Here's the latest compilation of assorted news briefs and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interes* On the Miles Davis beat, Howard Mandel had a couple of pertinent posts recently on his Jazz Beyond Jazz blog - one covering an NYC performance of music from the recent concept album Miles From India at Iridium and an On The Corner retrospective at Merkin Concert Hall, and another with his program notes for the On The Corner concert.
In related news, Davis' former drummer Jimmy Cobb, the only musician who played on the landmark Kind of Blue album who is still living, recently visited England with his So What Band and talked with the BBC about Davis and KoB. And the heirs of artist Mati Klarwein, who did the cover art for Davis' albums Bitches Brew and Live Evil as well other for other jazz and rock LPs of the period, have set up a Web site dedicated to Klarwein's art.
* Turning to news of other St. Louis narives, saxophonist Greg Osby (pictured) is touring with guitarist Jimmy Herring this summer. No St. Louis date, though.
* Trumpet player and St. Louis native Keyon Harrold also is on tour as a sideman this summer, working with the R&B singer Maxwell. The Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson has the Maxwell tour schedule - which, again, skips over St. Louis - here. .
* Saxophonist/multi-intrumentalist and former St. Louisan J.D. Parran just played at NYC's Downtown Music Gallery and is set to perform at the city's Vision Festival with reedman Douglas Ewart later this month.
* Following up on a story from the "general interest" a few weeks ago, the Jazz Bakery, a staple of the Los Angeles jazz scene, closed last Sunday after losing its lease. According to an article in the LA Times, though, owner Ruth Price "insists it's too early to write a eulogy for the club, which has occupied the same space at the Helms Bakery District for the last 16 years...Despite the tough economic climate and the fact that jazz continues to be faced with a shrinking and fragmented audience, she's fielding a number of offers to keep the Bakery alive." Read the whole story here.
* Last but not least, on July 1 the band the Shuffle Demons and the Toronto Jazz Festival will attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest saxophone ensemble. They're recruiting saxophonists to help with their challenge to the record currently held by the nation of Taiwan, which gathered an ensemble numbering 918 saxophonists last year.
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