So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The U City Jazz Fest, which last week was cancelled due to a financial dispute between its companion event Fair U City and the municipal government of University City, is back on for the originally scheduled date, but at a new location.

Temporarily renamed the Old Orchard Jazz Festival, the free event will take place with all the previously announced acts from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at Gazebo Park in the Old Orchard business district of Webster Groves.

(Prospective festival-goers should know that Gazebo Park is considerably smaller than Heman Park, the fest's original location, and Old Orchard is a busy commercial district, so if you're planning on attending, you may want to arrive early so you'll have enough time to find parking and seating.)

* The latest sounds from saxophonist Oliver Lake can be heard on Bamako, the debut recording by the OGJB Quartet (pictured), a band that also includes cornetist Graham Haynes, bassist Joe Fonda, and drummer Barry Altschul. The album includes original compositions from all four members, plus two collective improvisations, and will by released next Friday, May 17 by TUM Records.

* The Black Rep's upcoming production of Nina Simone: Four Women is previewed in stories from Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American and Calvin Wilson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The play-with-music, with a cast than includes singer Denise Thimes, opens Wednesday, May 15 and continues through Sunday, June 2 at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Veteran drummer Gary Sykes, who currently plays with pianist Ptah Williams' trio, the STL Free Jazz Collective, and others, continues to face some serious health issues, most recently making a trip this week to St. Mary's Hospital to have two stents installed.

While Sykes said in a Facebook post that he's feeling better post-surgery, the GoFundMe page to raise money to help with expenses while he's unable to work is still active. Find out more and, if you wish, donate here.

* Singer Valerie Kirchhoff and pianist Ethan Leinwand of Miss Jubilee (pictured) were guests on a recent episode of Rock Paper Podcast.

* The Dark Room has begun live-streaming video of performances on their Facebook page, and archiving the streamed videos on a new YouTube channel.

* Trumpeter Keyon Harrold was interviewed about his musical influences by Jamie Cullum for BBC Radio Two's "Take Five."

* Get It How You Live, the new album by trumpeter Russell Gunn's Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, was reviewed by DownBeat magazine.

* Guitarist Nels Cline was interviewed about his show tonight at Delmar Hall by the Post-Dispatch's Calvin Wilson. (Link is to Google cache.)

* Also in the Post, Tower of Power saxophonist and bandleader Emilio Castillo was interviewed by P-D freelancer Daniel Durchholz. (Link is to Google cache.) TOP performs this Saturday, August 11 at River City Casino.

* Grant Green Jr. talks about his dad, St. Louis-born guitarist Grant Green, on the latest episode of the web series The Pace Report.

* Trumpeter and philanthropist Herb Alpert was interviewed by St. Louis Public Radio. While Alpert's concert with his wife, singer Lani Hall, on Sunday, August 19 at the Grandel Theatre already is sold out, some of his visual art will be on display at the Grandel from Friday, August 17 through Sunday, August 19.

An opening reception will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 17. The public also can view Alpert's abstract mixed-media paintings and large and small-scale bronze sculptures from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, and from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 19 before the concert and for 30 minutes after the show.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* More reviews of the just-released box set Miles Davis and John Coltrane: The Final Tour - Bootleg Series, Vol 6 are surfacing online, including one from AllAboutJazz.com's Doug Collette,
one from Slate's Fred Kaplan, and one by Jeff Tamarkin for Relix.

* The St. Louis Post-Dispatch/STLtoday.com has put online an "iParty" gallery of photos from Ken Page's performance Wednesday night at Jazz at the Bistro, shot by the P-D's Jon Gitchoff. 

* Trumpeter Russell Gunn (pictured) this week announced the release date for his next album. Get It How You Live, the debut recording of Gunn's Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, will be out on Ropeadope Records on Friday, July 13.

* Drummer Allison Miller talked about her gigs this weekend at Jazz at the Bistro with the Post-Dispatch's Calvin Wilson.

* Organizers of the Nevermore Jazz Ball have announced the event's dates for 2018. The annual celebration of swing dancing and music will take place from Thursday, November 1 through Sunday, November 4 at various venues around town, with tickets going on sale on a date this summer TBA.

* North County is getting a new musical instrument store in a familiar location, as Low Key Music will open next Monday, April 9 at 6235 N. Lindbergh, the former site of Dale's Music. The store's Facebook page also has announced an "open house" for musicians and band directors from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, April 7).

* The St. Louis American's inimitable Delores Shante offered her impressions of one of last week's performances by The Baylor Project at the Bistro.

* St. Louis will be represented at this year's North Sea Jazz Festival, as saxophonist David Sanborn and trumpeter Keyon Harrold are among the musicians announced this week who will be heading to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in July for the three-day event.

* Voting is now open for the next group of prospective inductees to Jazz at Lincoln Center's Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame, and one of this year's 10 nominees has a local connection. That would be the innovative bassist Jimmy Blanton, who gained fame playing with Duke Ellington's orchestra before his tragic death from tuberculosis at age 23. Blanton's very first professional job was in St. Louis, playing with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra for a year before joining Ellington.

You can see the whole list of nominated musicians and cast your vote here. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 28, and the three nominees who receive the most votes will be inducted in 2018.

* Keyboardist and Metro East native David Garfield, best known for his work with guitarist and singer George Benson, has a new tune on, of all places, the country charts. According to a press release,  “I Lied,” a "power pop" ballad written by Garfield with Motown's Smokey Robinson and sung by vocalist J. Paris, has reached No. 60 on the Music Row singles chart this week and gained New & Active status on the Billboard Indicator chart. The song will appear on Garfield’s upcoming album Vox Outside the Box, release date TBA.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Singer and actor Alice Ripley's cabaret show  was previewed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Calvin Wilson.  Ripley performs here tonight and Saturday night for the Gaslight Cabaret Festival.

* Electronic musician and composer John Wiese will present a free, public composition workshop at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 8 in Room 4 of Tietjens Hall on the Washington University campus. Wiese (pictured) will be in St. Louis for a concert presented by New Music Circle on Saturday, November 11 at St. Louis University's Xavier Hall theater.

* The 2018 St. Louis International Film Festival, which will take place November 2-12 at various venues around town, includes a number of films with musical subjects, notably the local premiere of Mr. Handy's Blues, a documentary about "St. Louis Blues" composer W.C. Handy.

The festival's screening of the Handy bio at The Stage at KDHX will be paired with a live performance by singer Valerie "Miss Jubilee" Kirchoff, cornetist TJ Muller, and pianist Ethan Leinwand. You can see the entire festival schedule here.

* Drummer Dave Weckl and bassist Tom Kennedy are headed for Europe next month, touring with guitarist Mike Stern and saxophonist Bob Malach as the Mike Stern/Dave Weckl Band. The group will play dates in Germany, Austria, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, England, Slovakia and Poland, and then return to the USA for a half-dozen shows in December on the West Coast.

* Pianist Peter Martin's music education video company Open Studio Network was featured in an article on AVClub.com.

* Saxophonist and St. Louis native Greg Osby was interviewed on Philadelphia radio station WRTI's program "The Bridge"

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The "TAP Dynamics" show this Saturday and Sunday at the Grandel Theatre, which features dancers performing to live music from a jazz trio led by drummer Allison Miller, was previewed by Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American, and by Calvin Wilson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

* Wilson also has a story in the Post previewing next week's appearances by saxophonist/singer Grace Kelly (pictured) at Jazz at the Bistro.

* Trumpeter Keyon Harrold's new album The Mugician is being released today, and as part of the roll-out, the entire album was previewed on AllMusic.com and Harrold was interviewed by Salon.com.

* Music for Lifelong Achievement's annual musical instrument drive was featured in a report on local CBS affiliate KMOV (Channel 4).

* The deadline for applications for Regional Arts Commission's Artist Support Grants for this year is Thursday, October 12. RAC is presenting a free workshop on how to apply on Monday, October 2; for more on that, and details on the grant program, go to https://racstl.org/grant/artists-support-grants/.

* Composer and flute player Fred Tompkins is offering free downloadable and streamable music, both previously unreleased and from his back catalog, via a new Bandcamp page.

* The Gateway Jazz Festival, a day-long smooth jazz event that debuted this July at Chesterfield Amphitheater, has announced a date for 2018. The fest will return for a second year on Saturday, July 21, 2018, and discounted "early bird" tickets are on sale now at http://www.gatewayjazzfest.com/.

* The Riverfront Times' annual "Best of St. Louis" issue is out this week, and the winners in the annual Readers' Choice poll include the Broadway Oyster Bar for "Best Restaurant" and Record Exchange for "Best Record Store". You can see all the results of the RFT's Readers Choice poll here.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Dave Weckl will drum with the Buddy Rich Big Band in a tribute concert in May at Ronnie Scott's in London.

* Speaking of London, the website London Jazz News last week published two posts of local interest to StLJN readers: a previously unseen interview from 1995 with trumpeter and St. Louis native Lester Bowie; and a review of Message to Our People, bassist and Washington University faculty member Paul Steinbeck's new book recounting the history of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, of which Bowie was a member.

* Organizers of the U City Jazz Festival have announced the date and lineup for this year's event. The fest will be held Saturday, June 10 in Heman Park, and will feature music from Demarius Hicks, Ptah Williams (pictured), Dave Black, Bach to the Future, and the St. Louis Jazz All Stars.

* David Steward, founder of St. Louis-based World Wide Technology Inc, and his wife Thelma Steward will receive the Ed Bradley Award for Leadership in philanthropy from Jazz at Lincoln Center during JALC's annual gala on April 26 in NYC. Though the award is for their contributions to JaLC, the Stewards also were the lead donors for Jazz St. Louis' renovated headquarters and performance space that opened in October 2014.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson is transformed into an animated version of herself in the first episode of "Music Time with Kimberly Thompson," a new web series for kids posted this week to YouTube.

* Meanwhile, in another animation aimed at a more adult audience, singer, actor and Belleville, IL native Lea DeLaria lends her voice to the role of a talking birth control pill in "I'm Just A Pill," a new animated video produced by the Lady Parts Justice League "to school (Supreme Court nominee Neil) Gorsuch and dispel fake facts on birth control and drop some scientific knowledge on Plan B as a preventative measure."

* Chris Hansen of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation was interviewed by writer Terry Perkins for an article in Alive! magazine about The Dark Room's new location in the renovated Grandel Theatre.

* Happiness of Living,  the new album from On Fillmore, bassist Darin Gray's duo project with drummer Glenn Kotche, is officially released today, and already has gotten positive press coverage from Rolling Stone and Chicago Reader.

* Saxophonist Eric Person has posted to Facebook a photo album from his recent "Person to Person" shows with fellow saxophonist (and unrelated namesake) Houston Person at the Blue Note in NYC.

* Trombonist Charlie Halloran talks about his move from St. Louis to New Orleans in a brief feature by the Riverfront Times' Christian Schaeffer.

* Cabaret Project St. Louis' monthly open mic night has yet another new home, after a brief run at The Monocle following the closing last year of its longtime location, the Tavern of Fine Arts. Starting on Thursday, April 20, the event, now known as the Broadway Open Mic, will take place from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the Curtain Call Lounge in Grand Center.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

After an extended hiatus, yr. StLJN editor is pleased to once again be able to offer a wrap-up of the week's assorted links and short news items of local interest:

 * Trumpeter Nate Wooley talked with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Calvin Wilson about his performance with electronic musician Ikue Mori tomorrow night at The Luminary.

* Abdul Hamid Royal, pianist and music director for the production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill playing through March 4 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, was interviewed by the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn.

The play-with-music by Lanie Robertson recounts the story of singer Billie Holiday using one of her nightclub performances as a framing device, and stars Alexis J. Roston (pictured) as Holiday. Roston and Royal also spoke with St. Louis magazine's Rosalind Early for a brief feature story, which you can read here.

* The Dark Room's new space at the Grandel Theatre, which opens for business next week, was the subject of a feature by the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson

* The website St. Louis Musicians Unite has compiled Spotify playlists of local music by genre, including a playlist for St. Louis jazz artists. You can see all the lists here.

* Organizers of the Hermann Wine and Jazz Festival have announced their date and lineup for this year. The 2017 event will be held on Saturday, August 19 at the Clara Eitmann Messmer Ampitheater in Hermann, and will feature music from Funky Butt Brass Band, Bach to the Future, The People's Key, singer/songwriter Sean Coray, and the Nick Savage Quintet.

* Speaking of the Funky Butt Brass Band, they have just recorded a version of "St. Louis Blues" and posted it to BandCamp, with the proceeds from downloads of the song going to support "Blues For Kids," the charity organization of the St. Louis Blues hockey team. You can get a copy and support the cause here.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Saxophonist Bobby Watson, who's visiting St. Louis to play tonight with the Jazz Edge Orchestra at the Touhill, was interviewed by the Post-Dispatch's Calvin Wilson.

Watson also was interviewed Thursday about the show by KMOX's Charlie Brennan.

* Jazz St. Louis has announced a celebration of National Donut Day at their Grand Center HQ, with tastings of donuts from 15 local bakeries, plus a photo booth, kids' activities, and live music. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 3.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn announced that he'll be touring North America this summer jointly with saxophonist Dave Koz (pictured, with Sanborn). The tour starts July 30 at Thornton Winery in Temecula, CA and continues through the end of August. No St. Louis show this time around, but you can see the full list of dates at Sanborn's website.

* "Da-Dum-Dun," an event presented tonight by the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club in celebration of the lives of East St. Louisans Miles Davis, Henry Dumas and Katherine Dunham, was previewed by Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American.

* Singer Erin Bode's performance last week at a charity concert for St. Louis Children’s Hospital patients was the subject of a news story on KTVI/Fox 2.

* Saxophonist Greg Osby was the subject of an extended feature story by AllAboutJazz.com's Victor Schermer.

* Drummer and St. Louis native Emanuel Harrold performed with singer Gregory Porter last week on PBS's The Tavis Smiley Show, and the performance and interview with Porter now have been posted online.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

Miles Ahead opens today in St. Louis

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

* Miles Ahead, actor/director Don Cheadle's film about Miles Davis, opens nationwide this weekend and will play in St. Louis starting today at the AMC Creve Coeur 12 and Tivoli theaters.

The film's local opening has occasioned reviews from Calvin Wilson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American and a short feature story from the Alton Telegraph's Mary Cox. For complete Miles Ahead coverage, see StLJN's ongoing series of "Miles on Monday" posts.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn, who was back home in St. Louis last week to play at Jazz at the Bistro, has been announced as one of the performers for the February 2017 edition of The Contemporary Jazz Cruise, along with Pat Metheny, Gregory Porter, Terence Blanchard, and others.

* The St. Louis Black Rep is taking a dramatic look at the life of the late keyboardist, singer/songwriter and former St. Louisan Donny Hathaway with Twisted Melodies, a play written by and starring St. Louis native Kelvin Roston Jr.  The production continues through Sunday, May 1 at the Edison Theatre on the campus of Washington University.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson was interviewed by Nylon magazine in conjunction with the official release last Saturday of her new album, Treasures Abound. Thompson also may have broken some news about her next appearance in her hometown with a recent Tweet listing upcoming concert dates, one of which was "Kim Thompson & Mike Stern at the Bistro Feb 14 - 18 2017". (Jazz St. Louis usually announces the next season's schedule in May.)

* Last Saturday's Record Store Day festivities in St. Louis were featured in stories on the local newscasts of KSDK and KTVI/Fox 2.

* Singer Wendy L Gordon announced that the Leevert & Wendy Gordon Scholarship Fund will grant another $1000 scholarship this year to a yet-to-be-selected Sumner High School senior attending Harris Stowe State University in the fall.

The scholarships are funded with proceeds from Gordon's series of "Jazz Heaven" tribute concerts, the next of which is scheduled for Sunday, September 11 at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre, and from special events like the upcoming tribute to singer Mae Wheeler by Gordon and fellow vocalist Jeanne Trevor set for Tuesday, May 17 at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Record Store Day 2016 is Saturday, April 16, and once again this year, yr. humble StLJN editor has been invited to be one of several "guest DJs" selecting music to play on the in-store sound system at Vintage Vinyl.

I'll be at the controls for an hour or so starting at 2:30 p.m., following sets by DJs from KDHX and the music blogs Speakers In Code and I Went To A Show (and well after the sure-to-be-jam-packed RSD performance at VV by Americana band Mumford & Sons).

As in previous years, I'll be spinning a mix of jazz, blues, soul, and funk, with some St. Louis artists in the mix. You can see a complete list of all the special Record Store Day releases from various companies here.

* Steven Lutvak's cabaret show "A Gentleman's Guide To A Gentleman's Guide" was previewed in a story by Calvin Wilson of the Post-Dispatch. The production runs tonight and tomorrow at the Gaslight Theater.

* The Riverfront Times' Harlan McCarthy reported on last Saturday's dedication ceremony of the mural of Clark Terry in south St. Louis' Carondelet neighborhood.

* Also in the RFT, Kevin Korinek penned a short feature about St. Louis-based amplifier manufacturer Mills Custom and their participation in last weekend's Tritone Expo.

* Jazz St. Louis posted to Facebook some photos from this week's educational residencies by clarinetist Anat Cohen, drummer Matt Wilson, trumpeter Marquis Hill and bassist Linda Oh.

* The Kranzberg Arts Foundation has announced plans to turn the building in the Grand Center district that formerly housed the nightclub Plush into an "arts incubator," with a small theater and space for offices and production support.

* Always, the latest CD from pianist and St. Louis native Stephanie Trick and her husband Paolo Alderighi, was reviewed by the website Art Music Lounge.

* Drummer Dave Weckl headed out on tour this past week with guitarist Oz Noy's trio, starting in Los Angeles, then going on to NYC and more East Coast and Midwest dates before heading back West again. (Alas, there's no St. Louis show on schedule.) Weckl also recently was named also named Best Fusion Drummer for 2016 by Modern Drummer magazine.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

On the first day of the new year, here's a wrap-up of assorted links and short news items of local interest from the final week of the old year:

* Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis has made Calvin Wilson's Saturday night jazz program "Somethin' Else" available as part of their app for smart phones and tablets. The program airs at 8:00 p.m. Central time on Saturdays.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn has posted to Facebook some photos from his recent gig at the Blue Note Tokyo.

* Keyboardist Timothy "T.C." Chandler of the Coleman Hughes Project and singer Dennis Edwards' Temptations Review was profiled in the Belleville News Democrat.

* Singer/guitarist Tommy Halloran has made his latest album State Streets available to stream in its entirety on YouTube.

* The Funky Butt Brass Band has posted a number of videos from their 2015 "Holiday Brasstravaganza" to their YouTube channel.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Trumpeter Keyon Harrold, currently touring with R&B singer D'Angelo, was interviewed on video by Demencha Magazine.

* Singer, actor, comedian, and Belleville native Lea DeLaria was interviewed by Slate about her new album of jazz covers of David Bowie songs.

* Saxophonist Eric Person is taking part this week in the Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute's summer intensive at the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA. The week-long program "brings together jazz composers at various stages in their careers chosen from a national pool of applicants, to explore the challenges of writing for the symphony orchestra."

* The Bosman Twins were profiled in an article on the website Something Else.

* Beverly Hacker, longtime executive director at KDHX, has been placed on administrative leave by the community radio station's board of directors, and wrote about it in a "letter to the community" published by the Riverfront Times.

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake will participating in NYC's Charlie Parker Jazz Festival later this month, engaging in a conversation with fellow saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa on Thursday, August 20 at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and leading his big band in a performance Friday, April 21 at Marcus Garvey Park.

* The Goldenrod Showboat, once home to performances of traditional jazz and ragtime from the 1960s to the 1970s while moored on the St. Louis riverfront, is finally headed for the scrapyard. Attempts to resurrect the boat (pictured) have been abandoned after a recent attempt to move it from a remote spot along the Illinois River near Kampsville, IL to a safer location resulted in major structural damage.

The Historic Riverboat Preservation Association, the volunteer group that’s been working to preserve the boat, announced Wednesday morning that it will salvage what it can from the boat’s interior for a proposed riverboat museum.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis, “Somethin’ Else” host Calvin Wilson will showcase the music of fast-rising bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding. The program begins at 8:00 p.m. and can be heard over the air on 107.3 FM, on HD radio at 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Drummer Mark Colenburg (pictured) has recorded a new promotional video for Zildjian's "Cover To Cover" series, playing a version of Radiohead's "Packed Like Sardines."

* Speaking of videos, the St. Louis Big Band has posted a new one on YouTube featuring excerpts from their shows "Sinatra at 100," which continues through next Sunday at the Kranzberg Arts Center.

* Guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg of Dr. Lonnie Smith's band has posted to Facebook an album of photos from Smith's most recent St. Louis gig with Lionel Loueke in May at Jazz at the Bistro.

* Metro East audio equipment manufacturer Heil Sound is expanding, adding 3,200 square feet of space to their Fairview Heights warehouse.

* The Nevermore Jazz Ball announced this week that advance tickets for 2015's event are sold out. More information on a wait list, pass transfers, and the NJB's free public events will be forthcoming at a later date.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis, “Somethin’ Else” host Calvin Wilson will dig into the catalog of tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon.

After that on "The Jazz Collective," host Jason Church will play tracks from Four80East, Dave Koz, The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, James Lloyd, Keyon Harrold, the JT Project, Gato Barbieri, Down To The Bone, Slash, Young-Holt Unlimited, Funky Butt Brass Band, Vincent Varvel, Feyza Eren and Dawn Weber.

Wilson's program begins at 8:00 p.m., followed by Church at 9:00 p.m., and can be heard over the air on 107.3 FM, on HD radio at 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Trombonist, singer and St. Louis native Joseph Bowie (pictured) is the subject of In Groove We Trust: A Joe Bowie Experience, a 2014 documentary film that now can be streamed online.

The movie, produced by the Dutch public broadcasting system Boeddhistische Omroep, offers an intimate look at the Defunkt founder's life both on and off-stage, and includes some footage shot here in St. Louis as well as interviews with St. Louis musicians including Ronnie Burrage, Oliver Lake, Kelvyn Bell, and more.

* Trumpeter, St. Louis native, and former Jazz St. Louis student All-Star Joshua Williams and his band Shades of Jade are prepping a new album, Fingerprinted Memories Part 2, for release in the fall. The Kansas City based ensemble will drop an advance track, a jazz-infused R&B slow jam called "That One" featuring guest singer Derick Cunigan, on Thursday, August 20.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn's latest album Time and the River is on sale for a discounted price at Amazon from now until the end of the month.

* The Sheldon Concert Hall has posted on Facebook an album of photos from last Friday's tribute to the late pianist and St. Louis native Ray Kennedy.

* Trumpeter Andy Tichenor has landed a gig in the band for the national tour of the musical theater production of "Dirty Dancing." Tichenor will join the tour in Chicago after the end of the Muny season here in St. Louis. 

* St. Louis based sound and lighting contractor Logic Systems is in the running for two industry awards: Front of House Online's 2015 Hometown Hero Sound Company award, which allows for reader voting, and an ESPRIT Award from the International Special Event Society, the results of which will be announced on August 22.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis, Calvin Wilson's program “Somethin’ Else,” will focus on jazz versions of soul and R&B songs such as "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" as performed by musicians including Joshua Redman, John Scofield and Marcus Miller. The program can be heard over the air on 107.3 FM, on HD radio at 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Then on Sunday night, Dennis Owsley's "Jazz Unlimited" program on KWMU/St. Louis Public Radio will be the second part of a special featuring music from the labels run by the late jazz impresario Norman Granz. You can listen in from 9:00 p.m. to midnight Sundays over the air at 90.7 FM and online at http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli, in town to play a benefit for the family of the late pianist Ray Kennedy on Saturday at the Sheldon, was interviewed about the performance on KWMU's "CityScape" program.

* DownBeat magazine's 80th annual Reader's Poll is open for voting, and you can cast your ballot here.

* Drummer Dave Weckl (pictured) has recorded a new demo video for Sabian's "HHX Evolution Performance Cymbal Pack," which can be seen online here.

* The Funky Butt Brass Band took a road trip this past weekend to play a gig in Boyne City, MI, and they've posted on Facebook a photo album of the journey

* Also on Facebook, an album of pictures from Sound Unlimited pianist John Pyatt's birthday celebration last Sunday at Candicci's.

* StLJN sends condolences to bassist Willem von Hombracht, whose wife Ira passed away earlier this month. A memorial celebration of Ira von Hombracht's life is planned for Sunday, August 2 upstairs at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

* Applications for Regional Arts Commission's 2016 Artists' Fellowships are due on Friday, August 7.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis' “Somethin’ Else,” host Calvin Wilson will feature the music of pianist Robert Glasper, including tracks from his new trio album, Covered. You can listen over the air on 107.3 FM, on HD radio at 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Then on Sunday, and a bit to the left on your radio dial, bassist Darrell Mixon will be the featured guest this week on WSIE's "Jazz Talk". The program can be heard from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sundays over the air on 88.7 FM and online.

Sunday night on KWMU/St. Louis Public Radio, Dennis Owsley's "Jazz Unlimited" program will feature music recorded for labels run by the late jazz impresario Norman Granz. Starting in 1957, Granz founded labels including Clef, Norgran, Down Home, Verve and Pablo, and recorded important jazz musicians including Oscar Peterson, Ben Webster, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Kenny Barron, Charlie Parker, Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, Clark Terry, and more. The program can be heard from 9:00 p.m. to midnight Sundays over the air at 90.7 FM and online at http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Lew Prince, half of the partnership that has run the local indie record store Vintage Vinyl (pictured) for the last 35 years, has sold his stake in the business to co-proprietor Tom "Papa" Ray.

Prince told the Riverfront Times' Jaime Lees that after a break, he'll be looking for a new job or project. Ray will continue to operate VV as sole owner.

* Also in the RFT, contributor Bob McMahon looks at the current state of the recording studio business in St. Louis, and finds it to be "thriving."

* The application period is now open for the Regional Arts Commission's 2015 Artist Fellowships. RAC will award $20,000 each to ten St. Louis artists "in varied disciplines" to provide "funds to allow for more time and space to study, reflect, experiment, explore, practice, and create." Applications must be submitted by Friday, August 7; for more information or to apply, visit RAC's website.

* An essay at New England Public Radio suggests that the late Clark Terry's musical versatility qualified him as an unexpected postmodernist.

* Jim Dolan of The Presenters Dolan will be hosting a group trip in October to NYC's Cabaret Convention. The package includes opportunities to take in cabaret and Broadway shows, as well as special events and parties specifically for the tour group. To find out more, visit The Presenters Dolan website.

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake has put together a short video introducing himself and his work that's now posted on Youtube.

* To promote his Whitaker Music Festival show this past Wednesday - unfortunately, postponed until next year due to wet conditions at Missouri Botanical Garden - singer Joe Mancuso did a brief interview with St. Louis magazine and appeared on KSDK's Show Me St. Louis.

* The Funky Butt Brass Band has posted to Facebook photo albums from saxophonist Ben Reece's farewell show last week at Broadway Oyster Bar, and new saxophonist Aaron Cebulske's official debut at a concert for the St. Louis Jazz Club.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis, Calvin Wilson's program “Somethin’ Else” will greet the solstice with summer-themed music from Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Abbey Lincoln, and others. "Somethin' Else" airs at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Jazz St. Louis' observance of today's "National Donut Day" holiday was the subject of a feature story on Fox 2/KTVI's morning newscast.

* Multi-instrumentalist Adam Maness and guitarist Tim Fischer have formed the First Tuesday Composers Club "to give an outlet for professional and amateur musicians and composers to experiment and share new music".

The "informal, open" group will meet monthly at The Dark Room in Grand Center, with the first session scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7.

* The soundtrack from the Clark Terry documentary Keep On Keepin' On will be released as as a double vinyl album on June 23. Promo materials for the two-LP set call it "basically a Best Of collection from legendary trumpet player Clark Terry (that) features many of his most iconic recordings, including his performances with some of the all-time jazz greats: Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie, and Quincy Jones."

* East St. Louis' own Terreon Gully (pictured) drums and gets a co-producer credit on vibraphonist Joe Locke's latest album Love Is A Pendulum, released last week by Motéma Music. The recording features all original compositions by Locke, performed with help from Gully, Robert Rodriguez (piano), and Ricky Rodriguez (bass), plus special guests Rosario Giuliani (alto/soprano sax), Donny McCaslin (tenor sax), Victor Provost (steel pan), Theo Bleckmann (voice), and Paul Bollenback (guitar).

* The recently formed STL Free Jazz Collective has set up a BandCamp page with a free-to-download live album recorded at Tavern of Fine Arts. The group also has posted on YouTube a short promotional video with some live footage from ToFA.

* In a new blog post, saxophonist and St. Louis native Greg Osby shares some responses to a post from last fall about how jazz critics might benefit from a greater knowledge of the day-to-day life of working musicians.

* The Route 66 Jazz Orchestra has posted on Facebook a photo album from their performance Wednesday night at Jazz at the Bistro. Also on Facebook, photo albums from the North County Big Band on Sunday at the Sheldon Concert Hall, and a recent Sound Unlimited show at Candicci's

* First Capitol News offered some impressions of singer Tony Viviano's recent Bobby Darin tribute show at Patrick's in Westport.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis, Calvin Wilson's program “Somethin’ Else” will celebrate 80 years since the birth of soulful guitarist and St. Louis native Grant Green by showcasing some of Green's finest recordings, including tracks from his quartet with pianist Sonny Clark.

After that, "The Jazz Collective" and host Jason Church return with a new program featuring tunes from Craig Sharmat, Freddie Hubbard, Donald Fagen, Joshua Redman, Bob James, Maxwell, Down To The Bone, Big Brother Thunder & The MasterBlasters, The Brian Vaccaro Trio, Dawn Weber and Feyza Eren.

"Somethin' Else" airs at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays, followed by "The Jazz Collective" at 9:00 p.m., on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Then on Sunday, Dennis Owsley's "Jazz Unlimited" program on St. Louis Public Radio will present “West Coast Jazz-Part 1,” with music from Dave Brubeck, Wardell Gray, Hampton Hawes, Stan Kenton Orchestra, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, Shorty Rogers, Bud Shank, Laurindo Almeida, Russ Freeman, Milt Bernhart, Jack Montrose, Clifford Brown & Max Roach, Teddy Edwards, Carl Perkins, Russ Freeman, Jack Sheldon, Bob Cooper, Claude Williamson, Dexter Gordon, John Graas, Bill Perkins, Marty Paich, Andre Previn, Art Pepper, and more.

You can listen in from 9:00 pm to midnight Sundays on KWMU (90.7 FM) and online at http://www.news.stlpublicradio.org.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Bassist Nathan Pence, a senior at Bishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis, received the inaugural Rich McDonnell Scholarship in a presentation last Sunday during the concert at Jazz at the Bistro dedicated to McDonnell's memory.

Pence (pictured, with Jazz St. Louis executive director Gene Dobbs Bradford) will attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the fall, majoring in jazz performance.

"Rich was always extremely supportive of our JazzU students, so a scholarship in his name was a perfect fit," said Jazz St. Louis' Devin Rodino in an email to StLJN. "We haven’t finalized all of the guidelines for the scholarship, but do plan to continue to put dollars in and grow it into a sizable fund that can really make an impact each year for one or more students. We will be hashing out full details before next year’s award is given."

* In other news from Jazz St. Louis, Rodino and his pastry-loving colleagues at JSL will host a public celebration of "National Donut Day" from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. next Friday, June 5 at the organization's HQ in Grand Center. The event is free and open to all, and participants can enjoy a sampling of donuts from 15 local bakeries, plus milk and/or coffee.

Students from the Jazz U program will provide live music, and there will be various activities including a donut taste-test competition "with celebrity judges," a donut-themed photo booth, a raffle for tickets to Jazz at the Bistro, and more.

* And in today's last bit of news from Jazz St. Louis, their 2015-16 season brochure now can be viewed online at http://issuu.com/jazzstl/docs/jsl_2015-16_season.

* Grand Center has announced "Music at The Intersection,"  a free concert series that will bring live music to eight venues within the arts district on three Friday evenings this summer.  The first event on Friday, July 17 will spotlight jazz and blues performers including Marquise Knox, Mo Egeston, Dave Black, Bob DeBoo Trio, Lamar Harris, Big Mike Aguirre, Tom "Papa" Ray, Jesse Gannon, Phil Dunlap Quintet, The People's Key, and the Bottlesnakes.

Venues for the series, which will continue on August 14 and September 11 with events featuring other musical genres, include Strauss Park, The Dark Room, Vito's Sicilian Pizzeria & Ristorante, Lucha, Dooley's Beef N Brew House, Jazz at the Bistro, Kranzberg Arts Center, and The Stage at KDHX.

* As part of his effort to establish the St. Louis Black Radio Hall of Fame, veteran broadcaster and author Bernie Hayes has launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $15,000. The money will used to finance a benefit concert in August, rent temporary space for a physical museum, and develop a "virtual" radio and media hall of fame.You can read more about the campaign and donate here.

* Jazz radio update:  This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis, Calvin Willson's program “Somethin’ Else,” will focus on the music of composer Harry Warren ("Lullaby of Broadway, "At Last," "That's Amore") as performed by musicians including Sonny Rollins, Paul Motian, Diana Krall, and more. You can listen in at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.  

A few clicks to the left on your radio dial, Dennis Owsley's "Jazz Unlimited" program on St. Louis Public Radio this Sunday will present music from "jazz giants" including Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer, Joe “King” Oliver, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Shelly Manne, Freddie Redd, Betty Carter, Woody Herman, Eric Dolphy, Chick Corea, Bud Shank, Bill Holman, Betty Carter, and Sun Ra.  The program can be heard from 9:00 pm to midnight Sundays on KWMU (90.7 FM) and online at http://www.news.stlpublicradio.org.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The New Music Circle concert earlier this month featuring saxophonist Tim Berne's Snakeoil was reviewed for DownBeat magazine by St. Louis freelance writer Terry Perkins.

* Guitarist Jeff Beck's show this past Tuesday night at the Fox Theatre was reviewed for the Post-Dispatch by freelancer Dan Durchholz.

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake's latest release (pictured), a duet album with bassist William Parker called To Roy, was reviewed by AllAboutJazz.com's John Sharpe.

* Drummer Kaleb Kirby and his band Animal Children are featured in the latest issue of St. Louis magazine.

* The Sheldon and Jazz St. Louis are among 11 St. Louis arts groups that will get funding next year from the PNC Arts Alive program.

* Hand drummers are congregating this weekend in St. Louis at the first ever Grandmaster Djembe Xplosion, a four-day event presented by Africa United Ballet at Better Family Life Cultural, Educational and Business Center. Instructors from Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, New York and Chicago are leading more than 20 workshops and demonstrations of drumming techniques, as well as discussions of African history and culture.

* Jazz radio update: On this Saturday's edition of Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis's program “Somethin’ Else,”  host Calvin Wilson will be puttin' the bass in your face, with a selection of music featuring bassist Ron Carter, both as a bandleader and as a sideman to Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, and others. The program can be heard at 8:00 p.m. on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen. 

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake (pictured) was interviewed by the website Revive Music in advance of his big band gig this Sunday at Aljira Gallery in Newark, NJ.

* Lake's recent duo album with bassist William Parker, To Roy, was reviewed by the website Music and More.

* A new article on the Blue Note Records website looks back at saxophonist Greg Osby's 2000 album The Invisible Hand.

* Pianist and former St. Louisan Tom McDermott, now a mainstay on the New Orleans music scene, has a new duo album, City of Timbres, with clarinetist, saxophonist and singer Aurora Nealand.

* The St. Louis Stompers are on the road this weekend playing the Bunny Berigan Jazz Jubilee in Fox Lake, WI.

* The Funky Butt Brass Band has posted to Facebook an album of photos from their performance in March at the World Chess Hall of Fame

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis, Calvin Wilson's program “Somethin’ Else” will feature music from young vocalists including Becca Stevens, Rebecca Martin and Gretchen Parlato. The program can be heard at 8:00 p.m. on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Then, on Sunday's episode of "Jazz Unlimited" on St. Louis Public Radio, host Dennis Owsley will highlight the music of saxophonist Joe Lovano. The program can be heard from 9:00 p.m. to midnight over the air at 90.7 FM and online at http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php.