Local jazz venues making news

This weekend's cleanup operations also yielded three recent stories about St. Louis jazz venues (or possible venues, anyway) that somehow have remained unblogged here until now:

First, in the current Riverfront Times, music editor Annie Zaleski's column has some information about Soulard Preservation Hall being re-opened as a venue for live music, including jazz. The building at 1921 S. Ninth St. was actually used fairly often for music and even some theater in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s. (I personally played a number of rock and blues shows there; did publicity for The New Theatre's production of a Sam Shepard play that was staged there; and saw a number of concerts, too, including a sadly under-attended gig by Boston's Either/Orchestra.) It was fun while it lasted, and the place definitely had a lot of character (along with some serious leaks in the downstairs bathrooms), but problems with promoters, parking (or lack thereof) and the condition of the building itself eventually led to its demise as a concert hall. Now the building is under new ownership, with plans for extensive renovation and refurbishment of what could be a very nice space for live music. You can read all about it here.

Second, the Post-Dispatch's Metro-East section recently had a piece about what the new owners of Belleville's Main Street Jazz and Blues are doing with the place, including upgrading the interior of the club and scouting for bands who want regular gigs there. Get all the details here.

And last but not least, a recent Suburban Journals story detailed the work currently underway to turn a former barber supply factory and warehouse in the city's Fox Park neighborhood into an arts, entertainment and office complex that may eventually include a jazz club. Check it out here.

(Edited 11/29/06 to fix a typo.)