About a year ago, four prodigiously talented college students found a good way to spend their winter break– play original music together as Hoaxer. Peter Goggin, Will Kjeer, Charlie Lincoln and Edmund Catlin quickly found gigs and an audience, and have since found gigs at Jazz Central, the Black Dog, Icehouse and beyond — at least when their various college programs are on vacation. Last summer, they brought their new compositions to the All Originals Series at Studio Z, and soon will be heading into the studio to make their debut recording. Meanwhile, with winter break providing the opportunity, Hoaxer will perform this week on the Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie series (December 22) and then hold the featured band slot for the New Year’s Eve edition of Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog (December 31).
Peter Goggin graduated from Mounds View High School and is studying saxophone at the University of Michigan. In addition to Hoaxer, he has performed in other ensembles at Jazz Central and during the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Peter was a three-year member of the Dakota Combo. Peter was a featured soloist with the University of Michigan Jazz Band during the 2016 Detroit Jazz Festival.
Pianist Will Kjeer performed for two years with the Dakota Combo and the PipJazz Youth program, attended the post-high school program at Interlochen Arts Academy, and spent a year studying jazz piano at Cal Arts. He is now enrolled in the jazz program at McGill University in Montreal. Will has led bands around town since his mid-teens and is an original member of Steve Kenny’s Group 47. Last summer, he lead an ensemble on the All Originals series at Studio Z and joined Group 47 at the Rochester (MN) Jazz Festival.
Bassist Charlie Lincoln is in his second year of jazz studies at the Berklee College of Music, where he recently joined Berklee’s Global Jazz Institute. A South High alum, Charlie was already a busy gigging musician before graduation, playing with the Dakota Combo, Central Standard Time, the Charles Lincoln Group, and subbing with Eric Gravatt’s Source Code. In his senior year, Charlie was selected as one of two winning youth songwriters in the Eric Stokes Songwriting Contest and was on stage for the Young Performers Showcase for the Zeitgeist New Music Cabaret. Last summer, Charlie is serving as a curator for a monthly new music series at Jazz Central Studios, as well as performing with a number of area bands. He performed with the Dave Brattain Trio as well as with Hoaxer during the 2016 Twin Cities Jazz Festival.
A graduate of St Paul Central High School, drummer Edmund Catlin is in his third year at McGill University in Montreal. Last summer, he curated a biweekly Friday night series at Jazz Central, performing entire albums by Thelonious Monk with Charlie Lincoln and Levi Schwartzberg. He’s also been an active member of the PipJazz Youth program and an Administrative Associate at Walker West Music Academy.
Not just a band of young talents — this simply a talented, creative band.
Thursday Night Jazz at Reverie is a weekly presentation of local modern jazz ensembles curated by Steve Kenny. Held at 1931 Nicollet Ave in South Minneapolis, 9 pm. Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog is also a weekly series curated by Steve Kenny, located at 308 E. Prince Street in the Northern Warehouse in St. Paul’s Lowertown. On New Year’s Eve, enjoy an “Early Sane New Year’s Eve” with pianist Todd Harper, followed by Hoaxer at 8:30 pm and an “All Star” Jam session at 10:30 pm. No cover for Reverie or Black Dog shows, but donations ($10 suggested) are appreciated to maintain the series and pay the musicians. Visit www.thursdaynightjazzatreverie.info or www.saturdaynightjazzattheblackdog.info for series schedules.
