So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Jazz St. Louis on Wednesday announced the appointment of trumpeter Keyon Harrold to the newly established position of Creative Advisor. During his three-year appointment, Harrold (pictured) will perform annually at Jazz St. Louis, starting with a five-night run coming up in December of this year.

He also will be involved with the organization's "Jazz Speaks" and residency programs; will create "a major commissioned work reflecting on the St. Louis community" to close JSL's 2023-24 season; and take part in "other appearances, performances, and events."

* A previously unreleased recording of Miles Davis performing at the Vienne Jazz Festival in one of his final concerts will be issued as Merci, Miles by Rhino Records on Friday, June 25. The recording will be available on all major digital music services as well as both a two-CD set and a double LP, and can be pre-ordered here.

* Also on the Miles Davis beat, here's a feature story about Mikel Elam, a visual artist from Philadelphia who served as Davis' personal assistant from October 1987 until the trumpeter's death in September 1991.

* Drummer Demarius Hicks was interviewed by the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson about his Chick Corea tribute show playing Saturday night at The Grandel's "Open Air" tent.

* Also from the Post-Dispatch, an "iParty" gallery of photos from singer Denise Thimes' shows last weekend at Blue Strawberry.

* Shake The Rum, the newest album from trombonist Charlie Halloran, a St. Louis native now living in New Orleans, and his band, the Tropicales, was reviewed in Offbeat magazine.

* Multi-instrumentalist and singer Tonina is one of six up-and-coming artists from St. Louis and Detroit profiled in "The Flavor of Two Cities," a new ad campaign for distilled spirits maker Jack Daniel's. You can see a promotional video featuring her and Detroit's Leonard Ware (aka Drummer B) here.

* The reaction of local music venues and theaters to the easing of some coronavirus restrictions in Missouri is the subject of a feature story from St. Louis Public Radio's Jeremy Goodwin.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The Baylor Project, led by drummer and St. Louis native Marcus Baylor and singer Jean Baylor, has released a new single, “Sit On Down,” which is now available for download and for listening on the major streaming services.

* Trumpeter, composer and educator Prince Wells was interviewed on a recent episode of UMSL's  "University World View" podcast.

* Trombonist and St. Louis native Charlie Halloran, now residing in New Orleans, also has a new album out. Titled Shake the Rum, it offers Halloran's take on calypso music, and is available now for download or in CD format via his Bandcamp page.

* Grantstand, a two-CD set reissuing four albums by guitarist and St. Louis native Grant Green (pictured), was reviewed by Jazz Journal.

* Pianist Kara Baldus-Mehrmann is the latest Wash U faculty member featured in a "musical postcard" from the university's music department with her version of Carole King's "You've Got A Friend."

* After years of research by multi-instrumentalist and U. City native Marty Ehrlich, the papers of saxophonist, composer and Black Artists Group member Julius Hemphill now are available to researchers as part of New York University's Special Collections & Archives.

* With this year's event postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, National Record Store Day has announced a plan to move forward later in the year, with special releases hitting participating stores on August 29, September 26 & October 24.

Jazz this week: Sy Smith, Shake 'Em Up Jazz Band, "Labor of Love," and more

For Labor Day weekend, the calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis features plenty of traditional and vintage jazz, a showcase of a local foundation's artists-in-residence, the region's largest festival of homegrown blues talent, and more.

Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, August 29
Singer Sy Smith, whose vocal and piano work runs along the borderline between neo-soul and jazz, will perform with keyboardist Mo Egeston and friends at the .ZACK building in Grand Center.

A couple of blocks away, the weekly "Grand Center Jazz Crawl" will guitarist Tom Byrne and saxophonist Austin Cebulski at The Stage at KDHX; the weekly jam session led by bassist Bob Deboo at the Kranzberg Arts Center; and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor at The Dark Room.

Thursday, August 30
The New Orleans-based Shake 'Em Up Jazz Band (pictured, top left), including former St. Louis resident Chloe Feoranzo on clarinet, will play at the Blues City Deli in the first of three shows at different local venues this weekend.

Also on Thursday, saxophonist Ben Reece's Unity Quartet returns to The Dark Room, and guitarist Carol Eder plays at The Pat Connolly Tavern.

Friday, August 31
The Shake 'Em Up Jazz Band plays at The Stage at KDHX; trumpeter Jim Manley returns to Evangeline's; Miss Jubilee performs at Focal Point; and funk/jazz band The Service takes the stage for the late show at The Dark Room.

Though it's not jazz, it's worth noting that Friday also is the kickoff of the annual Big Muddy Blues Festival, which will feature dozens of St. Louis blues acts on outdoor stages and at indoor venues on Laclede's Landing, and continues through Sunday.

Saturday, September 1
Trombonist Charlie Halloran, back home from New Orleans for the weekend, will play two shows on Saturday, a matinee at the Blues City Deli and an evening concert at Focal Point.

Also on Saturday, the Kranzberg Arts Foundation presents its first-ever resident showcase "Labor of Love,"  with music from Anita Jackson (pictured, bottom left), Mo Egeston, Tonina, Owen Ragland and more, at the Grandel Theatre.

Also that same night, guitarists Paquito and Sandro Lorier, a father-and-son duo of swing and Gypsy jazz guitarists from Alsace, France will perform at the house-concert venue Judson House.

Sunday, September 2
The Friends of Scott Joplin present their monthly "Ragtime Rendezvous" at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, and the Shake 'Em Up Jazz Band plays their final show of the weekend at Focal Point.

Tuesday, September 4
The Tick Tock Jazz Band plays vintage jazz and swing at the Tick Tock Tavern.

For more jazz-related events in and around St. Louis, 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 8/29/18 to correct info for Grand Center Jazz Crawl.

Jazz this week: Diana Krall, Norman Brown, Charlie Halloran, Bosman Twins, and more

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis features the first appearance here by a major crossover star after a long absence; a benefit featuring star of smooth jazz guitar; some homecoming shows from an expat-made-good; plus noteworthy gigs from a number of local performers. Let's go to the highlights... 

Wednesday, June 13
Trombonist Charlie Halloran, back home from New Orleans for a visit, will be the featured performer at this week's free Whitaker Music Festival concert at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Also on Wednesday, the "Grand Center Jazz Crawl" will include drummer Alberto Patiño at The Stage at KDHX, the jam session led by bassist Bob Deboo at the Kranzberg Arts Center, and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor's quartet at The Dark Room.

Thursday, June 14
If you missed Charlie Halloran on Wednesday, there's another chance to catch him Thursday night at Joe's Cafe & Gallery.

Also on Thursday, pianist Adam Maness' trio is at Thurman's in Shaw; guitarist Dave Black will be joined by singer Kittie Moeller and keyboardist Vince Golomski of the group Fanfare at The Pat Connolly Tavern; and saxophonist Ben Reece's Unity Quartet is back at The Dark Room

Friday, June 15
Singer and pianist Diana Krall returns to St. Louis for the first time in nearly five years for a concert Peabody Opera House.

Krall (pictured, top left) currently is on the third North American leg of an extended tour promoting her 2017 album Turn Up The Quiet. For more about that, and some videos of live performances of material from the album, see this post from last Saturday.

Also on Friday, The Bosman Twins (pictured, bottom left) begin a six-show run at Jazz St. Louis, with two sets on Friday and Saturday nights, plus a matinee and an early-evening show for Father's Day on Sunday; and guitarist and singer Norman Brown performs at the Sheldon Concert Hall in a benefit for the Eta Boule Foundation, with support from St. Louis' own Denise Thimes and Tim Cunningham.

Elsewhere around town, trumpeter Jim Manley and band will perform at Evangeline's, and Second Generation Swing plays for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom.

Saturday, June 16
Singer Danita Mumphard performs at the Webster Groves Concert Hall (aka Ozark Theatre); and guitarist and singer Tommy Halloran returns to Das Bevo

Sunday, June 17
Troy's Jazz Gallery presents "Mo' Better & Beyond," a Father's Day show featuring saxophonist Kendrick Smith and trumpeter Danny Campbell.

Monday, June 18
Jim Manley continues his residency at Momo's Greek Restaurant.

Tuesday, June 19
Bassist and singer Tonina Saputo and her quartet will host "The Tuesday Night Hit" at The Dark Room.

For more jazz-related events in and around St. Louis, 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.)

Whitaker Music Festival announces 2018 schedule

The Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden has announced their schedule for 2018.

The free concert series, presented Wednesday nights at the Garden from late May through the end of July, seems to be recalling its roots as "Jazz in June" a bit with this year's schedule. It features more jazz (or at least jazz-adjacent) performers than it has in the recent past, starting with multi-instrumentalist Lamar Harris (pictured) on Wednesday, June 6.

Other concerts that may be of particular interest to StLJN readers include trombonist Charlie Halloran (June 13), Acoustik Element (June 27), Funky Butt Brass Band (July 4), and trumpeter and singer Dawn Weber and the Electro Funk Assembly (July 25).

The series kicks off on Wednesday, May 23 with a show by soul singer Gene Jackson, and also will include performances by rock/Americana acts Brothers Lazaroff (May 30) and John Henry (June 20), blues guitarist Ivas John (July 11), and Al Holliday and The East Side Rhythm Band (July 18).

The Whitaker Music Festival shows start at 7:00 p.m., and all concerts are free and open to the public.

Jazz this week: Rebirth Brass Band, Shotgun Jazz Band with Charlie Halloran, and more

With the start of the fall presenting season still a couple of weeks away, the schedule of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis is a bit light this weekend, but it does feature two bands bringing a bit of New Orleans to our town, plus some other noteworthy shows.

Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, August 30
Pianist Carolbeth True and Two Times True with saxophonist Larry Johnson will perform at Evangeline's, and this week's "Grand Center Jazz Crawl" features Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes at KDHX's Magnolia Cafe, a jam session with bassist Bob Deboo and friends at the Kranzberg Arts Center, and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor at The Dark Room.

Thursday, August 31
Up for the weekend from New Orleans, the Shotgun Jazz Band - with St. Louis native Charlie Halloran on trombone - will play the first show of their visit at Joe's Cafe & Gallery.

Also on Thursday, Animal Children will perform at The Dark Room, and pianist and singer Jesse Gannon plays solo at The Monocle.

Friday, September 1
Also visiting this weekend from New Orleans, the Rebirth Brass Band (pictured, top left) returns to headline an outdoor show at the Atomic Cowboy Pavilion,  with support from fellow New Orleans denizens Dumpstaphunk. You can get a taste of Rebirth's contemporary spin on the traditional brass band sound via video in this post from a couple of weeks ago.

Elsewhere around town, singer-guitarist Tommy Halloran's Guerrilla Swing will play a free show at Eckert's Country Store & Farms in Belleville; singer Meghan Kirk performs her cabaret show "Out of My Head" at The Stage at KDHX; and Cafe Danza, featuring guitarist Farshid Etniko and multi-instrumentalist Sandy Weltman. will promote their new recording with a concert at Focal Point.

And although it's not a jazz event per se, StLJN readers also may be interested in the Big Muddy Blues Festival, which gets underway on Friday and will feature performances from dozens of local acts throughout the weekend.

Saturday, September 2
Shotgun Jazz Band plays their second show of the weekend, this time at Focal Point; and keyboardist Mo Egeston and friends will keep up the late night grooves at The Dark Room.

Sunday, September 3
The Friends of Scott Joplin present their monthly "Ragtime Rendezvous" matinee at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site's Rosebud Cafe; Wright's Project play jazz-fusion and funk at Patois Eatery & Social Lounge (in the space formerly occupied by the Rustic Goat at 2617 Washington Ave downtown), and the Genesis Jazz Project with guest vocalist Joe Mancuso will play straight-ahead and modern jazz at BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups

For more jazz-related events in and around St. Louis, 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.)

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* This weekend's Wine, Dine and Jazz Festival was previewed by the Belleville News-Democrat.

* The Post-Dispatch's Sarah Bryan Miller wrote about how this weekend's closing of the Tavern of Fine Arts will affect local performers.

* Meanwhile, Thurman Grill and Provisions, another eating-and-drinking spot that frequently features live jazz, has been sold and will close temporarily for renovations at the end of June. The story quotes soon-to-be-former-owner Larry Weinles as saying the new regime plans a "continuation of live music," but there are no further details.

* KDHX has posted to their Flickr page a photo set from piano prodigy Joey Alexander's performance last Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro, and Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American reviewed the show.

* The Gaslight Squares posted to Facebook some photos from their recent gig for the St. Louis Jazz Club.

* The Riverfront Times this week announced the winners of the 2016 RFT Music Awards, with Tommy Halloran's Guerrilla Swing finishing first in the "Jazz" category and the Funky Butt Brass Band taking home the trophy in "Soul/Funk." You can see the complete list here.

* Speaking of Hallorans, Tommy's trombone-playing brother Charlie Halloran, who now lives in New Orleans, was the subject of a brief St. Louis magazine feature by Thomas Crone. Halloran the trombonist will be back in St. Louis next month with the New Orleans Jazz Vipers for gigs at Foam, Joe's Cafe, Focal Point, and Blues City Deli.

* And speaking of the RFT, electronic musician Eric Hall has put on BandCamp a recording of his set at Handlebar from last Saturday's RFT Music Showcase.

* Also now on BandCamp for streaming and/or downloading: The 442s' latest album RELAY, which was released on CD earlier this month.

* Richard "Groove" Holmes (pictured), the renowned jazz organist who lived in St. Louis for the last years of his life, is the subject of a tribute on radio station WKCR, which broadcasts from Columbia University in NYC.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Pianist Peter Martin made the rounds of local media this week to promote his new project Open Studio Network, which offers online video music lessons from well-known jazz players including Martin himself, guitarist Romero Lubambo, drummer Greg Hutchinson, and more.

Martin sat down Tuesday for a chat with Charlie Brennan of KMOX radio, and also was interviewed for a feature story in the St. Louis Business Journal.

* Singer Emily West's show last week for the Gaslight Cabaret Festival was reviewed by Chuck Lavazzi of KDHX.

* Trombonist and St. Louis native Charlie Halloran's role as a sideman on pianist Jon Cleary's Grammy award-winning album GoGo Juice was the subject of a feature from Kevin Johnson of the Post-Dispatch.

* Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes shared on Facebook an album of photos from their gig last week at the Casa Loma Ballroom.

* Guitarist Kelvyn Bell (pictured) has posted to SoundCloud a bonus track, "American Boy (Estelle)" from the same sessions that produced his most recent album St. Louis Blu.