Jazz this week: Mulgrew Miller, Rasul Siddik, Tortoise, Dave Black, and more

Though this week's schedule of jazz and creative music in St. Louis isn't quite as jam-packed as last week's, there are still a number of notable performances happening over the next few days that are worthy of your attention. Let's go to the highlights:

Tonight, the very fine pianist Mulgrew Miller opens a four-night run that continues through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. Miller was the subject of one of the very first concert reviews on StLJN four and half years ago, and his work since then continues to impress. Miller's gig also is a celebration of the ten-year anniversary of the St. Louis-based MAXJAZZ label, for which the pianist has recorded his five most recent CDs. For some video samples of Miller in action, see this post.

On Thursday evening, the quartet Utter Chaos, which draws inspiration from the pianoless Gerry Mulligan-Bob Brookmeyer combos of the 1950s, will do a free concert for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University.

Then on Friday, acoustic guitarist Jack Rose performs at Open Lot, 1310 South 18th Street. Rose plays "a unique brand of blues, folk, ragtime and raga, all the while experimenting with guitar tunings and frequently reinterpreting and rerecording his earlier compositions." Drummer Danny McClain and saxophonist Dave Stone will open the show with a duo improv set.

On Saturday evening, the Nu-Art Series presents trumpeter and St. Louis expat Rasul Siddik (pictured) and his quartet in a performance at Luna Bar in the Central West End.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday guitarist Dave Black will perform a concert of original music at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium.

On Tuesday, the Chicago-based instrumental "post-rock" band Tortoise comes to town to perform at the rock club the Firebird, located at 2706 Olive downtown.

For more jazz and creative music events this weekend and beyond, check out the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar, available for viewing on the left sidebar or by clicking here.

(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.)

Tortoise to perform at the Firebird on Tuesday, September 29

The Chicago-based instrumental "post-rock" band Tortoise (pictured), whose members are also involved in their hometown's sprawling improvised music scene, is coming to St. Louis* on Tuesday, September 29 to perform at the Firebird, 2706 Olive, just west of Jefferson.

Together since 1990, the members of Tortoise have developed a sound that incorporates influences from jazz and alt-rock to techno and dub, and as a result have attracted an equally diverse fan base, ranging from young people who frequent rock venues like the Firebird to older fans of jazz and electronic music. They're touring to support their latest CD Beacons of Ancestorship, which came out in June.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the show, which includes opening act Prefuse 73, starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $18 (plus a $2 service charge) and can be purchased here.