So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Saxophonist David Sanborn has posted an update about the PledgeMusic campaign to finance his next recording.

Fans can see the saxophonist next on national TV this coming Monday, June 16, sitting in with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman.

* Jazz Times has coverage and more photos of last week's dedication of "Miles Davis Way" in NYC, and the official Davis site has video of the event via the Pace Report.

* In a related note, a new "Order Is Everything" column from Revive Music's Matthew Allen offers his take on the 10 essential Miles Davis albums.

* Keep On Keepin’ On, the new documentary film about the friendship between nonagenarian trumpeter Clark Terry and twenty-something pianist Justin Kauflin, was the subject of a feature on KPLU radio in Seattle.

* Saxophonist Eric Person has posted on Facebook a set of photos documenting his big band's performance last month at Dizzy's in NYC.

* While we're talking photo sets, Wack-A-Doo singer/accordionist Valerie Tichacek has posted on Facebook an album of pictures from last Saturday's sold-out "Midsummer Night's Jazz Festival" at the Deco Fortress.

* And completing today's photographic troika on Facebook is an album of pics from recent Route 66 Jazz Orchestra rehearsals.

* The Riverfront Times this week announced the winners of the 2014 RFT Music Awards, with guitarist and singer Tommy Halloran and Guerrilla Swing getting the most votes in the "Best Jazz" category. You can see a complete list of this year's winners here.

* Speaking of awards, the Jazz Journalists Association this week announced their 2014 Awards for Musical Achievement, and Miles Live in Europe 1969 was the winner for "Historical Record of the Year." Check out the full list of winners here.

* Pianist Stephanie Trick (pictured) has a new album of duos with Italian-born keyboardist Paolo Alderighi called Sentimental Journey. It features four-handed versions of ragtime, standards, and blues, plus a couple of originals, and is available now via CD Baby.

* Guitarist/singer Elliot Ranney was spotlighted in one of KDHX's "On Demand" podcasts.

* Popular longtime St. Louis radio personality Lou "Fatha" Thimes, father of singer Denise Thimes, has died after a long illness. StLJN joins St. Louis jazz, blues and soul fans in offering our condolences to the Thimes family.

* Denise Thimes also was interviewed this week about her memories of her frequent accompanist, the late Tony Simmons, for an article by the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis, Calvin Wilson's “Somethin’ Else” will feature past winners of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, including singer Gretchen Parlato, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and pianist Kris Bowers.

Then on "The Jazz Collective," host Jason Church will spin tunes from Brother Strut, Jeff Lorber with Chuck Loeb and Everette Harp, Incognito, Chris Standring, Stanley Turrentine, Grant Green, Hugh Masekela, Young-Holt Unlimited, the Jazz Crusaders, Rod Tate, Soul Cafe, Jim Stevens, and 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.   

Elliott Ranney releasing new CD Bellevue Shuffle this Sunday, October 20

St. Louis singer, songwriter and guitarist Elliot Ranney is putting out a new CD titled Bellevue Shuffle, and will perform to celebrate the release at 2:00 p.m. this Sunday, October 20 at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company.

The album (pictured) includes 15 original songs, all written and arranged by Ranney, with help from his wife Ellen Ranney on one track, "Without You."

It features the leader on vocals and finger-style classical guitar, backed by Stephen Ranney on upright bass and Joe Winters, plus an extensive lineup of guest musicians including guitarists Jon Ferber, Dave Black and Tom Byrne, saxophonist Paul DeMarinis, trumpeter Randy Holmes, and numerous others. Many of the musicians from the recording will be joining Ranney for Sunday's gig at Kirkwood Station, he said.

Ranney describes the sound of Bellevue Shuffle as "an acoustic jazz hybrid with undertones of Latin and Swing." There are tracks paying tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim and Tom Waits, and in further describing the album, the composer also name-checks Miles, Trane, Steely Dan and Stéphane Grappelli.

More than three years in the making, Bellevue Shuffle was recorded, mixed and mastered by Billy Engel at his EAR Studios in Wildwood. "The rhythm tracks only three months," said Ranney via email. "Getting the session players took a little longer. Ultimately, I'm glad I took my time to get it as right as I could."

Ranney, who grew up in Kirkwood, performs around town at spots including Venice Cafe, Picasso's, Van Gogh's, and various Missouri and Illinois wineries. His previous CD, An Aging Sailor's Dream, came out in 2001 on the local Wildstone Media label, and in 2012 was re-released overseas by the Japanese label Rip Curl Records.

Bellevue Shuffle will be issued on Ranney's own label, Rope Yarn Records, with CDs available for purchase at live gigs, and both CDs and digital downloads available via CD Baby. Admission to Sunday's performanceis $5 at the door, and copies of the CD will be on sale for $15 each.