A guide to holiday jazz in St. Louis

Along with parties and presents, the holidays always include plenty of seasonal music, and if you're the sort who likes some jazz with your jingle bells, you'll have plenty of choices this month in St. Louis.

Here's a quick look at some noteworthy holiday shows from local and visiting jazz musicians, listed in chronological order:

Wednesday, December 3 - Saturday, December 6
Joey DeFrancesco Trio - "Home for the Holidays"
7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro
$35 Wednesday & Thursday, $40 Friday & Saturday
The organist's return to the Bistro coincides with the release of Home For The Holidays, a new album of seasonal material, and he'll be incorporating selections from it into his show.

Saturday, December 6
Oikos Ensemble - "What Child is This? A Jazz Nativity"
3:00 p.m., First Congregational Church, 10 W Lockwood Ave., 63119
Free
This year's holiday program from saxophonist Rev. Cliff Aerie and friends will be performed at three different locations over two weekends.

Sunday, December 7
Funky Butt Brass Band - "A Funky Butt Holiday Concert" with the St. Louis Community College-Meramec Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Concert Choir
3:00 p.m., Meramec Theatre, St Louis Community College-Meramec
Free
St. Louis' favorite New Orleans-style brass band teams up with three different ensembles from StLCC-Meramec.

Oikos Ensemble - "What Child is This? A Jazz Nativity"
3:00 p.m., Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 N Ballas Rd, 63131
Free

UMSL's Jazz for the Holidays with the UMSL Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Point and University Orchestra
3:00 p.m., Touhill Performing Arts Center
Free
This annual presentation showcases three of UMSL's student ensembles.

"A Common Time Christmas" with Joe Mancuso, Michelle Knollhoff, and more
5:00 p.m., The Duck Room at Blueberry Hill
$15
Jazz-fusion band with guest vocalists offers their take on holiday songs.

Dave Dickey Big Band and Webster Groves H.S. Jazz Band 1 - "Big Band Christmas"
6:00 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro
$15 adults, $5 students
This month's gig by the DDBB features original big band arrangements of holiday favorites

Erin Bode - "Christmas Jazz and Dessert Concert"
6:00 p.m., Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand
$18
Bode and her band will perform holiday favorites, both traditional and original. Admission price includes beverage and dessert.

Monday, December 8
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O
7:30 p.m., Joe's Cafe
$20 adults, $8 students and "struggling music supporters"
The versatile drummer and friends reprise some of the music from their 2010 holiday album.

Friday, December 12
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O with Webster Groves HS Jazz Big Bands
7:00 p.m., Webster Groves HS Auditorium, 100 Selma Ave, 63119
$10 general admission
Culminating a week-long residency, Wilson and the Tree-O this time will be supported by big band arrangements performed by student musicians from WGHS.

Friday December 12 & Saturday, December 13
Jim Manley’s Mad Brass & Rhythm - "A Very Manley Christmas"
7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro
$25 adults, $10 students
One of St. Louis' favorite trumpeters and his seven-piece band "bring you holiday cheer."

Saturday, December 13
Oikos Ensemble - "What Child is This? A Jazz Nativity"
3:00 p.m., St. Paul United Church of Christ, 115 West B Street, Belleville, 62220
Free

Kevin Mitchell 4 Christmas Show
7:00 p.m., Evangeline's
No cover charge
Jazz-pop combo serves up "martini music" with a sprig of mistletoe.

Thursday, December 18
Tony Viviano - "Christmas in St. Louis"
6:30 p.m., Four Seasons Wine House
$50 (includes buffet dinner and show)
Sinatra-inspired singer celebrates the holidays Italian-American style.

Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20
Funky Butt Brass Band Holiday Brasstravaganza
9:00 p.m., Off Broadway
General admission $15 advance, $18 DOS; reserved balcony seating $25 advance, $28 DOS; plus $3 surcharge for minors
Now in its sixth year, the FBBB's annual holiday show has grown too popular to be contained in just one night.

Monday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 23
Jazz St. Louis Big Band plays Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker”
7:30 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro
$25 adults, $10 students
A big band featuring mostly SIUE grads turned local pros performs Ellington's re-imagining of Tchaikovsky's classic, plus favorites from the Duke's vast catalog.

Do you know of any holiday jazz shows in St. Louis that we missed? If so, please share the relevant info in the comments.

(Edited 12/5/14 to add the Erin Bode event.)