So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* St. Louis native Lawrence Fields (pictured) can be heard playing piano on the upcoming release Live at Monterey Jazz Festival by SoundPrints, the Wayne Shorter-inspired band led by saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas. The album goes on sale everywhere Tuesday, April 7.

* Jazz St. Louis has posted on Facebook a photo album from Kneebody's opening night this week at Jazz at the Bistro. The group performs there through Saturday, with two sets per night plus a FREE lunchtime set open to the general public at 12:00 p.m. today (Friday, March 21).

* Did the late pianist Johnnie Johnson get a fair shake from the courts fifteen years ago when he sued rock 'n roll legend Chuck Berry claiming joint authorship of some of Berry's most famous songs? In an article published this week in St. Louis magazine, Byron Kerman talked to attorney Tim McFarlin, who after all these years has a new take on the case's implications.

* In a related development, McFarlin will give a "Business Edge" presentation for St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts on Monday, March 30 titled "The Case of Johnnie Johnson v. Chuck Berry and What Artists Should Do Before They Collaborate."

* Now that City of Music, Nine Network's special about the history of St. Louis music, has had its broadcast premiere, you can watch both parts of the program online at Nine's website. The special, which was filmed last October at the Sheldon and features performances from Alarm Will Sound, Denise Thimes, Peter Martin, Billy Peek, Illphonics, Carolbeth True and more, also will get a repeat broadcast airing at 7:00 p.m. this coming Tuesday, March 25.

* The 2015 St. Louis Cabaret Conference has added two-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown as a guest faculty member and festival performer. Deadline for performers wishing to attend this year's conference to submit their audition materials is Monday, April 13.

* Last week's funeral services for singer and nightclub owner Gene Lynn were covered by local Fox affiliate KTVI (Channel 2)

* A post this week on the Riverfront Times' music blog spotlights New Music Circle's sliding scale ticket prices for "struggling artists."

* Drummer and St. Charles native Dave Weckl will be one of the instructors at a "Drum Fantasy Camp" to be held this summer from August 7 - 11 in Chicago at Vic's Drum Shop/Music Garage.

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake will reunite with bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Andrew Cyrille as Trio 3 for a week-long gig starting this coming Tuesday, March 24 at NYC's Village Vanguard.

* The latest remastered vinyl reissue of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue gets an "extended analysis" from AllAboutJazz.com's Nenad Georgievski.

* Jazz radio update: On this Saturday's episode of Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis' “Somethin’ Else,” host Calvin Wilson will be spinning contemporary pop tunes given jazz interpretations by musicians including Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, and Jason Moran. "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.

R.I.P. Gene Lynn, singer and nightclub owner

Gene Lynn, the St. Louis singer and former nightclub owner sometimes described as "the black Frank Sinatra," has died. He was 78. Friends and colleagues reported today on Facebook that he passed away early Saturday morning after recently suffering a stroke and a recurrence of stomach cancer.

Born Leon Campbell in Mobile, AL, the sixth of ten children, Lynn (pictured) graduated from Mobile County Training School and then moved with his family to St. Louis. He adopted his stage name and broke into the music business here in the early 1960s, singing at venues including the Iron Gate, Parkway House Hotel, the Playboy Club, and various other spots in the Gaslight Square entertainment district.

Lynn began as a blues singer but soon expanded his repertoire to include a variety of material, gaining particular notice for his smooth renditions of songs associated with Nat "King" Cole, Tony Bennett, and, most of all, Sinatra.

He seemed to have had some mixed feelings about the comparison, though, as in 2009 he told St. Louis magazine, "He (Sinatra) had moments of being a real asshole. But what I really admired about Frank was, he sang about life. He was a very emotional kind of guy. I'm emotional, too; I've got my heart and soul in it. And I won't sing anything that doesn't have that kind of meaning."

In 1971, he opened his own nightclub, Gene Lynn's, at 322 N. Whittier in the Central West End, serving as headlining entertainer as well as owner. The business attracted a variety of customers, black and white, from all walks of life, including former denizens of Gaslight Square - by then crumbling into ruins - as well as musicians, politicians, media figures, and pro athletes.

Later in the 1970s, Lynn recorded a private-press album, For The 1st Time, at Technisonic Studios in St. Louis, backed by pianist Jeter Thompson, bassist Harold Thompson, and drummer Andre Maclin.

Lynn continued to operate his club on Whittier and then (with a year-long interruption in the early 90s) at two subsequent locations for more than 30 years, finally selling it in 2004. (After passing through a couple of sets of owners, the last incarnation of Gene Lynn's at 348 Sarah in the Lindell Marketplace, closed for good in 2008.)

Since the sale, Lynn had continued to work steadily as his health permitted, doing private engagements and performing at local restaurants including Bartolino's, Nathalie's, Brennan's, and Balaban's.

He also was an avid golfer, and since 2008 had held an annual golf tournament to raise money for a foundation and scholarships in honor of his son, Gene Leon Lynn Campbell II, who died in a boating accident in 2007 at the age of 24.

Gene Lynn was married and divorced three times. Survivors include his partner, Maria Vera, two daughters, Gina Lynne Jones and Angerrilynn Madison; his sister, Deloris Johnson; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, March 13 at Third Presbyterian Church, 9990 Lewis and Clark Blvd. A celebration of Lynn’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 14 at the church, followed by burial at St. Peter’s Cemetery, 2101 Lucas and Hunt Road. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Flourish Children’s Foundation c/o Third Presbyterian Church, or the Save-A-Life-For-Geno Foundation, c/o Bank of America, 4625 Lindell Blvd, 63108.

In the video below, you can see Gene Lynn singing "New York, New York" in 2009 at Mihailis Chophouse in St. Louis:



(Updated 3/8/15 with information on survivors and funeral services.)

Brunch and concert honoring Don and Heide Wollf to be held at Harris-Stowe this Sunday, October 5

Longtime St. Louis jazz radio host and advocate Don Wolff and his wife Heide will be honored at an event this Sunday, October 5 at Harris-Stowe State University.

"An Afternoon of Jazz" gets started with a brunch from 11:00 a.m. to noon, followed by tours of HSSU's Wolff Jazz Institute and a concert beginning at 1:00 p.m. with featured performers including singers Mae Wheeler, Gene Lynn, Anita Rosamond, Anita Jackson, Bill Tucker and Jeffrey Hardin and saxophonist Willie Akins. Tickets for the event are $10, and you can make reservations by calling 314-340-3386.

The Wolff Jazz Institute was established in April, 2002 when the Wolffs donated their personal collection to the University. It includes jazz recordings, books, periodicals, films and other materials that, according to HSSU, are valued at more than a million dollars.