“Blues, Part 2” by Jazz at the Philharmonic was the first of 50 nominations for the first rock ‘n’ roll record, according to a book of that name by Jim Dawson and Steve Propes.  Granz put together the first Jazz at the Philharmonic show in 1944 as a benefit for 21 Mexican youths convicted in the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943.  I don’t know if every tour included the Twin Cities; I’ve placed a date next to the ones that did for sure:

 

1st National Tour: Late Fall/Winter 1945-46

2nd National Tour: May 17, 1946, Minneapolis Auditorium

3rd National Tour: October 28, 1946, Minneapolis Auditorium

4th National Tour: April 6, 1947, Minneapolis Auditorium Concert Bowl

5th National Tour: Fall 1947

6th National Tour: May 2, 1948, Minneapolis Auditorium Concert Bowl   (reported locally as the 5th tour)

7th National Tour: Fall 1948

8th National Tour: Spring 1949

9th National Tour: October 20, 1949, Minneapolis Auditorium Concert Bowl

10th National Tour: Fall 1950

11th National Tour: October 12, 1951, Minneapolis Auditorium

12th National Tour: October 10, 1952, Minneapolis Auditorium

13th National Tour  October 9, 1953, Minneapolis Auditorium

14th National Tour: October 15, 1954, Minneapolis Auditorium

15th National Tour:  September 30, 1955, Minneapolis Auditorium  (The 15th Tour was supposedly renamed the 16th Tour just weeks before the start of the tour but that isn’t reflected by Minneapolis newspapers.)

16th National Tour: September 28, 1956, Minneapolis Auditorium

17th National Tour: September 27, 1957, Minneapolis Auditorium

September 25, 1959 was given as a tentative date but not confirmed