Gateway Jazz Festival presenting a day of "smooth jazz" performers Saturday, July 29 at Chesterfield Amphitheater

After the "smooth jazz" format disappeared from commercial radio a few years back, St. Louis bookings of live shows featuring musicians popular on those stations began to taper off to almost nothing as well.

Now, a new event called the Gateway Jazz Festival - not to be confused with the identically named festival run by the St. Louis Jazz Club over Labor Day weekend the past couple of years - aims to fill at least some of that void with a full day's worth of popular "smooth jazz" performers starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 29 at the Chesterfield Amphitheater.

The announced lineup for the event includes saxophonists Najee (pictured) and Steve Cole; singer Maysa; Pieces of a Dream; guitarists Nick Colionne, Chieli Minucci, Chris Standring, and Steve Oliver; keyboardist Brian Simpson; and bassist Julian Vaughn.

Tickets are on sale now, with general admission tickets still listed on the event's website at the "early bird" price of $50, VIP reserved chairs for $117, and VIP tables for eight priced at $1,100.