The highlights post is a little early this week, mostly to call your attention to the SF Jazz Collective, who come to St. Louis to perform Wednesday and Thursday night at Jazz at the Bistro.An all-star aggregation sponsored by the San Francisco presenting organization SF Jazz and directed by saxophonist Joshua Redman, the Collective (pictured) combines original music with aspects of a repertory band, exploring the work of a different jazz great each year. This year's tour is focused on the music of Thelonious Monk, and the word so far seems very positive. Check out these two reviews of the tour's opening date in San Francisco, and for more more, see these interviews with trumpeter Dave Douglas and the rhythm section of drummer Eric Harland and bassist Matt Penman. StLJN also recently showcased some YouTubage of Douglas and Redman performing with their own bands; see it here.
This may be the last time to hear this particular configuration of musicians, because as mentioned in the press coverage linked above, the Collective will undergo some significant personnel changes after this tour. Redman's going on sabbatical, and will be replaced as music director by saxophonist Joe Lovano. Lovano will take over for the group's summer tour of European festivals and continue at least throuhgh 2010. Meanwhile, vibist Bobby Hutcherson wants to reduce his touring schedule, so Stefon Harris will be filling the band's mallet percussion chair this summer and possibly beyond.
Fortunately, Hutcherson and Redman are still on board for the band's St. Louis dates, along with Douglas, Harland and Penman, plus pianist Renee Rosnes, trombonist Andre Hayward and alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon.
It should be noted that this is also the week of the annual benefit gala for Jazz St. Louis, JATB's parent organization. This year's event is being held Friday, March 23 at the Hilton at the Ballpark and features entertainment from the Neville Brothers, who stepped in when previously announced headliner Al Jarreau headed off to tour South Africa and Australia.
With tickets priced at $300 and $500 each - the packages include dinner, drinks and various other amenities - this is not exactly an impulse purchase for most people, but if you'd like to go and haven't reserved a spot yet, I suspect JSL can still accomodate and will be happy to have you. This is their big fundraiser of the year, and a chance to show your support for the organization that is most consistently active in bringing big-name jazz musicians to St. Louis. For more information or to purchase a ticket, call JSL director of development Melissa Jones at 314-289-4037 or email her at melissa (at) jazzstl (dot) org.
While the JSL gala means the Bistro will be dark on Friday and Saturday, Finale Music and Dining will take up any potential slack with the St. Louis debuts of a couple of touring jazz acts this weekend. On Friday night, singer Nancy Kelly checks in for two shows, and on Saturday, it's the Joe Friedman/Neal Smith Quintet, here to promote guitarist and St. Louis native Friedman's first solo CD, Cup O' Joe. (For a taste of Kelly's vocalizing, see this video post from a while back.)
Other noteworthy shows this week include tonight's all-percussion concert featuring the Nuclear Percussion Ensemble and members of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, and two free concerts on Friday - one by the Black Arts Guild/BAG II at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site featuring Zimbabwe Nkenya, Jerome "J-Dubbs" Williams and Glen "Papa" Wright, and the other featuring the Carolbeth True Trio performing at the St. Louis Art Museum's Griggs Gallery.
That's about all there's time to discuss today, but make no mistake, there's plenty more jazz and creative music to be heard in St. Louis this week, and, as always, you can see a more comprehensive list of gigs by visiting the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar.
(If you have calendar items, band schedule information, news tips, links, or anything else you think may be of interest to StLJN's readers, please email the information to stljazznotes (at) yahoo (dot) com. No attachments, please.)
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