Jazz this week: Bluiett's IYO debuts, jazz on New Year's Eve, and more

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is usually a slow one for the local music scene. For example, both Jazz at the Bistro and Cookie's Jazz and More are closed this weekend, all the school- and university-based venues are shut down for the holiday break, and the stages of most local concert halls also will be dark.

However, if you're in the mood to hear some jazz on Friday, you can check out the Dave Stone Trio at Mangia Italiano, and on Saturday, there's Willie Akins' early evening show at Spruill's, both regular weekly gigs for the two talented tenor saxophonists. Beyond that, the picking are pretty slim, but there are at least three other noteworthy events worth your attention over the next several days.

On Sunday afternoon, baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett's Improvising Youth Orchestra (IYO) performs at Union Avenue Christian Church. This is the debut for this group of young musicians that Bluiett has taken under his wing, so it's hard to know exactly what to expect, but based on Bluiett's track record, it nevertheless would seem to be a project worth supporting.

For Monday's New Year's Eve celebration, Brandt's has a triple bill of headliners, with singers Mae Wheeler and Jeanne Trevor and singer/pianist/saxophonist Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum performing seperately and perhaps together, all backed by guitarist Dave Black's trio. Also on New Year's Eve, Finale Music and Dining will bring down the curtain for the last time at its current location with a performance by Wild Cool and Swingin' (pictured). Since both rooms have very limited capacities, reservations definitely would be in order.

For a more extensive listing of local jazz-related events, both this weekend and in the new year, please visit 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. If you have photos, MP3s or other digital files, please send links, not attachments.)