Jazz this week: Eric Person, Musica Slesa, Thomas Buckner and Dave Wessel, and more

There's a nice variety of jazz and creative music in St. Louis this weekend, in ranging in styles from traditional to modern, as performed by ensembles varying in size from a duo to a big band.

Perhaps the most highly anticipated performance of the weekend takes place on Saturday, when saxophonist and St. Louis native Eric Person and his band Meta-Four take the stage at Finale Music and Dining in Clayton. Person's got a fine new CD, Rhythm Edge, that's just come out, and he's in the midst of a four-week DIY tour to promote the new release. Look for a interview with Person here on StLJN later today or tomorrow.

Heading east to the Grand Center district, Jazz at the Bistro has the monthly performance by the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra tonight and the brand new St. Louis-based Latin jazz group Musica Slesa (pictured) on Friday and Saturday.

For those inclined toward more avant-garde sounds, on Sunday New Music Circle presents the improvising duo of vocalist Thomas Buckner and electronic musician Dave Wessel at Christ Church Cathedral downtown. Also on Sunday, the St. Louis Jazz Club is sponsoring a concert featuring the traditional jazz of Bud Shultz and the You Can't Beat Experience Jazz Band at the Moolah Shrine Center in West County.

Other noteworthy sounds this week: Guitarist Vince Varvel will do a free concert on Thursday at Washington University as part of the Jazz at Holmes series. On Friday, singer Erin Bode performs at Missouri Baptist University, and on Saturday, trumpeter Randy Holmes will head up a tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers at Cookie's Jazz and More.

If all that's still not enough for you, please visit the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar to see a more extensive list of local jazz-related events.

(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. If you have photos, MP3s or other digital files, please send links, not attachments.)