Sheldon adds Divas show, Banu Gibson,Dave Black, Carmen Lundy

Carmen Lundy

The Sheldon Concert Hall has added several performances to its October schedule that may be of interest to jazz fans.

On Sunday, October 9, the Sheldon will host Mae Wheeler's Divas 2005 Extravaganza, this year's edition of what has become an annual showcase for St. Louis female vocalists singing blues, jazz, gospel, pop and more. I can't find any information on the Web about who the featured performers are this year, but if past shows are any indication, the show should be worth hearing.

On October 11 and 12, vocalist Banu Gibson will replace Richard Hayman for two morning shows scheduled as part of the Sheldon's "Coffee Concerts" series. Hayman, the popular former conductor of many pops concerts for the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, broke his foot and is unable to travel. Gibson, who's well known internationally for her renditions of hot jazz tunes from the Twenties and Thirties, is a New Orleans resident who has temporarily relocated to St. Louis in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Also on October 11, St. Louis guitarist Dave Black will perform at the Sheldon as part of the "Notes From Home" series. Black is one of my favorite guitarists in town, a virtuoso who can play just about every style of music on the guitar, and this is a great chance to hear him in a pristine concert-hall setting. And last, but certainly not least, on October 17, the fine jazz vocalist Carmen Lundy will perform in a benefit concert for Community Women Against Hardship.

Reggie Thomas, Jazz Unlimited named in RFT's "Best of St. Louis" 2005 issue

The Riverfront Times 2005 "Best of St. Louis" issue has named Reggie Thomas as Best Jazz Artist and Jazz Unlimited, hosted by Dennis Owsley on KWMU, as Best Jazz Radio Program. The annual overview of the St. Louis scene offers the RFT's staff's picks for the best of everything in categories including music, arts and entertainment, people and places, sports and recreation, restaurants, and more.

Other winners this year included Bennie Smith as Best Blues Artist, Farshid Etniko as Best World Music and Raglani, the eponymous creation of Joseph Raglani, as Best Noise Band. You can see the complete list of 2005 "Best of St. Louis" winners here.

Playbill, UMSL Current preview Shorter concert

For more on tonight's Wayne Shorter concert at the TouPAC, including some comments from SLSO music director David Robertson about Shorter, check this story written by Terry Perkins for Playbill (the program book for Orchestra patrons). UMSL's student newspaper, The Current, also has a brief preview story.

Roberts Orpheum to host hurricane benefit on Saturday, October 1

Mae Wheeler, Kim Massie, Erin Bode, and Mo and Dawn’s Remix Project will perform at a concert benefitting survivors of Hurricane Katrina to be held at 7 p.m., Saturday, October 2 at the Roberts Orpheum Theatre. All proceeds from the event will go to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund.

Tickets are $30 for general admission and $100 for VIP, which includes a post-show reception at the Roberts Mayfair Hotel, and are available now through Ticketmaster.

Red radio sold, will continue online-only

Red 104.1, the St. Louis radio station that mixed jazz, swing, oldies and adult pop music in an attempt to appeal to an underserved segment of the radio audience, has been sold by Emmis Communications to Radio One for $20 million. According to this story from Post-Dispatch business writer Martin Van Der Werf, the over-the-air signal at 104.1 FM will switch to a new format, as yet undisclosed, on Friday, September 30.

However, fans of the station aren't totally out of luck - Red's programming will continue to be streamed online at www.red1041.com, and will be broadcast from 4 p.m. to midnight Saturdays and from about noon to 9 p.m. Sundays on KFDK 97.1, another Emmis-owned station that broadcasts talk programming, much of it syndicated, during the week.

(edited 10/3/05 to fix a typo)

Jazz this week: Special Monday edition

Wayne Shorter

There's a whole lot of music going on in St. Louis this week, and so I've bumped the weekly highlights post to Monday in hopes of doing a better job of calling attention to the various offerings of jazz and creative music around town over the next seven days.

On Monday, genial vocalist Steve Tyrell opens a four-night run at Finale, but unless you're a hard-core fan, I'd suggest putting off seeing him until later in the week. Instead, go check out "A Diamond For Kenny," the Webster University jazz faculty's 75th birthday tribute to Kenny Wheeler. Or mosey down to the South Side for a concert of experimental music and free improv at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center featuring Jack Wright, Carol Genetti and Jon Mueller, plus opening sets from St. Louis' own Joe Ragliani, who "works with pre-recorded materials to create subtle enveloping environments of sound," and 7th Epicycle, featuring Steve Thomas on guitar and computer electronics and Mark Sarich on cello and electronically modified cello.

Tuesday could very well be the pick night to hear Tyrell, since it's usually a light night of the week for live music. Or if you're in the mood for something a bit lower-key and more budget-friendly, go to Brandt's to hear the duo of vocalist Victoria Gough and guitarist Bob Bosch. I had the pleasure of working a gig with Bob a few weeks ago, and he's a proficient, tasteful player with a knack for the unexpected; the brief audio excerpts on the Brandt's site indicate that his work with Ms. Gough - by the way, the two are engaged to be married this fall - is definitely worth a listen.

On Wednesday, legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter and his Quartet appear with members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra at the Touhill Performing Arts Center as part of the SLSO's new "Fusion" series under music director David Robertson. Shorter is one of the giants of modern jazz, and he rarely tours in this part of the country, so this show gets my "must-see" designation for the week.

On Thursday, Washington University's Jazz at Holmes series features a free concert by St. Louis pianist Ptah Williams - a nice price if you've shelled out the big bucks to see some of the other attractions this week - and Tyrell wraps up his gig at Finale.

On Friday, saxophonist Willie Akins opens a two-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro as part of the club's "Spotlight Series," the fine pianist Curt Landes performs at Crossings, and the Ambassadors of Swing bring their retro big band sound to the Casa Loma Ballroom.

And on Saturday, St. Louis area big band fans get a special treat as the Count Basie Orchestra visits the TouPAC. Sure, Basie's been gone for almost 20 years now, but restocked with a new generation of musicians (still including, as far as I know, St. Louis native Tony Suggs on piano), the Count's book of classic charts and relaxed sense of swing live on for all to appreciate and enjoy.

Sunday is another day that presents a near-embarassment of musical riches. The Pat Metheny Trio - expanded to a quartet with the addition of saxophonist David Sanchez - performs at the TouPAC, and there are two experimental music shows in town as well. Pianist Thollem McDonas and a gaggle of St. Louis musicians including Eric Hall, Dave Stone and Darin Gray will perform at Dunaway Books, while New Music Circle presents the Natto Quartet in concert at Washington University's Steinberg Auditorium.

For more, visit the St. Louis Jazz Notes calendar. And if you're a musician or venue who would like to have your event listed in the calendar, email your information (time, date, place, ticket price, and so on) to stljazznotes at yahoo dot com.

(edited to fix typos 9/27/05)

Reggie and Mardra Thomas to perform benefit concert on Wednesday, September 28

There have already been a number of benefit concerts to raise money for survivors of Hurricane Katrina here in St. Louis, and area musicians from the east side of the Mississippi River are doing their part, too. Jazz pianist/organist Reggie Thomas and his vocalist wife Mardra will headline a concert to benefit survivors of Hurricane Katrina beginning at 7 p.m, Wednesday, September 28 at the Edwardsville High School auditorium, 6161 Center Grove Road in Edwardsville.

The concert will also include performances by Mat Conway and Jen Mellick, the Edwardsville High School Jazz Band, and the Eden Praise Choir. Admission to the event, which is sponsored by Edwardsville Cares, is $5, and proceeds will go to help hurricane evacuees now living in the Metro East area.

Notes from the Net: Miles Davis art show, Lake and Ware present big bands, Roger Milleron playing St. Louis, and more

Oliver Lake

The artwork of Miles Davis is the subject of a show in Edinburgh, Scotland...Former St. Louisan Oliver Lake is concertizing this weekend at NYC's Jazz Gallery with his Big Band...Another former St. Louisan, trumpeter James "Jabbo" Ware, is leading his Me, We and Them Orchestra in another NYC concert next month...Roger Miller, of Mission of Burma and Alloy Orchestra fame, reflects on the recent St. Louis gig of his Text of Light ensemble...and finally, saxophonist Michael Brecker continues his battle against a rare blood disease, as outlined in the latest email from his sister:

"My beloved brother, 11-time Grammy Award winning jazz saxophonist MICHAEL BRECKER, has recently been diagnosed with Myelo-Dysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a pre-leukemic bone marrow disorder. A stem cell transplant could save his life.

The initial search for a donor that included me, our older brother Randy, and Michael¹s two children did not result in a match. Michael¹s doctors have told us that the best way of finding a match for him is to increase the donor registry numbers with people of similar genetic backgrounds ­ in this case, people of Eastern European Jewish descent.By being tested, you will be eligible to help Michael and others in his situation.

To increase Michael's chances, we are having a DONOR DRIVE ON:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30TH FROM 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
AT REFORM CONGREGATION KENESETH ISRAEL
8339 OLD YORK ROAD
ELKINS PARK, PA

The testing here requires a swabbing from the inside of your cheeks with 4 sterile q-tips. Your tissues typing information will be posted on the national registry where it will also be available to others in need of a stem cell transplant. You are never legally obligated to be a donor and you can remove your name from the registry at any time. However, a decision not to donate can be life threatening to a patient and among the most disheartening news a family can ever receive. Therefore, please carefully consider your decision to be a donor and take appropriate action.

There have been tremendous advances in stem cell/bone marrow transplants. The process may be no more invasive than giving blood. Stem cells can now be harvested directly from the donor's blood. In many cases, the blood is removed from one arm and filtered through a cell-separating machine that collects the stem cells. The donor¹s blood is then returned through the other arm. In other cases, stem cells may have to be harvested directly from your bone marrow. All the necessary precautions are taken to ensure the safety and well being of the donor. The inconvenience and risk involved is minimal compared to the amazing reward of saving someone¹s life!

We hope that you'll join our effort on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30TH, FROM 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. AT REFORM CONGREGATION KENESETH ISRAEL.

If you are unable to attend the donor drive, you can contact the Gift of Life Foundation and order a swab kit for $18.00 by going online at www.giftoflife.org. This organization is providing us with swab kits for free at our donor drive. You may alsowish to consider helping with a tax-deductible donation made payable to: Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation7700 Congress Ave., Suite 2201, Boca Raton, FL 33487 They (and WE) will appreciate your support! We will also be collecting contributions on the day of the drive. If you need further information about the bone marrow/stem cell donation process, check these two websites: www.giftoflife.org or www.marrow.org.

One final request: could you please send a copy of this email to the people in your address book? If everyone who receives this email can motivate friends to join the effort by forwarding this letter, then we will have rapidly expanded the pool of potential donors. Thank you so very much for your help. We are extremely grateful.

With Love,
Emily Brecker Greenberg and Howard Greenberg"

Al DiMeola to perform at Finale on October 6

Al DiMeola

This just in: Guitarist Al DiMeola, known for his work with Chick Corea's Return to Forever and his guitar trio collaborations with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia as well as his solo efforts, will perform in St. Louis at Finale on Thursday, October 6. Shows will be at 7:30 and 9:30, and tickets are on sale now.

Jazz this week: Bill Frisell, John Pizzarelli, Diane Schuur and more

Bill Frisell

There's a lot of great jazz to hear in St. Louis this weekend, as the fall concert season is getting into full swing. My personal pick for the highlight of the weekend would be guitarist Bill Frisell, who's appearing tonight at the Sheldon Concert Hall. And as long as you're there, stop by the adjoining art galleries before the show and take in the openeing of an exhibit of photos of jazz musicians by Dennis Owsley, host of the Jazz Unlimited radio program on KWMU.

Lots of folks will also be checking out guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli on Friday or Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro, as he's developed quite a fan base in St. Louis after many visits here. If you're in the mood for some demonstrative female jazz vocals, singer Diane Schuur is bringing her brassy style to Finale for two sets each on Friday and Saturday.

And speaking of female vocalists, there are plenty of local divas on stage this weekend, too - tonight, Cheri Evans performs at Cookie's, Erin Bode sings at Crossings, and Kim Massie will be at Brandt's. On Saturday, latin jazz fans can get their fix from S.L. Son at Cookie's

There's also an unusual amount of activity on Monday, as the Webster University Jazz Faculty presents their tribute to Kenny Wheeler; vocalist Steve Tyrell open a multi-night stand at Finale; the Session Big Band holds forth at BB's, and free improvisors Jack Wright, Carol Genetti and Jon Meuller perform at the Lemp Neighbohood Arts Center.

To see more of what's going on in St. Louis jazz this weekend, check out the St. Louis Jazz Notes calendar. And if you're a musician or venue who would like to have your gig listed in the calendar, send your info to me at stljazznotes at yahoo dot com.

My weekend at Jazz at the Bistro

As regular readers may recall, last weekend I played a gig at Jazz at the Bistro with singer Kim Massie, who was recording a live CD during her shows there. It was my first time playing at the Bistro, and I promised a few impressions, so here goes.

Overall, the consensus seems to be that it went well. Though none of the four shows completely sold out, the crowds were substantial, and people seemed to enjoy the music. From the musicians' standpoint, it wasn't a totally glitch-free gig - few, if any, ever are - but we felt the quality of performances was good enough to yield some material acceptable for CD release. Of course, none of us have heard the recordings yet, so we may be rudely surprised. But assuming the results were pleasing to Kim, the whole world should be able to hear the resulting CD before the end of the year. ("Perfect for holiday gift-giving," indeed...)

I've always enjoyed listening to music at the Bistro, and I enjoyed playing there, too. The club's "listening room" policy helps ensure an attentive audience, and though the stage isn't especially big, the layout works pretty well and the onstage monitors do the job. The staff was cheerful and efficient, the meals provided to the musicians were tasty - for the record, I had the Cuban pot roast and the chicken quesadillas - and overall, the place lives up to its rep as a musician-friendly joint.

And as someone who plays 98% of his gigs on electric keyboards, I especially enjoyed the chance to play a good-quality, well-maintained acoustic piano. The Bistro's piano is a Yamaha, with a bright but well-rounded tone and a responsive, easy action - perfect for someone like me who doesn't quite have the finger strength for a stiffer concert-quality Bosendordorfer or Steinway kind of feel. They've kept it in good shape - in fact, executive director Gene Dobbs Bradford told me they spent quite a bit of money a few years back on a complete overhaul - and it was a pleasure to play the instrument.

Of course, there was a fair amount of pressure and stress inherent in trying to work up a bunch of new material for a live recording at a high-profile gig. But despite that, it was fun working with Kim, my buddy Gus Thornton on bass, Isaac Jerome Harris on drums and Lew Winer III on saxes, and I hope to have the opportunity to play with them again. Watch this space for news on the release of the CD.

St. Louis natives Davenport and McDermott talk about New Orleans

This past weekend, the Post-Dispatch had articles about the situation post-Hurricane Katrina for two jazz musicians raised in St. Louis who have made their homes in New Orleans. Pop critic Kevin Johnson interviews trumpeter/vocalist Jeremy Davenport here, and Tom McDermott, who's a fine writer as well as a traditional jazz piano player, has a first-person account here.

For more on the jazz world's reaction to the disaster, this story about the Lincoln Center jazz benefit for hurricane survivors is also worth a look.

Jazz this week: Old Webster Jazz Festival, Text of Light, and much more

Jeanne Trevor is one of the headliners of the free Old Webster
Jazz Festival, which runs from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Lots of stuff worth hearing this weekend, so let's get right to the highlights. On Thursday, saxophonist Freddie Washington kicks off this year's Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University.When he's on, Washington is one of the best in town, and hopefully he'll bring his "A" game for this concert. After he finishes at 10 p.m., you've still got time to head south to Webster Groves and catch bassist Tom Kennedy and his trio at Crossings Taverne and Grille or vocalist Valerie Tichacek and her group at Cookie's.

On Friday, singer Kim Massie opens a two-night stand as part of Jazz at the Bistro's Spotlight Series and, as previously mentioned in the interest of full disclosure, I'll be there playing piano in her backup band. Kim is a very spontaneous performer who likes to engage the audience, so even I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen, but I'm pretty sure it will be, at the very least, entertaining.

But if that doesn't sound like your cuppa tea, there are lots of other options on Friday. Crossings Concerts (not to be confused with Crossings Taverene and Grille) is kicking off its 2005-06 season with a performance involving a jazz trio, the Nuclear Percussion Ensemble, and theatre organist/television personality Stan Kann. NPE is always worth a listen, as are jazzmen Soctt Alberici, Dan Rubright and Steve Schenkel, but I have no idea what their collaborative efforts with Kann will be like. For some reason, the phrase "so crazy it just might work" comes to mind. Also on Friday, Acoustic Alchemy brings their smooth jazz/world music hybrid to Finale for a two-night run, and the very fine guitarist Dave Black performs at Crossings Taverne and Grille.

On Saturday, the city of Webster Groves will be filled with jazz throughout the day, as the Old Webster Jazz Festival offers free musicians' workshops in the morning and then a free outdoor concert with ten different groups during the afternoon and evening. Headliners include vocalist Erin Bode, singer Jeanne Trevor in a tribute to Gaslight Square, and Billy Peek paying homage to the late Johnnie Johnson.

If I weren't working, I'd hit the Festival in the afternoon, and then try to be at Webster University that night for the performance/screening of Text of Light, which pairs the films of Stan Brakhage with live improvised music performed by a group including Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore.

And to round out the weekend, on Sunday the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center plays host to a concert of free improvisation featuring Mike Bullock on bass, Vic Rawlings on prepared cello and Mazen Kerbaj on cornet, plus St. Louisans Dave Stone and Mark Sarich as openers. That's a lot of notes for your entertainment dollar, people.

As always, there's more, and you can see it by visiting the St. Louis Jazz Notes calendar. If you're a venue or a musician who would like to have your events listed in the calendar (and possibly in ye olde weekly highlights), email your info to stljazznotes at yahoo dot com.

(edited 9/15/05 to add a link & fix some typos)

New Orleans musicians' relief update

I may disagree with Mr. W. Marsalis about certain
aesthetic matters, but I totally agree with him regarding
the importance of New Orleans' musical culture.

News reports suggest that things are improving slightly on the ground in New Orleans, but there's going to be lots of work to be done, and a lot of people in serious need, for many weeks, months and years to come. So in addition to once again encouraging you to contribute to any general relief charities you think are worthy, I wanted to call to your attention the Web site for the New Orleans Musicians' Relief Fund.

If you'd like to put your money somewhere where it will help keep the living repositories of New Orleans musical culture alive and functioning, this seems like a good place to start. In addition, publicist Dawn DeBlaze, who's involved with many local events featuring jazz, has sent along a few other suggestions for helping musicians who survived Hurricane Katrina:

Jazz Foundation of America

The Jazz Foundation of America will address the longer term needs of these jazz and blues artists who will have lost everything. They will raise funds and distribute money for the musicians to get a new apartment or room for rent, by giving a first month's rent for them to start over. They will attempt to help New Orleans musicians by replacing the thing that matters most, and the only way they can ever work again, their instruments. To donate, please contact:

Jazz Foundation of America
322 West 48th Street, 6th floor,
New York, NY 10036
www.jazzfoundation.org
Director: Wendy Oxenhorn: (212) 245-3999, ext. 21


New Orleans Musician Clinic

A fantastic hands-on organization, the NOMC has the names and addresses of many great musicians. You
see, the artists have been coming to their FREE health clinic for many years now. The New Orleans Musicians Clinic is determined to keep Louisiana Music Alive! To donate, contact:

NOMC Emergency Fund
c/o SW LA Area Health Education Center Foundation, Inc.
103 Independence Blvd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
Office: (337) 989-0001
finance@swlahec.com
www.swlahec.com


Recording Academy: Musicares

If you wish to specifically help musical artists and those who help get the music from their instruments to our ears, the Recording Academy website includes links to donate to this special fund.

The MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund assists music people impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Assistance includes basic living expenses such as shelter, food, utilities, transportation; medical expenses including doctor, dentist and hospital bills, medications; clothing; instrument and recording equipment replacement; relocation costs; school supplies for students; insurance payments and more. To donate, please contact MusicCares.

And on a related note, Jazz at the Bistro is sponsoring a concert from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Sunday, September 18.to raise money for the Tipitina's Fund, which assists New Orleans musicians. Featured performers will include Erin Bode, Mardra and Reggie Thomas, Dave Venn, The Bosman Twins, Montez Coleman, Gene Dobbs Bradford and Willie Akins. Tickets are available for a minimum donation of $20 per person, and all proceeds will go to the Fund. In addition, Mike Mitchell, proprietor of The Bistro in Grand Center Restaurant, has agreed to donate 50% of the revenue on all food purchased during the fundraiser.

Finally, the New York Times had a couple of interesting articles about New Orleans musicians in the wake of the hurricane and flooding. The first looks at at what it will take to keep the NOLA music scene alive, and the second describes how the disaster has affected the iconic Preservation Hall Jazz Band. (Though the Times requires registration, these links are supposed to work even for non-registered users.)

Department of shameless self-promotion & blog business, slight return

OK, I know I promised a return to regular updates several days ago, and yet I haven't posted since Sunday. Shame on me, mea maxima culpa, etc.

But I do have a semi-good excuse. Though I'm finally out from under some of the writing deadlines I mentioned earlier, I've been rehearsing with the Oliver Sain Review for a couple of upcoming gigs, and also working with singer Kim Massie to get ready to record a live CD this Friday and Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro.

In addition to Kim on vocals and yours truly on piano, the band includes Gus Thornton on bass, Lew Winer III on tenor and soprano saxes and Isaac Jerome Harris on drums. We'll be doing some standard tunes recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Etta James and others, some more modern stuff from Diana Krall and Norah Jones, and a few surprises. Should be fun, and tickets are still available, so come on down, if you're so inclined.

I did manage to complete a big update of the StLJN calendar, which now includes the entire fall schedule for Washington University's Jazz at Holmes series; the entire year's worth of concerts at Webster University; monthly updates for Cookie's and Brandt's; and a number of other shows that were announced and/or called to my attention over the last couple of weeks. So at least there's that.

And I'll have at least one more post tonight, and tomorrow, a preview of a busy weekend in St. Louis for jazz and creative music. After that, it's likely to be slim pickings again until Sunday, at which point I'll likely post a recap of the gig at the Bistro and some other stuff that's been piling up. In the meantime, thanks for reading.

Webster U reveals 2005-06 concert schedule

The rest of the 2005-06 concert schedule for Webster University is now posted online, and the Monday concert series at the University's Winifred Moore Auditorium continues tonight with a performance at 7 p.m. by guitarist Tom Byrne.

There's a tribute to the music of trumpeter Kenny Wheeler coming up on Monday, September 26, and among the events planned for the spring are programs focused on the music of Bill Evans and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band (later known as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra after the deaths of its founders), plus a concert of big band arrangements of Thelonious Monk tunes. You can see the schedule for the entire year here.

Jazz at Holmes series opens Thursday, September 15

Washington University will kick off the ninth season of the Jazz at Holmes series with a concert by the fine St. Louis saxophonist Freddie Washington from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 15.

The concerts take place in Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall, which is located located on the west side of Brookings Quadrangle, near the intersection of Brookings and Hoyt drives. They're free and open to the public. The series features St. Louis jazz musicians and the occasional touring group performing most Thursday nights when school is in session in a coffeehouse-style setting. The schedule for the rest of the semester is:

Sept. 22: Patrick McClellan, piano
Sept. 29: Ptah Williams, piano
Oct. 6: Dave Stone, saxophone
Oct. 27: Vince Varvel, guitar
Nov. 3: Carolbeth True, piano
Nov. 10: Cyclo (five-member band from Rome, Italy)
Nov. 17: Tom Kennedy, bass
Dec. 1: Scott Alberici, clarinet

For more information, call (314) 935-4841.

(edited 9/12/05 to fix a typo)

Experimental pianist McDonas to perform at Dunaway Books October 2

Regular StLJN informant Brett Underwood, who hosts the No Show on KDHX, sends word that pianist Thollem McDonas will be in town on Sunday, October 2 for a performance at Dunaway Books, 3111 S. Grand (just south of Arsenal).

Honestly, I don't know much about McDonas other than that his work falls generally into the broad category of experimental/improv, but a look at his Web site suggests that it could be a very interesting performance. If you'd like a preview, Brett says he'll be playing some of McDonas's stuff on the No Show, which airs late Thursdays/early Fridays from midnight to 2 a.m.

In addition to McDonas' performance, local improv maven Eric Hall will be assembling a group to open the show. I have no information on ticket prices yet, but I'm guessing "inexpensive" More info to follow as available...

UPDATE 9/15/05: Tickets for the show will be $6, and the concert will feature McDonas, Hall, Darin Gray, and Dave Stone performing separately and together.

Old Webster Jazz Festival includes free workshops

In addition to a day's worth of music on two stages, the Old Webster Jazz Festival will offer free workshops for musicians on Saturday, September 17. The workshops will be held at the Webster University music annex building,8282 Big Bend Blvd, and will be led by artists from the Festival and members of the Webster University jazz faculty.

The day begins with a rhythm section workshop from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. led by guitarist Corey Christiansen, pianist Kim Portnoy, bassist Willem von Hombracht, and drummer Kevin Gianino. That's followed by a session on melodic jazz improvisation from 10: 15 to 11:15 a.m, which features vocalist Erin Bode, trumpeter Mike Parkinson, saxophonist Paul DeMarinis, and guitarist Steve Schenkel. All participants will receive a certificate of completion and a gift bag with items from area retailers

The workshops are free, and no registration is required, but participants are asked to bring their instruments. For more information, call Jeanne Huber in the Webster U. music department office at 314-968-7032.

(edited 9/10/05 to fix typos and add links)

Jazz this week: Mulgrew Miller, Stone-Covelli Quintet, Original Knights of Swing and more

Mulgrew Miller

OK, it's going to be one more day before I can resume a semi-regular posting schedule, but I wanted to get something up about the weekend's highlights today.

Pianist Mulgrew Miller come to St. Louis to play Jazz at the Bistro on Friday and Saturday nights, and earns my highest personal recommendation. I've enjoyed Miller's work on record for some time, but had my first chance to see him live last spring and was most impressed. Miller's playing is steeped in blues and gospel, as you might expect from a former Jazz Messenger, but he's also capable of near-Tatumesque invention and virtuosity. At the concert I saw, he seemed to start a bit slowly, but then built momentum as the show went on, so he should really be smoking by the second set on Saturday.

Other gigs of special interest this week include the return of the Dave Stone-John Covelli Quintet to Cookie's tonight and a Casa Loma Ballroom dance on Friday featuring the Original Knights of Swing, one of the area's more enjoyable groups of big band revivalists. Plus, there's lots more that I just don't have time to write about today, so go to the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar and check it out for yourself.

If you're a musician or venue who would like to get your gig listed in the calendar, and possibly included in the weekly highlights post, email your info to me at stljazznotes at yahoo dot com. I'll be doing another update of the calendar in the next 24 hours, so if you've got events happening this month or early in October, now would be an excellent time to send along the details. Back with more tomorrow.

How to help New Orleans musicians

Without the efforts of this man, and those who have followed in his footsteps, American (and world) culture would be poorer indeed. Please do what you can to help the people of New Orleans.

Besides being the cradle of jazz, New Orleans has some things in common with St. Louis, including a river location, French heritage and a lot of cool old brick buildings. And despite our town's reputation as a conservative community, St. Louisans do have a bit of an affinity for New Orleans-style partying, too - our Mardi Gras celebration has grown to be one of the largest around after New Orleans, and many Louisiana music acts, from the Neville Brothers to various zydeco and cajun performers, are quite popular here. In some ways, St. Louis is like New Orleans' prim sister, looking down her nose at some of her sibling's excesses, but secretly sharing some of the same desires herself.

All of which is prelude to passing along this email from Jeff Kopper, host of The Wayback Machine program on KDHX, that suggests ways to help New Orleans musicians who have been wiped out by Hurrican Katrina and the subsequent flooding:

Please spread the word! Three great organizations to donate to:

New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC)

This is a fantastic hands-on organization who has the names and addresses of so many great musicians because they have them all coming to their FREE health clinic all these years and now, they are the ones who are tracking down the local musicians and finding them shelter.

They can be contacted at musiciank@swlahec.com. They are the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and know the whereabouts of the local musicians down there. Contact: Kathy Richard directly at 337-989-0001

Send donations to:
NOMC Emergency Fund
funds will be distributed by:
SW LA Area Health Education Center Foundation, Inc.
103 Independence Blvd.
Lafayette, LA 70506

desk: 337-989-0001
fax: 337-989-1401
email: finance@swlahec.com
http://www.swlahec.com/

The New Orleans Musicians Clinic is determined to keep Louisiana Music Alive! It is our beacon to soothe our souls. We want to relocate our New Orleans musicians into the Lafayette/ Acadiana community where they can remain a life force! But most of them have lost everything... we must help them rebuild their lives.

They can't access any of their NOMC accounts. They desperately need money to fund these efforts.

Jazz Foundation of America:

We will be addressing the longer term needs of these jazz and blues artists who will have just lost everything.

We will be raising funds and distributing money for the musicians to get a new apartment or room for rent: by giving a first month's rent, possibly more, for them to start over, a place to live. (This is what we normally do on a daily basis for musicians across the country who become sick and can't pay their rent, we also keep food on the table and get employment to hundreds of elderly musicians through our Jazz in the Schools program. Our operations normally assist 35 musicians a week.)

As well, we will be attempting to help New Orleans musicians by replacing the thing that matters most and the only way they can ever work again: their instruments. To those who lost their instruments, like drummers and bassists who could not carry their heavy equipment, and guitarist with their amps, we will be making an effort to work with manufacturers and music stores to replace those instruments for as many as we possibly can.

Remember, New Orleans was only "New Orleans" because of the musicians...

Send donations to:

Jazz Foundation of America
322 West 48th Street 6th floor
New York City, NY 10036

Director: Wendy Oxenhorn
Phone: 212-245-3999 Ext. 21
email contact: Joyce@jazzfoundation.org
website: www.jazzfoundation.org

To make an online CREDIT CARD DONATION OR PLEDGE:
go to: http://www.jazzfoundation.org/index2.html
and click bottom right corner of page where it says "instant pledge"

Thank you, from our hearts.

Goner Records Rock'n'Roll Refugee Fund

Goner Records in Memphis has taken refuge to many New Orleans-area rock'n'rollers who have been dispossessed after Hurricane Katrina. Some others have gone on to other parts of the country. The folks at Goner, in cooperation with the Trinity Parish Episcopal Church in Searcy, AR, have created a fund to directly assist these "rock'n'roll refugees." Some of the names include Mr. Quintron, The Royal Pendletons, Kajun SS, Die Rotzz, The Detonations, The Gories, Darkest Hours, Therapeutic Records, Watchmeeatahotdog.com, the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau/Ponderosa Stomp folks and many more.

Whatever money you can raise, send to:

Trinity Parish Church Episcopal Discretionary Fund
200 N. Elm St.
Searcy, AR 72143-5271

Put 'Katrina Fund' in subject line of check.

Checks are preferred (to avoid PayPal fees), but if you must send PayPal, use this email address for your donations and be sure to indicate that this is for the KATRINA FUND: trinityparish@yahoo.com

Of course, there will be many organizations working to help provide relief and, eventually, reconstruction for New Orleans, and I encourage you to donate to one or more of them. But if you'd like to do something specifically to help the musicians, these offer a way of doing that. Either way, our brothers and sisters from Louisana (and Alabama and Mississippi, too) are suffering badly right now, and they need us to have their backs.

Jazz this week: Trio Tarana, Farshid Etniko and more

Apologies to you, dear readers, for the lack of updates this week. A combination of deadlines for paid writing work, some music gigs, and a family wedding this weekend has left me severely short on time, and will probably mean minimal posting through the weekend. But there are a few musical things going on that I wanted to call to your attention.

New Music Circle opens its 2005-2006 season on Friday with a concert by Trio Tarana beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Christman Studios. Comprised of a percussionist and two musicins who play bass, violin and oud, the group's influences are described as "Japanese Taiko Drum Ensembles, Afghani folk songs, Hindu chant and North Indian 11-beat rhythm cycles." The organization has also announced some other upcoming concerts for this season, and I'll have a post on that coming up real soon. In the meantime, you can get more information on this show or their entire season by going to NMC's Web site.

Also this weekend, Farshid Etniko, which combines jazz with Afro-Cuban and Perisan influences, performs Friday night at Finale. On Saturday, singer Kim Massie is at Cookie's and guitarist Corey Christiansen plays nearby at Crossings Taverne and Grill.

There's also an improv music event on Saturday at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center, and since their Web site, though back up and running now, includes minimal informtaion, here's the details from an email I just received:

"SADJELKO is the collaborative efforts of Doron Sadja and Zelko McMullen (www.zeljkovision.com) Their music features complex ecstatic improvisations which rise from the environment of more gentle drones.

They are collaborating with a number of artists on this tour and we are likely to be given the opportunity to witness the work of Stefan Tcherpenin of Stochastics / Sugriwa / Prankula /etc. (I was told that Tcherpenin is an intentional typographic error because of the reputation of Stefan's family).

They have performed with acts/artists such as Nautical Almanac, xcepter, Metalux, Okkyung Lee, Aeroc, David Toop, Motion, Scanner, Taylor Dupree, Richard Chartier, Christopher Willits, Skeletons, Sejayno, Peter B., Chris Liebing, Claude Young, Surgeon and others.

What does the press say about SADJELKO: Van Moderne Technologieen in de Muziek says: - "Wow. Melodies slowly arise from the noise drones as layers of strings emerge from chaotic walls of synthesis then waves of static shatter the notes away. ...lengthy meditations on microscopic bits of digital dust acting as rhythm control, scattered over high-pitch frequencies that almost bring a white-hot, searing pain to the inner ear if listened to at a loud volume.

more info: www.zeljkovision.com/press.html

their shinkoyo DVD album/cd is here:
www.shinkoyo.com/catalog/theostrians.html


Performing with SADJELKO will be Gho$t Ice. Jermey Kannappel's processed vocal sample work in real time realization is exhillarating, medatative, somber, esctatic, controlled lunacy! He was the hit of NoiSefesT L 04 and has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting performers in the genre.

Chris Smentkowski and Dave Stone will collaborate on a guitar duet that uses conventional instruments in not too conventional ways! Dave is the celebrated St Louis diety of free jazz. Chris is the undisputed author of St. Louis' noise scene and his laptop group Brain Transplant was truely the best of the first (and the best of the best in my humble opinion!).

SADJELKO, Gho$T ICE and DAVE STONE with CHRIS SMENTKOWSKI
Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center - 3301 Lemp (at Utah - 2 blocks south of Arsenal at the exit from I55)
314 771 1096

www.lemp-arts.org

8:00pm
admission $5
We're air-conditioned now!"

There's more in the St. Louis Jazz Notes calendar, although I haven't updated all the September information yet. So if you're curious about who's playing a particular club, I encourage you also to follow the link from the sidebar to their site. Updates and more posts will be forthcoming in a day or three, but in the meantime, if you''re a musician or venue who would like to get your gig listed in the calendar, please send your information to stljazznotes at yahoo dot com.