and Duke Ellington’s “Money Jungle.” BCE Trio features drummer Emma Garau, bassist Chris Bates, and pianist Bryan Nichols (BCE Trio) collaborate in improvisation, original music, and reimagined jazz standards. Chris Bates is an accomplished bassist recognized for his remarkable contributions to the world of jazz. Bates is a key member of the Atlantis Quartet, where his dynamic and inventive bass lines contribute to the ensemble’s distinctive sound. With a career spanning decade, he has become a sought-after collaborator, known for his deep understanding of the jazz idiom. Emma Garau is a drummer and composer based in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated with a BFA in jazz and contemporary music from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2022 while independently studying with Dave King of The Bad Plus and touring extensively with Fortezza. Emma has toured and/or recorded with artists including Powderhorns, Grace Christian X, and Geologist (of Animal Collective). Bryan Nichols is a pianist, composer, and educator based in Minneapolis. Often found playing jazz and improvised music, but at home in a variety of musical worlds, he leads and composes for his own trio, quintet, and nonet, in addition to performing, recording, and touring with a variety of forward-thinking artists. He is a recipient of a prestigious McKnight Fellowship for Performing Artists and a residency at the Kennedy Center for Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program. Kameron Markworth is a bassist, composer, teacher, and improviser based in Minnesota. A fixture in the Twin Cities music scene, he has performed and recorded with a wide array of artists. He recently appeared on Joan Hutton and Sue Orfield’s fearless album Splash (2024, Shifting Paradigm Records) and Peter Kogan’s Just Before Midnight (2022, KoganNote Records). Joey Van Phillips is a drummer, percussionist, father, husband, actuary, television enthusiast, little-league coach, and chicken wing expert. A third-generation drummer and versatile musician, Joey has written for, recorded with, and performed with Dessa, Aby Wolf, Jonatha Brooke, and the Grammy award–winning Minnesota Orchestra. Mike Wolter is a guitarist and composer Mike Wolter who often is working with musicians from both the preeminent vanguard and the eclectic fringe. He has become one of the area’s most sought-after guitarists and band leaders. In 2021, Wolter’s interest in the intersection of music and social change inspired him to repurpose a sizable grant he received from the St. Paul Arts Board. By using it bring together the varied musical acts from around town he admired while also raising several thousand dollars for local nonprofits working to better the community.