StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Swingin' St. Louis

Last week in this space, we served up a six-pack of videos from St. Louis-based musicians working in the experimental and free improv genres. This week, we journey to the polar opposite end of the musical spectrum with a sampler of six local groups working in early, pre-WWII swing and jazz styles.

Up top, you can hear Cornet Chop Suey playing an arrangement combining "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" and "Westmoreland Weave" in March, 2010 for the Great River Jazz Society in Hannibal, MO. The group includes Brian Casserly (trumpet), Tommy Tucker (trumpet), Jerry Epperson (reeds), Brett Stamps (trombone), Steve Hoover (piano), Al Sherman (bass), and John Gillick (drums).

Down below, it's Sarah Jane & The Blue Notes, caught live in May of this year at Jumpin' Jupiter playing "Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't My Baby?". Sarah Jane is on vocals, with a band including Jerry Greene (soprano sax), Doug Burns (trombone), Ben Osborne (guitar), Gian Vianello (banjo & harmonica), and Mike Major (drums).

That's followed by Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers doing "Minnie the Moocher," recorded last October at Rue Lafayette. That's Lew Winer III on soprano sax and Dan Conner on drums backing Miss Jubilee on vocals; the rest of the musicians are uncredited, but if you know who's who, please chime in via the comments.

In the fourth spot, you'll find the St. Louis Ragtimers performing "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" in a concert last July for Saint Louis Jazz Club. Al Stricker is the banjo player and vocalist, joined by Trebor Tichenor (piano), Bill Mason (cornet), Eric Sager (clarinet), Don Franz (bass saxophone), Steve Hoog (tuba), and Joe Thompson (trombone).

Sager pops up again in the next clip, this time as part of the Sidemen, a group that also features Carl Pandolfi (piano), Rich Tralles (bass), and John Marshall (drums). They're shown here playing "China Boy" at Rue Lafayette during a gig in May of this year.

Last but not least, it's Swing Deville, offering a take on the string-driven "hot club" sound with their version of "Limehouse Blues." The band members include Justin Branum (violin), Clint Hasse (guitar), Gary Hunt (guitar) and Glenn Meyers (bass), and the undated clip was recorded at the Schlafly Bottleworks.











(Edited after posting to correct the name of Cornet Chop Suey's piano player and the name of the tune they're playing in the clip.)