Bistro's summer season adds Russell Gunn, tribute to Count Basie, and more

Jazz St. Louis has announced additional bookings for this summer at Jazz at the Bistro, with a schedule that for the first time runs continuously through August, thereby eliminating the several-week-long hiatuses of years past.

In addition to return engagements for familiar local favorites such as Denise Thimes and Good 4 the Soul, the slate of newly announced shows also includes a visit home from trumpeter and East St. Louis native Russell Gunn (pictured), who will perform on July 24 and 25 with a band co-led by drummer and fellow East St. Louisan Montez Coleman.

There also will be a two-night birthday tribute to Count Basie from Jazz St. Louis' own nascent big band; a weekend of adults-only performances pairing jazz acts with a local comedy and burlesque troupe; Bistro debuts for the Route 66 Jazz Orchestra and a trio featuring Coleman, saxophonist Dave Stone and bassist Bob DeBoo, and more.

Here's the summer schedule in its entirety, including previously announced shows from JazzU/Jazz St. Louis All-Stars, Terence Blanchard and Marcus Miller:

Wednesday, June 3: Route 66 Jazz Orchestra
Thursday, June 4: Andy Waggoner - "Pianoman: The Music of Billy Joel & Elton John"
Friday, June 5 & Saturday, June 6: JazzU & the Jazz St. Louis All-Stars w/ Stefon Harris
Wednesday, June 10 - Saturday, June 13: Terence Blanchard E-Collective
Tuesday, June 16 - Thursday, June 18: Marcus Miller
Friday, June 19 & Thursday, June 20: Bob DeBoo, Dave Stone, & Montez Coleman
Friday, June 26: "Babes in Brassland" w/ Randy Dandies & Funky Butt Brass Band (18+ show)
Saturday, June 27: "Tassels ‘n Tunes" w/ Randy Dandies & Tommy Halloran’s Guerrilla Swing (18+ show)

Friday, July 10 & Saturday, July 11: Denise Thimes
Saturday, July 18: Anita Jackson
Friday, July 24 & Saturday, July 25: Montez Coleman Group w/ Russell Gunn
Friday, July 31 & Saturday, August 1: Good 4 the Soul

Friday, August 7 & Saturday, August 8: "Saturday Night Fish Fry" featuring Big Mike Aguirre, Funky Butt Horns & Friends
Friday, August 21 & Saturday, August 22: "Basie’s Birthday Bash" w/ Jazz St. Louis Big Band
Friday, August 28 & Saturday, August 29: Javier Mendoza’s Estereotipo

Tickets for the newly announced shows will go on sale to current Jazz at the Bistro subscribers at 10:00 a.m. this Wednesday, April 29, and to the general public at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 6. Tickets can be purchased online at jazzstl.org or by calling the Jazz St. Louis box office at 314-571-6000. Box office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.