Ahmad Jamal
There are plenty of interesting listening options this week for St. Louis jazz fans, most notably pianist Ahmad Jamal, who's performing at Jazz at the Bistro beginning tonight and continuing through Saturday. Jamal's refined yet swinging approach to jazz piano has made him a popular favorite since the 1950s, and he's still going strong today at age 75.
The smooth jazz summit meeting between trumpeter Chris Botti and saxophonist David Sanborn also comes to town this week for a show Friday at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Reviews from early in the tour indicate that, backed by a small band including the excellent pianist Billy Childs, Botti and Sanborn are pushing each other to some spirited performances.
Turning to musicians originating closer to home, the SIUE Concert Jazz Band takes over the Sheldon tonight for their fifth annual concert at the midtown hall. There are a number of special guest pros appearing with the student ensemble, including Rick Haydon, Reggie Thomas, Jason Swagler, Andy Tichenor, Miles Vandiver, Clay Jenkins and Jeff Campbell, and admission is just $5.
Another budget-friendly concert happens Thursday night, when drummer Roger Guth and bassist Tom Kennedy give a free performance as part of Washington University's Jazz at Holmes series. And on Friday, New Music Circle brings another installment of the Circle/Cinema series to the St. Louis Art Museum auditorium, screening the silent film Beyond The Rocks with a live improvised soundtrack featuring a group led by flute player and composer Fred Tompkins. Admission to that event is also $5, $3 if you're an NMC member.
There are lots of other choices available, too, so check out what else is going on around town by consulting the St. Louis Jazz Notes calendar, just updated last night.
(If you're a musician, band, venue or presenter who'd like to get your event listed in the StLJN calendar, please email your news release or announcement to stljazznotes at yahoo dot com.)
UPDATE, 3/2/06, 12 noon: The email sent out early this morning to the Jazz at Holmes listserv says that tonight's concert will feaure Tom Kennedy and guitarist William Lenihan, not Kennedy and drummer Roger Guth.
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