Jim Widner wins 2018 "Jazz Hero" award from Jazz Journalists Association

The Jazz Journalists Association has named Jim Widner of St. Louis as one of its local "Jazz Heroes" for 2018.

In a press release announcing the award, the JJA defines Jazz Heroes as "advocates, altruists, activists, aiders and abettors of jazz who have had significant impact in their local communities.” There are 22 individuals in this year's group of award winners, chosen from 20 cities across the USA.

A bassist, bandleader and educator, Widner (pictured) has worked with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Woody Herman Big Band, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Buddy DeFranco, as well as leading his own Jim Widner Big Band. Building on his experience working for Kenton, he founded and has run his own summer jazz camps for more than 30 years, with annual sessions in St. Louis and Omaha, NE. Widner has served since 2003 as director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, where in 2004 he also founded the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival.

Widner is the fourth St. Louisan to win the "Jazz Hero" award. The late Don Wolff, a longtime jazz broadcaster, MC, and advocate for the music, won in 2015; Dennis Owsley - author, photographer, and host of "Jazz Unlimited" on St. Louis Public Radio - was a winner in 2016; and Richard Henderson, mentor to many young St. Louis musicians and an impresario and presenter with the local organization Crusaders for Jazz, won in 2017.

The JJA award will be presented to Widner in a ceremony in St. Louis, details TBA.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* HEC-TV has posted online a "lost episode" of the program I Love Jazz, featuring an interview with and performances by guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and his son, guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli.

The episode was filmed in 2014, before the death of host Don Wolff in November 2015, but just now has been released for the first time.

* The Sheldon Art Galleries will present a free gallery talk by Dr. Aurelia Hartenberger on the history of stringed instruments at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 12.

The talk is presented in conjunction with the exhibit "The World of Spectacular Strings," which features more than 100 unique stringed instruments from around the world and continues until April 21, 2017. Admission is free, but you must reserve a seat in advance by calling Paula Lincoln at 314-533-9900 x 37 or emailing plincoln@TheSheldon.org.

* Speaking of The Sheldon, they've posted on Facebook an album of photos from last Saturday's concert by Cécile McLorin Salvant.

* Singer Chuck Flowers (pictured) appeared on KTVI-FOX 2's Wednesday morning newscast to promote his appearance tonight at The Dark Room.

* The online radio station Radio63119 has posted an interview featuring poet and percussionist David A.N. Jackson talking with bassist Darrell Mixon and drummer Gary Sykes about their careers in music and more.

* Another new episode of E.B. Stephenson's podcast "The Jazz Mixer" is online, featuring recordings from St. Louis musicians including the Sessions Big Band, Brett Stamps, Farshid Etniko, and more.

Richard Henderson wins 2017 "Jazz Hero" award from Jazz Journalists Association

The Jazz Journalists Association has named Richard Henderson of St. Louis as one of its local "Jazz Heroes" for 2017.

In a press release announcing the award, the JJA defines Jazz Heroes as "the Jazz A Team: activists, advocates, altruists, aiders and abettors of jazz. They are the people who, many times quietly and behind the scenes and other times in a very public way, keep jazz thriving in our local communities.” There are 26 individuals in this year's group of award winners, chosen from 20 cities across the USA.

Described as "a constant, recognized presence on the local jazz scene for more than five decades," Henderson (pictured) has served as a mentor to several generations of young St. Louis musicians, and in 1997 was a co-founder of the not-for-profit organization Crusaders for Jazz, which presented jazz performances and also raised money for college scholarships for local music students.

Among those students were drummer Kimberly Thompson and trumpet player Keyon Harrold, who both are now internationally known and, as fate would have it, will be performing on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 at Jazz at the Bistro.

Henderson is the third St. Louisan to win the "Jazz Hero" award. The late Don Wolff, a longtime jazz broadcaster, MC, and advocate for the music, won in 2015, and Dennis Owsley - author, photographer, and host of "Jazz Unlimited" on St. Louis Public Radio, was a winner in 2016.

Richard Henderson will be presented with his “Jazz Hero” award in a ceremony held from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. this Saturday, April 8 in the first-floor lounge at Jazz St. Louis headquarters, 3536 Washington Ave. in Grand Center.

Hosted by Jazz St. Louis, the event is free and open to the public, and will feature live music from a group of JazzU students and complimentary Brother Thelonious Ale. A cash bar also will be available. The festivities will end at 6:00 p.m., with separate admission required for the 7:30 p.m. set at Jazz at the Bistro featuring Harrold, Thompson, pianist and St. Louis native Lawrence Fields, and saxophonist Adam Larsen.

Edited after publication to correct the total number of 2017 winners and remove an erroneous reference to the year the awards started.

St. Louis Jazz Hall of Fame honoring five new inductees at gala on Sunday, October 23

Clockwise from top left: Bass, Bluiett, Lake and Washington

The St. Louis Jazz Hall of Fame will induct five musicians in a ceremony to be held at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 23 at the Emerson Performance Center on the campus of Harris Stowe State University.

The hall, which is part of the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute at Harris Stowe, will welcome three new living members - saxophonists Hamiet Bluiett, Oliver Lake, and Freddie Washington - and two posthumous inductees, singer Fontella Bass and trumpeter David Hines.

As most readers of this site will already know, Bluiett and Lake both were members of the Black Artists Group in the late 1960s and went on to co-found the World Saxophone Quartet with David Murray and former St. Louisan Julius Hemphill. Both Bluiett and Lake continue to enjoy busy careers, recording and touring both nationally and internationally.

Washington has been a mainstay of the St. Louis scene for more than 50 years, teaching and performing regularly in local clubs and concert venues since the 1960s.

Bass, who died in 2012, was best known for her 1965 pop and soul mega-hit "Rescue Me," but also recorded jazz with the Art Ensemble of Chicago (which included her then-husband, St. Louis trumpeter Lester Bowie) and earned a Grammy nomination in 1995 for her gospel album No Ways Tired.

Hines was a highly regarded trumpeter, teacher and mentor who toured with Albert King, T-Bone Walker, Little Milton, Woody Herman, and Ray Charles, and worked frequently in St. Louis until his untimely death at age 49 in a 1991 motorcycle accident.

The induction ceremony is held in conjunction with the university's 18th annual "Homecoming Gold Gala" for alumni and supporters. Ronn Nichols, who serves as curator of the Wolff Jazz Institute, also will be honored with a "Lifetime Achievement Award."

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* HEC-TV has released the final episode of I Love Jazz, the program created and hosted by the late Don Wolff (pictured).

Hosted by Cordell Whitlock, the last episode pays tribute to Wolff, who died last November, and also includes stories on the jazz program at Washington University and the dedication last September of the statue honoring Miles Davis in Alton, IL. You can see the episode online here.

* Tomorrow is the annual celebration of independent music retailers known as Record Store Day, and St. Louis stores taking part in the event with special pricing and promotions, live music, and more will include Euclid Records, Music Record Shop, Planet Score Records, Record Exchange, and Vintage Vinyl. There's also a new store on Cherokee Street, Endless Planets, that will be holding its grand opening celebration that day..

As mentioned last week in this space, yr. humble StLJN editor once again will be among the local music writers doing hour-long "guest DJ" sets at Vintage Vinyl, spinning tunes on the in-house sound system from 2:30 p.m. from 3:30 p.m.

You can find guides to all the local Record Store Day activities in both the Riverfront Times and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. And if you're looking for a list of the various record labels' special jazz releases for RSD 2016, DownBeat has all that info for you here.

* The 442s appear on the latest episode of the TV program STL Up Late, which can be seen online here.

* Wack-A-Doo has posted photos from their recent "Coffee Concert" performances at The Sheldon to Flickr and Facebook.

* St. Louis Legacy Ensemble has posted to YouTube a video of "Lafayette," a new original song by percussionist and bandleader Joe Pastor.

* Guitarist Todd Mosby has posted video of a new original song, "Ode to Joe," on Facebook. Mosby will perform it and other songs from his new album in a CD release event on April 30 at Focal Point

* Trombonist Dave Dickey's performance at tomorrow's North County Jazz Festival in Park Hills, MO is previewed in an article in the Park Hills Daily Journal.

* The Belleville News Democrat reports that student jazz bands from Belleville made a good showing in the annual Illinois State Jazz Invitational last weekend, as Central Junior High took first place in the statewide competition's junior high division and the District 118 Jazz Combo won first place in the high school division.

* According to a Riverfront Times article by Thomas Crone, the proprietors of 2720 Cherokee are reorganizing both their live music offerings and their physical space, including opening a new, smaller-scale lounge called Barcade within the 2720 building.

* Saxophonist Rev. Cliff Aerie and trumpeter/pianist Tim Osiek have published Hymns of the Spirit: Pentecost and Beyond, the fourth volume of arrangements in their Worship Jazz series. The downloadable book features hymns "arranged in a variety of jazz genres: straight ahead, Latin, Dixieland, funk and more," with all 12 selections transposed for C, Bb, Eb and bass clef instrumentation.

* Lindy Hop St. Louis, organizers of the annual Nevermore Jazz Ball weekend held in the fall, have announced the dates for the 2016 River City Mess Around. The fourth annual edition of the summer swing dance weekend will be held July 1 through July 4, with venues and exact schedule of events TBA.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Multi-instrumentalist Dwayne Bosman of the Bosman Twins (pictured) is one of ten recipients of a Regional Arts Commission Artist Fellowship for 2015.

Each of the ten selected artists receives $20,000, which is intended to "allow for the advancement of the individual artist’s creative journey to include time and space to study, reflect, experiment, explore and create."

* The late Don Wolff was remembered and memorialized by local media outlets including St. Louis Public Radio, St. Louis magazine, KMOV-TV, and HEC-TV.

* Euclid Records was featured in a recent "In Your Neighborhood" segment on KTVI/Fox 2 News.

* Just in time for his annual Thanksgiving weekend gig at Jazz at the Bistro, here's a a fairly lengthy new interview with trumpeter and singer Jeremy Davenport, via HollywoodSoapbox.com.

* Jazz St. Louis education director Phil Dunlap was featured by the Post-Dispatch in an "#STLStreetStyle" video.

* Bassist Stanley Clarke's concert last Saturday at the Touhill Performing Arts Center was reviewed by Terry Perkins for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

* Singer/songwriter Susan Werner's show last weekend for the Gaslight Cabaret Festival was reviewed by Chuck Lavazzi of KDHX.

* Groove Jazz, a new streaming jazz radio station based in St. Louis, is now online and available to hear for free at www.theroots.fm and via free apps available in the iTunes and Google Play stores.

Described in a news release as "primarily a Contemporary Jazz station, featuring artists like Boney James, Paul Hardcastle, Cindy Bradley, George Benson and David Benoit," the station's playlist also will feature "Straight-Ahead Jazz, World Music, Fusion, Funk and other styles." Weekday hosts are Jason Church, Kristi Carson, Eddie Becton, and Darrel Eason, while the weekend voices include Kris Kelly, Bill Poole, Robin Boyce and C.J. Ellis.

Don Wolff 1935 - 2015

Don Wolff, longtime local broadcaster, jazz advocate, and attorney, has died. He was 80 years old and had been undergoing treatment for both leukemia and cancer for several years.

Instantly identifiable thanks to his signature on-air introduction, "I'm Don Wolff, and I love jazz," Wolff (pictured) was best known for his radio broadcasts, which began in 1987 on KXOK and continued in various forms on WSIE, KMOX and KFUO until 2010.

After KFUO was sold, he kept his radio program going on the internet, and also served as the host of HEC-TV's I Love Jazz since its inception. In addition, Wolff was known nationally as an expert on jazz in film; hosted jazz cruises; and served as MC for many live jazz events and festivals, both in St. Louis and nationally on the traditional jazz festival circuit.

Though Wolff's interest in jazz dated back to his childhood in University City, his "day job" was as a lawyer. After graduating from the University of Missouri, attending law school at Mizzou and serving in the US Army as a defense lawyer, prosecutor, and assistant judge advocate, Wolff began his civilian career in the 1960s as an assistant prosecutor for St. Louis County and then went into private practice as a criminal defense and civil rights attorney.

He was an adjunct professor for St. Louis University School of Law, and received numerous awards for his legal work, including the St. Louis County Bar Association Distinguished Service Award and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America National Award. Wolff also was recognized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri and was listed in Best Lawyers in America. He combined his legal knowledge with the skills honed during his jazz broadcasts to serve as a commentator and analyst for local media, hosting radio shows on legal topics for KXOK and KMOX, and a TV series, Legally Speaking with Don Wolff, for HEC.

Wolff served as a board member for a number of not-for-profit organizations in St. Louis, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Laumeier Sculpture Park, United Hebrew Congregation, Cystic Fibrosis, Boys Town of Missouri, Legal Advocates for Abused Women, and Harris-Stowe State University. Harris Stowe also houses the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute, a repository for thousands of recordings from Wolff's personal collection as well as his accumulated films, videos, photos, books, magazines, and ephemera.

He supported Backstoppers and taught at the St. Louis Police Academy, and also was known as an advocate for civil rights, providing legal assistance pro bono to Harris-Stowe, the Urban League, and various other local African-American institutions and activists.

Earlier this year, the Jazz Journalists Association named Wolff as one of 23 local "Jazz Heroes" from throughout the USA for his work promoting jazz, and in October, he was inducted into Harris-Stowe's St. Louis Jazz Hall of Fame. He also was a member of the University City High School Hall of Fame.

Wolff's tastes in music tended toward mainstream, swing, and the Great American Songbook, and his favorite musicians, as cited on the air and in interviews, included Duke Ellington, Clark Terry, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Benny Goodman, and Count Basie. Yet he also was always on the lookout for young musicians playing in his preferred styles - for example, championing the career of stride pianist and St. Louis native Stephanie Trick when she was still just a teenager.

Wolff is survived by his wife Heide; sons Michael (Sarah) and Nelson (Susan), both of St. Louis; daughter Kristina (Patrick) Hourihane of Glenview, IL; and grandchildren Pierce, Jessica, Hugo, Harbor, Julia, Hobie, and Evalina.

The family requests that any donations in his memory be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, the Urban League of Metropolitan St Louis, or the DLW Scholarship Fund at the University of Missouri School of Law.

Funeral arrangements are by Berger Memorial, with a visitation to be held at 2:00 p.m. and a "New Orleans jazz style" celebration scheduled for 3:00 p.m. this coming Monday, November 23 at United Hebrew Congregation, 13788 Conway Road, St. Louis, MO 63141.

Update - 11:30 p.m., 11/21/15: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's obituary for Wolff is online here. 

Edited after posting to fix formatting issues, correct types, and add links.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The late trumpeter and St. Louis native Clark Terry is being honored with a 900 square foot painting on a building in the Carondelet neighborhood. Per a story on local Fox affiliate KTVI (Channel 2), artist Ray Harvey grew up in the area and was commissioned by the Carondelet Community Betterment Federation to design and paint the mural (pictured), which can be seen at the corner of South Broadway and Schirmer.

* Shanara Gabrielle's show last week for the Gaslight Cabaret Festival was reviewed by Mark Bretz of Ladue News and Chuck Lavazzi of KDHX. Lavazzi also weighed in with a review of Maxine Linehan's festival performance.

* The St. Louis Big Band celebrated their fifth anniversary as an ensemble, and have posted to Facebook an album of photos from the party.

* Speaking of photo albums, Lindy Hop St. Louis has posted one to Facebook collecting pix from their recent "Enchantment Under The Sea" dance.

* Just in time for the holidays, saxophonist Rev. Cliff Aerie and trumpeter Tim Osiek of the Oikos Ensemble have published Worship in a New Key: Jazz Christmas Carols, the second book of musical arrangements in their Worship Jazz series, plus two scripts for "Jazz Nativity" programs that can be be used for concert presentations or adapted for worship services.

* Jazz St. Louis is looking for a part-time box office assistant to work 15 to 20 hours a week. For more information about the job and how to apply, see their website.

* Theatrical producers Fox Associates are opening a new nightspot, the Curtain Call Lounge, in the storefront space on Grand immediately adjacent to the Fox Theatre's front door. A story about the bar in St. Louis magazine suggests that live music will be added in the near future.

* Harris Stowe State University and the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute inducted six musicians and one "jazz advocate" into their St. Louis Jazz Hall of Fame in ceremonies held Sunday night as part of the HSSU alumni gala at the Ferring Jazz Bistro. The honorees included vocalist Mae Wheeler and guitarist Eddie Fisher, both inducted posthumously, along with saxophonists Dwayne Bosman and Dwight Bosman of the Bosman Twins, pianists Ptah Williams and Herb Drury, and broadcaster Don Wolff.

Pamela Rose to perform June 21 at Ferring Jazz Bistro, June 22 at Harris Stowe

Pamela Rose, a San Francisco-based singer who mixes music with blues and jazz history, will make her St. Louis debut with two benefit performances later this month.

In her first appearance, Rose (pictured) will present her show "Wild Women of Song" at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 21 at the Ferring Jazz Bistro (the official post-renovation name of the space housing the Jazz at the Bistro series).

Described as “an exuberant celebration of the fascinating women who helped create the American Songbook,” the show incorporates songs, projected images, and narration as Rose and her quartet tell the stories of Memphis Minnie, Alberta Hunter, Mary Lou Williams, Ann Ronnel, Dorothy Fields, Peggy Lee, and other female jazz and blues composers.

Tickets are $40 per person, and can be purchased online or by phone at 314-571-6000. Admission includes a post-performance reception at which Rose will sign her CDs and copies of Wild Women of Song, the book she wrote as companion to the show.

The next evening, Rose will narrow her focus a bit, paying tribute to a single performer with "The Music and Life of Etta James," a free, public concert to be presented at 7:00 p.m. Monday, June 22 at the Emerson Performance Center on the campus of Harris Stowe State University.

Proceeds from both events will benefit the Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute at Harris-Stowe State University and The Laura X – Laura Rand Orthwein, Jr. Institute for the Legacy and Learning of Social Justice Movements.

(You can see a promo video for "Wild Women of Song" in the embedded video window below.)



Updated 6/16/15 to correct the phone number for ticket purchases.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* If you missed last Saturday's concert by drummer Gerald Cleaver (pictured) and his band Black Host (or just want to revisit it), you can see photo sets from the show on the KDHX website and on the Facebook page of presenters New Music Circle.

* One of last week's performances by the Robert Glasper Experience at Jazz at the Bistro was reviewed by Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American.

* After two years purveying smooth jazz, R&B and pop to local listeners, HD radio station Hip 96.3 finally has an official website of its own.

* Jazz St. Louis education director Phil Dunlap and student bassist Nathan Pence were interviewed about JSL's JazzU program on St. Louis Public Radio's "CityScape."

* Don Wolff talked about his work as a jazz broadcaster and his recent "Jazz Hero" award from the Jazz Journalists Association in an interview this week with KTRS' John Carney.

* Saxophonist and St. Louis native Eric Person's big band will be back in action this weekend in NYC, with a concert on Sunday, May 3 for First Presbyterian Church's ArtsWestchester series.

* Jazz radio update: On this Saturday's episode of his Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis program  “Somethin’ Else,” Calvin Wilson will highlight the compositions of Burt Bacharach as interpreted by musicians such as Wallace ROney, Nellie McKay, and Mulgrew Miller.

Immediately following on "The Jazz Collective,"  Jason Church will feature new music from Boney James, Sun Soul Orchestra, and Rhonda Thomas, along with tracks from Ronnie Laws, Joe Sample, Pieces Of A Dream, Ramsey Lewis, Clave Sol, Tim Cunningham, The Bosman Twins, and Groovethang.

"Somethin' Else" can be heard 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.

Jazz this week: Benny Green, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge, Dave Dickey Big Band, and more

As Jazz Appreciation Month winds down and we head into May, it's another busy weekend for live jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with several touring headliners in town and a number of noteworthy events featuring local performers, too.

Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, April 29
Pianist Benny Green returns with his trio for the first of four nights at Jazz at the Bistro, in what will be his first appearance at the club since a duo gig with guitarist Russell Malone way back in March 2006.

Now 50 years old, Green (pictured, top left) began his career during the "Young Lions" period of the 1980s, demonstrating his skills as a swinging, hard-bop/mainstream pianist with Betty Carter, Art Blakey and Freddie Hubbard before a long run in the trio of bassist Ray Brown.

Green also has recorded numerous albums leading his own trio, the latest being the forthcoming Live In Santa Cruz, which will be out next month on Sunnyside Records. Last fall, he also formalized his long-standing interest in jazz education by taking a job as an assistant professor teaching jazz and improvisation at the University of Michigan.

Also tonight, you can hear more jazz just a short walk from Bistro in the Grand Center neighborhood, both before and after Green's sets, via the weekly jam session led by bassist Bob Deboo at the Kranzberg Arts Center, and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor's weekly trio gig, with frequent sit-ins, at The Dark Room.

UPDATE, 4:50 p.m. 4/29/15 - Bob Deboo posted on Facebook and the Kranzberg Arts Center has confirmed via Twitter that tonight's jam is cancelled. No reason was specified, but Taylor's gig at The Dark Room is still on.

Thursday, April 30
While the International Jazz Day festivities in Paris will get underway at 1:00 p.m. for those of us here in the USA's Central time zone, St. Louisans also will have several opportunities to celebrate that evening, starting with the presentation of a 2015 Jazz Journalists Association "Jazz Hero" Award to Don Wolff at Jazz at the Bistro, followed by a brief reception with live music from students in Jazz St. Louis' JazzU program. The event is free and open to the public.

Elsewhere around town, pianist Peter Martin's trio will be providing the musical entertainment  for the "Eleventh Annual Evening of Hope" at the Sheldon Concert Hall; and guitarists Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge, from the Americana band The Punch Brothers, (pictured, center left) will be playing as a duo at Off Broadway

Also on Thursday, trumpeter Jim Manley, guitarist Travis Mattison and pianist Chris "Luppy" Swan will join forces at Thurman Grill, and the Tavern of Fine Arts will present their monthly "Experimental Arts Open Improv Night" with live improvised music.

Friday, May 1
Saxophonist Tim Cunningham returns to Troy's Jazz Gallery, while Miss Jubilee will be jumping, jiving and perhaps even wailing at Casa Loma Ballroom.

Saturday, May 2
Singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, one of the more talked-about new jazz vocalists of the last several years, will make her St. Louis debut at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

For more about Salvant (pictured, lower left) and some video samples of her live performances, see this post from last Saturday.

Also on Saturday, singer Feyza Eren will lead a quartet in concert at the Kranzberg Arts Center.

Sunday, May 3
During the day, the St. Louis Record Collector and CD Show will have their bi-monthly sale/event at the American Czech Hall, 4690 Lansdowne (at Kingshighway), while the Friends of Scott Joplin will present their monthly "Ragtime Rendezvous" at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2648 Delmar (at Beaumont).

Then that evening, singer Debby Lennon and pianist Carolbeth True will be performing at Nathalie's, and the Dave Dickey Big Band's monthly show at Jazz at the Bistro will feature a "Tribute to Buddy Rich," along with an intermission performance from the Principia Upper School Jazz Band.

(For the record, trombonist and bandleader Dave Dickey has emphatically denied that the Buddy Rich tribute will include any replaying or live re-enactment of the infamous "bus tapes," so the show should be suitable for all ages.) 

Monday, May 4
The Genesis Jazz Project will play a free concert at Midwest Music, 15977 Clayton Rd in Ballwin.

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

* Don Wolff will receive his 2015 “Jazz Hero” award from the Jazz Journalists Association in a ceremony at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, April 30 at Jazz at the Bistro. The event is free and open to the public, and will feature live music, complimentary Brother Thelonious Ale, and a cash bar.

Wolff is one of 24 "Jazz Heroes" around the country who are being recognized by JJA this year for their behind-the-scenes contributions to preserving and promoting jazz music.

* The late Clark Terry is remembered by his longtime sideman, bassist Marcus McLaurine, in an essay on the website NewMusicBox.

* In related news, Keep On Keepin' On, the award-winning documentary from last year about the friendship between Terry and young jazz pianist Justin Kauflin, has been released for streaming on Netflix as of today.

* Saxophonist's David Sanborn's recent performance in London was reviewed by London Jazz News and the UK magazine Jazz Journal, while his new album Time and the River was reviewed by The Jazz Breakfast.

* For some "party pix" taken at the Bosman Twins' performances last weekend at Jazz at the Bistro, check out this photo album posted online at STLtoday.com.

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

* Pianist Robert Glasper, who's playing next Wednesday and Thursday at Jazz at the Bistro, spoke with Calvin Wilson of the Post-Dispatch for a preview story.

* Also in the P-D this week, Wilson reviewed new albums released by pianist Vijay Iyer and saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa.

* Meanwhile, trumpeter and St. Louis native Keyon Harrold, who will be with Glasper as a special guest for next week's gigs, had a brief chat with Wilson's P-D colleague Kevin Johnson.

* Jazz radio update:  On this Saturday's episode of his program  “Somethin’ Else” on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis, Calvin Wilson will spotlight the music of songwriter Victor Young ("Stella by Starlight," "My Foolish Heart") as interpreted by musicians including Keith Jarrett, Joe Henderson, and Shirley Horn.

After that on "The Jazz Collective," host Jason Church will mark two years on the air with playlist featuring vocal tunes from Billie Holiday, The Manhattan Transfer, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Albert King, Tower of Power, Sade, Morgan James, Smoove and Turrell, Labi Siffre, Jazz Crusaders, Tommy Halloran, Erin Bode, Kim Massie, and the Funky Butt Brass Band.

"Somethin' Else" can be heard 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.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Guitarist John Abercrombie and pianist Marc Copland will present a free, public master class at 3:30 p.m. this coming Tuesday, April 7 at Washington University. The class will take place in the Goldberg Formal Lounge on the second floor of the Danforth University Center, 6475 Forsyth on the Wash U campus, with parking available in the adjacent garage.

(Note that while the master class is free and open to the public, it's $25 for a ticket to see Abercrombie's quartet perform at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night for Wash U's Jazz at Holmes series.)

* StLJN extends condolences to the family, friends and musical colleagues of St. Louis pianist and organist Eddie Plitt, who died suddenly this past Monday, March 30. A service will be held at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, April 4 at Stygar Florissant Chapel and Cremation Center, 13980 New Halls Ferry Rd., with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery to follow. An online guestbook can be found at the Stygar Chapel website.

* Don Wolff (pictured), host of the HEC-TV program I Love Jazz and a longtime jazz advocate and radio personality on several stations, has been named by the Jazz Journalists Association as one of 24 local "Jazz Heroes" from across the US for 2015. St. Louis JJA member and freelance writer Terry Perkins tells StLJN that efforts are underway to set up a public presentation of Wolff's award, at a time and location TBA.

* St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts' next "Business Edge" workshop, "Anatomy of a Contract," is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. next Monday, April 6 at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar. The session presented by attorney Ryan Hardy will cover contract basics and "help you sharpen your negotiation skills." Get more info or register for the event by sending an email to vlaa@stlrac.org.

* The Bosman Twins' forthcoming album When Lions Roar, set for release next week, is the subject of a feature story from the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn.

* KDHX has posted on their website some photos from last Saturday's New Music Circle concert by Matthew Shipp and Michael Bisio.

* A little further down the "photo set" aisle, saxophonist David Sanborn has posted on Facebook some pics from his sit-in Wednesday night with the band on The Late Show with David Letterman.

* Calvin Wilson of the Post-Dispatch reviews some recent jazz CDs, including drummer Jack DeJohnette's all-star session Made In Chicago, here.

* Jazz radio update: And speaking of Wilson, Saturday's episode of his Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis program “Somethin’ Else” will use the 100th anniversary of Billie Holiday's birth on April 7 as an occasion to examine her musical legacy via her own recordings and those of others including Dexter Gordon and Marcus Miller.

After that on "The Jazz Collective," host Jason Church will be spinning tracks from Down To The Bone, Steely Dan, Chris Standring, Swing Out Sister, Gato Barbieri, Jamiroquai, Shakatak, Herb Alpert, Ramsey Lewis, Jesse Gannon, Funky Butt Brass Band, Jim Stevens, and more.

"Somethin' Else" can be heard 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.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The latest episode of HEC-TV's I Love Jazz with Don Wolff premieres this Sunday, February 8, and features the jazz studies program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The show also looks in on the recording of pianist Phil Dunlap's debut CD, and includes vintage video spotlighting the late alto saxophonist and clarinetist LeRoy Harris.

I Love Jazz can be seen on Charter channel 989 and AT&T U-verse 99 at noon on Wednesdays; 8:00 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays; and 4:00 p.m. Fridays. (For other TV providers, check your program guide.) You also can watch episodes, including the latest one, online at the HEC-TV website, or download them for free from the "Beyond University" section of iTunes U.

* Pianist Peter Martin's performance with guitarist Romero Lubambo last week at South on Main in Little Rock was reviewed by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and also documented in a photo set posted to Facebook.

* Martin also will provide the music for the "Eleventh Annual Evening of Hope," a benefit for the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at Washington University School of Medicine to be held on Thursday, April 30 at the Sheldon. The evening includes cocktails, dinner, and the musical performance by Martin's trio and guest singer Brian Owens. For tickets or sponsorship information, call Hope Happens at 314-725-3888 or email them at info at hopehappens dot org.

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake's latest album, a duet performance with bassist William Parker called To Roy, is out now on the Intakt label. The title is a dedication to the late trumpeter Roy Campbell, who died last January at age 61.

* Drummer and St. Louis native Andre "Dre Energy" Boyd has blogged about his experiences playing with Cirque du Soleil for Modern Drummer magazine.

* Videographer Chad Eivins of Chizmo.tv has posted online a video documenting last February's New Music Circle-sponsored concert by Joshua Abrams and; Natural Information Society at Joe's Cafe Gallery.

* You can get a close-up look at some of the unusual musical instruments from the Hartenberger World Music Collection recently donated to the Sheldon Art Galleries via a video posted online this week by the Riverfront Times. An exhibit featuring instruments from the collection opens tonight in conjunction with Grand Center's "First Friday" series of free gallery openings and events in the district.

* The Saxophone Museum at Saxquest has just acquired the original sample model bell for the Buescher 400 tenor saxophone, and Saxquest owner Mark Overton explains why it's "the coolest find of the year" in an article published on the shop's associated site Saxophone.org.

* Singer, actress, dancer and St. Louis native Josephine Baker (pictured) is just one of the black adventurers featured in a series of Black History Month illustrations recently created by comic artist Chris Schweizer. Baker, who spied for the resistance against the Germans in occupied France during World War II, is shown with her pet Chiquita the Cheetah.

* Jazz radio update: On this Saturday's edition of Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis' “Somethin’ Else,” host Calvin Wilson will highlight music from composer Kurt Weill as performed by Michael Brecker, Nina Simone, Roy Hargrove, and more. The program airs at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Then on Sunday morning, WSIE's "Jazz Talk" will feature hosts Dick Ulett, Michael Silverman, and Rob Silverman chatting with drummer Ron Carr. The program airs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on 88.7 FM, and also can be streamed online from the station's website.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Pianist Reggie Thomas, who left St. Louis a couple of years ago to teach at Michigan State University, has a new job a bit closer to home this fall. Thomas (pictured) is the new head of the jazz studies program at Northern Illinois University, taking over after the retirement of the program's former director, saxophonist Ronald Carter (who also was Thomas' former high school band director in East St. Louis).

* The September edition of HEC-TV's I Love Jazz, hosted by Don Wolff, is available now for viewing on the cable network and online. The episode includes video of Miss Jubilee performing at Casa Loma Ballroom, a "day in the life" feature about trumpeter Sean Jones, and more. Check your TV provider's listing for days, times and channel, or watch online here.

* The Tuesday jazz jam sessions formerly held at Robbie's House of Jazz, which ended earlier this year when the club closed, have returned to Webster Groves at the Ozark Theatre, where former Robbie's GM Dorothy Edwards now is presenting jazz performances on the weekends. The newly revived jam sessions will begin at 7:30 p.m. each Tuesday, with no admission or cover charge.

* Six St. Louis area classical music organizations are teaming up to offer a program for students called the Concert Pass Collaborative (CPC). For a $15 annual fee, students with a valid ID can purchase the pass, which is good for admission to any event produced by the six participating organizations (as long as there's a seat available). Groups taking part include the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis, The Sheldon's classical series, St. Louis Classical Guitar Society, Chamber Project St. Louis, St. Louis Women’s Hope Chorale, Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, and you can get more information on the offer here.

* The Kranzberg Arts Center will present a screening of the new film Finding Fela, a documentary about Afrobeat musician and bandleader Fela Kuti, next Friday, October 3.

* In conjunction with the label's 65th anniversary, Prestige Records is giving away a set of 20 CDs reissue of albums remastered by famed engineer Rudy Van Gelder. Get details and enter to win here.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis' “Somethin’ Else,” host Calvin Wilson will feature the music of saxophonist, composer and former St. Louisan Julius Hemphill via Hemphill's recordings asa  leader and as a member of the World Saxophone Quartet, plus interpretations of his work by others including saxophonist Tim Berne. 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 local news items of interest:

* The free concert featuring pianist Ptah Williams (pictured) this Sunday at Ivory Perry Park was previewed by Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American.

* Next week's St. Louis Cabaret Festival was previewed in an article on the website of St. Louis Public Radio, which also will cover the festival during the broadcast of the "Cityscape" program at noon today. You can hear it online at http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php.

* Speaking of the Cabaret Festival, the event's organizers and Metrotix are offering a $10 discount online for tickets to the festival's opening show next Wednesday, which will feature Broadway star Faith Prince performing in the Sheldon Concert Hall's upstairs ballroom. To take advantage of the discount, use this link to access the Metrotix site, and when prompted enter the promo code THEATER.

* A new episode of HEC-TV's I Love Jazz, hosted by Don Wolff, has been posted online. It includes performances and interviews from the concert paying tribute to Richard McDonnell, the late founder of the MAXJAZZ record label, that was presented in May at Jazz at the Bistro, as well as coverage of the Bistro's renovation and expansion plans. You can watch online here, or consult your TV provider's program guide for air times.

* Regarding the Bistro renovations, Ruth Ezell of KETC's Living St. Louis did a story on Monday's program on how the construction is progressing; and a seating chart posted online by Jazz St. Louis shows what the layout for the room will look like post-expansion.

* And speaking of Richard McDonnell, jazz-related artwork remaining from his personal collection after a sale last month can still be seen and purchased by appointment, according to Jeff Appel, the photography dealer who's managing the sale of collection for the McDonnell family. "We have found some great St. Louis collectors for probably around 1/4 of the collection, but hundreds of great pieces remain, from signed festival posters to a variety of framed photographs and etchings," he said. To arrange a viewing at the MAXJAZZ offices in Webster Groves, email Appel at photoaddictappel at gmail dot com, or call or text him at 314-520-1572.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson took a bit of time from her duties with the house band on NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers to visit the makers of Gretsch drums and record a short promotional video.

* In this week's Miles Davis news, IndieWire has photos from the set of Miles Ahead, Don Cheadle's film about Davis that's now shooting in Cincinnati.

* On a related note, a post this week on the website Open Culture looked back at the night in 1970 when Davis opened a show for the Grateful Dead at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

* And for those who'd like to delve even further into the trumpeter's history, a new website, Scaled In Miles, offers a unique interactive timeline view of Davis' recording career.

* Pianist Stephanie Trick, who's been performing this summer in England and Europe, recently met British royalty when Prince Charles and Lady Camilla attended a concert of hers in Scotland.

* The Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival once again will pick the opening act for this year's fest via a "Webster’s Got Talent" competition. The entry deadline is August 17, and applications are available for download at the festival's website.

Entrants will compete in public performances on Tuesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 28 at a location TBA, with the two winning bands from the semi-finals playing a final showdown on Thursday, September 4. The winner gets the first slot onstage at this year's OWJBF on Saturday, September 20. For more information, email webstersgottalent@gmail.com.

* Jazz radio update: On this week's edition of Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis' “Somethin’ Else,” host Calvin Wilson will pay tribute to the late bassist Charlie Haden, with recordings of Haden's work as a bandleader, his collaborations with Ornette Coleman and Keith Jarrett, and more. "Somethin' Else" can be heard 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 local news items of interest:

* Best wishes and healing thoughts to trumpeter Adam Hucke, who's back home and recovering today after being hit in the arm by a stray bullet early this morning at the Broadway Oyster Bar.

According to a report on KMOV, two cars were involved in a gun battle on Broadway near Gratiot around 2:00 a.m. when Hucke, who was working with blues guitarist and singer Mike Aguirre, was hit.

No other details about the incident are available, but Hucke, best known as a member of the Funky Butt Brass Band, was treated and released by a local hospital and expects to be OK.

* Miles Davis' Take Off: The Complete Blue Note Albums, the recent reissue of the trumpeter's early 1950s sessions for the label (pictured), was reviewed by AllAboutJazz.com's Marc Davis.

* Meanwhile, in the latest news from Miles Ahead, actor Don Cheadle's forthcoming film about Davis, it seems that actress Zoe Saldana has dropped out of the project, but shooting still is scheduled to begin next month in Cincinnati.

* The Miles Davis Jazz Festival has posted on Facebook an album of photos from this year's fest.

* HEC-TV has posted online Don Wolff's video tribute to the late Mat Domber, founder of the jazz indie label Arbors Records.

* In related news, the audio version of Wolff's "I Love Jazz" program now can be heard on TuneIn.com.

* Bassist Jim Widner's big band camp for high school students was the subject of a feature story in the UMSL Current.

* The downtown bar and restaurant Lola, which occasionally presented jazz along with R&B, neo-soul and hop-hop, is closing. The story from the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson cites increased competition from other venues, as well as differences among the partners.

* The Big Little Band has posted on Facebook an album of photos from their performance last week at The Abbey in Belleville.

* Jazz radio update: On this Saturday's episode of Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis' “Somethin’ Else”, host Calvin Wilson will spotlight the music of Duke Ellington's collaborator Billy Strayhorn as interpreted by musicians including saxophonists Joe Henderson and Branford Marsalis and pianist Matthew Shipp.

After that on "The Jazz Collective," host Jason Church will be spinning tunes by Brian Culbertson, Omar Hakim, Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra, Nathan East, The New Mastersounds, Chuck Mangione, Acoustic Alchemy, Wes Montgomery, Gato Barbieri, Jimmy Smith, Dave Panico, Jim Manley, and more.

Wilson's program airs at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays, followed by Church at 9:00 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 local news items of interest:

* Saturday's Miles Davis Jazz Festival in Alton is the subject of a preview article by the Alton Telegraph's Jill Moon. Trumpeter Russell Gunn headlines, with saxophonist Fred Walker (pictured) and prog-rock band Locrian Manor as opening acts.

* Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock was interviewed about her current tour by Cleveland Scene. She and her husband, drummer Tom Rainey, will be in St. Louis on Monday and Tuesday to perform in two events presented by New Music Circle.

* A new episode of I Love Jazz, hosted by Don Wolff and featuring footage of Jeremy Davenport from the Sheldon Concert Hall, debuted last night on HEC-TV. Check your TV provider's program guide for times and dates, or watch it on HEC's website.

* Speaking of The Sheldon, they've compiled on Soundcloud an audio sampler of tracks from musicians featured in their various 2014-15 season series.

* The New Orleans-style cuisine of the Broadway Oyster Bar was sampled and enjoyed by the Associated Press' Alan Scherzagier.

* Actor/director Don Cheadle's long-anticipated movie about Miles Davis, which apparently now has had its title changed from Kill The Trumpet Player to Miles Ahead, will film this summer in Cincinnati.

* Bill Brownlee of Plastic Sax grades the recently announced 2014-15 jazz series at Kansas City's Folly Theater. Highlights will include concerts by pianists Fred Hersch and Danilo Perez and guitarist Earl Klugh.

* The Gramophone is partnering with the conservation organization Magnificent Missouri to create Magnificent Missouri Music, "a compilation of original songs about all the amazing things we can do out of doors in our great state." The album will be released on CD and vinyl, and there will be a "usage stipend" paid for any songs selected, which can be brand new or already released. Submissions are open until June 30; for more information, email magmo (at) thegramophonelive.com.

* The trial opened this week for two men accused of killing Patrice Thimes, sister of singer Denise Thimes, during an exchange of gunfire on St. Patrick's Day of 2011. Patrice Thimes was passing by the scene of the gunfight in her car and was hit by a stray bullet; her accused killers face charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action, and a third suspect will be tried at a later date.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis, Calvin Wilson's "Somethin' Else" presents compositions from the songbook of Irving Berlin as performed by musicians including Branford Marsalis, Diana Krall, and Chick Corea.

Next up, Jason Church's "The Jazz Collective" will have tunes from Jonathan Butler, Nathan East, Citrus Sun, Nina Simone, Willie Bobo, Cal Tjader, Donald Byrd, and Bob James, as well as locals such as Tom Byrne, Elliott Ranney, Dreaming In Colour, and Jesse Gannon.

Wilson's program airs at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays, followed by Church at 9:00 p.m., on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Meanwhile, on Sunday night's edition of KWMU's "Jazz Unlimited", host Dennis Owsley will feature music from the Pacific Jazz record label, with tracks from Art Pepper, Shorty Rogers, Joe Pass, Chico Hamilton, Bud Shank & Laurindo Almeida, Jimmy Rowles, John Lewis, Bill Perkins, the Jazz Crusaders, Gerry Mulligan, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and many more. The program airs from 9:00 p.m. to midnight; you can listen to the broadcast at 90.7 FM or hear it online at http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php.

Edited after posting to add info on this week's "Jazz Unlimited" program.

15th annual Glendale Jazz Festival set for Friday, May 23

The city of Glendale and the Glendale Women’s Club will present the 15th annual Glendale Jazz Festival from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday, May 23 on the lower parking lot of the Glendale City Hall complex, 424 N. Sappington Rd.

Performers at this year's event will include the Bosman Twins (pictured), Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes, and rockabilly/swing trio Hudson and the Hoodoo Cats, with Don Wolff of HEC-TV's I Love Jazz serving as MC. The festival is free and open to the public.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Marty Ehrlich's concert with his Rites Quartet tonight at the Kranzberg Arts Center is previewed in articles by Terry Perkins for the St. Louis Beacon, Calvin Wilson for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Joseph Hess for the Riverfront Times.

Ehrlich (pictured) also was interviewed by Dennis Owsley on last Sunday's "Jazz Unlimited" program on KWMU (90.7 FM), which can be heard online here.

* Diana Krall's concert last Friday at the Fox Theatre also was reviewed by Wilson for the Post-Dispatch.

* Here's a video excerpt of experimental duo Ahluechatistas' performance last Saturday at the Schlafly Tap Room.

* Trombonist Dave Dickey has put on Facebook a photo album from last Sunday's Missouri Association of Jazz Educators (MOAJE) jam session at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company

* The August 2012 episode of HEC-TV’s of I Love Jazz has taken first place in the Arts and Entertainment category of this year's National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) awards. The award-winning episode of the program, hosted by Don Wolff, featured interviews with and music from former St. Louisans Reggie and Mardra Thomas.

* The annual musical instrument donation drive sponsored by Music for Lifelong Achievement is underway from now through Sunday, October 27. New or used musical instruments can be dropped off at any area Starbucks location, and will be distributed to music students in St. Louis who otherwise might not be able to afford an instrument of their own.

* The St. Louis Symphony and guest soloist Timothy McAllister will perform a new saxophone concerto by composer John Adams on Saturday and Sunday at Powell Hall, and Saxquest is offering a special two-for-one deal on tickets to the concerts. The performances will be recorded for Nonesuch Records. McAllister also will do a free workshop and clinic from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. today at the Saxquest shop.

* A couple of new videos promoting "Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration Tour" went online this week - one showing the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Chorale le Chateau in rehearsal, the other featuring composer Wynton Marsalis and choral director Damien Sneed talking about the production, which plays here in St. Louis on Friday, October 18 at the Touhill.

* The Affordable Care Act took effect in the USA on October 1, and St. Louis Volunteer Accountants and Attorneys for the Arts has put online information about how the ACA can help artists obtain reasonably priced health insurance coverage. VLAA also will sponsor a free presentation on "Navigating Health Care Reform" at 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 21 at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar.