Joshua Redman
It's a good time to be a fan of jazz and creative music in St. Louis. We've got another week with a number of worthy touring performers in town, so let's go to the highlights.
My personal "must-see" for the week would have to be pianist McCoy Tyner, who returns to St. Louis to perform at Finale on Friday and Saturday. Though he'll be known forever as the pianist in John Coltrane's classic Sixties quartet, in my opinion Tyner's achievements as a solo artist would be enough to put him in the jazz pantheon of heroes even if he'd never played with 'Trane. (I've also got a Critic's Pick on Tyner running in this week's Riverfront Times, and will provide a direct link as soon as it's online.)
Jazz at the Bistro also has a top-drawer headliner this week, as saxophonist Joshua Redman brings his electrified Elastic Band to town for a four-night run beginning Wednesday. There's no doubt that Redman is a major talent on saxophone, and the Elastic Band repertoire seems to suit him. It's a modern take on some of the same ideas behind the jazz-rock fusion of the Seventies, allowing Redman to take a more relaxed, free-wheeling approach than in some of his acoustic music.
And speaking of fusion, guitarist Al DiMeola of Return to Forever fame will also be at Finale this week, performing two shows on Thursday night. DiMeola's never been a particular favorite of mine, but he's a talented and proficient musician, and given the chance to see him perform in intimate surroundings, you can bet the club will be packed with guitar players wanting to get a close-up look.
For a completely different approach to playing jazz on stringed instruments, check out out violinist Mark O'Connor's Hot String Trio at the Sheldon on Saturday night. As a member of the Dregs, O'Connor has played his share of fusion, and he's also well known in bluegrass and "new acoustic music" circles, but this ensemble features the style of jazz made famous in the Twenties and Thirties by violinist Stephane Grappelli and guitar legend Django Reinhardt.
Tickets for all four of these shows are on the pricey side, to be sure, but the week has plenty of excellent, budget-friendly alternatives featuring St. Louis musicians, too. This week's free Jazz at Holmes concert at Washington University on Thursday night features saxophonist Dave Stone, and local club performances this weekend include clarinetist Scott Alberici at Crossings on Saturday night and the Webster University jazz alumni reunion concert, also on Saturday, at Cookie's.
You'll find even more in the St. Louis Jazz Notes calendar (though I'm still inputting the listings from a couple of clubs that just posted their October schedules over the weekend.). Check it out, and then go hear some live music this week. And if you're a musician or venue who would like to have your event listed in the calendar, send your information via email to stljazznotes at yahoo dot com.
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