Jazz this week: Patricia Barber, Byron Stripling, Glenn Miller Orchestra and more

Patricia Barber

It's a little of this and a little of that for jazz listeners in St. Louis this week. Let's go to the highlights:

Tonight, trumpeter Byron Stripling is in town to play a benefit show at the TouPAC, accompanied by the student bands from UMSL and Webster Groves High School. There's no set ticket price; admission is by donation only and it's for a children's charity, so if you go, don't be a cheapskate, OK?

On Thursday, guitarist Neal Alger and vocalist Typhanie Monique bring their duo act to Finale, accompanied by bassist Tom Kennedy. Alger's getting the most out of his trip to St. Louis, as he's also the guitarist for pianist Patricia Barber, who will appear at Jazz at the Bistro on Friday and Saturday nights. The cerebral Barber is not just another standards player; Time magazine called here "a cross between Diana Krall and Susan Sontag," which seems a trifle glib, but does get the general idea across pretty well.

On Saturday, local big band fans and swing aficianados are eagerly anticipating the appearance of the Glenn Miller Orchestra at the TouPAC. Although they never were the jazziest band around, even at the height of their popularity, the fact that Miller's music still has an audience 60 years after the trombonist's death is testimony to the enduring appeal of those compositions and arrangements.

Also of interest on Saturday, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra continues their series of modern chamber music concerts at the Pulitzer, this time featuring compositions by Donitoni and Grisey. The first couple of performances in this series have sold well; let's hope that trend continues so the series will, too.

Of course, there's lots more going on, too, so don't forget check the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar for more complete local listings.

(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.)

(Edited after posting to correct some formating problems.)