Jazz this week: Christmas jazz in St. Louis

With Christmas Eve and Christmas Day filling the weekend, the calendar of upcoming jazz and creative music events this week in St. Louis is understandably rather modest, though there are a few noteworthy shows in the days leading up to the holiday. Let's take a look...

Wednesday, December 21
The Jazz St. Louis Big Band presents two final performances of Duke Ellington’s re-imagining of Tchaikovsky's “Nutcracker” at Jazz at the Bistro, while nearby, the weekly "Grand Center Jazz Crawl" proceeds with guitarist Tom Byrne and singer Erika Johnson at KDHX's Magnolia Cafe, a jam session at the Kranzberg Arts Center, and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor's trio playing at The Dark Room.

Thursday, December 22
Singer Feyza Eren, who has just released a new album of holiday music, will lead a quartet at Evangeline's, and trumpeter Jim Manley will play his weekly Thursday show at Momo's Greek Restaurant.

Friday, December 23
Miss Jubilee plays for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom, saxophonist Kendrick Smith leads a trio at Cigar Inn, and the Yule Dig Trio, aka Tom Byrne, Erika Johnson and bassist/saxophonist Jeff Anderson will play at the KindaBlue Club.

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.)

Jazz this week: Some picks for Independence Day weekend

To be candid, it's a relatively thin week for live jazz and creative music in St. Louis.

But even with no major touring artists visiting our town; venues including Jazz at the Bistro, The Sheldon, and Casa Loma Ballroom going dark for the holiday weekend; and the recent demises of a couple of smaller neighborhood spots (Tavern of Fine Arts and Thurman Grill) that regularly featured live jazz, there still are a few options for those who'd like celebrate Independence Day with one of the USA's great indigenous art forms.

Here's what's happening...

Friday, July 1
Singer Joe Mancuso brings a quartet to Nathalie's, bassist Darrell Mixon leads a trio at Cigar Inn, and saxophonist Dave Stone will be in his customary Friday night spot at Mangia Italiano.

Also on Friday, the apparently-ironically-named Johnny Cilantro & The Well-Seasoned Sextet, a young band from Peoria, IL that, based on music samples they've put online, seems to have some promise, will be performing at Evangeline's.

Saturday, July 2
On Saturday afternoon, pianist David Parker will lead his group Spiritual Revolution Ensemble in a free, "child-friendly" performance of his original work “In the Beginning, God created Xochitl/ En el principio creó Diós Xochitl” at the Yeyo Arts Collective. With an ensemble including percussionists Charles "Bobo" Shaw and Glenn "Papa" Wright, guitarist Dave Black, poet Shirley LeFlore, and several other musicians, this show definitely ranks as the intriguing "sleeper" pick of the weekend.

On Saturday evening, the Funky Butt Brass Band (pictured) plays a free outdoor show at Lafayette Park, and guitarist Todd Mosby will bring his New Horizons Ensemble to BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, with bassist Ben Wheeler's group Sketchbook opening.

Sunday, July 3
Multi-instrumentalist Sandy Weltman will join guitarist Dave Black to provide some music for the jazz brunch at Nathalie's.

Monday, July 4
If you're in St. Charles and are resolute enough to deal with the crowds and traffic, you can catch the Funky Butt Brass Band playing a free outdoor set as part of the St. Charles Riverfest 4th of July Celebration in Frontier Park.

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.)

Jazz this week: Alan Evans' Playonbrother, Tony Suggs, Dave Dickey Big Band, and more

As is typical for this time of year, the calendar of upcoming jazz performances in and around St. Louis over the next few days is a bit light on touring acts.

Fortunately, our local musicians have plenty going on in a variety of genres, from straight-ahead and swing to funk to cabaret to big band to experimental. Let's go to the highlights...

Tonight, drummer Alan Evans' trio (pictured), renamed Playonbrother since their last St. Louis appearance, will perform at The Gramophone, with Belagroove opening. With the group's latest recordings seemingly edging them toward a heavier, more guitar-oriented sound, and Evans singing lead on a number of tunes, there have definitely been some changes beyond just the name. So check out some video samples of their recent performances and read more about the two albums they've put out this year in this post from last Saturday. 

Also tonight, singer Joe Mancuso and guitarist Dave Black will perform a free concert for Washington University's Jazz at Holmes series at Tisch Commons in the Danforth University Center; the Funky Butt Brass Band plays a free outdoor concert at Bluebird Park in Ellisville; and up-and-coming cabaret performers Michaela Wolz, Sam Krausz, Tom Fields and Haylee Capstick will be showcased in the "First Stage Cabaret" at Kranzberg Arts Center.

On Friday, pianist Tony Suggs - originally from East St. Louis, veteran of many years with the Count Basie Orchestra, and lately a resident of Tokyo, Japan - is back home for a visit and will team up with drummer Montez Coleman and bassist Chris Thomas for a trio session at Cigar Inn. 

Also on Friday, the Joe Bozzi Band will perform at Evangeline's; the St. Louis Big Band plays for dancers at Casa Loma Ballroom; Wack-A-Doo will return to the Tavern of Fine Arts; and Miss Jubilee will be swinging at the Venice Cafe.

Elsewhere around town, singer Tony Viviano returns to Fortel’s in Creve Coeur; singer Erika Johnson, guitarist Tom Byrne and saxophonist Christopher Braig will be at EdgeWild Restaurant and Winery in Chesterfield; and guitarist Brian Vaccaro's trio with bassist Marc Torlina and Kyle Honeycutt will host a jam session, now recurring monthly, at the Wolf Public House. 

On Saturday, saxophonist Jim Stevens and band will be funking it up by the river at The Loading Dock in Grafton; and trumpeter Jim Manley and pianist Arthur Toney will play in the old "Just Jazz" space, now called the Mahogany Grill, at the Omni Majestic Hotel downtown.

Also on Saturday, Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes return to action at C.J. Muggs in Webster Groves; and saxophonist Willie Akins will be this week's guest with bassist Bob DeBoo and friends at the Kranzberg Arts Center. 

On Sunday, pianist Ptah Williams' trio will play a free outdoor concert at Ivory Perry Park, 800 N. Belt; and the Dave Dickey Big Band will play their regular fourth-Sunday show at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company, this month featuring singer Tom Heitman performing Frank Sinatra hits, plus an open dance floor.

Also on Sunday evening, Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center will present what's being billed as a night of experimental music featuring improvising saxophonist Curt Oren, Dear Rabbit, Lions Eat Grass, and saxophonist Dave Stone's Free Jazz Unit. 

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday night saxophonist "Blind" Willie Dineen and the Broadway Collective will check back in for their monthly gig downtown 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.)

Jazz this week: Dara Tucker, Chelsea Reed, Farshid Etniko with Sandy Weltman, New Orleans Suspects, and more

Though the impending holiday weekend has left yr. humble StLJN editor a bit short on time to write a clever lede for this weekly highlights post, there's no shortage of the American art form of jazz on local St. Louis stages over the next few days. Here's what's coming up...

Today, you can celebrate Independence Day with the Genesis Jazz Project, who are playing a free late-afternoon concert downtown on Laclede's Landing.

Afterward, head west to see singer Joe Mancuso's quartet at Cafe Eau in the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, or catch not one but two gigs by Sarah Jane & The Blue Notes.They're playing in the early evening at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups, then heading over to Thaxton Speakeasy for a late show to kick off the "River City Mess Around" a weekend-long series of swing dance events presented by Lindy Hop St. Louis.

The Mess Around continues on Friday with Wack-A-Doo performing for LHStL's monthly first-Friday swing dance at the Mahler Ballroom. It also will include an outdoor set by Coco Rico on Saturday afternoon at Old North St. Louis' Crown Square, and two shows by Miss Jubilee, on Saturday at Casa Loma Ballroom and Sunday afternoon at City Museum.

Elsewhere on Friday, there's more retro-style hot jazz and swing from Philadelphia natives Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Five, who are currently touring the region and will perform at Robbie's House of Jazz.

Then there's the eclectic world-music/Latin/jazz group Farshid Etniko, who on Friday will join forces with special guest multi-instrumentalist Sandy Weltman to play the first of two nights of their debut weekend at Jazz at the Bistro.

Not only that, that same evening the New Orleans Suspects, featuring former members of the Radiators, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Neville Brothers Band and James Brown's band, will funk it up at Broadway Oyster Bar; saxophonist Austin Cebulski's quartet plays at Cigar Inn; and singer-guitarist Tommy Halloran and violinist Alyssa Avery perform at Big Sky Cafe.

On Saturday, another regional performer makes her St. Louis debut, as Nashville singer Dara Tucker (pictured) will perform at Robbie's. Tucker, whose songbook ranges from standards and ballads to more groove-oriented material, has performed or recorded with musicians such as organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, guitarist Charlie Hunter, trumpeter Duane Eubanks and drummer Jason Marsalis.

Her band for this gig will include St. Louis' own Montez Coleman on drums, as well as pianist Karlton Taylor, who's worked with bassist Victor Wooten and guitarist Tommy Emmanuel.

Also on Saturday, guitarist Dave Black and violinist Asako Kuboki will duet at Tavern of Fine Arts; and trumpeter Delano Redmond will show off his new group Quatro de Soul with a late-night performance at Troy's Jazz Gallery. UPDATE - 1:30 p.m. 7/6/13: Redmond has posted on Twitter that tonight's gig is cancelled "due to a venue issue."

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.)

Jazz this week: Red Baraat, Two Times True, St. Louis Big Band, and more

While it's not a very busy week for touring jazz musicians visiting St. Louis, as usual our local musicians and bands stand ready with a plethora of performances of their own. Let's go to the highlights...

Tonight, alumni of the music programs at Parkway West High School will present a big band jazz concert in tribute to former band director John Baker at Sky Music Lounge in Ballwin.

Also tonight, singer Joe Mancuso leads a quartet at Cafe Eau in the Chase Park Plaza Hotel; pianist Ptah Williams and his trio are at Troy's Jazz Gallery; and it's the monthly Avant Garde Arts Night featuring live improvised music at Tavern of Fine Arts.

Tomorrow night, the Brooklyn, NY based group Red Baraat will be in town to play at The Gramophone. Led by dhol player Sunny Jain - the dhol is a double-headed drum used with variations throughout the Indian subcontinent - Red Baraat come across as sort of a South Asian-flavored variant on the New Orleans brass band concept, with a sound influenced by jazz, funk, go-go and Latin delivered by drumset, percussion, sousaphone and five horns.  

Shruggy Ji, the group’s second full-length studio record, was released in January, and a follow-up album of remixes and concurrently recorded jams, Big Talk, is set to drop next month.You can see and hear Red Baraat in this video of the Tiny Desk Concert they did recently for NPR.

Also on Friday, Two Times True (pictured) plays the first of two nights kicking off the summer season at Jazz at the Bistro. Taking their name from the versatile pianist Carolbeth True and her son, drummer David True, the band also includes bassist Glen Smith and saxophonist Larry Johnson, and plays a mix of modern jazz, standards and original material.

Other noteworthy gigs on Friday include trumpeter Charlie Rose's Jazz Creations, featuring saxophonist Robb Cunningham, bassist Darrell Mixon and drummer Jerome "Scrooge" Harris, at Robbie's House of Jazz; and guitarist Tom Byrne's trio at Cigar Inn.

On Saturday afternoon, singer Wendy Gordon will perform for a jazz brunch at Ace Bar's and Grill, 9600 Natural Bridge Rd., while trumpeter Joe Bozzi plays a matinee at Frontenac Grill. Then on Saturday evening, Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes will do an early set at Thurman Grill for the neighborhood's "Loop Festival"; the Ann Dueren Trio is at Il Bel Lago; and singer-guitarist Tommy Halloran plays the Tavern of Fine Arts.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Tuesday the St. Louis Big Band will return the Sheldon Concert Hall for a "Tribute to the Greatest Generation," featuring music from Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, plus vocal numbers originally made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James.

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.)

Jazz this week: Michael Dease with WGHS Jazz Bands, Javier Mendoza's Latin Jazz Experiment, Montez Coleman, Mary Dyson, Joe Mancuso, and more

The first part of January typically is time off for a lot of touring musicians who'd just as soon stay home as deal with bad weather, audiences suffering from empty pockets or the post-holiday blahs, and so on.

So even though the weather in St. Louis actually has been pretty nice for this time of year, it's no surprise that most of this week's jazz and creative music highlights are once again local in origin.

Tonight, the jazz/funk/R&B combo Good 4 The Soul returns to BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups for an early evening show.

Tomorrow night, singer/songwriter Javier Mendoza once again will activate his Latin Jazz Experiment for the first of two evenings at Jazz at the Bistro. The performances will showcase Mendoza's original songs with an expanded version of his band featuring additional guitar from Dave Black, horn arrangements from saxophonist Jim Stevens and trumpeter Rob Endicott, and extra percussion (usually from R. Scott Bryan).

Also on Friday, trombonist Michael Dease will be in town to perform as guest soloist with the Webster Groves High School jazz bands in their annual concert at The Pageant. Dease is a Juilliard graduate who's played with numerous big bands, including those led by Illinois Jacquet, Dizzy Gillespie, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Jimmy Heath and Charles Tolliver, as well as with small groups led by Claudio Roditi, Sharel Cassity, and Wycliffe Gordon. Metrobones, the ensemble led by Dave Dickey that features more than a dozen student trombonists from local high schools and colleges, will round out the bill.

And if that weren't enough for one night, Friday also will find drummer Montez Coleman's trio with guitarist Eric Slaughter and bassist Chris Thomas at Cigar Inn; bassist Willem von Hombracht with singer Hannah McDonald and pianist Mike Carosello at Robbie's House of Jazz; and the St. Louis Big Band at the Casa Loma Ballroom

On Saturday, the eclectic south side venue Rue Lafayette reopens after a short winter break with a brunchtime performance from swing band the Sidemen.

On Saturday night, singer Mary Dyson and and keyboardist Brock Walker team up for a performance at Robbie's; and Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes will play swing, jump blues and more at the Venice Cafe.

Update: 10:30 a.m., 1/12/13: Mary Dyson has announced by email and on Facebook that tonight's performance at Robbie's House of Jazz is cancelled. 4:15 p.m.: Guitarist Eric Slaughter and Tom Byrne have been booked for a duo performance in Dyson's place.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday, the jazz fusion band Steizuello will be at at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups.

Then on Tuesday, singer Joe Mancuso will do a "Notes From Home" concert at The Sheldon, performing standards from the Great American Songbook with an expanded band including special guest trumpeter Randy Holmes and saxophonist Willie Akins.

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.)

Jazz this week: Gregory Porter, Wack-A-Doo, a jazz/funk tribute to the Beatles, and more

Call it a post-holiday hangover, a winter break, or whatever you like, but with one major exception, it's a pretty slow week for touring jazz and creative musicians visiting St. Louis. Fortunately, there are plenty of local musicians who aren't vacationing and/or hibernating, and thus are prepared to take up some of the slack.

The big attraction of the week is singer Gregory Porter (pictured), who's making his much-anticipated St. Louis debut with a four-night engagement starting tonight and continuing through Sunday at Jazz at the Bistro.

Porter, a big-voiced baritone who mixes soul and gospel influences with jazz, has received a ton of positive press over the past couple of years, and deservedly so, as his sound certainly is distinctive and, on record so far, he seems to have the talent to justify the hype (to the extent that anyone could). Video evidence indicates that Porter is a galvanizing live performer, too; you can see that for yourself, read more about him, and check out some interviews with Porter via last Saturday's video showcase post.

Elsewhere around town, on Friday retro swing band Wack-A-Doo plays for Lindy Hop St. Louis' monthly first Friday dance at the Mahler Ballroom in the Central West End; drummer Paul Shaw leads a trio with bassist Bob DeBoo and vibraphonist Tom Rickard at Cigar Inn; and trombonist/vocalist Doug Burns fronts a quartet at Robbie's House of Jazz.

Then on Saturday evening, guitarist Brian Vaccaro's organ trio will bring their Beatles tribute show to the Wolf Public House in west county; Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers will play for dancers at Casa Loma Ballroom; and singer Joe Mancuso will perform at the KindaBlue house concert venue on the south side.

On Sunday, it's the winter edition of the St. Louis Record Collector and CD Show at the American Czech Center, and then that evening, Dizzy Atmosphere will perform gypsy jazz and string-band swing at the Schlafly St. Louis Brewery and Tap Room.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday night guitarist Tom Byrne and his trio will take the stage at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups. Then on Tuesday, guitarist Dave Black brings his group to BB's, while pianist and singer Curt Landes will be just down the block at the Broadway Oyster Bar.

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.)

Jazz this week: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Oikos Ensemble, Craig Pomranz, St. Louis Rivermen, Andy Coco's Rhythm Section Road Show, and more

If you feel like combining jazz and Christmas this weekend, you're in luck, as there are several holiday themed performances by local and touring musicians coming up over the next few days around the St. Louis area. And if you're not quite ready to go the full-on holiday music route just yet, you can also find funky soul-jazz, traditional New Orleans and swing music, cabaret, and more. Let's go to the highlights...

Tonight, Washington University's student jazz ensembles will perform a free concert as part of the Jazz at Holmes series. This will be the final JAH presentation of the semester; the winter/spring lineup for the series usually is announced toward the end of the break between semesters.

Also tonight, jazz-rock/fusion band Steizuello are downtown at Plush; and funk organ trio Downstereo are playing at Atomic Cowboy, where they'll be doing a regular Thursday gig until further notice.

On Friday, bassist Andy Coco's Rhythm Section Road Show opens a two-night gig at Jazz at the Bistro. This will be the Bistro debut for the Road Show, who offer up soul-jazz and funk from a variable cast of players drawn from several local bands, including Hip Grease (who originally were scheduled to play the Bistro this weekend, but bowed out a couple of weeks ago), The Feed, Gumbohead, and others.

Friday night also offers a couple of home-for-the-holidays gigs, as singer and St. Louis native Craig Pomranz will be back from NYC to present the cabaret production "The Break-Up Show" at Kranzberg Arts Center, with an encore performance on Saturday.

That same evening, drummer Montez Coleman, bassist Chris Thomas and pianist Tony Suggs will join forces at Cigar Inn in Belleville. This gig is particularly noteworthy because all three musicians are locals who have "made good" touring with internationally known performers - Coleman with Roy Hargrove and McCoy Tyner; Thomas with Dianne Reeves and Josh Redman, and Suggs with the Count Basie Orchestra.

On Saturday afternoon, the Oikos Ensemble will present their Christmas program “Follow That Star: A Jazz Nativity” at First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, 10 W. Lockwood in Webster Groves.

The production features saxophonist Rev. Cliff Aerie; his daughter, vocalist Arianna Aerie; and a cast of St. Louisans that includes singer Kim Massie, trumpeter Danny Campbell, pianist Carolbeth True, bassist Dave Troncoso, and drummer Kevin Gianino. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit the St. Louis Back Stoppers Inc., Joplin Relief Tornado Fund, Webster‐Rock Hill Ministries Food Pantry and the Bi‐State Pet Food Pantry. "Follow That Star" will be repeated on Saturday night and again on Sunday afternoon.

Also on Saturday night, singer Erin Bode and her band will give a holiday-themed performance at New Covenant Church in Weldon Spring; and singer Becky Alexander and saxophonist Sammy Hag's trio will be at Robbie's House of Jazz.

On Sunday, there's a double dose of New Orleans-style traditional jazz, starting in the afternoon as the St. Louis Jazz Club presents a matinee featuring longtime local favorites Red Lehr and the St. Louis Rivermen at the Doubletree Hotel at Westport.

Then on Sunday evening, New Orleans' own Preservation Hall Jazz Band (pictured) will present their "Creole Christmas" show at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Thought the PHJB has played in St. Louis several times in recent years, this will be the first time they've done "Creole Christmas" here, and this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the band's founding. For more about that, and some video samples of them in action, check out this post from a couple of weeks ago.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday the Sessions Big Band will be at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups for their final appearance there this year; and vocal students from Webster University will present their annual cabaret showcase and benefit at the Kranzberg Arts Center, with a repeat performance on Tuesday.

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.)

Jazz this week: Jeremy Davenport, Dave Dickey Big Band, Tim Cunningham, and more

Though the holiday weekend means minimal activity from touring musicians over the next few days, St. Louis' local players will be serving up plenty of home-cooked jazz and creative music, both before and after the traditional turkey dinners and football games. Let's go to the highlights...

The weekend's headline attraction is trumpet player, singer and University City native Jeremy Davenport (pictured), who's coming back from his current home in New Orleans for what's become an annual Thanksgiving weekend gig on Friday and Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro.

Except for a brief post-Katrina interregnum that saw him back in St. Louis for a year, Davenport has held the house band gig at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans for over a decade now. Singing in the same Sinatra-inspired vein as his former employer Harry Connick Jr., and playing swinging trumpet in a straight-ahead style, Davenport is so popular there that a few years ago, the hotel renamed the room where he plays "The Davenport Lounge" in tribute. For much more on Davenport and some video samples, see StLJN's previous coverage here and here.

Elsewhere around town, tonight singer Joe Mancuso is at Frontenac Grill, and Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes will play at the Feasting Fox.

On Friday, the Willie Akins-Eric Slaughter Group with singer Erika Johnson will perform at Cigar Inn, and singer/guitarist Tommy Halloran and flute player Dre Concepcion will duet for diners at Big Sky Cafe.

Then on Saturday, saxophonist Tim Cunningham and special guest Theo Peoples - singer, keyboardist and former member of both the Temptations and Four Tops - will play at the Signature Room.

That same evening, singer Feyza Eren leads a quartet at the Wine Press; and the cabaret show "Love Grows Here -- In St. Louis! The music of Lina Koutrakos," starring singers Shauna Sconce, Robert Breig, Dionna Raedeke, and Katie McGrath, will be performed at the Kranzberg Arts Center

On Sunday, the Dave Dickey Big Band will play their monthly gig at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company, with the Webster Groves High School Jazz Band performing during intermission.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Tuesday singer-guitarist John Pizzarelli will be in town a day before his opening at Jazz at the Bistro to do a book signing and interview with KMOX radio's Charlie Brennan at Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. Pizzarelli's just-released book World on a String is described as "a musical memoir." The event is free, but you must call 314-444-1827 in advance to reserve a spot.

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.)

Jazz this week: Dave Easley, Alan Evans Trio, "Webster's Got Talent" contest finals, and more

With heavy rain from Hurricane Isaac expected to reach well up into the Midwest this Labor Day weekend, organizers of outdoor events like the Big Muddy Blues Festival on Laclede's Landing and the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden are hustling to implement their bad-weather contingency plans and/or inform the public of possible schedule changes.

Fortunately, while there are a couple of outdoor jazz events scheduled for the weekend, there also are plenty of jazz and creative music events happening indoors where it's safe and dry. Let's go to the highlights...

Tonight, the Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival will present the finals of their "Webster's Got Talent" contest at Robbie's House of Jazz, with the winner getting an opening slot at the OWJ&BF on Saturday, September 15. The finalists performing are North of the Quarter, Sarah Jane & the Blue Notes, Sarah LeBeau & Friends, and singer Ron Wilkerson & Friends.

Also tonight, it's the monthly "Avant-Garde Arts Night," featuring live improvised music, at the Tavern of Fine Arts.

Tomorrow night, drummer Maurice Carnes leads a quartet with saxophonist Freddie Washington and guitarist Chris Burchett at Robbie's House of Jazz, while saxophonist Willie Akins and drummer Montez Coleman will bring a quartet to the Cigar Inn in Belleville.

Also on Friday, the Gaslight Theater is the venue for "Labors of Love," a cabaret show featuring singers Anna Blair, Robert Breig, Ken Haller, Charlene Reimann and Chuck Lavazzi with pianist Carol Schmidt; and the Funky Butt Brass Band plays at the Broadway Oyster Bar.

On Saturday, there's a chance to hear a virtuoso improviser on an instrument rarely used in jazz, as pedal steel player Dave Easley (pictured) comes to town for a gig at Robbie's. Easley, who's based in New Orleans, has played with drummer Brian Blade's Fellowship, Coco Robcheaux, and numerous other well-known performers, as well as with several local jazz groups in NOLA.

Then on Sunday, the St. Charles Community Big Band has a free concert scheduled for Frontier Park on the St. Charles riverfront, and keyboardist Pete Ruthenberg will play an early evening set at BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups.

On Monday afternoon, the Funky Butt Brass Band plays a free outdoor concert in Benton Park, and that evening, guitarist Tom Byrne and Have You Heard? return to BB's.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, drummer Alan Evans of Soulive and his new trio will pay a return visit to the Old Rock House. The group, which also features organist Beau Sasser and guitarist Danny Meyer, was here back in May at the same venue, promoting their recent debut release Drop Hop.

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.)

Jazz this week: David Sanborn & Brian Culbertson, Steve Davis, Dave Dickey Big Band, and more

With the return of one of the best known jazz musicians ever to come out of St. Louis, plus a nice variety of local gigs on tap, this week's jazz and creative music calendar is relatively busy for the end of August, which usually is a fairly slow time of year. So without further ado, let's go to the highlights...

The local-boy-made-good is saxophonist and Kirkwood native David Sanborn (pictured), who last performed here a year ago with Marcus Miller and George Duke at the Touhill. Sanborn's touring partner this year is multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson, and they'll be in town on Thursday night at The Pageant.

The two have been touring together all summer, and rather than an opening act/headliner arrangement, they're co-fronting the same band and alternating feature tunes during the set. For interviews and some sample performances recorded earlier in the tour, see this post from last Saturday.

Elsewhere around town, on Friday saxophonist Jay Hutson will be at Robbie's House of Jazz; guitarist Eric Slaughter leads a trio at Cigar Inn; and saxophonist Corey Allen will play at Jazz on Broadway. Also on Friday, singer Christy Simmons will perform her cabaret show "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" at the Gaslight Theater in the Central West End.

On Saturday, drummer Steve Davis will lead a band featuring guitarist Matthew Van Doran at Robbie's; singer Feyza Eren and guitarist Tom Byrne will play at Mojo Tapas Restaurant and Bar; saxophonist Jerry Greene and singer Sarah Jane Ulrich of Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes will offer a tribute to Billie Holiday at the Wine Press; and Good 4 The Soul will perform at Jazz on Broadway.

Then on Sunday, the Dave Dickey Big Band will play their monthly gig at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday saxophonist "Blind" Willie Dineen and his Broadway Collective will perform their monthly show at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups; and on Tuesday, guitarist Dave Black will take the stage for an early show at BB's.

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.)

Jazz this week: The Great Barrier Reefs, St. Louis Cabaret Festival, Don Schroeder's Happy-Go-Lucky Jazz Band, and more

This week's jazz and creative music calendar in St. Louis features some Caribbean-flavored jazz-fusion, three nights of cabaret, and some traditional prewar jazz, plus much more. Let's go to the highlights:

Tonight, the aforementioned Caribbean flavor manifests itself in the form of the Nashville-based funk/fusion band The Great Barrier Reefs (pictured), who are playing at Pop's Blue Moon. The island vibe of the five-member Reefs comes in large part from steel pan player and keyboardist Tony Hartman, but the rest of the band is quite capable, too, and their sound bridges several genres in an entertaining and appealing way. You can check them out on video in this post from last Saturday.

Also tonight, the Funky Butt Brass Band plays a free, late afternoon outdoor show at Strauss Park, across the street from the Fox Theatre; Good 4 The Soul has the early evening slot at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups, and pianist Nathan Jatcko plays solo at the Cigar Inn in Belleville.

Tomorrow night, the St. Louis Cabaret Festival, sponsored by the St. Louis Cabaret Conference and The Presenters Dolan, starts a three-night run of performances at the Bistro at Grand Center with a show featuring cabaret and Broadway star Karen Mason.

Also on Friday night, guitarist Vince Varvel plays at City Music and Education Center; guitarist Tom Byrne leads a trio with bassist Willem von Hombracht and drummer Chris Gianino at Cigar Inn; the Funky Butt Brass Band performs at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company; and bassist Darrell Mixon will front a trio with drummer Gary Sykes and vibraphonist Jon Whiting at Robbie's House of Jazz.

On Saturday, the Cabaret Festival will present a multi-artist bill at the Bistro that includes Barbara Fasano, Eric Comstock, Jason Graae and Rick Jensen. Also on Saturday, guitarist Dave Black leads a group at Robbie's; saxophonist Jim Stevens plays at BB's; and saxophonist Michael Fitzgerald performs at Jazz on Broadway in Alton.

Then on Sunday, the Saint Louis Jazz Club will present Don Schroeder's Happy-Go-Lucky Jazz Band in a matinee concert at the DoubleTree Hotel at Westport. The Cabaret Festival concludes Sunday evening with the St. Louis Cabaret Conference Showcase, directed by Graae and Fasono and featuring 20 singers from in and around St. Louis.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday Tom Byrne is back in action, this time with his Pat Metheny-inspired ensemble Have You Heard?, at BB's.

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.)

Jazz this week: Ronnie Burrage, Musica Slesa, All That Tap, Della Reese, and more

It's another week of extreme heat here in St. Louis, and yet the work of presenting jazz and creative music goes on unabated, with a homecoming gig for drummer and U City native Ronnie Burrage; the annual All That Tap festival; and several other noteworthy events. Let's go to the highlights:

Tonight, trumpeter Kasimu Taylor debuts a new quintet in the subterranean confines of the Cigar Inn, featuring Montez Coleman on drums, Bob DeBoo on bass, Eric Slaughter on guitar and Nicole Jonas on vocals. Taylor has gigged around town with a number of different funk, R&B, jazz and swing bands, but this reportedly is his first venture in a while as a leader, so here's your chance to get in on the ground floor, so to speak.

Also tonight, it's the monthly "Avant Garde Arts Night" at the Tavern of Fine Arts, featuring live improvised music from keyboardist Jim Hegarty, percussionist Tom Zirkle and a cast of co-conspirators. Word is that Hegarty will be bringing out his Moog Voyager for the gig, so if you're into vintage-style analog synthesis, this could be the show for you.

On Friday, drummer and U. City native Ronnie Burrage (pictured) will be back in town for the first of two evenings at Robbie's House of Jazz. Burrage, who's been teaching at Penn State University in recent years, will be fronting a hybrid version of his Band Burrage, bringing Philadelphia saxophonist Rick Tate with him, but also enlisting the aid of locals Bob DeBoo (bass) and Eric Slaughter (guitar).

In addition to drumming, Burrage is a keyboardist, singer and composer, and all those skills should be on display this weekend. For more about him, check out this Saturday video post that preceded his appearance here last summer. Also, I did an interview with Burrage that will be published shortly on the RFT Music Blog; once it's online at the RFT's site, there will be a link here, too.

Elsewhere on Friday, Latin-jazz group Musica Slesa will open a two-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro, and actress and singer Della Reese will perform at the Sheldon Concert Hall in a benefit for the Eugene Field Foundation. The Sheldon and Metrotix are offering a discount on the last of the regularly priced tickets for Reese's show; for details on that, go here.

On Saturday, it's the annual All That Tap concert at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, featuring a stellar lineup of tap dancers demonstrating their art with a musical assist from pianist Carolbeth True's trio.

Also on Saturday, saxophonist Jim Stevens will play a free outdoor concert at Lafayette Park; the Schlafly St. Louis Brewery & Tap Room will present a show of improvised/experimental music featuring the Darin Gray/Bill Horist Duo, Larva and Ghost Ice; and Jazz St. Louis' Young Friends organization will be having a patio party outside the Bistro while Musica Slesa is performing inside.

On Sunday, string-band swing band Dizzy Atmosphere will perform at the Tap Room; world music group Farshid Etniko plays a free outdoor concert at Carondelet Park; and the eclectic roots-music band Sins of the Pioneers will team up with the Compton Heights Concert Band for a free outdoor show at Francis Park, Eichelberger & Donovan. (The SOTP/CHCB will be repeated Monday night at Tower Grove Park.)

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.)

Jazz this week: Dr. Lonnie Smith and more

After a couple of very busy weeks, things look a bit slower this weekend for jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with just one well-known touring jazz musician passing through town.

All the more reason, then, to go check out the veteran organist Dr. Lonnie Smith (pictured) who's back with his trio for a four-night engagement that opens tonight and continues through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. For more on the good Doctor, please see last Saturday's video showcase post and/or read this interview that Smith did a few years ago with journalist Ted Panken for Down Beat.

On Thursday, clarinetist Scott Alberici is a late substitution as the performer for this week's free concert in the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University, as the previously scheduled artist, guitarist Scott Jones, is unable to appear. Alberici will be aided and abetted by bassist Ric Vice, pianist Kim Portnoy, and drummer Marty Morrison. Also on Thursday, the Dixie Dudes will play traditional New Orleans favorites in an early-evening, no-cover-charge show at Jazz On Broadway in Alton.

On Friday, singer Cheryl Brown and keyboardist Tony Simmons will be at Robbie's House of Jazz; and trombonist/vocalist Doug Burns will lead a quartet with drummer Paul Shaw, guitarist Tom Byrne and bassist Willem von Hombracht at Cigar Inn.

Then on Saturday, the Funky Butt Brass Band will do a matinee at Blues City Deli and an evening performance at Broadway Oyster Bar; Jazz On Broadway will present saxophonist Michael Fitzgerald; and Robbie's will feature keyboardist Eddie Brown and Elements.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday saxophonist Willie Akins will perform at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium; and Byrne's Pat Metheny-inspired project Have You Heard? will be at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups. Then on Tuesday, there's more guitar at BB's, as Dave Black and Friends take the stage.

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 after posting to add Saturday's shows by Funky Butt Brass Band.)

Jazz this week: New Year's Eve and more

The week between Christmas and New Year's usually is fairly quiet for live jazz in St. Louis, and New Year's Eve, contrary to what you might think, hasn't been an especially busy night either in recent years. Nevertheless, there are a few noteworthy shows coming up, and a handful of NYE jazz performances as well. Let's go to the highlights...

Tonight, Robbie's House of Jazz continues its policy of periodically presenting little-known young musicians with the debut of the Andrew Williams/Tim Aubuchon Quartet, featuring up-and-coming saxophonists Williams and Aubuchon with Chris Turnbaugh on bass and Brian Steever on drums.

On Friday, Wack-A-Doo plays at the Map Room in Soulard; drummer Paul Shaw's trio with Daryl Mixon (bass) and Ptah Williams (piano) will be at Cigar Inn; and Robbie's will feature guitarist Stan Stapleton and his band in a tribute to Santana. Also on Friday, singer Dean Christopher, pianist Carolbeth True and bassist Dave Troncoso will perform at the Frontenac Grill.

New Year's Eve offerings on Saturday night include singer Erin Bode (pictured) and her band at Cyrano's; saxophonist Tim Cunningham , singer Anita Jackson and keyboard player/singer Jeremiah Allen at Jazz on Broadway; and guitarist Eric Slaughter's trio with singer Erika Johnson at Robbie's.

Meanwhile, Jazz at the Bistro once again will be dark on New Year's Eve this year, as the club's location in the Grand Center neighborhood puts it near the center of the annual First Night celebration, which runs from 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturday. The alcohol-free event features a variety of live entertainment and "family friendly" activities, and includes a number of performers who may be of interest to jazz fans, including singers Wendy Gordon and Jeanne Trevor and the husband-and-wife piano/vocal duo Joe Dryer and Rosemary Watts at the Kranzberg Arts Center; Le Jazz Hot at St. Francis Xavier College Church; Samba Bom and Kim Massie at the Sheldon; and Funky Butt Brass Band at the Third Baptist Church.

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 12/29/11 to fix a typo and add the Dean Christopher/Carolbeth True gig.)

Jazz this week: Bhob Rainey, Rodney Lancaster & Doug Bert, Marcus Baylor & Free Day, and more

As one might expect given that a number of local venues are closed for the Christmas holidays, the calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis is a bit sparse over the next week, but there still are a few performances worth noting wrapped around the holiday weekend. Let's go to the highlights...

On Thursday night, the annual "Noel-A-Thon" concert takes place at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups. The seven-hour show features an eclectic mix of St. Louis musicians playing short sets of blues, jazz, folk, rock and more, with proceeds from the $5-per-person cover charge going to local charities.

On Friday, the improvising saxophonist Bhob Rainey will be in town for what has become an annual pre-Christmas concert at Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center. Also on the bill are St. Louis' own Andrew Hefner, Jack Callahan and epicycle.

Also on Friday, drummer Montez Coleman will lead a trio with bassist Bob DeBoo and pianist Ptah Williams at the Cigar Inn; singer Charlie B. and trumpeter Jim Manley will perform for a "Rat Pack" themed dinner and show at LoRusso's Cucina; and trombonists Rodney Lancaster and Doug Bert will team up for a gig at Robbie's House of Jazz, backed by a band including bassist Willem von Hombracht, pianist Rick Zelle, and drummer Kevin Gianino.

On Monday evening, saxophonist "Blind" Willie Dineen of the Voodoo Blues Band will step out front to lead his own band, the Broadway Collective, in a performance at BB's.

On Tuesday night, drummer, ex-Yellowjacket and St. Louis native Marcus Baylor (pictured) returns home to perform with his new band Free Day at Lola. The group also includes his wife Jean Baylor, a singer who had some R&B hits a few years back as part of the group Zhane.

Also on Tuesday, Robbie's will host their weekly jam session, with a larger-than-usual crowd anticipated due to people visiting and/or returning home for the holidays.

On Wednesday afternoon, Bob Coleman's Legacy Big Band will perform at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Their "Sinatra Hit Parade!" show will feature singer Tom Heitman, plus a guest appearance by trumpet player Susan Slaughter, who retired last year after 40 years with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

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: Kapsalis & Ivanovic, St. Louis Stompers, and more

We're now officially in the "dog days" of August, and though the start of the fall season for most of the local not-for-profit jazz presenters is a few weeks away, there still are some noteworthy performances in the next several days that may be of interest to St. Louis area jazz fans. While some temporary time constraints here at StLJN HQ may prevent any extended explications of impending events, here's a brief look at what's coming up...

Tonight , guitarists Andreas Kapsalis and Goran Ivanovic are in town from Chicago for a last-minute performance at Pop's Blue Moon. Ivanovic has played St. Louis a number of times before, both solo and with the group Eastern Blok, and he and Kapsalis play a mix of styles including jazz, flamenco, classical and more.

On Friday, saxophonist Harvey Lockhart, who's studying at Northern Illinois University with the noted jazz educator Ronald Carter, will bring his band to Robbie's House of Jazz. That same evening, guitarist Eric Slaughter's trio with bassist Nick Jost and drummer Marty Morrison will return to the Cigar Inn in Belleville, and the Original Knights of Swing will play big band swing the Casa Loma Ballroom.

On Saturday, Robbie's has Latin jazz from percussionist Herman Semidey Jr. and his Orquestra Nitro Son Montuno Salsa.

Then on Sunday afternoon, the St. Louis Jazz Club presents a matinee concert of traditional jazz by the St. Louis Stompers (pictured) at Bel-Air Bowl in Belleville.

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: Rebirth Brass Band, Ronnie Burrage, Willie Akins, and more

Like most of the rest of the midsection of the USA, St. Louis is mired in some truly nasty summer weather this week, but there are several jazz and creative music performances coming up in the next few days that should be worth braving the inferno-like conditions. Here's what's happening:

Tonight, guitarist Brian Vaccaro will lead a trio in a free concert for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University, and saxophonist Tim Cunningham plays a free outdoor concert at Bluebird Park in Ellisville.

On Friday, drummer and St. Louis native Ronnie Burrage returns home to begin a two-night stand at Robbie's House of Jazz, leading a trio with Jeff Anderson on tenor sax and Bob DeBoo on bass. For more about Burrage, see this story published a couple of weeks ago by the St. Louis American. Also, you can see some videos of Burrage in action in this post from last Saturday.

Also on Friday and Saturday, saxophonist Willie Akins and his group will play at Jazz at the Bistro, performing the music of John Coltrane as part of the series of tribute shows being presented this month at the Bistro.

Other gigs of note on Friday include guitarist Eric Slaughter's trio with bassist Nick Jost and drummer Marty Morrison at the Cigar Inn in Belleville; and the Ambassadors of Swing big band at the Casa Loma Ballroom.

On Saturday, the Rebirth Brass Band (pictured) returns to St. Louis for a concert at Bandwagon Hall, 2151 Lemay Ferry Rd. in south county. The RBB also will appear as guest performers with the Compton Heights Concert Band, the promoters of Saturday's show, at free outdoor concerts on Sunday at Francis Park and Monday at Tower Grove Park.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday drummer Joe Pastor's trio is at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups, and Tuesday brings the weekly jam session at Robbie's House of Jazz. On Wednesday, trumpeter Jim Manley will play a duo show at Sasha's Wine Bar, which will be a regular weekly gig for him going forward.

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 after posting to add Tim Cunningham's show.)

Jazz this week: A tribute to Mae Wheeler, Legacy Jazz Quintet, Dave Black, Ritmo Caliente, and more

It's not a big week for name-brand touring jazz musicians in St. Louis, but local and regional players are keeping area stages relatively well-stocked with a variety of musical projects in styles ranging from straight-ahead to Latin jazz to original compositions in several different genres. Let's see what's coming up over the next few days...

Tonight, saxophonist Jeff Riley, a recent transplant to St. Louis who's from Cincinnati by way of Colorado, is having a CD release party at The Gramophone for his new disc Jeff Riley Jazz Suite. With a sound billed as "Frank Zappa meets Charles Mingus," Riley has assembled a large cast for the gig, including reed player Joshua Quinlan from Colorado, trumpeter and singer Shane Jonas from Chicago, and a crew of St. Louis-based players including Jim Sawyer (trombone), Nate Boxdorfer (tenor sax), Marc Bowyer (trombone), Jesse Gannon (keyboards), Matt McCallie (guitar), Willem Von Hombracht (bass), Steve Haake (drums), and Hannah McDonald (vocals).

On Thursday, the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University begins its skein of free summer concerts with a performance by Ritmo Caliente, a Latin jazz project with guitarist Tom Byrne, keyboardist Myron Williams, bassist Phil Burton, percussionist Rich Tokatz and drummer Ron Carr.

Also on Thursday, guitarist Dave Black will play at Robbie's House of Jazz with a quartet including saxophonist Paul De Marinis, bassist Marc Torlina and drummer Kevin Gianino. You can see several video clips of Black in action in this post from a couple of Saturdays ago.

On Friday and Saturday, the Legacy Jazz Quintet will perform at Jazz at the Bistro. Led by pianist and Jazz St. Louis director of education Phil Dunlap, they'll play music drawn from the repertoire of Miles Davis between 1959 and 1965, bridging the period from Kind of Blue to Davis' famous quintet with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. The gig is presented in cooperation with the Center for the Humanities Summer Institute at Washington University, an annual program for schoolteachers that this year is entitled “The Sock Hop and the Loft: Jazz, Motown, and the Transformation of American Culture, 1959-1975.”

Also on Friday, keyboard player Brock Walker's group will play at Robbie's; Tom Byrne will lead a trio with Ron Carr and bassist Chris Watrous at the Cigar Inn in Belleville; and the Kansas City based jump blues band Grand Marquis makes a stop at the Casa Loma Ballroom.

On Saturday, Byrne teams with singer Ralph Butler for a gig at Robbie's, and singer Erin Bode and her band will play the newly renovated Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville. On Sunday, singer Ellen Martinez will do a matinee at Sugar Creek Winery.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday night the Sheldon Concert Hall will present a performance honoring the late singer Mae Wheeler and raising money for her scholarship charity. The event will feature singers Jeanne Trevor (pictured), Denise Thimes, Gene Lynn, Marsha Evans, Bill Tucker, Renee Smith, A.J. Dickerson Sr, and Wendy Gordon; Elvis tribute artist Steve Davis; the Gateway Men's Chorus; Trio Trés Bien; the Bosman Twins; and classical pianist Kalid McGhee. The backing band will include Jeff Anderson (tenor sax and upright bass), Jimmy Hinds (electric bass), Eric Slaughter (guitar), Al Barnes (drums), Carolbeth True (piano) and Tony Simmons (keyboards), with jazz broadcaster Don Wolff and KTVI newswoman Bonita Cornute as hosts. Tickets are $10 for general admission, and will be available at the door starting at 6:00 p.m. the evening of the show.

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 7/6/11 to add info on the Erin Bode concert at the Wildey Theatre.)