Miles on Monday: Newport box set wins awards, Miles Ahead film news, and more

This week in Miles Davis news:

* The 1957 Louis Malle film Elevator to the Gallows, which features a score composed and played by Davis, will get a St. Louis screening this spring courtesy of Cinema St. Louis’ Robert Classic French Film Festival. The movie, which is in French with English subtitles and stars Jeanne Moreau (pictured, with Davis), will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium.

* According to a story in the Alton Telegraph, the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau last week recognized Pat Ackman for her work on the Miles Davis Memorial Project, presenting her with both the Spirit of Tourism award and a Chairman’s Award from the association for her efforts. The bureau also recognized Karen Wilson for her contributions to the effort to place a statue of Davis to downtown Alton.

* Producer Teo Macero's work on Davis' landmark album Bitches Brew was the subject of a New Music Box article by George Grella, who recently wrote a book about the album for the 33 1/3 series.

* The box set Miles Davis At Newport 1955-1975 has won the award for "Best Historical/Vault/Reissue" in Jazz Times magazine's 2015 Readers Poll for 2015, as well as "Reissues/Archive Album of the Year" in Jazzwise magazine's Albums of the Year Critics Poll.

* The screening of Don Cheadle's film Miles Ahead last month at the Sundance Film Festival continues to inspire media coverage, including interviews with Cheadle by The Root, Variety, Business Insider, and Uptown, plus reviews of the movie from Consequence of Sound, Park City Record, and Guff.com.

* As part of a series of essays about albums originally issued on the Prestige label, blogger Tad Richards considered a 1956 recording session marking the end of Davis' time with the label in "Listening to Prestige Part 166: Miles Davis".

Edited to correct the date of the Elevator to the Gallows screening.

Artist, location selected for Miles Davis statue in Alton

According to a story published in yesterday's Alton Telegraph, artist and sculptor Preston Jackson has been selected to create a statue of Miles Davis for display in the town where the legendary trumpeter was born.

Jackson, who grew up in Decatur and now lives in Peoria, has taught at the Art Institute of Chicago and created numerous works of public art in Illinois and elsewhere. His statue of Davis will be placed in front of the Lauschke Building at 117 W. Third St. in downtown Alton. (Davis was born in Alton in 1926; the family moved to East St. Louis the following year.)

The Miles Davis Memorial Project plans to share Jackson's renderings of the sculpture at the annual "Alton Block Party" on July 20, with the artist on hand to answer questions. Committee members have said they hope the statue will be completed in time for unveiling on May 26, 2014, in celebration of Davis' birthday.

Fund-raising efforts to pay for the work are ongoing. Donations can be made to the Miles Davis Memorial Project c/o Pride Inc., Alden Hall, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, IL 62035.

Alton announces plans for statue of Miles Davis

The city of Alton, Illinois has announced plans to build a statue honoring jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, who was born there in 1926. Alton mayor Tom Hoechst made the announcement at yesterday's Miles Davis Jazz Festival, held at Lewis and Clark Community College in nearby Godfrey, IL.

The life-sized statue of Davis would be placed on Third Street in downtown Alton. Organizations involved in the project include the Alton Museum of History and Art and the Miles Davis Jazz Committee, co-producers of the annual festival honoring Davis; Pride Inc., a local, non-profit organization dedicated to community beautification; and the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau.

According to this article by the Alton Telegraph's Kathie Bennett, there's no budget yet for the statue nor a timetable for its completion. "The committee has approached one artist and is looking for others to submit sketches before commissioning the piece," the article says. The initial concept for the statue is to mirror Davis' pose in the famous photo (pictured) used in the design of the soon-to-be-released commemorative stamp honoring him.

Possible fund-raising ideas mentioned include "selling bricks and encouraging elementary students to collect pennies." Anyone who wises to make a donation can contact the Alton Museum of History and Art at 618-462-2763.

Alton Museum establishes Miles Davis Scholarship

The Alton Museum of History and Art has established a scholarship named after trumpeter Miles Davis, who was born in the Southern Illinois river town. According to an article by Jill Moon published in Monday's Alton Telegraph, the museum is now accepting applications for the scholarship, which is an award of $250 for a graduating high school senior who wants to pursue any post-secondary degree — not just music or art — from a two- or four-year educational institution.

Applications are available at the museum, 2809 College Ave. in Alton, and must be completed and returned by July 1, marked to the attention of the Miles Davis Jazz Committee. The committee will select a winner to be announced at the fifth annual Miles Davis Festival on Saturday, August 14 at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. For more about the scholarship and the festival, read Moon's complete article here.

Dr. John/Neville Brothers concert previewed in Alton Telegraph

Extending that Mardi Gras vibe for just a few more days, the New Orleans singer and pianist Dr. John and the Crescent City's premier funk band the Neville Brothers will be in St. Louis this Friday, Feburary 19 to play at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Vicki Pennington of the Alton Telegraph has written a preview of the "Mardi Gras Mambo" show, including some quotes from saxophonist Charles Neville, and you can read it online here.

Miles Davis Jazz Festival to open new Alton amphitheater on Saturday, May 16

The fourth annual Miles Davis Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 16 will be the official inaugural event for the new amphitheater on the riverfront in Alton, Illinois.

Saxophonist Willie Akins (pictured) and trumpeter Jim Manley will headline the event, which starts with opening ceremonies at noon and continues until 6:30 p.m. Other performers will include saxophonist Michael Anthony Fitzgerald with guitarist Brian White, the Scott Air Force Base Big Band, and drummer Howard Neal. Tickets for the Miles Davis Jazz Festival (a.k.a. the Miles Davis Jazz Celebration) are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate on the day of the show.

In related news, according to an article by Linda N. Weller in the Alton Telegraph, the city of Alton is looking for a outside producer to book concerts into the new facility:

"An unnamed, citizens-city committee has interviewed four music promotion companies about bringing larger-scale entertainment to the new Riverfront Park amphitheater...

...Unlike some other towns in the area, Alton officials' philosophy is that they will work with individuals and entities wanting to bring entertainment to the park - and people who are experienced in marketing and selling tickets - but not set up city-sponsored concerts.

"The city does not want to be in the business of promoting commercial entertainment," (Alton director of development and housing Phil) Roggio said. The city's priorities are to assist with the events, provide the facility and break even on its expenses for maintenance, electricity, traffic control and any after-event cleanup."

Shultz' Sunday sessions featured in Alton Telegraph

Bud Shultz and the You Can't Beat Experience Jazz Band are the subjects of an article by Jill Moon in the Alton Telegraph that spotlights the band's long-running performances in Metro East on the last Sunday of every month. You can read the story online here.

Ross Gentile profiled in Alton Telegraph

Jazz radio personality Ross Gentile, who hosts the daily program Standards in Jazz on WSIE (88.7 FM ), is the latest St. Louis/Metro East-area jazz figure to be the subject of a profile in the Alton Telegraph. You can read the article online here.

Brett Stamps featured in Alton Telegraph

Trombonist and jazz educator Brett Stamps is the subject of a feature story this week in the Alton Telegraph. The article focuses on Stamps' work as professor of jazz studies for Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and on Bad to the Bone, his new CD with fellow trombonist Jim Owens. Read the whole thing here.

Article touts live jazz in Alton

A recent article in the Alton Telegraph written by Jill Moon examined the weekly jazz offerings at two local spots, Bossanova Restaurant and Lounge and Thymes Past. You can read it online here.