Sunday Session: January 4, 2015

Herbie Hancock

For your Sunday reading enjoyment and edification, some noteworthy items from the past week about jazz, creative music, and more:

* Five Awkward Conversations With Paul Motian (VinnieSperazza.org)
* John McNeil, A Trumpeter Robbed Of His Breath, Blows Again (WRVO.org)
* Saucy Newcomers, Graying Punk Rockers - Even With 54 Below and Joe’s Pub, Cabaret’s Future Is Unclear (New York Times)
* Mwandishi & More - A dream team supports the Jazz Foundation of America at the Apollo (Jazz Times)
* Repetitive pop songs 'more likely to be hits' (Telegraph UK)
* Ornette Coleman and New Vocabulary: Old friend; fresh context (Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches)
* East St. Louis Station Broke Out 'Rapper’s Delight' 35 Years Ago (StLouisPublicRadio.org)
* Steinway Bids Farewell To Its Historic Hall (NPR.org)
* Preserving American Roots Music Begins With Keeping The Lights On (NPR.org)
* An All-Year Season of Discontent in Jazz - Jazz’s Year of Complaint, Citing ‘Whiplash’ and The New Yorker (New York Times)
* Ken Burns Curates Jazz-Inspired Tour Through New Orleans (Down Beat)
* Standing Out From Their Crowds - Ensemble work highlights the burgeoning skills of saxophonist Jon Irabagon and guitarist Mary Halvorson (Wall Street Journal)
* D’Angelo Returns with Timeless Music, Topical Commentary (Down Beat)
* Herbie Hancock: A Life Of Possibilities (AllAboutJazz.com)
* Guitarist Jeff Golub Dies at 59 (Jazz Times)
* Uptown Records uncovers essential early work by pianist Lennie Tristano (Chicago Reader)
* U.S. Department of Transportation Issues Final Rule Regarding Air Travel with Musical Instruments (DOT.gov)
* Piano stores closing as fewer children taking up instrument (NBC Philadelphia)

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The guitarists of Guitars & Saxes 2010

This week, let's take a look at some video clips featuring guitarists Jeff Golub and Peter White, the two men doing the six-string thing for this year's edition of the long running smooth jazz package tour Guitars and Saxes. They'll be at The Pageant on Friday, August 13, along with saxophonists Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum, who played in the St. Louis area together last year at the Ameristar Casino's Bottleneck Blues Bar during their "Sax for Stax" tour.

Up above, you can see Golub playing his version of the Average White Band's 1970s funk hit "Pick Up the Pieces." Down below, White tackles the Isley Brothers "Who's That Lady" at a November 2007 gig in Tokyo, aided by saxophonist Mindi Abair, keyboard player Gregg Karukas, bassist Stan Sargeant and drummer Eric Valentine.

The third clip shows Golub performing "Dangerous Curves" on the 2008 Guitars and Saxes tour with Albright, saxophonist Jessy J and keyboardist Jeff Lorber. The fourth and final video is "Bullseye," another selection from White's Tokyo show.

Guitars and Saxes returning to The Pageant on Friday, August 13

According to an article published today on smoothjazznetwork.com, the long-running Guitars and Saxes package tour is taking to the road again in the summer of 2010, and the itinerary includes a stop on Friday, August 13 at The Pageant in St. Louis.

The 16th annual Guitars and Saxes tour will feature guitarists Peter White and Jeff Golub and saxophonists Kirk Whalum (pictured) and Gerald Albright, all of whom are veterans of previous editions of the tour. The 2010 tour begins May 15 in Sacramento, CA and continues through September.

There's been no official announcement of the show yet from The Pageant, but when there's news of ticket prices and the on-sale date, we'll have it for you here.

Smooth jazz returning to the Pageant this summer

The Pageant has announced the scheduling of three smooth jazz concerts for summer 2008. Presented under the auspices of radio personality Rick Sanborn's "Smooth Summer Party," the concerts will feature the 2008 edition of Guitars and Saxes, with guitarists Peter White and Jeff Golub, saxophonist Gerald Albright (pictured) and keyboard player Jeff Lorber, on Sunday, June 22; R&R, with saxophonist Richard Eliot and trumpeter Rick Braun, on Friday, July 25; and saxophonist Dave Koz on Friday, August 8.

Tickets for each show are $35 and $40, with a $5 per ticket discount if you buy seats for all three concerts. Tix will go on sale at 5:00 p.m. this Friday, May 2, via Ticketmaster and the Pageant box office.

Guitars and Saxes, Jazz Attack set for summer dates at the Pageant

The Pageant has just announced return dates this summer for two smooth jazz package shows.

On Sunday, June 24, the popular "Guitars and Saxes" show comes back to the venue with a lineup featuring saxophonists Gerald Albright and Kirk Whalum (pictured), guitarist Jeff Golub and guitarist/vocalist Tim Bowman. Then on Friday, July 20, it's another "Jazz Attack," with trumpeter Rick Braun, singer/guitarist Jonathan Butler, saxophonist Richard Elliot and guitarist Peter White.

Both concerts are being presented by smooth jazz radio personality and impresario Rick Sanborn under the "Smooth Summer Party" banner, and as with past events he's promoted, there are special prices for ticket buyers who want to attend both shows: $80 for reserved VIP seating, or $60 for reserved main floor/balcony seats.

Single tickets for either show individually will be $35 each for reserved main floor/balcony seating and $45 each for reserved VIP seating. Tickets go on sale at 5 p.m. this Friday, April 6 via The Pageant box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

(Edited after posting to add a tag.)