The Sheldon adds jazz to summer schedule

The Sheldon has added three performances to its summer schedule that may be of interest to StLJN readers:

* Singer Sylvia McNair will present a cabaret performance in the Sheldon's upstairs ballroom at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14.

McNair is known primarily for her work in classical music, but in recent years also has performed selections from "the Great American Songbook" and Broadway in cabaret settings like this one. (In fact, she did a similar program at the Sheldon last year at this time.) Tickets are $45 and are available now via Metrotix.

* Multi-instrumentalist Wayne Coniglio will perform with his band and guest trombonist Scott Whitfield for a live CD recording session at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 15 in the Sheldon's concert hall.

Whitfield is based in NYC and has extensive experience with both small groups and big bands, including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, for whom he was lead trombonist for a decade. Coniglio, who plays both trombone and bass, will concentrate on the 'bone for this outing, and the band also will include Ken Kehner (piano), Eric Warren (bass) and Kevin Gianino (drums). Tickets are $10 at the door.

* Vocal duo The Cunninghams (pictured) will be "coming home one mo' time" for a performance at 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 5 in the concert hall.

Multi-instrumentalist Don Cunningham, a veteran of the Gaslight Square era in St. Louis, and his wife, singer and pianist Alicia Cunningham, currently live in Las Vegas but have returned to St. Louis to perform and reunite with old friends several times in recent years.

(The picture accompanying this post was taken at one of those previous shows at the Sheldon, and borrowed from the Cunninghams' MySpace page. They are standing at left, and also out front are, from left to right, singer Mae Wheeler, saxophonist Chuck Tillman and percussionist Percy James.)

For more about Don Cunningham and his history in St. Louis, see this post. Tickets for The Cunninghams' August 5 concert at the Sheldon are $25 and are on sale now via Metrotix.