Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Jazz this week: Ann Hampton Callaway, Erik Friedlander's Black Phebe Trio, and more

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis includes the return of a popular singer, the local debut of a challenging trio of improvisors, a tribute to a beloved big band trumpeter and bandleader, and more.

Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, March 15
Longtime St. Louis favorite Ann Hampton Callaway returns for the first time for the first of four nights at Jazz at the Bistro.

Callaway (pictured, top left) was here most recently last summer to do a one-nighter for the St. Louis Cabaret Festival. As a bonus for local fans, her engagement this time will feature former St. Louisan Reggie Thomas, now head of the jazz program at Northern Illinois University, accompanying her on piano.

In addition to her evening performances, she'll also be doing a coffee concert on Thursday morning, and a free, informal lunchtime "conversation" at noon on Friday at the Bistro.

Also on Wednesday, the weekly jam session at @Nesby's in South County hosted by pianist Curt Landes, bassist Glen Smith and drummer Chuck Kennedy, gets a new, later starting time (7:00 p.m.); and Cabaret St. Louis will present their final "Open Mic Night" at the current location, The Emerald Room at The Monocle. The group hopes to continue the monthly series at a new venue yet to be determined.

Thursday, March 16
Cellist Erik Friedlander's Black Phebe Trio (pictured, center left) will play a concert presented by New Music Circle at The Stage at KDHX.

The group features Friedlander, keyboardist Shoko Nagai, and percussionist Satoshi Takeishi, and you can find out more about them and see some video in this post from last Saturday.

Also on Thursday, 1990s swing revivalists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy play at the Casa Loma Ballroom; and pianist Adam Maness' trio will be back at Thurman's in Shaw.

Friday, March 17
Drummer Marty Morrison will be back in town to lead a trio at Cigar Inn; percussionist Herman Semidey and Orquesta Son Montuno will play salsa, Latin jazz and more at Club Viva; and saxophonist Tim Cunningham performs at Troy's Jazz Gallery.

Saturday, March 18
Pianist Carolbeth True and Two Times True with saxophonist Larry Johnson will play at the house concert venue Kinda Blue Club, and trumpeter/vibraphonist Joe Bozzi will perform at Evangeline's.

Sunday, March 19
The Jim Widner Big Band will present a "Tribute to Maynard Ferguson" at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Monday, March 20
Jazz St. Louis doesn't often book touring headliners early in the week, but next week will be an exception, as percussionist Poncho Sanchez (pictured, bottom left) will check in on Monday for the first of two nights at the Bistro.

The popular Latin jazz performer, who last played here in November 2015, was a late addition to the previously announced spring schedule at the Bistro, so tickets still may be available for all shows, but in any case, advance reservations are suggested.  

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.)

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