So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The Bad Plus' bassist Reid Anderson was interviewed by Calvin Wilson for a brief article in Friday's Post-Dispatch, and you can read it online here. The Bad Plus continue at Jazz at the Bistro through Saturday.

* The RFT's Annie Zaleski reports that Pollstar has ranked The Pageant in St. Louis as the number four venue in the world in concert ticket sales for club venues, with more than 186,000 tickets sold last year.

* NPR now has archived online singer Dianne Reeves' New Year's Eve show from San Francisco, featuring St. Louisan Peter Martin on piano. You can listen to it here.

* The Celebrate St. Louis organization is soliciting ideas for entertainment at the 2011 Fair St. Louis. If you'd like to see some jazz with St. Louis roots on the riverfront during the fair - and how about a soul sax showcase with David Sanborn; a "hip-hop meets jazz" show with Russell Gunn or Keyon Harrold; the aforementioned Peter Martin and some of his famous friends; or just letting the great Hamiet Bluiett (pictured) do whatever the heck he feels like - let them know by sending an email to info@celebratestlouis.org.

Euclid Records to open store in New Orleans

Euclid Records, the St. Louis-based music retailer that includes lots of used jazz vinyl in its extensive stock, has announced plans to open a second store in New Orleans.

The Riverfront Times' Annie Zaleski talked with Euclid owner Joe Schwab about the announcement, and has more details in a blog post here.

Lucas School House to close at the end of the month

The Soulard music venue Lucas School House will close after a final show on New Year's Eve. The RFT's Annie Zaleski broke the story in a blog post last Friday, and the Post's Kevin Johnson also has an item on his blog today.

Over the last two and half years, Lucas School House featured a variety of musical genres, emphasizing rock, Americana and singer-songwriters, but also hosting jam bands, monthly events from Cafe Soul shows and the occasional jazz or world music gig. The eclectic guitarist Adrian Legg will play there this Thursday, and the final show on New Year's Eve will feature Grateful Dead tribute band Jake's Leg.

Inthe release quoted in both the linked stories, owner Dan Jameson says he'll be back soon with another larger music venue, but not in the Soulard neighborhood. StLJN will be watching that situation, and we'll have more as it develops further.

GStLJF featured in RFT

Riverfront Times music editor Annie Zaleski devotes most of her column this week to the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival, talking with saxophonist Bobby Watson and with the head of the festival and UMSL's jazz program, bassist Jim Widner, who likens himself to "an academic arsonist." Read the whole thing here.