Clearwater Hot Club CD-release show

Grand Rapids' water tower doesn't exactly rival Monsieur Eiffel's. But that northern Minnesota burg did spawn the Clearwater Hot Club, with its affinity for the classic Parisian sound of swinging Gypsy jazz as fashioned by guitar innovator Django Reinhardt. The Clearwater boys have made a name for themselves around the area and farther-flung Hot Club hotbeds with their tasty renditions of the Django repertoire, hitched to the accomplished work of twentysomething guitar phenom Sam Miltich. But on their sublime new album, Just You Just Me, the group ventures beyond the Hot Club stuff to jazz standards of the 1930s and '40s. Miltich switches over to electric guitar without losing any of his rich expression. Swing is also still prevalent, especially on jaunty runs through Lester Young's "Tickle Toe," with Dave Karr probing his inner Prez on tenor, and Gershwin's "Lady Be Good," with Karr and Sam entwining enthralling lines. There's also a sly, exquisite version of "Ain't Misbehavin'," with fine vocals by bassist Matthew Miltich (Sam's father), and an elegant tenor sax solo by Dave Karr over Sam's lively rhythm work. It's the sound of a band stretching in all the right directions. 18+. $10. 6 p.m. 408 St. Peter St., St. Paul; 651.292.1359.
Sun., Nov. 30, 6 p.m., 2008