Jazz St. Louis benefit gala to include auction

There may be just a few days left until Jazz St. Louis' annual benefit gala, which will be held Saturday, April 5 at Nieman Marcus in Plaza Frontenac, but I'm guessing that if you've got the dough to afford the tickets, which go for $500 per person, they probably can still squeeze you in. The evening will feature music from the Jazz St. Louis All-Stars student ensemble during the cocktail hour, dinner, a live auction and a concert by singer and pianist Tony DeSare.

If you can't make it to the benefit event, you can still support the fundraising effort for JSL's educational programs by bidding one of the various items up for auction. There's a trip to the Hollywood Bowl; a New York City jazz travel package; a gold and turquoise necklace; a towboat voyage along the Mississippi River; a private lunch and wine tasting at Joseph Phelps Vineyards; a package featuring tickets, gift certificates, and memberships from local arts organizations, and even what is described as "Jazz St. Louis Executive Director Gene Dobbs Bradford's Gourmet Feast for Twelve."

It doesn't specify if Bradford actually will be cooking said feast himself, or simply serving as genial host, but either way, money raised goes to support Jazz St. Louis' educational programs and outreach efforts, which include bringing free performances by local and touring jazz musicians to local schools. Interested parties can submit a bid for any of the auction items to JSL development director Melissa Jones via email at melissa@jazzstl.org through Thursday, April 3.