Half Past Midnight in the Starlight Room

Led by dynamic drummer and vocalist Ataa Mensah, Half Past Midnight is a up-and-coming jazz quintet born out of Walker West Music Academy. Mensah, a proud graduate, draws on the influence of Twin Cities jazz greats like Kavy Kaviraj, Kevin Washington, and Jack Breen—whose influence shows up in the groups repertoire and playing. The group features Will Aldrich (tenor sax), Callum Schultz (bass), Xavier Johnson Ryan (keyboards), and Alex Weinstein (alto sax). Together they focus on performing a mix of Afrobeat, RnB, jazz fusion, and original compositions.