Jazz this week: Support your local jazz musician

While there are no well-known touring jazz acts passing through St. Louis this week, it's still shaping up to be a fine few days to get out and hear some live music.

Fortunately for those so inclined, there's no shortage of upcoming gigs featuring St. Louis musicians from which to choose, including a number of free outdoor concerts. Here are a few suggestions...

Tonight, the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University presents the first of four free "Jazz in July" concerts this month, featuring saxophonist Jay Hutson and Da Wolvez performing in the Tisch Commons of the Danforth University Center on campus.

Also tonight, Miss Jubilee plays a free outdoor concert at Bluebird Park in Ellisville, and singer and guitarist Tommy Halloran is at The Shaved Duck.

Tomorrow night, the Coleman Hughes Project with singer Adrianne Felton will perform a free outdoor show at Ferguson CityWalk; Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes are at Nathalie's; and the St. Louis Big Band (pictured) plays for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom.

Also on Friday, pianist James Matthews and singer Babs Robnett will team up for an early-evening set at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups; pianist Matt Villinger brings his trio to Thurman Grill; and Wack-A-Doo plays at Evangeline's.

On Saturday night, the Funky Butt Brass Band will play a free outdoor concert at Kirkwood Park; guitarist Tom Byrne leads a trio at Evangeline's; singer Wendy Gordon returns to The Choice Restaurant; and, after a week off for Independence Day, bassist Bob DeBoo and friends resume their weekly gig and jam session at the Kranzberg Arts Center.

On Sunday evening, the St. Charles Municipal Big Band will perform in a free outdoor concert at Frontier Park on the river in downtown St. Charles.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday percussionist Joe Pastor's group returns to BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups; and on Tuesday, singer Joe Mancuso and pianist Nicky Schlueter perform at the Tavern of Fine Arts, and the Gateway Jazz Quintet will play a free outdoor concert at Fanetti Park, 7601 Ivory on the south side.

For more jazz-related events in and around St. Louis, please visit the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar, which can be found on the left sidebar of the site or by clicking here. You also can keep up with all the latest news by following St. Louis Jazz Notes on Twitter at http://twitter.com/StLJazzNotes or clicking the "Like" icon on the StLJN Facebook page.

(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.)