Sheldon Concert Hall announces 2020-21 season schedule

From left: Pat Metheny, Camille Thurman, Kurt Elling

The Sheldon Concert Hall has announced their 2020-21 season schedule, and it includes a number of performances of interest to StLJN readers.

From a jazz fan's perspective, the season effectively starts with the annual Friends of the Sheldon Benefit, this year featuring guitarist Pat Metheny, on Saturday, October 17.

Next up is another show designated as a "special concert" (i.e. not part of any subscription series), as the Count Basie Orchestra will perform on Friday, November 6.

The "Rhythm & Jazz" series officially gets underway the following week with the the Philadelphia Reunion Band, featuring organist Joey DeFrancesco, guitarist Kevin Eubanks, pianist Orrin Evans, and drummer Lil John Roberts, on Saturday, November 14.

The series also will include "The Great Guitars" featuring Martin Taylor, Frank Vignola and John Jorgenson on Saturday, January 30; "Bessie, Billie & Nina: Pioneering Women in Jazz," with singers Charenée Wade and Tahira Clayton and saxophonist Camille Thurman, on Saturday, March 6; and singer Kurt Elling on Saturday, May 1.

The late-morning "Coffee Concerts" series will begin with performances from singer Erin Bode on Tuesday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 14, followed by singer and impressionist Dean Christopher’s “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime: A Tribute to Dean Martin" on Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11.

After that, it's the holiday offering "Winter Wonderland" with musical theater performers Zoe Vonder Haar, John Flack, Ben Nordstrom, Emily Kuhn and Steve Neale on Tuesday, December 8 and Wednesday, December 9.

The series continues in the new year with bassist and singer Janet Evra on Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17, and singer Anita Jackson on Tuesday, April 20 and Wednesday, April 21.

Other performances of potential interest to jazz and creative music enthusiasts include the return of new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound, on Friday, January 15; tabla player Zakir Hussain on Saturday, April 1; and St. Louis' own The 442s on Wednesday, April 7.

Tickets for the benefit gala with Pat Metheny are $200 for patrons, and are on sale now. Concert-only tickets will be priced from $55 to $100, and will go on sale Friday, August 8.

Subscriptions to the "Rhythm & Jazz" series are $140 to $160, and "Coffee Concerts" subscriptions are $65 to $75. New subscription sales will begin at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 11 via phone at 314-533-9900 and online at thesheldon.org. The Sheldon also offers a “Choose Your Own” option that allows tickets buyers to include shows from multiple series, including "Rhythm & Jazz," folk, classical, and world music.

Single tickets for the "Rhythm & Jazz" series are priced from $30 to $50, depending on the performer and the seat, and will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 8. Single tickets for "Coffee Concerts" are $15 and $18, and go on sale the same day.