StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Fall 2012 jazz preview, part 1

For today's video showcase, let's take a look at a selection of clips featuring some of the touring jazz and creative music acts who will be visiting St. Louis this fall. Of course, StLJN will have more coverage of many of these musicians as the season goes on, so think of this as an opportunity to get a quick overview of what's coming.

Since we had extensive coverage of Jazz St. Louis' season opener Marcus Miller here last week, we start out up above with a video of saxophonist Bob Sheppard, playing Monk's "Straight, No Chaser" in 2010 at an LA club called the Blue Whale. Sheppard will be in St. Louis on Sunday, September 9 - the same day Miller opens at Jazz at the Bistro - for a free afternoon performance at Saxquest.

Down below, it's New Orleans' Bonerama performing their version of rocker Edgar Winter's signature instrumental "Frankenstein," with a little help from two additional guest trombonists, St. Louis' Dave Dickey and KC's Paul Scofield. This was shot during a show last December at the Old Rock House right here in St. Louis; the band's next local appearance will be on Friday, September 14 at The Gramophone.

Next, it's saxophonist Kirk Whalum, who's played here several times in recent years. In this clip, Whalum interprets "Love, Love, Love," a song written by a former St. Louisan, the late Donny Hathaway. Whalum will be back here in the Gateway City to play on Sunday, September 16 at the Sheldon Concert Hall as part of a fundraiser for the Gamma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Today's fourth clip features the band SPOKE, playing the composition "Pisces," which was written by their bassist, St. Louis native Dan Loomis. This clip was recorded when they performed here last year at the Missouri Botanical Garden's Ridgeway Auditorium. This time around, they'll be playing a playing a free show on Sunday, September 16 at Parkway United Church of Christ.

The fifth clip features trumpeter Terence Blanchard and his quintet, playing the title piece from his 2009 album "Choices" live at WNYC radio's The Greene Space. Blanchard will be here to perform Wednesday, September 19 through Saturday, September 22 at Jazz at the Bistro.

Video number six shows the Texas-based band Snarky Puppy performing "Quarter Master," taken from their DVD groundUP that was recorded live last December at NYC's Shapeshifter Lab. They'll be here to perform on Thursday, September 20 at The Gramophone, though it seems likely that the touring edition of the band will include fewer musicians than seen in this particular clip.

Today's final clip features pianist Marco Benevento's trio playing his composition "Greenpoint" during a show recorded last September in Greenfield, MA. Benevento will be in St. Louis on Wednesday, September 26 at the Old Rock House.

Look for part two of the Fall 2012 jazz preview next week...