So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Saxophonist and clarinetist Marty Ehrlich is the subject of a feature story in the latest issue of Point of Departure.

* DownBeat has an article about the recently released seven-CD set of music from saxophonist Julius Hemphill (pictured).

* Also on the Hemphill beat, the latest issue of The Wire offers "A Short Guide to Julius Hemphill."

* The Post-Dispatch this past week went into their archives to assemble a photo feature about a visit here in 1932 from W.C. Handy, composer of "St. Louis Blues."

* Saxophonist Joel Vanderheyden and pianist Kara Baldus-Mehrmann are among the most recent faculty members to record streaming performances for the Washington University department of music's "Musical Lunch Box." Baldus-Merhmann performed "Nola’s Waltz" by Bob Borgstede and her own "Where You Are," while Vanderheyden offered up a live-looping version of "Hunter" by Icelandic pop star Björk.

* Bassist Damon Smith has released another recording, Bass Duos 2000-2007, featuring 3 CDs' worth of duo improvisations with fellow bassists Joëlle Léandre, Bertram Turetzky, and the late Peter Kowald.

* Saxophonist Rhoda G was interviewed by the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson.

* Also in the Post-Dispatch, Johnson interviewed drummer Marcus Baylor and singer Jean Baylor of The Baylor Project.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor

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

* Miles Davis is one of five musicians to be featured in "Space Is The Place," a radio series on the UK's JazzFM presenting "specially commissioned dramas...based on five pivotal moments in the lives of some of Jazz FM’s legendary artists." The other featured artists will include Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong and Sun Ra; the Davis episode will air on Monday, December 7.

* Nominees for the 2021 Grammy Awards were announced this week, and the list includes St. Louis' own Marcus Baylor, whose group The Baylor Project (co-led with his wife, singer Jean Baylor) was nominated for "Best Traditional R&B Performance" for their song "Sit on Down."

In addition, three more St. Louisans - bassist Jahmal Nichols, drummer Emanuel Harrold, and trumpeter Keyon Harrold - performed on singer Gregory Porter's All Rise, which was nominated in the "Best R&B Album" category.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn has released another short video as part of his "Sanborn Sessions" web series, in which he teams up with various musical friends for some performances recorded in his home studio. The latest episode features Sanborn with his longtime collaborator, organist Joey DeFrancesco.

* Ahead of his gig this Sunday night at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups, keyboardist Mark Harris II is the subject of a feature story from the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson.

* The late trumpeter Lester Bowie, who grew up in St. Louis and went on to fame as a member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, is being honored with an outdoor mural in Frederick, Maryland, the city where he actually was born.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The Baylor Project, led by drummer and St. Louis native Marcus Baylor and singer Jean Baylor, has released a new single, “Sit On Down,” which is now available for download and for listening on the major streaming services.

* Trumpeter, composer and educator Prince Wells was interviewed on a recent episode of UMSL's  "University World View" podcast.

* Trombonist and St. Louis native Charlie Halloran, now residing in New Orleans, also has a new album out. Titled Shake the Rum, it offers Halloran's take on calypso music, and is available now for download or in CD format via his Bandcamp page.

* Grantstand, a two-CD set reissuing four albums by guitarist and St. Louis native Grant Green (pictured), was reviewed by Jazz Journal.

* Pianist Kara Baldus-Mehrmann is the latest Wash U faculty member featured in a "musical postcard" from the university's music department with her version of Carole King's "You've Got A Friend."

* After years of research by multi-instrumentalist and U. City native Marty Ehrlich, the papers of saxophonist, composer and Black Artists Group member Julius Hemphill now are available to researchers as part of New York University's Special Collections & Archives.

* With this year's event postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, National Record Store Day has announced a plan to move forward later in the year, with special releases hitting participating stores on August 29, September 26 & October 24.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Drummer Marcus Baylor and singer Jean Baylor of the Baylor Project (pictured) were interviewed by AllAboutJazz.com's K. Shackelford

* Capitalizing on the St. Louis Blues' run for the NHL's Stanley Cup, singer and multi-instrumentalist Tonina Saputo has recorded a video of her cover version of "Gloria," the 1982 hit by singer Laura Branigan that has become the team's victory anthem. You can see the video here.

* Pianist Ethan Leinwand was interviewed briefly about Monday's St. Louis Piano Festival by Kevin Johnson of the Post-Dispatch.

* Singer Alicia Olatuja was the featured guest on a recent episode of NPR's "In Black America."

* Trumpeter Russell Gunn was interviewed by Georgia Public Broadcasting about the performance of his Royal Krunk Jazz Orchestra at the Atlanta Jazz Festival. You can see some photos and a video from the show this past Sunday at LibroMusica.com.

* The 93rd anniversary of the birth of trumpeter Miles Davis last week was noted in a brief story on KTVI-Fox 2's newscast featuring an interview with the co-founders of House of Miles East St. Louis, the museum that now occupies Davis' childhood home.

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Spotlight on The Baylor Project

This week, StLJN's video spotlight shines on The Baylor Project, who will be making their St. Louis debut starting next Wednesday, March 28 through Saturday, March 31 at Jazz at the Bistro.

Fronted by singer Jean Baylor and drummer Marcus Baylor, her husband and a native of the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, they released their first album The Baylor Project (The Journey) in 2017 and were nominated for Grammy Awards this year in the categories of Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Previously, Marcus had been known for his work as a member of the jazz-fusion band Yellowjackets from 2000 to 2010, while Jean, using her maiden name Jean Norris, sang with Zhané, the hip-hop/soul duo known for 1990s hits such as "Hey, Mr. DJ" and "Groove Thang" and later had released a couple of solo albums.

The music they make as The Baylor Project draws on those varied influences, blending contemporary jazz with R&B/soul and adding a bit of gospel flavor, which seems fitting for a couple of preachers' kids. But rather than read further description, you can see and hear for yourself in the first clip up above, a performance of their Grammy-nominated song "Laugh and Move On" recorded in November 2017 at the studios of radio station WERS in Boston.

After the jump, you can see them play Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story," with original lyrics by Jean Baylor, and Mongo Santamaría's "Afro Blue," as recorded in January of this year in the studios of WBGO in Newark, NJ.

The last three videos were recorded in the music room at South Restaurant in Philadelphia, circa February 2017, and feature the Baylors performing their interpretations of the well-known hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" and the standards "Tenderly" and "Our Love Is Here To Stay."

For more about The Baylor Project, check out their interview from earlier this week with the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn; their segment on Radio 103.9 New York from February 2018; their appearance on The Tom Joyner Morning Show last December; and the audio of their appearance in January on WBGO's "Morning Jazz," which includes an interview as well as a couple more songs.

You can see the rest of today's videos after the jump...

The Baylor Project earns two nominations in 60th Annual Grammy Awards

The Baylor Project, featuring singer Jean Baylor and her husband, drummer and St. Louis native Marcus Baylor, has received two nominations in the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

The Baylors (pictured) were nominated in the "Best Jazz Vocal Album" category for their debut album The Journey, and for "Best R&B Performance" for their song "Laugh and Move On."

Released in February of this year on the Baylors' Be A Light label, The Journey debuted at No 8 on the Billboard Jazz Chart, and got a favorable reception from media outlets including All About Jazz, Hot House, Soul Tracks, Soulbounce, Modern Drummer, The Chicago Defender, Revive Music, and more.

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with portions broadcast live on CBS. You can see the full list of nominees here.

The Baylor Project will perform in St. Louis from Wednesday, March 28 through Saturday, March 31 at Jazz at the Bistro.