StLJN Saturday at the Movies: Dave Holland's "Shadow Dance"& Art Blakey's "Blues March"

This week's video double feature kicks off with bassist Dave Holland performing his composition "Shadow Dance" with help from an all-star group including Herbie Hancock on piano, Jack DeJohnette on drums and Pat Metheny on guitar.

As you might expect, there's a high level of musicianship on display, as there is down below in the second clip, which shows Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers performing Benny Golson's "Blues March" in November 1959 at the Champs Elysee Theatre in Paris. This edition of the Messengers included hard-bop master Lee Morgan on trumpet and a young man named Wayne Shorter on tenor saxophone, just of two of the many musicians who worked with Blakey and then went on to important careers of their own as bandleaders and composers.

As for the St. Louis connection - well, there's at least a slight one for both videos, involving upcoming shows in the Gateway City. Holland and his regular working quintet will be in St. Louis March 14-17 for four nights of performances at Jazz at the Bistro. And local trumpet stalwart Randy Holmes will mount a tribute to Blakey at Finale Music and Dining on Wednesday, October 11. Hope you enjoy both clips.