Friday, August 13, 2010

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

Here's the latest wrap-up of links and short local news items of interest that you may have missed:

* A new episode of the video version of Don Wolff's I Love Jazz program premiered last week on cable network HEC-TV. It's the annual archives show, compiled from previously unaired performances recorded during the past year.

The episode began its run last Thursday, and includes music from Dizzy Atmosphere, John Pizzarelli, Carolbeth True and Two Times True, Mae Wheeler (pictured), Jay Oliver with William Lenihan, Gene Lynn, Denise Thimes and Ann Hampton Calloway. HEC-TV is available on Charter channel 989 and ATT u-verse channel 99. I Love Jazz runs at 8:00 p.m Thursdays and Sundays and 7:00 a.m. Saturdays and Tuesdays. The program also can be downloaded from iTunes University, or seen online at www.hectv.org.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn, who will be in town next Monday and Tuesday to perform at Jazz at the Bistro, is part of the first group of alumni to be named to the Kirkwood School District Hall of Fame. Sanborn graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1963.

* Artica 2010 has put out a call for "artists, musicians, poets, performers and creative citizens" to participate in this year's event, which will be held Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10 in the area around Dickson and Lewis Streets north of the Gateway Arch. Artica is "a multi-media, outdoor participatory arts festival developed to provide the people of the St. Louis metropolitan area with the opportunity to come together as a community through creative self-expression. " The deadline to apply is September 11; for details, see the Facebook page for the event.

*In addition to the new Bluesweek festival, which is scheduled for August 26-September 5, ther's now a proposal to open a St. Louis Blues Hall of Fame downtown. Organizers want to include a bar and restaurant, a recording studio and classroom space in the facility, which would occupy part of the Laurel building (the old Dillard's/Stix Baer & Fuller) at 601 Washington Avenue.

* The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has announced its complete 2010-11 schedule.

* Elsewhere on the classical front, KWMU (90.7 FM) has announced that Christian Cudnik will host the station's live broadcasts of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, which begin September 18. Also a photographer, writer and film director, Cudnik has served as Saturday morning host on KWMU since 2003, and is known among local jazz fans for directing and producing Collective Improvisation, a documentary film about the history of jazz in St. Louis.

* Dennis Owsley, who hosts Jazz Unlimited Sunday nights on KWMU, has announced his engagement to girlfriend Sara Serot. Best wishes to the happy couple!

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