Mae Wheeler 1934 - 2011

Singer Mae Wheeler (pictured), known to generations of St. Louis music fans as "Lady Jazz," died this evening at her home in Maryland Heights after a long illness. She was 77.

Wheeler, known for her charity fundraising efforts as well as for a musical career that spanned six decades, had been battling colon cancer since 2006, and was diagnosed two years ago with leukemia. Her doctors had sent her home from the hospital last month, saying that further treatment would be ineffective. In recent weeks, Wheeler was surrounded by and cared for by family and friends, including a granddaughter who established a Facebook account for her so friends and fans could send their best wishes. During that time, she gave a final interview to Terry Perkins of the St. Louis Beacon, which you can read here.

Born on May 15, 1934 in Memphis, TN, Wheeler moved with her family to the St. Louis suburb of Richmond Heights when she was five. She graduated in 1951 from Douglass School in Webster Groves, and according to published reports, later attended Forest Park Community College for about a year, majoring in music and communications, before meeting her husband Jimmie Lee, who was in the landscaping business.

The couple had five children, but when Jimmy Lee died of kidney disease in 1964, Wheeler was left as the family's sole breadwinner. She worked as a restaurant cook, took in laundry, and cleaned houses to make ends meet, but never gave up on her desire to sing. Wheeler eventually broke in to the music business at the tail end of St. Louis' Gaslight Square era, crediting fellow singer Jeanne Trevor for helping her to get her first gigs at places such as Vanity Fair, the Black Horse, the Dark Side and the Red Carpet.

Wheeler often referred to herself not as a jazz singer, but as a "song stylist" who interpreted a wide variety of material, from jazz and blues to pop, rock, Broadway and more. In the 1970s and into the 1980s, Wheeler was a regular performer at Hannegan's on Laclede's Landing and also worked at other spots such the Moose Lounge in north St. Louis and an early incarnation of Kennedy's, also on the Landing. In later years, she performed frequently at the now-defunct Brandt's in University City, as well as at other restaurants, lounges and clubs around town.

Over the course of her career, Wheeler worked with hundreds of St. Louis musicians and singers, and also appeared with nationally known entertainers including Pearl Bailey, Count Basie, Sonny Stitt, Mitch Miller and Arthur Prysock. As best as can be determined, she released two recordings, Live in 2000, and Just Friends in 2002. Both seem currently to be out of print.

Wheeler also became known as an event producer and philanthropist, putting on the first version of what would come to be called "The Divas Show" in 1996 at Westport Playhouse. Subsequent editions of the concert would follow annually for the next dozen years, showcasing many St. Louis female vocalists and raising money for Wheeler's favorite charity, a scholarship fund for high school graduates with C averages who wanted to attend college. One of the best known recipients of one of Wheeler's $1,000 scholarships is drummer Kim Thompson, who put the money toward her education at Manhattan School of Music and has gone on to become a successful professional musician, performing with pop singer Beyonce and many others.

“Maybe now, she’ll reach back,” Wheeler said of Thompson in a 2010 interview with Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American. “In doing all of this I just want people to know that we need to help one another. Plus, I want these children to know to always reach for the sky and don’t ever stop trying to be a winner.”

Wheeler moved from her longtime home in Richmond Heights to Maryland Heights in 2007, as her old neighborhood was bought out for a redevelopment project. Her final production "Unforgettable Legends" took place on Halloween night 2010 at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Mae Wheeler is survived by a brother, Darde Smith; three sisters, Delores Laster, Samella Miller and Ernestine Stith; two daughters, MarYam Aaten and Mary Wheeler, and three sons, Steve Wheeler, Kenneth Wheeler and Khamaron Wheeler, as well as 15 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. As of this writing, there's been no announcement made yet about funeral arrangements or a memorial service.

For more about Mae Wheeler's life and career, see the embedded video below, which is a segment aired on local PBS affiliate KETC's program Living St. Louis earlier this year when Wheeler won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis. You also may enjoy the video below that, which features an brief informal conversation between Wheeler and a fan at Brandt's back in 2006.

A personal note: Although I didn't know Mae Wheeler well, I had a chance to perform with her (and for her) a few times in recent years at various benefits and all-star shows, and to cover her as a journalist. I liked her as a person, and admired her philanthropic efforts and fighting spirit. The St. Louis community certainly is diminished by her passing, but our town also benefited greatly from the things she did while she was passing through. Rest in peace, Lady Jazz.





(Photo of Mae Wheeler courtesy of BB's Jazz Blues and Soups.)

(Updated 6/17/11 to correct the information on Mae Wheeler's survivors.)

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Looking at more news coverage of the closing of Brandt's, it appears that the commenters at the Riverfront Times' Gut Check blog and at the University City edition of community news site Patch.com agree that the venue's biggest problems were poor food and service, not rising crime in the Delmar Loop neighborhood.

* Terry Perkins wrote a piece for this week's St. Louis American about the news conference announcing the upcoming Miles Davis Festival.

* The southside music venue 2720 Cherokee (pictured) has made some adjustments to their format, and now will present two or more performances or events simultaneously on different floors of the building. The Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson has more here.

* A new episode of Don Wolff's TV program I Love Jazz is set to air starting next Thursday, June 16 on cable station HEC-TV. The episode features performance footage of the Bosman Twins live at Jazz at the Bistro, as well as coverage of the Nu-Art Series' recent presentation of "SoundArt," featuring poet and author Quincy Troupe, saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett and guitarist Kelvyn Bell.

Brandt's Cafe and Red Carpet Lounge closes

St. Louis has lost another venue for live jazz, as Brandt's (pictured), the health food deli-turned-bar and restaurant that's been a staple in the Delmar Loop for 25 years, has closed. The announcement was posted Sunday on Brandt's Facebook page, and the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson has a story on the closing here.

In the Post article, Brandt's co-owner Adam Brandt (nephew of founder and former owner Jay Brandt) blames recent street crime in the Loop area for the venue's demise. His assertion is disputed by quotes from Joe Edwards, owner of Blueberry Hill and other business ventures on the street, and vehemently contradicted by the story's commenters, who place the blame for Brandt's collapse on poor management and substandard food and service.

Based on the available evidence, I'd have to side with the commenters. Clearly, whatever crime issues the Delmar Loop may be experiencing at present, many businesses, including numerous restaurants and bars, continue to thrive there. Moreover, there's been an ongoing pattern of Brandt's communications with customers and the press getting fewer and further between over the four years since Jay Brandt sold out. Weekly emails touting food and drink specials and the live music lineup were discontinued, and the website and music schedule went without updates for weeks at a time, with the site eventually falling into the hands of domain-jackers. While the ability to run a website doesn't necessarily correlate with the skills needed to run a restaurant and music venue, a failure to promote can doom almost any business.

In March, yr. humble StLJN editor greeted reports of an "ultralounge" makeover to Brandt's club with what in hindsight has turned out to be quite justifiable skepticism. (Johnson's story notes that the manager responsible for the makeover actually was fired before the "grand reopening" took place.)

In the post, I asked, "Is this latest attempt to cater to the trendy crowd a savvy business decision, or a desperation move?" Guess we know the answer to that now, eh? Not long after that, I got several reports from local musicians about last-minute cancellations and disagreements over previously agreed-upon wages, which usually are a reliable indicator that a place is going down for the last time.

It's never good to lose a venue for live music, and I feel badly for former owner Jay Brandt, a decent guy and a genuine friend to many St. Louis musicians. Although the space formerly occupied by Brandt's no doubt will be snapped up by another business without delay, the club's unique connection to St. Louis music history - Jay's parents operated a club in Gaslight Square, and he booked many musicians from that era into his place - is something that's now gone forever.

Update - 5:00 p.m., 6/8/11: In the wake of yesterday's story getting more than 120 comments, the Post published another article on the Brandt's closing today, co-credited to Stephen Deere and Kevin Johnson. It recaps yesterday's story, quotes a couple of U. City council members on crime in the Loop and the difficulties of the restaurant business, and notes that Brandt's had received unfavorable reviews on websites like urbanspoon.com and yelp.com. Adam Brandt is quoted as saying he lost $300,000 on the venture, but as for specific evidence that crime is up in the Loop area, "The University City Police Department could not immediately provide statistics to refute or support the statement. Capt. Mike Ransom said it would take time to look up the numbers."

The comments on this story are similar to the earlier responses, though there seems to be a few more commenters contending that "thugs" are a significant problem in the neighborhood. However, there are very few mentions of specific incidents, and, other than a report of a cell phone being stolen from a sidewalk table, none seem to have a connection to Brandt's.

Moreover, several of the most vociferous complaints come from commenters who seem to feel threatened by the mere presence of groups of young people, black people, young black people, and/or people with piercings and/or tattoos - seriously, a couple of commenters actually mention this - and so should be considered with that in mind. Absent credible reports of serious crimes in the area, or statistical evidence that there's recently been a significant increase in crime, from here it still looks like Brandt's problems were, alas, mostly of their own making.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* In an article about Jazz St. Louis' benefit gala last Sunday, the Post-Dispatch's Deb Peterson says that JSL raised an estimated $200,000 for its education programs at the event. You can read Peterson's account of the party here.

* Jazz broadcaster Don Wolff has been uploading dozens of exclusive videos to his YouTube channel. There are a few interviews, but most of the clips are live performances from currently active musicians playing traditional jazz and swing. You can check out the contents of Wolff's video vault here.

* Brandt's Cafe (pictured), a longtime live music staple in the Delmar Loop, announced on their Facebook page that they're changing to an "ultralounge" format next month. That apparently means "VIP seating," bottle service, more DJ music and, presumably, higher prices. Though there's mention of live music continuing in early evenings, there's no calendar of events on the Facebook page, and the registered address for Brandt's website has been allowed to expire and seems to have fallen into the clutches of domain-jackers.

A bit of history: After transferring to new ownership three years ago, Brandt's abandoned its long-running jazz-centric format for a confusing mix of blues, rock, folk, karaoke, DJ spins, and the occasional jazz performer. They stopped emailing out their monthly music schedule, and updates to the website were sporadic and often incomplete. The result seems to have been that after leaving their old niche behind, they've had, at best, mixed success carving out a new one.

More recently, they announced that a new general manager had taken over, and started adding some jazz musicians back onto the schedule, but this whole ultralounge business would appear put an end to that. Is this latest attempt to cater to the trendy crowd a savvy business decision, or a desperation move? Time will tell, I suppose, but letting such a well-established business' longtime web address expire does not exactly inspire confidence that everything is well under control.

* In other semi-depressing news this week, Fair St. Louis this week announced what might very well be its whitest lineup of musical performers ever, and that's saying something. Headliners for the three-day Independence Day weekend festivities downtown will include country band Montgomery Gentry, pop-rock group Maroon 5, and 1970s hitmakers the Steve Miller Band, whose leader at least has some acquaintance with the blues.

Perhaps the Celebrate St. Louis shows (formerly Live on the Levee) yet to be announced will include some music that recognizes our city's actual cultural heritage, but given the questionable taste and abysmal past record of the organizers, yr. humble StLJN editor will not be holding his breath.

* Wondering how to get to Jazz at the Bistro, the Sheldon Concert Hall, and other Grand Center venues once the Grand Ave bridge closes for renovation next Monday? The St. Louis Beacon breaks down the alternate routes in an annotated map here.

Jazz this week: Jazz at Holmes resumes, Javier Mendoza, "Jazz Under The Stars," and more

Though this weekend's offerings of jazz and creative music in St. Louis are less numerous than last week's, there are at least a few noteworthy events happening around town. So, let's take a look and see what's coming up...

Tonight, Brandt's has an early set from saxophonist Christopher McBride, and singer Erin Bode and her band are playing Porter's in Collinsville.

On Thursday, saxophonist and clarinetist Mike Buerk and his 13-piece big band will open this semester's Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University with a performance of music of the Swing Era.

Also on Thursday, the Young Friends organizations of Jazz St. Louis and the St. Louis Science Center are cosponsoring an event called "Jazz Under The Stars" at the Planetarium in Forest Park, featuring music from guitarist Eric Slaughter's trio; and alto saxophonist Kendrick Smith's quartet plays at Robbie's House of Jazz.

On Friday and Saturday, singer/songwriter Javier Mendoza (pictured) returns to Jazz at the Bistro. Though Mendoza's usual sound is more along the lines of Latin-flavored pop/rock, for these shows he reportedly has rearranged his songs and augmented his band with the fine guitarist Dave Black to add a jazz aspect to his music.

Also on Friday, guitarist Matthew Von Doran and his trio play at Broadway Bean Coffee, and Robbie's will feature a band called Elements, about whom I can tell you absolutely nothing.
(The club's website has no information about them, and Google serves up a number of groups with similar names, none based in St. Louis. Maybe they're brand new?)

On Saturday, Robbie's will feature their house band, led by co-owner/trombonist Robert Edwards, and on Tuesday, they'll host their usual weekly jazz jam session.

For more jazz-related events in St. Louis this weekend and beyond, 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.)

(Edited 1/27/11 to add the Matthew Von Doran gig.)

Jazz this week: Charlie Hunter, Bonerama, Bloom Project, Dave Black, and more

This week's schedule of jazz and creative music in St. Louis offers a grab-bag of styles, from a funky, soul-jazz-inspired guitar trio to straight-ahead standards to free improv. Let's go to the highlights....

The big name in town this week is guitarist Charlie Hunter, who plays with his trio tonight through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. Hunter was in St. Louis most recently in 2009 at the Bistro, playing in a duo format, and has released a couple of CDs since then, including his most recent effort, the 2010 solo disc Public Domain.

His current trio includes drummer Eric Kalb and bass trumpeter Michael Williams, and you can see some footage of them performing live in this post from last Saturday.

Also tonight, the New Orleans-based Bonerama brings its four-trombone front line to The Gramophone, and saxophonist Christopher McBride plays an early evening gig at Brandt's, which recently underwent a change in management and seems to be doing better both at updating their online music schedule and at once again booking some jazz-oriented acts.

On Thursday evening, the Webster Groves HS and middle school jazz bands hold their "Cool Nights, Hot Jazz" fundraiser at The Pageant, and on Friday, pianist Ptah Williams leads his trio at Robbie's House of Jazz.

UPDATE - 10:00 a.m., 1/20/11: Webster Groves HS jazz band director Kevin Cole just emailed with the news that tonight's fundraising event at the Pageant has been postponed due to the snowstorm that hit St. Louis today. Cole says they'll try to reschedule, and when they do, StLJN will have the news right here.

On Saturday morning, pianist Carolbeth True and singer Christi John Bye will play a program of jazz and pop standards at the Sheldon Concert Hall, and later that afternoon, pianist Heather Bosshardt has a CD release event at Robbie's.

On Saturday night, Bloom Project, aka pianist Thollem McDonas and saxophonist Rent Romus (pictured), will offer a performance of improvised music at the Kranzberg Arts Center under the auspices of New Music Circle, and vibraphonist Peter Schlamb is at Brandt's.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday bassist David Certain's CertainBeat WorldBop returns to BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups, and on Tuesday, guitarist Dave Black will perform in a "Notes from Home" concert at the Sheldon.

Black's concert will feature original music performed by four different ensembles, with a cast of players including violinists Asako Kuboki and Justin Branum; cellist Ranya Iqbal; saxophonist Paul DeMarinis; bassists David Deriso, Marc Torlina, Willem von Hombracht, and Dave Troncoso; drummers Kevin Gianino and Joe Meyer; and vocalists Margaret Bianchetta and Javier Mendoza.

For more jazz-related events in St. Louis this weekend and beyond, 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.)

Jazz this week: Vanessa Rubin as Billie Holiday, Jay Oliver, the Bosman Twins, McElwee's "Modular Mazes" and more

From a dramatic portrayal of a legendary diva to some straight-ahead and soulful jazz to a multimedia event with video, animation and an improvised soundtrack, there's lots going on in St. Louis this weekend to interest fans of jazz and creative music. Let's go to the highlights:

Tonight, the Black Rep presents the first performance of its production of Yesterdays: An Evening with Billie Holiday starring Vanessa Rubin (pictured) as Holiday. The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays at the Grandel Theatre through March 14. For more on the production and Rubin, see this post and this post.

On Thursday, longtime local favorite Jeanne Trevor brings her swinging song stylings back to Brandt's .

On Friday evening, the Bosman Twins open a two-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro. It's been a while since the reed-playing brothers have performed at the Bistro, and the latest word from JSL's Devin Rodino on Twitter indicates that tickets are moving briskly.

Also on Friday, band boosters in O'Fallon, IL are sponsoring the benefit event "O'That Jazz" at the Regency Conference Center to raise money for the high school's marching band program. Featured performers will include the St. Louis Jazz All-Stars, with Dawn Weber, Jason Swagler, Shaun Robinson, Zeb Briskovich, Miles Vandiver and Charlie Brown; Twilight Jazz Club; and the O’Fallon High School Band Jazz Combos, with and Ross Gentile as MC. (Dinner reservations are no longer available, but they will be selling tickets at the door for the concert portion of the evening.)

Also on Friday, the Presenters Dolan kick off a weekend of cabaret shows at the Kranzberg Arts Center, with Alice Kinsella on Friday, Christine Rios on Saturday and Monya Fisher on Sunday.

On Saturday afternoon, saxophonist Chad Evans will play his own compositions and the the music of legendary saxophonist and bebop originator Charlie Parker as part of the Nu-Art Series' jazz composers' concert series at the Metropolitan Gallery.

Meanwhile, Robbie's House of Jazz has a double-header on Saturday, with a matinee featuring swing and classic songs from vibraphonist and trumpeter Joe Bozzi and an evening performance spotlighting the funk and fusion of Good 4 The Soul.

Also on Saturday, pianist and St. Louis native Jay Oliver returns home for a performance at Holmes Lounge on the Washington University campus, and New Music Circle presents Van McElwee and Friends in a multimedia event called "Modular Mazes" at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium. The NMC event will include new video creations from McElwee, 3D animation (with glasses provided!) from Casper McElwee, and live audio from musicians including the Semi-Acoustic Noise Ensemble (SANE).

For more jazz-related events in St. Louis this weekend and beyond, 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 by becoming a "fan" of 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.)

Jazz this week: Bob Borgestede memorial concert, Kim Massie, McMoore Movement, Mardra and Reggie Thomas, and more

With at least a momentary break from the winter deep freeze, it should be a good weekend in St. Louis to get out and hear some music. And while there are no major touring headliners in town this week, there are some noteworthy performances featuring local and regional musicians, so let's go to the highlights:

Tonight, singer Erin Bode and her band return to Brandt's. Bode worked frequently at the Delmar Loop nightspot when she first began her career, and the overall vibe of Brandt's still seems like a good fit for her music, although her fan base has grown to the point of likely overwhelming such an intimate venue. If you hope to get a good seat, I'd suggest getting there early.

On Friday, there's a memorial concert honoring the late guitarist Bob Borgestede at the Rialto Ballroom, 3547 Olive St., just east of Grand. A well-liked and seemingly always busy performer and teacher, Borgestede passed away in 2007, leaving a wife and young son. His friends and colleagues will celebrate his life (and, it is hoped, raise a little money) with sounds from the Funky Butt Brass Band (pictured), the pop/soul cover band Arvell & Co., and faculty members from SIUE, UMSL and Southwestern Illinois College, where Borgestede studied and/or taught music.

Also on Friday, singer Kim Massie begins a two-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro, where her renditions of blues, soul and pop songs, plus the occasional unexpected cover like Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman," are always a good draw.

That same night, Robbies House of Jazz will feature the St. Louis debut of the McMoore Movement, a group of young musicians who met while studying in saxophonist Ronald Carter's jazz program at Northern Illinois University. The group plays a mix of straight-ahead and groove-oriented tunes, and features alto saxophonist Chris McBride, trumpeter John Moore, Jr., keyboardist Willerm Delisfort, guitarist Larry Brown, Jr., and drummer Bernard Long, Jr. The club's house band, the Robert Edwards Ensemble, will hold forth on Saturday night.

On Sunday, singer Mardra Thomas and pianist Reggie Thomas will perform a free concert at Second Baptist Church kicking off the second half of the St. Louis Jazz and Blues Vespers season.

For more jazz-related events in St. Louis this weekend and beyond, 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 by becoming a "fan" of 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.)

Jazz this week: New Year's Eve jazz in St. Louis, and more

While New Year's Eve isn't usually a particularly big night for live jazz in St. Louis, there seem to be slightly more than the usual number of jazz-related options out there this year.

Among the more noteworthy revels occurring this Thursday evening:

* Singer Erin Bode (pictured) and her band will be doing two performances at the Joe Buck Show Room, which is part of the sportscaster's JBuck's restaurant downtown on Clark St.;
* The Robert Edwards Big Band will play at Robbie's House of Jazz;
* Singer Kim Massie will be at Brandt's;
* Singer Cherilyn Evans & CEE JazzSoul are performing at Smoking Joe's Bar-Be-Que downtown on Washington Ave;
* Singer/pianist Anita Rosamond teams up with guitarist Grant Krener at Chandler Hill Wineries in Defiance.

As has been the case for the last few years, the city's premiere jazz room, Jazz at the Bistro, will be dark on New Year's Eve, yielding the streets in the immediate neighborhood to Grand Center's annual First Night event, which usually features a variety of music in addition to dance, theater, visual arts and family oriented activities.

Acts scheduled to perform at this year's First Night include singers Wendy Gordon and Jeannie Trevor; multi-instrumentalist Sandy Weltman's gypsy-jazz band Hot Club Caravan; singer Brian Owens; Le Jazz Hot (with pianist Ptah Williams, saxophonist Chad Evans, bassist Daryl Mixon and drummer Bensid Thigpen); Wackadoo (with singer Valerie Tichacek); and Jazz St. Louis executive director Gene Dobbs Bradford's blues band, the Blues Inquisition. For a complete schedule of performances, visit the First Night website.

Beyond New Year's Eve, it looks to be a relatively uneventful few days for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, save for some regular weekly standing gigs carrying over into the new year. That's not unusual - the first couple of weeks of the year are usually a slow time for live music, and with many people still on holiday, a lot of January schedule information from musicians and clubs has yet to arrive here at StLJN HQ.

As that info comes in, I'll be updating the the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar - which can be found on the left sidebar, or by clicking here - with the latest information on more jazz and creative music events this weekend and beyond. You also can keep up with all the latest news by following St. Louis Jazz Notes on Twitter at http://twitter.com/StLJazzNotes or by becoming a "fan" of 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.)

Jazz this week: Bruce Barth Quintet, Sometime Then and Again, and more

After a couple of very busy weeks, it looks like there's a bit of a post-Mardi Gras lull with regard to jazz and creative music in St. Louis, at least in terms of the number of shows this weekend.

Still, in addition to the various ongoing weekly gigs by local musicians (which you can find listed on the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar), there are a few other noteworthy events happening over the next few days, starting with three nights of performances by the Bruce Barth Quintet.

Barth (pictured) and his group, which also features the well-regarded trumpeter Terell Stafford, have been in town since Monday for an educational residency under the auspices of Jazz St. Louis. Tonight, they'll play at The Gramophone as part of a Young Friends of Jazz St. Louis benefit for JSL's educational programs, an event that also will include an opening set from the Jazz St. Louis All-Stars student ensemble. Then on Friday and Saturday, Barth and band will be at Jazz at the Bistro, where they'll play the customary two shows each night. For more on this versatile pianist and some video samples of his playing, see this post from last Saturday.

Also this evening, the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University will present a free concert by Sometime Then and Again, a quartet featuring a couple of well-known local musicians, guitarist William Lenihan and saxophonist Dave Stone. Though Lenihan and Stone are both known quantities, this particular configuration seems to be a comparatively recent development, and Wash U. hasn't provided a lot of information about what sort of music they'll be playing. Given Stone and Lenihan's respective ranges of experience, it could be anything from completely composed music to totally free improv, but, considering the known level of talent there, the gig seems worth checking out regardless.

On Friday, you can catch some Latin jazz at Brandt's courtesy of Clave De Sol, featuring Farshid Etniko on guitar plus the pianist Phil Gomez, an interesting and accomplished player I've always liked for his ability to consistently do the unexpected. And on Sunday night, the crowd-pleasing soul/jazz/funk band Good 4 the Soul plays the early shift at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups.

UPDATE, 2:30 p.m. 2/26/09 - Two more events worth mentioning, gleaned from late night/early morning emails: My esteemed colleague Terry Perkins dropped a note to say that trumpeter and East St. Louis expat Russell Gunn will be in the backup band for pop/R&B singer Ne-Yo's concert at the Fox Theatre on Sunday. I don't know how much solo space there is for Gunn in the show - probably not that much, I'd suspect - but he's doing the entire tour with Ne-Yo and presumably making some nice money in the process.

Also, the SIU-Edwardsville jazz program will present its annual concert Tuesday night at The Sheldon, featuring the University's big band and vocal jazz ensembles as well as appearances from faculty members and alumni including Rick Haydon, Reggie Thomas, Jason Swagler, Miles Vandiver, Andy Tichenor, Brett and Kim Stamps, Bennett Wood and Zeb Briskovich. The program will include two compositions from Brett Stamps, "Cajun Cookin’" and "Let’s Samba," as well as Thomas' arrangements for the vocal jazz ensemble on "Revelation" (done in the style of Take 6), Lambert, Hendricks and Ross' "Centerpiece" and "Smilin’ Faces."

Of course, as mentioned above, these are just a few select highlights of the weekend's musical offerings. For more jazz-related events this weekend and beyond, please visit the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar. As usually happens at the beginning of a month, there will be a series of updates to the Calendar over the next several days as band and club information trickles and/or straggles in, so stay tuned.

(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.)

Jazz this week: Dave Holland, Charlie Hunter, Reginald Robinson, the return of Jazz at Holmes, and more

This is the sort of week when it's good to be a jazz fan in St. Louis, with a nice variety of musical activity that includes both touring and local artists. Here, in chronological order, are a dozen noteworthy performances taking place at 11 different venues around town over the next seven days:

Let's start with guitarist Charlie Hunter, who opens this evening and performs through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. Hunter's music definitely is technically impressive, given his virtuoso ability to play melody, chords and basslines all at once, but it's not all about technique; he also knows how to bring the funk and communicate with an audience. For some video samples of Hunter, see this post.

Also tonight, the 15-member Stone-Zelenka-Ota Free Improv Orchestra plays a one-time-only gig at the Way Out Club. For details and a complete list of all the players, see this previous post, and for a quick quote from show co-organizer Jay Zelenka, see this entry over on the Riverfront Times' music blog "A to Z."

On Thursday evening, the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University begins its winter/spring set of shows with a free concert of jazz, pop and French cabaret music from the Poor People of Paris, who also opened the summer series in 2008. (No details are available yet on the rest of the Jazz at Holmes schedule for the semester, but as soon as yr. humble editor gets the info, it will be posted here on StLJN.)

Friday evening offers a proverbial plethora of musical options, including the massively talented ragtime/stride pianist Reginald Robinson, who's visiting from Chicago to do a free early-evening concert at the St. Louis Art Museum; multi-instrumentalist Sandy Weltman and Hot Club Caravan, who will be playing string-band Gypsy jazz and more at Brandt's; the Gateway City's own Funky Butt Brass Band, laying down a New Orleans-influenced groove at The Gramophone; and the Ambassadors of Swing, playing the big-band sound for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom.

Then on Saturday, the Dave Holland Quintet performs at The Sheldon. Holland (pictured) has been one of the top bassists in jazz for four decades now, and in recent years his various small groups and big band have been among the most musically accomplished and critically acclaimed ensembles on the scene. His current quintet featuring saxophonist Chris Potter is especially tasty, and though it's only January, I fully expect this concert to be one of the highlights of 2009. For some some video of Holland in action, see this post. Also, note that the Sheldon is offering online buyers a $10 discount on tickets.

Moving on to Sunday, this week Bud Shultz and the You Can't Beat Experience Jazz Band will be doing their monthly session of traditional jazz at the Alton VFW Hall, as described here. And looking beyond the weekend, on Monday the Sessions Big Band is at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups; and on Tuesday, pianist Carolbeth True plays solo at Peppertini's, while the Andrew Miramonti Trio is next week's featured attraction in the ongoing Tuesday night jazz series at The Gramophone.

So, as promised, there you have it: 12 different groups/musicians with 12 different styles, 11 venues, seven days. That's certainly a lot of music for one week, but if your audio appetites remain unsated, you can always find more jazz-related activity in St. Louis this weekend and beyond by consulting the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar.

(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.)

"Peanuts" Whalum featured in Cincinnati's City Beat

Brandt's "host emeritus" Jay Brandt emails with news that St. Louis' own Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum enjoyed another successful gig in Cincinnati this past weekend, performing to enthusiastic crowds at the Blue Wisp jazz club on Friday and Saturday. The veteran singer, saxophonist and pianist's shows also were featured in Cincinnati's alt-weekly CityBeat; to read the article, go here.

Jazz this week: Jazz on New Year's Eve, and more

For whatever reasons, in recent years New Year's Eve has not been a particularly good time to hear jazz in St. Louis, and once again NYE 2008 looks to be an evening of relatively few options for jazz aficionados.

If you're looking to have dinner and drinks and hear a band play some straight-up instrumental jazz, the best possibilities might very well be a couple of regular weekly gigs that this year just happen to fall on NYE - specifically, pianist Ptah Williams (pictured) and his group at Riddle's in University City, and Park Avenue Jazz at Hammerstone's in the Soulard neighborhood.

Beyond that, as mentioned earlier, while Jazz at the Bistro is closed for New Year's Eve, the annual First Night event in Grand Center will include a number of musicians of potential interest to jazz fans, such as Kim Massie, the Nuclear Percussion Ensemble, Farshid Etniko, Jeanne Trevor, El Caribe Tropical, and the Urban Groove Project. To see the complete schedule of First Night performances, go here (.pdf file).

If the indoor/outdoor, alcohol-free, family-friendly celebration is not your cup o' tea, a scan of local entertainment listings reveals a few more musical possibilities at places that don't regularly feature jazz. For example, singer Erin Bode and her band will be part of the New Year's Eve entertainment package at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront (the old Adam's Mark hotel), along with the Soulard Blues Band, 1970s folk-rockers Brewer & Shipley, Steely Dan tribute band GrooveThang, and others.

Elsewhere in the city, Kim Massie will be doing an early set from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Van Goghz Martini Bar & Bistro, and the West End Grill and Pub will present what's being billed as a "New Orleans-style" event with music from the Louisiana-flavored funk/R&B/zydeco group Gumbohead.

Beyond the city limits, guitarist Todd Mosby will play solo at Bistro Alexander in Clayton; Tony Viviano will sing and swing at the Columns Banquet Center in St. Charles; and singer/pianist/saxophonist Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum is one of a number of entertainers listed as performing at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis.

As for this weekend, Jazz at the the Bistro will remain closed until next Wednesday, January 6, when The Bad Plus begins a four-night run. Also, because of the holidays and the onset of a new month and new year, schedule information from other local clubs is still a bit sketchy, though we can say that Brandt's will feature Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum on Friday night, and other regular weekly gigs, such at saxophonist Dave Stone's trio at Mangia Italiano on Friday and saxophonist Willie Akins and his group at Spruill's on Saturday, should be happening as usual.

For the most timely information, you can check your fave venue's Web site directly - see the StLJN sidebar for a list of links - or consult the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar, where I'll be posting any new listings of jazz-related events in St. Louis this weekend and beyond as they arrive.

(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.)

Jazz this week: Peter White with Rick Braun and Mindy Abair, Jeremy Davenport, Denise Thimes, and more

The Thanksgiving holiday means a somewhat reduced level of activity on local concert stages (and a holiday posting schedule here at StLJN) but there are still some noteworthy jazz and creative music events happening in St. Louis this weekend:

Let's start with trumpeter, singer and St. Louis native Jeremy Davenport (pictured), who returns home from New Orleans to perform at Jazz at the Bistro on Friday and Saturday, plus a matinee on Sunday to benefit PAN CAN, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. For much more on Davenport, see thhis post.

Also on Friday, pianist Peter Henderson is performing John Cage's "Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano" in a free concert at the Grigg Gallery of the St. Louis Art Museum.

The on Saturday, Trio Tres Bien with singer Danita Mumphard are at Cookie's Jazz and More in Webster Groves, and Clave de Sol, featuring pianist Phil Gomez, plays Latin jazz at Brandt's in University City.

On Sunday afternoon, singer Denise Thimes will perform at the Sheldon Concert Hall in what as being billed as a "women only" benefit for the Mildred Thimes Foundation, which supports pancreatic cancer research and awareness. Thimes will sing during the first half of the show, with the second half given over to spoken word performer Sharon McGhee, who will do a piece called "The Pocketbook Monologues."

Then on Sunday night, guitarist Peter White brings the 2009 edition of his Christmas show to The Pageant. White has been doing a holiday show for several years now using different smooth jazz musicians as co-headliners, and this year's featured guest stars are trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Mindi Abair.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday the Sessions Big Band is back at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups downtown, and Tuesday saxophonist Bennett Wood returns to The Gramophone.

You can find more jazz-related events in St. Louis this weekend and beyond by visiting the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar.

(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.)

Jazz this week: Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival, Brian Owens, Willie Akins, Cornet Chop Suey, and more

While there are no major touring jazz musicians visiting St. Louis this week, there's plenty of activity involving local players. Let's look at some of the highlights:

Tonight, the great saxophonist Willie Akins does a free concert for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University, while guitarist Dave Black performs at Brandt's

On Friday and Saturday, singer Brian Owens brings his mix of jazz, pop, R&B and gospel back to Jazz at the Bistro for a two-night stand. Also on Friday, the St. Louis Rivermen will present a traditional jazz performance at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Belleville, kicking off the church's fall arts series.

In addition, Friday evening is the opening reception for the "Birth of the Cool: California Art, Design, and Culture At Midcentury" exhibit at the Kemper Museum. The Museum's promotion for the free event says they'll have "a live jazz band performing Miles Davis's seminal album Birth of the Cool" (although they don't identify who the musicians will be, which seems a fairly significant omission).

The biggest music event of the weekend for jazz (and blues) enthusiasts happens on Saturday, when the annual Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival is staged in suburban Webster Groves. The free event starts in the morning with a workshop at Webster University for student musicians, and then the music begins at noon down the street in the old Webster Groves business district. This year's festival once again features two stages, with acts including singers Erin Bode (pictured) and Debby Lennon; the New Orleans-style funk band Gumbohead; the Webster University jazz faculty; guitarist Todd Mosby, and more.

On Sunday, the St. Louis Jazz Club kicks off its fall season with a concert of traditional jazz and swing by Cornet Chop Suey at the Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville. Also on Sunday afternoon, saxophonist Tim Cunningham brings his smooth jazz sound to the the Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday guitarist Tom Byrne and Friends will perform at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium, and trumpeter Keith Moyer's group plays at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups. And on Tuesday, the David Wiatrolik Trio returns to the The Gramophone and singer Jeanne Trevor performs at Brandt's.

As always, the performances mentioned here are just some of the week's highlights, so to see listings of more jazz-related events in and around St. Louis this weekend and beyond, please visit the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar.

(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.)

Photos from "Peanuts" Whalum's 80th birthday party now online

Jay Brandt of Brandt's informs StLJN that photos and video from Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum's recent 80th birthday party are now available online. The much-loved singer, pianist and saxophonist celebrated his natal day at the club on Sunday, September 7 with a lively crowd that included many friends, fans and St. Louis musicians as well as his nephew, the well-known smooth jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum, who's hosting the photos and video on his Web site here.

Brandt says the event also raised $2,000 for a music scholarship fund named after "Peanuts" Whalum, and notes that both Whalums will be among the performers on this fall's Smooth Jazz Cruise produced by St. Louis- based Jazz Cruises LLC.

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Bruce Menefield plays "Little Sunflower" and "Circle of Prayer"

For this week's video showcase, let's get acquainted with saxophonist Bruce Menefield, a mainstay of the Cincinnati jazz scene who's coming to St. Louis to play Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28 at Brandt's Cafe and Red Carpet Lounge.

For his St. Louis engagement, Menefield will be backed by St. Louis' James Jackson (drums), Jeff Anderson (bass) and Dave Black (guitar). Here, he can be seen with his own band, performing "Little Sunflower" at Jasper's (a jazz club in Cincy) and "Circle of Prayer" at a outdoor event called "Jazz at Jordan."

Jazz this week: "Peanuts" Whalum's 80th birthday party, Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project, St. Louis Art Fair, St. Louis Jazz Club picnic, and more

Now that the fall presenting season is officially getting underway, there's more and more jazz and creative music to be heard on St. Louis' concert and club stages. This week's highlights start with singer/pianist/saxophonist Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum's 80th birthday party, which begins at 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Brandt's Cafe and Red Carpet Lounge. Of course, Whalum (pictured), a much-loved and respected part of the St. Louis music scene for more than 50 years, will perform, backed by his trio featuring Jeff Anderson on bass, Eric Slaughter on guitar and Marty Morrison on drums.

Edie Bee of LouRadio will serve as MC, and, yes, there will be birthday cake, served at 9:00 p.m.. Special guests expected to appear include "Peanuts" Whalum's nephew, smooth jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum, as well as many of his St. Louis musical colleagues including singers Jeanne Trevor and Gene Lynn, guitarist Dave Black, and more. Given "Peanuts" Whalum's long history in the community and the fact that he's as fine a gentleman as he is a musician - which is very fine indeed - there's likely to be a packed house of friends, fans and well-wishers, so get there early.

Also on Sunday, the St. Louis Jazz Club kicks off their fall 2008 schedule with their annual picnic, which runs from noon to 6:00 p.m. at Concord Farmer's Hall, 10140 Concord School Rd. In keeping with the Club's emphasis on pre-WWII styles from ragtime to swing, the music will be provided by the St. Louis Banjo Club, Norm Menne and his Dixie Dudes, and Michael Lacey and his New Orleans Swing.

Of course, there's music to be heard all weekend, as the Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project opens the fall 2008 season at Jazz at the Bistro with performances on Friday and Saturday night. A drummer and percussionist, Russo is a transplant to central Illinois from Syracuse, NY who has made multiple trips to Cuba and other spots in the Caribbean to study percussion. He formed the band eight years ago, and although central Illinois may not intuitively seem like a hotbed of Latin jazz, the presence of the music school at the University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana brings some significant talent to the area. Two members of the U of I faculty in Russo's band, saxophonist Chip McNeill and pianist Chip Stevens, have particular credibility in Latin jazz thanks to their experience performing and recording with Cuban ex-pat trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Rounding out the ensemble are trumpeter Jeff Helgesen, once part of Ray Charles' road band, bassist Josh Walden and drummer/percussionist Jeff Magby.

Elsewhere in town, Brandt's has singer Jeanne Trevor on Friday night, and flute player and singer Margaret Bianchetta with the Dave Black Trio on Saturday. Also on Saturday, the Chicago Afrobeat Project brings their mix of funk, world music and jazz to Lucas School House.

The annual St. Louis Art Fair also is happening this weekend, and in keeping with tradition, the staff of Cultural Festivals - which also produces the St. Louis Jazz and Heritage Festival - has once again booked some musicians of interest to jazz listeners, including the Jazz St. Louis All Stars student ensemble, singers Anita Rosamond and Kim Massie, world/jazz/folk chamber group Autumns Child, and Afro-Cuban/jazz group Rolando Matias & Intrin-x-ico on Saturday, plus vibist Jonathan Whiting and his trio and the eclectic guitarist Stuart Johnson on Sunday. See the Art Fair's Web site for details on who's playing when on which stage at the free event.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Tuesday trombonists Brett Stamps and Jim Owens will have a CD release party for their new album Bad to the Bone at the Sheldon Concert Hall, while "Peanuts" Whalum is back at Brandt's. And on Wednesday, get your skronk on with Squid Choir Orkestra, saxophonist Jay Zelenka's free jazz/electronics group, when they open for experimental rock band Skarekrau Radio at the Way Out Club, 2525 S. Jefferson, or if you're in the mood for something more mainstream, saxophonist Ed Doney once again is visiting from Lake of the Ozarks to sit in with Park Avenue Jazz for their weekly Wednesday night session at Hammerstone's.

Alas, there's still much updating to do to the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar, as yr. humble editor's non-jazz-blogging work schedule and an unfortunate series of computer freezes and crashes have delayed the the update process. Fear not, though, as the work of updating said calendar will continue at the best possible speed until completed, so feel free to look there for a rapidly expanding list of more St. Louis jazz-related events this weekend and beyond.

(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.

Jazz this week: The end of summer and the Big Muddy blues

As we head into what is effectively the final weekend of summer 2008, things are still in the relatively slow, dog-days mode with regard to live jazz in St. Louis. All of our town's various not-for-profit presenters are basically on hiatus until after Labor Day, and club activity is kind of sparse this weekend, too.

Still, there are a few performances worth nothing, so let's get to it. Tonight, Brandt's has singer Kim Massie, the Dave Stone Trio plays their regular weekly gig at Mangia Italiano, and the Original Knights of Swing big band holds forth at the Casa Loma Ballroom. On Saturday, guitarist Todd Mosby (pictured) brings his group to Brandt's, and saxophonist Willie Akins does his regular late-afternoon performance at Spruill's. Looking beyond the weekend, on Tuesday Brandt's will feature Trio Tres Bien, and saxophonist Bennett Wood returns to The Gramophone.

However, the biggest musical news of the weekend in St. Louis probably is the Big Muddy Blues Festival, which runs from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on Laclede's Landing. The free event features 30 different bands on three stages, with headliners including Bettye LaVette, Coco Montoya, Sonny Rhodes and Michael Burks. Though it's a blues festival, the lineup does include a few local musicians who cross over into jazz, such as singers Kim Massie and Anita Rosamond, who will open the main stage on Saturday afternoon. For more on the Big Muddy, check out the preview story I wrote for this week's Riverfront Times, available online here.

There's a lot of updating to do to the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar over the next few days, so if new posts are somewhat sparse around here for a bit, that - along with the holiday weekend - likely will be the cause. In the meantime, you can continue to see listings for more St. Louis jazz-related events this weekend and beyond by visiting said Calendar.

(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.

Mosby concert raises more than $5,000 for Nature Conservancy

The final tallies are in, and the results show that the benefit concert staged by St. Louis guitarist and composer Todd Mosby last month at Lucas School House raised more than $5,000 for the Nature Conservancy.

You can read more about the event, the organization, and Mosby's efforts in this recap on the Nature Conservancy Web site. Mosby's next performance, with the quartet version of his group, is this Saturday, August 30 at Brandt's.