StLJN Saturday at the Movies: Lester Bowie's Brass and Steel, and Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin"

Although this week's videos emphasize music, not comedy, both are from jazz musicians who were notable for their ability to incorporate humor into their work without it detracting from their reputations for artistry. The first clip features trumpet player and St. Louis native Lester Bowie fronting an aggregation called Brass and Steel, one of many diverse instrumental lineups that Bowie experimented with as a bandleader. The footage was shot at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, most likely, judging from the linked material, in July 1996.

The second video clip jumps back more than 50 years in time, and it appears here as a nod to the Black Rep's production of Ain't Misbehavin' currently running at the Grandel Theater. The video is another vintage "soundie", and shows Fats Waller performing the song that would eventually become the title of the hit musical celebrating his work. In his day, Waller was a popular entertainer who was willing to clown and jive if helped him get over, but make no mistake - he was also a phenomenal musician who played the demanding stride piano style just about as well as anyone ever did.

It's also worth noting that there's another St. Louis connection to Waller - saxophonist and clarinetist Gene Sedric, who played with Waller during the height of Fats' popularity, was from right here in the Gateway City.