Friday, July 08, 2016

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

Here's this week's wrap-up of assorted links and short news items of local interest:

* Singer, bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Femi Kuti was interviewed by writer Dan Durchholz for a Post-Dispatch story previewing Kuti's performance Saturday night at the Ready Room.

* Trumpeter Russell Gunn, originally from East St. Louis and now living in Atlanta, will release his latest recording The Sirius Mystery on Friday, August 12. According to a news release, the album (pictured) blends jazz with "EDM, American Trap, African Drums, Dub Step and Charlie Parker improvisation in a four movement suite that is inspired by and based on the “mythology” of the Dogon Tribe of Mali." A single from the album, "Sirius B (The Unseen Absolute)", already is available online.

* Meanwhile, singer and St. Louis native Lynne Fiddmont has released online the first single from her upcoming album, a cover of the Gamble and Huff song "Groovy People".  The song, first made famous in 1976 by Lou Rawls, will be included on Fiddmont's forthcoming CD Power of Love.

* A feature story on St. Louis Public Radio looked at Forest Park's new artist residency program, which this year included The 442s.

* Speaking of St. Louis Public Radio, the station has a new arts and culture editor, David Cazares, who comes to our town via Minnesota Public Radio, the NPR affiliate in Minneapolis-St. Paul. An avowed jazz fan, Cazares has gone public with an appeal to St. Louisans, inviting listeners to offer their input on the sort of arts coverage they'd like to hear.

* You can get a close-up look at the Fox Theatre's recently opened Curtain Call Lounge, which is featuring live jazz and cabaret performances on select nights, via this article from the firm that designed the space.

* Pianist Peter Martin's Open Studio Network has announced another new jazz education course available via online video, a "brand new" edition of drummer Gregory Hutchinsons's "Hutchology" offering "fresh content weekly, new studio recorded lessons, exclusive quick tips and more."

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