Jazz this week: Jazz at the Bistro's open house, Mae Wheeler's birthday, and more

Valerie Tichacek

While there are no major touring jazz acts passing through St. Louis this week, there are a couple of special events and plenty of plain ol' good music still deserving of your attention.

On Friday and Saturday night, Jazz St. Louis will host an open house at Jazz at the Bistro. This annual event serves to thank supporters for the season now winding down, and to help promote next season's offerings. Music will be provided by Swing & Soul, a combo led by JSL's operations manager Bob Bennett, who plays tenor sax and sings with a rhythm section including Adaron “Pops” Jackson on piano and keyboards, Shaun Robinson on guitar, Jamal Nichols on bass and Demarius Hicks on drums.

There are often some sit-ins by various other musicians who have dropped by, and at some point JSL executive director Gene Dobbs Bradford will undoubtedly take the stage to blow some blues harp. All in all, it's usually a good time, and JSL will have some door prizes for a few lucky audience members, tool. Plus, admission is free, with no reservations required.

On Sunday night, there's a birthday bash for singer Mae Wheeler at Brandt's. There's a whole post on this event just below, so please go read that for all the details.

Elsewhere around town, this Thursday night is your next-to-last chance to experience Ancora il Più Estinto, the sound-art installation/performance taking place at Dunaway Books on South Grand, and vocalist Valerie Tichacek will perform at Cookie's Jazz and More. On Friday, the Dave Stone Trio continues their long running gig at Mangia Italiano, and Swing Set will play upstairs at Crossings Taverne and Grille. Saturday's best bets include Willie Akins at Spruill's, Sandy Weltman at Crossings, and Trio Tres Bien at Brandt's. And don't forget that trumpeter Jeremy Davenport is still performing Wednesdays through Saturdays each week at Busch's Grove.

For more, see the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar, which is being updated with all the latest information that's come in to StLJN since last week.

(If you are a band, musician, presenter or venue who would like to have your event listed in the calendar, please email your news release or schedule information to stljazznotes at yahoo dot com.)