Old Webster Jazz Festival includes free workshops

In addition to a day's worth of music on two stages, the Old Webster Jazz Festival will offer free workshops for musicians on Saturday, September 17. The workshops will be held at the Webster University music annex building,8282 Big Bend Blvd, and will be led by artists from the Festival and members of the Webster University jazz faculty.

The day begins with a rhythm section workshop from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. led by guitarist Corey Christiansen, pianist Kim Portnoy, bassist Willem von Hombracht, and drummer Kevin Gianino. That's followed by a session on melodic jazz improvisation from 10: 15 to 11:15 a.m, which features vocalist Erin Bode, trumpeter Mike Parkinson, saxophonist Paul DeMarinis, and guitarist Steve Schenkel. All participants will receive a certificate of completion and a gift bag with items from area retailers

The workshops are free, and no registration is required, but participants are asked to bring their instruments. For more information, call Jeanne Huber in the Webster U. music department office at 314-968-7032.

(edited 9/10/05 to fix typos and add links)