Pollstar adds listings for upcoming St. Louis gigs by Terence Blanchard, John Pizzarelli & Jane Monheit

With the time drawing near for Jazz St. Louis to announce the 2014-15 season at Jazz at the Bistro, it's no surprise that news of some of next year's bookings has begun to trickle out in various ways.

At last week's news conference promoting a $10 million plan to renovate and expand the Bistro, Jazz St. Louis announced that trumpeter Wynton Marsalis would be the first to play the newly refurbished venue when it reopens in October. The week before that, Pollstar added a listing showing guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli also playing at the Bistro October 22 - 25 of this year.

Now, Pollstar has added yet another listing for next season at the Bistro, showing trumpeter Terence Blanchard (pictured) returning there for a run of gigs starting Wednesday, June 10, 2015 and continuing through Saturday, June 13.

Blanchard coming back to St. Louis seems entirely plausible for, like Pizzarelli, he's played here numerous times - most recently premiering his opera Champion last year at Opera Theatre St. Louis - and in the process has established a local fan base. 

But the dates are notable, in that the Bistro's season of touring acts typically wraps up at the end of May. With a delayed start in the fall due to the renovations, it looks like next season will be extended a bit into summer 2015.

And speaking of John Pizzarelli, Pollstar also has added another listing showing him and singer Jane Monheit both performing at The Sheldon on April 18, 2015.

Since the Sheldon already has announced a 2014-15 season schedule that didn't include this show, one can presume that it's some sort of special event or benefit gala, perhaps even their own big fundraiser for the spring. (In fact, Pizzarelli has already played for that event once, back in 2011.) Whatever the purpose, putting two headliners together suggest something big in the works.

Note also that Pizzarelli and Monheit have appeared together before, notably performing a duet on the PBS show Legends of Jazz back in 2006, and, coincidentally, are scheduled to play a joint gig next week at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC.

As always, listings on Pollstar should be considered unconfirmed until officially announced by the presenter or venue. Jazz St. Louis usually announces the schedule for the Bistro at the end of May.