Sheldon Art Galleries to present exhibit of St. Louis concert photos

An upcoming exhibit at the Sheldon Art Galleries will document four decades of St. Louis concerts through photos and memorabilia drawn from the collections of concert promoter (and trumpet player) Steve Schankman and other local music industry notables.

"Jazz, Rock, and Soul: 40 Years of Music in St. Louis, 1968-2008" opens Friday, October 3 in the Sheldon's History of Jazz Gallery with a public reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The exhibit includes photos, memorabilia, archival information, graphic art, rare musical instruments, and video clips documenting jazz, rock and soul concerts in St. Louis over the last 40 years.

"The collection is drawn from the archives of Steve Schankman and Contemporary Productions with contributions from Joe Edwards, KSHE 95, Richard Miller, Mark O’Shaughnessy, Doreatha Polites, Mark Richman, the Sheldon Concert Hall, Steve Straub, Mary Strauss and the Fabulous Fox Theatre, and others," says the Sheldon's news release. "Highlights in the exhibit include instruments that once belonged to Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry and Maynard Ferguson and sheet music annotated by Louis Armstrong, all from the collection of Steven Schankman." Schankman, who also was one of the partners in the now-closed Finale Music and Dining, will present a free gallery talk at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 21.

The exhibit runs through February 7, 2009. Gallery hours are noon to 8:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; noon to 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturdays; and one hour prior to Sheldon performances and during intermission. Admission is free. For more information on the exhibition, visit the Galleries’ Web site.