Here's the latest wrap-up of assorted links and short local news items of interest:* Veteran music scribe Dan Durchholz has written a preview story for the Post-Dispatch/STLtoday about next Wednesday's concert by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (pictured) and Del McCoury Band at the Family Arena; read it online here.
* St. Louis musicians will stage a benefit performance to help raise money for relief efforts in Japan next Monday, April 11 at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive. Performers will include members of the Saint Louis Symphony, Arianna String Quartet, Dave Black, Erin Bode, Farshid Etniko, Todd Mosby, Dawn Weber, and many others. There will be two sets, at 7:30 and 9:30. Tickets are $15, cash at the door only, and include two drinks. All performers are donating their services, and 100% of the proceeds from the ticket sales and a silent auction will go to Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund. For more information call 314-721-0943.
UPDATE, 3:00 p.m., 4/8/11 - Terry Perkins has more details on the Japan relief concert in an article for the St. Louis Beacon here.
* The Art & Air Festival is looking for performers for this year's event via the "2011 Art & Air Idol" contest. Selected contestants will compete on Wednesdays in May in preliminary rounds held at Llywellyn’s Pub in Webster Groves. The winner gets a chance to perform on the main stage at Art & Air 2011, which will be held June 3-5 on the grounds of Eden Theological Seminary in Webster. The contest is open to "acoustic-oriented musicians, solo to small group," and organizers tell StLJN they're looking specifically for some jazz performers. The deadline for entry is April 20; you can find out more and submit an application here.
* While back in his hometown last month to perform at the Kranzberg Arts Center, singer and St. Louis native Craig Pomranz was profiled by local PBS affiliate KETC's program Living St. Louis and reporter Ruth Ezell; check out the YouTube video of the segment here.
* The P-D reports that the historic Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville is set to reopen next week as venue for movie and live performances, and that pianist Jean Kittrell, apparently coming out of retirement for the occasion, will perform at the venue's open house next Tuesday, April 12.
* Radio station KWMU, home to Dennis Owsley's Sunday night program Jazz Unlimited, next week will break ground on their new headquarters and studios in Grand Center. The facility is expected to be ready in 2012.
