Presgrave, Gifford to celebrate CD releases at Cookie's on Saturday, June 3

Jazz pianist and former St. Louisan Linda Presgrave will return to her hometown on Saturday, June 3 to play a gig at Cookie's Jazz and More celebrating the release of her new CD The Journey, which features music from seven female jazz composers including Mary Lou Williams, Shirley Scott and Melba Liston. Also on the bill is vocalist Debbie Gifford, a Cleveland native and frequent collaborator of Presgrave's who has her own new CD, So Many Songs About Love.

Before moving to New York in 1998, Presgrave was active on the St. Louis scene, performing on piano with her own band After Six Jazz, as well as with the Sessions Big Band, the Modern Vintage Jazz Quartet and the Kim Portnoy Jazz Orchestra. As a French horn player, she worked regularly at the Muny, Fox Theatre and Roverport Amphitheater (now UMB Bank Pavilion) backing touring entertainers and dance and theatrical productions. In NYC, she has collaborated with musicians including John Stubblefield and Oliver Lake on saxophones, Harvie S. (nee Swartz) on bass, drummer Cecil Brooks III and many others, and has performed at major events and venues including the JVC Jazz Festival and Lincoln Center. Presgrave, who has recorded two previous CDs, is also active in the organization International Women in Jazz, and will tour in France and Italy later this year.

Presgrave and Gifford will be joined for their St. Louis gig by Presgrave's husband Stan Chovnick on soprano sax and her brother John Brophy on drums, along with bassist Ric Vice. The show starts at 8:15 p.m. and admission is $10 at the door.

(Edited after posting to correct typos.)