So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Trumpeter Terence Blanchard's shows this week at Jazz St. Louis were previewed in a story by the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn.

* Pianist Peter Martin's Open Studio is sponsoring a holiday giveaway with prizes including free access to their instructional videos featuring well-known jazz players, and more. Winners will be chosen at random and announced on Monday, December 23. You can find out more and enter (with a valid email address) here.

* The Kranzberg Arts Foundation's St. Louis Music Initiative was spotlighted this week by John Pertzborn of KTVI (Fox 2),who interviewed KAF's Sean Smothers and Gene Dobbs Bradford of Jazz St. Louis.

* Cabaret Project of St. Louis will hold a holiday fundraiser on Saturday, December 7, featuring musical entertainment by singer and impressionist Christine Pedi. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the CPStL website.

* The biographical documentary Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, directed by Stanley Nelson and released earlier this year, was nominated this week for the 2020 Grammy Award for "Best Music Film."

* On a related note, the recently issued box set of Davis' complete Birth of the Cool recordings (pictured) was reviewed in DownBeat.

* Singer and keyboardist Katarra Parson's forthcoming debut recording Cocoa Voyage was the subject of a feature by the Riverfront Times' Christian Schaeffer. Parson, who is one of this year's Kranzberg Arts Foundation artists-in-residence, will promote the release with a show on Friday, November 29 at The Dark Room.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Radio host, author and photographer Dennis Owsley and his new book St. Louis Jazz: A History were the subjects of a feature story in the Webster-Kirkwood Times. 

* Trumpeter Russell Gunn was interviewed by NextBop.com about Pyramids, the new album from his Royal Krunk Jazz Orchestra.

* Meanwhile, saxophonist Andre Delano (pictured) has released a new single, "Where Will You Go," an instrumental version of a tune by R&B crooner Babyface, for whom Delano currently serves as musical director and bandleader. 

*  Trumpeter Kasimu Taylor, members of the Saint Boogie Brass Band, and saxophonist Kwanae Johnson appeared Monday on the morning newscast at KTVI (Fox 2). They were promoting the benefit show this Sunday at .ZACK raising money for Johnson and his family, who recently lost their home to a fire. 

* Trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard's opera Fire Shut Up In My Bones, which premiered last season at Opera Theater St. Louis, next year will be the first opera by an African-American composer ever to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

* At the New York opening weekend of the new documentary Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, the film's director Stanley Nelson and writer Quincy Troupe, who co-authored Davis' autobiography, took part in a Q&A session, which was recorded and now has been posted on YouTube.

* Davis and his landmark album Birth of the Cool are the subjects of an essay in the latest Jazz Times by composer and arranger Ryan Truesdell

* The latest episode of the podcast "Jazz at 100" features music recorded by Davis' quintet and sextet between 1956 and 1959.

* Davis' late 1950s music also was the subject of a recent tribute concert by Richard Pite’s Jazz Repertory Company at Cadogan Hall in London, which was reviewed by London Jazz News.

* Lastly, the Miles Davis estate has announced the impending release of a new music video for "Moon Dreams," as recorded by Davis in 1949 for Birth of the Cool. The video is "influenced by Miles Davis’ own sketches and imagines a night in New York City through every era of jazz."

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.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* An exhibition of visual art by Miles Davis opened last weekend on the campus of Jackson State University in Jackson, MS, with coverage from the Jackson Free Press and the university's news bureau.

* In other Miles Davis news, Rubberband, an EP of previously unheard Davis tracks recorded and then scrapped before the 1986 release of Tutu, is out now on Rhino Records.

* Trumpeter Keyon Harrold is featured on the European release When You Are Here, credited to the Culture Revolution Project, a joint venture by Harrold with Polish saxophonist Sylwester Ostrowski. The album can be heard now on the major streaming services, but so far does not seem to be for sale as a physical CD here in the US.

Harrold also has contributed a version of "She's Leaving Home" to A Day in the Life: Impressions of Pepper, a new compilation album paying tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band that's out today on Verve Records as a special "Black Friday" release.

The album (pictured) also includes interpretations of Beatles songs by drummers Antonio Sanchez and Makaya McCraven, saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, pianist Sullivan Fortner, harpist Brandee Younger, and more.

* Guitarist Vincent Varvel has posted to YouTube a video of "Both Sides Now," a track from his upcoming solo guitar album due out in January.

* Singer Christina Bianco's performance last weekend at the Gaslight Cabaret Festival was reviewed by KDHX's Chuck Lavazzi.

* Singer Chuck Flowers appeared Tuesday on the morning newscast on KTVI-FOX 2.

* The Sheldon Concert Hall has posted to Facebook a photo album from singer Dee Dee Bridgewater's concert two Saturdays ago.

* Cornet Chop Suey and pianist Stephanie Trick are among the featured performers at this weekend's San Diego Jazz Fest & Swing Extravaganza.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Saxophonist Ben Reece, keyboardist Mo Egeston, and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor were interviewed on a recent episode of Rock Paper Podcast. 

* Bassist and singer Janet Evra appeared Tuesday on KTVI/Fox 2's morning newscast.

* In advance of his debut later this month at SFJAZZ in San Francisco, trumpeter Keyon Harrold's past collaborations are the subject of an article on SFJAZZ.org's website. 

* Cabaret singer and pianist Rick Jensen's performance last Saturday at the Kranzberg Arts Center was reviewed by KDHX's Chuck Lavazzi.

* The family of the late Hamiet Bluiett (pictured) is trying to raise money via crowd-funding for burial and memorial expenses, as the baritone sax great died last week without life insurance. If you'd like to contribute, go to https://www.gofundme.com/683jk7k. (You also can help by sharing the GoFundMe page URL on social media and elsewhere.)

A funeral service for Bluiett will be held at 10:00 a.m. today (Friday, October 12) at Lovejoy Temple Church of God, 511 Canal Street in Brooklyn, IL, followed by burial at 12:30 p.m. at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Singer, actor, and Webster University faculty member Debby Lennon has won this year's award for "best actress in a comedy" from the St. Louis Theater Circle for her portrayal of would-be diva Florence Foster Jenkins in Max & Louie Productions' staging of Souvenir. The production won five awards in total from StLTC, including "outstanding comedy."

* St. Louis native and Washington University alumnus Olly Wilson (pictured), a composer, musician, musicologist, and emeritus professor of music at the University of California, Berkeley whose students included drummer Tony Williams, has died at age 80.

* Keyboardist Ryan Marquez appeared Thursday on the morning newscast at KTVI (FOX2) to promote his album release show this Saturday night at the Kranzberg Arts Center.

* The release this week of the CD box set Miles Davis/John Coltrane - The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6 already has prompted media coverage including a column from The New Yorker's Richard Brody, a review on Pitchfork.com, and a story about "When Miles Davis and John Coltrane Scandalized Paris" via OZY.com.

* Pianist Peter Martin was profiled this week in Keyboard magazine's "Talent Scout" column.

* Just in time for New Orleans' tricentennial, singer, trumpeter (and University City native) Jeremy Davenport has released a song paying tribute to his adopted home, "One Way Ticket to New Orleans."

* Chris Hansen of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation was interviewed about the foundation's new residency program for musicians by McGraw Millhaven of KTRS .

* Keyboardist Jim Hegarty has released a new recording in his Secret Sessions series, available as a free download from Bandcamp. The latest volume, recorded on February 25, documents a live improv session featuring Hegarty on modular synthesizer with Tracy Andreotti (cello), Eric Paul Mandat (clarinets), Greg Mills (piano, melodica), Claude Montgomery (bass), George Sams (flugelhorn), Steven Thomas (guitar), and Fred Tompkins (flute, bass flute).

* The Riverfront Times is looking for up to 30 local musical acts who would like to be part of  ShowcaseSTL 2018, a two-day "concert crawl" on Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17 that will feature more than 100 performances at various venues in the Grove. To find out more about the event and how to submit materials for consideration, go here.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis is now accepting applications for 2018 Artist Support Grants.

The grants range in amount from $500 to $3000, and are available to individual artists of all disciplines for a variety of purposes, including equipment and materials, rental space, arts-related travel, conference fees, project completion, salaries, professional and artistic development, training, and other resources.

Applications are due by Thursday, March 15, and RAC will present the first of three free "how to apply" workshops this coming Monday, February 5 at their headquarters.

* Last Sunday's performance by trombonist Ryan Keberle and Catharsis at The Dark Room was reviewed for DownBeat magazine by Terry Perkins.

* Pianist Peter Martin talked with the Post-Dispatch's Calvin Wilson about his benefit concert for Metro Theater Company this Saturday night and the troupe's upcoming production of the "concert play" Bud, Not Buddy.

* In a couple of related conversations, trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard talked about his original score for Bud, Not Buddy in interviews with St. Louis Public Radio's Alex Heuer and the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn.

* Trumpeter Keyon Harrold's new album The Mugician was reviewed by AllAboutJazz.com's Thomas Earl. 

* KTVI - FOX2 News is looking for "bands of all genres" to perform live on their 9:00 a.m. weekday newscast. According to a post on Facebook from the station's Kim Hudson, they "need to see videos with clean lyrics and content appropriate for morning television. It always helps if you brag on yourself, too. So, let us know what concerts you have coming up and what big things you have done in the past. Send those videos and all that info to kim.hudson@tvstl.com."

* The 60th anniversary of the release of the movie Elevator to the Gallows, directed by Louis Malle and featuring a soundtrack by Miles Davis (pictured, with the film's star Jeanne Moreau), was noted in articles on LittleWhiteLies.com, DVDTalk.com, and Film School Rejects. 

* And speaking of Miles Davis, a post this week on OpenCulture.com highlights a Spotify playlist featuring 65 hours of Davis' music in chronological order of release.

* Jazz St. Louis is looking to hire an executive assistant to work with the executive director/CEO and the director of development. You can find details on the job and how to apply here.

* The Baylor Project, fronted by drummer and St. Louis native Marcus Baylor and his wife, singer Jean Baylor, were the subject of a brief feature by the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson published before last Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony.

The Baylors, who were nominated for Grammys in two different categories, unfortunately did not take home any trophies on Sunday night, but they will be coming to St. Louis to make their local debut at Jazz at the Bistro from Wednesday, March 28 through Saturday, March 31.

The Baylors on Thursday also shared via email a compilation of photos and social media posts documenting their "Grammy Week" experiences.

* Last Saturday's performance by singer Barb Jungr and pianist/singer John McDaniel at the Kranzberg Arts Center was reviewed by KDHX's Chuck Lavazzi.

* Family and friends of Nathan Jatcko are setting up a scholarship in the late pianist's name at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Donations may be made online at http://www.siue.edu/give or by mail to Kyle Moore, Director of Development, College of Arts & Sciences, SIUE Foundation, Box 5048, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL 62026. The memo line on a check should read "Nathan Jatcko." Anyone with questions about online giving can contact Moore via email at kymoore (at) siue.edu or by phone at 618-650‑5048.

A "celebration of the life and music of Nathan Jatcko" also is planned for next Friday, February 8 at Off Broadway.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* HEC-TV has posted online a "lost episode" of the program I Love Jazz, featuring an interview with and performances by guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and his son, guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli.

The episode was filmed in 2014, before the death of host Don Wolff in November 2015, but just now has been released for the first time.

* The Sheldon Art Galleries will present a free gallery talk by Dr. Aurelia Hartenberger on the history of stringed instruments at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 12.

The talk is presented in conjunction with the exhibit "The World of Spectacular Strings," which features more than 100 unique stringed instruments from around the world and continues until April 21, 2017. Admission is free, but you must reserve a seat in advance by calling Paula Lincoln at 314-533-9900 x 37 or emailing plincoln@TheSheldon.org.

* Speaking of The Sheldon, they've posted on Facebook an album of photos from last Saturday's concert by Cécile McLorin Salvant.

* Singer Chuck Flowers (pictured) appeared on KTVI-FOX 2's Wednesday morning newscast to promote his appearance tonight at The Dark Room.

* The online radio station Radio63119 has posted an interview featuring poet and percussionist David A.N. Jackson talking with bassist Darrell Mixon and drummer Gary Sykes about their careers in music and more.

* Another new episode of E.B. Stephenson's podcast "The Jazz Mixer" is online, featuring recordings from St. Louis musicians including the Sessions Big Band, Brett Stamps, Farshid Etniko, and more.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Trumpeter Keyon Harrold was interviewed about his forthcoming album The Mugician by Billboard magazine.

* Last Saturday's Alton Wine and Jazz Festival, which was headlined by Harrold, was the subject of a feature story from the Alton Riverbender's Steven Spencer.

* In other Harrold family news, drummer Emanuel Harrold (pictured), who's Keyon's younger brother, was interviewed by Tony Minvielle of the UK online radio station Jazz FM. 

* The Brothers Lazaroff promoted their gigs this weekend at Jazz at the Bistro with an appearance on the morning news at KTVI - FOX 2.

* Multi-instrumentalist Lamar Harris was interviewed about his score for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis’ presentation of Blow, Winds by the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn.

The production, a re-imagining of King Lear written by Nancy Bell, will be performed at 8:00 pm nightly starting Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17 outside of the St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library Branch downtown.

* Saxophonist Donny Piela of the St. Louis Big Band was profiled by the Washington Missourian.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Bassist and St. Louis native Tom Kennedy has released a new album titled Points of View, available now via CD Baby and various digital music services.

The album (pictured) includes eight tracks - including one with a titular shout-out to St. Louis, "Gaslight Square Blues" - performed by a stellar cast of musicians including drummer and St. Charles native Dave Weckl; singer and former St. Louisan Karla Harris; trumpeter Randy Brecker; saxophonists Bill Evans, Bob Franceschini and Bob Malach; guitarists Mike Stern, Lee Ritenour and Chuck Loeb; drummers Obed Calvaire and Richie Morales; and more.

* Singer Chuck Flowers performed this week on the morning newscast of KTVI/Fox 2, promoting his upcoming gig on Sunday, April 23 at BB's Jazz Blues & Soups.

* Last week's homecoming performance by trumpeter Keyon Harrold, drummer Kimberly Thompson and pianist Lawrence Fields at Jazz at the Bistro got a shout-out from the St. Louis American's Delores Shante.

* Singer Brian Owens has released an animated music video for his song "For You," featuring additional vocals by fellow Ferguson native Michael McDonald, the singer known for his work as a Grammy winning solo artist and with classic rock bands The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan.

The video, which includes animated renderings of several St. Louisi landmarks, supports the release of Owens' latest album Soul of Ferguson, and can be seen on YouTube and on Owens' Facebook page and website.

* Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Alan Ox will provide the musical entertainment for "A Night In The Stacks," an event benefiting SIUE's Lovejoy Library to be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at the Library on the SIUE campus.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Jazz St. Louis has posted to Facebook an album of photos from last Friday's National Donut Day celebration at their HQ in Grand Center. A panel of judges sampled donuts from 15 local shops and bakeries, and selected downtown's Pharoah's Donuts as the winner.

* Pianist Simon Rowe, a native of Australia who lived in St. Louis for a number of years and performed with saxophonist Willie Akins and others, was the subject of a feature story on the website OpenSkyJazz.com. Rowe now resides in California, where he serves as executive director of the Brubeck Institute at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

* Bassist Chano Cruz is this year's recipient of the Richard McDonnell memorial scholarship from Jazz St. Louis. The scholarship is named for the late founder of MAXJAZZ Records, and was presented to Cruz last Sunday during the annual concert at Jazz at the Bistro raising money for the scholarship fund. Cruz (pictured, with his bass teacher Bob DeBoo) is from Saint Peters and will study jazz performance at Northern Illinois University.

* Guitarist Dave Black has posted to YouTube a video of his original song "Night Traveler," recorded last Saturday during his concert at Focal Point.

* Multi-instrumentalist Lamar Harris' shows this weekend paying tribute to George Clinton and Parliament/Funkedelic were previewed in a segment on KTVI/FOX 2's morning newscast on Tuesday. Harris will present the P-Funk tribute tonight and tomorrow night at Jazz at the Bistro.

* Drummer and U City native Ronnie Burrage is taking time out from leading his own band to gig this weekend with saxophonists Gary Bartz and Rene McLean at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club in NYC, paying tribute to McLean's dad, the great alto saxophonist Jackie McLean.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Jazz St. Louis' observance of today's "National Donut Day" holiday was the subject of a feature story on Fox 2/KTVI's morning newscast.

* Multi-instrumentalist Adam Maness and guitarist Tim Fischer have formed the First Tuesday Composers Club "to give an outlet for professional and amateur musicians and composers to experiment and share new music".

The "informal, open" group will meet monthly at The Dark Room in Grand Center, with the first session scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7.

* The soundtrack from the Clark Terry documentary Keep On Keepin' On will be released as as a double vinyl album on June 23. Promo materials for the two-LP set call it "basically a Best Of collection from legendary trumpet player Clark Terry (that) features many of his most iconic recordings, including his performances with some of the all-time jazz greats: Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Count Basie, and Quincy Jones."

* East St. Louis' own Terreon Gully (pictured) drums and gets a co-producer credit on vibraphonist Joe Locke's latest album Love Is A Pendulum, released last week by Motéma Music. The recording features all original compositions by Locke, performed with help from Gully, Robert Rodriguez (piano), and Ricky Rodriguez (bass), plus special guests Rosario Giuliani (alto/soprano sax), Donny McCaslin (tenor sax), Victor Provost (steel pan), Theo Bleckmann (voice), and Paul Bollenback (guitar).

* The recently formed STL Free Jazz Collective has set up a BandCamp page with a free-to-download live album recorded at Tavern of Fine Arts. The group also has posted on YouTube a short promotional video with some live footage from ToFA.

* In a new blog post, saxophonist and St. Louis native Greg Osby shares some responses to a post from last fall about how jazz critics might benefit from a greater knowledge of the day-to-day life of working musicians.

* The Route 66 Jazz Orchestra has posted on Facebook a photo album from their performance Wednesday night at Jazz at the Bistro. Also on Facebook, photo albums from the North County Big Band on Sunday at the Sheldon Concert Hall, and a recent Sound Unlimited show at Candicci's

* First Capitol News offered some impressions of singer Tony Viviano's recent Bobby Darin tribute show at Patrick's in Westport.

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis, Calvin Wilson's program “Somethin’ Else” will celebrate 80 years since the birth of soulful guitarist and St. Louis native Grant Green by showcasing some of Green's finest recordings, including tracks from his quartet with pianist Sonny Clark.

After that, "The Jazz Collective" and host Jason Church return with a new program featuring tunes from Craig Sharmat, Freddie Hubbard, Donald Fagen, Joshua Redman, Bob James, Maxwell, Down To The Bone, Big Brother Thunder & The MasterBlasters, The Brian Vaccaro Trio, Dawn Weber and Feyza Eren.

"Somethin' Else" airs at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays, followed by "The Jazz Collective" at 9:00 p.m., on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Then on Sunday, Dennis Owsley's "Jazz Unlimited" program on St. Louis Public Radio will present “West Coast Jazz-Part 1,” with music from Dave Brubeck, Wardell Gray, Hampton Hawes, Stan Kenton Orchestra, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, Shorty Rogers, Bud Shank, Laurindo Almeida, Russ Freeman, Milt Bernhart, Jack Montrose, Clifford Brown & Max Roach, Teddy Edwards, Carl Perkins, Russ Freeman, Jack Sheldon, Bob Cooper, Claude Williamson, Dexter Gordon, John Graas, Bill Perkins, Marty Paich, Andre Previn, Art Pepper, and more.

You can listen in from 9:00 pm to midnight Sundays on KWMU (90.7 FM) and online at http://www.news.stlpublicradio.org.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The midtown music venue and restaurant Plush (pictured), which very occasionally featured jazz as part of its eclectic musical menu, will close on January 3.

In a story by Kevin Johnson in today's Post-Dispatch, the owner cites a lack of working capital and the loss of two key employees as reasons for the closing.

Most of the 2015 concerts already booked into Plush will be moved to 2720 Cherokee, except for the Zappa Plays Zappa show on April 20, which has yet to find a new venue. Watch this space for updates...

* You can get a close-up look at Clark Terry's 94th birthday celebration from earlier this month via this YouTube video.

* Also, Keep On Keepin' On, the recently release documentary film about Terry, is the subject of a feature story in Jazz Times.

* Jazz St. Louis' presentation this week of Duke Ellington's "Nutcracker" was featured on the morning news at local Fox affiliate KTVI (Channel 2).

* Jazz radio update: This Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis' “Somethin’ Else,” host Calvin Wilson gets very artist-specific, focusing on the quartet recordings of saxophonist Joshua Redman, including those featuring supporting work from the likes of Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau. The program can be heard at 8:00 p.m. on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Ronnie Burrage homecoming week to include three performances, induction into University City HS Hall of Fame

University City native Ronnie Burrage no doubt has had many weeks packed with activity while touring the world as drummer for jazz legends including Joe Zawinul, McCoy Tyner and Wayne Shorter.

These days, though he may travel a bit less now that he's teaching at Penn State University, he continues to maintain a busy schedule of gigging and recording in addition to his classroom commitments.

So you'd think maybe that when Burrage (pictured) decided to come home for a few days, he might want to just take it easy, hang out, see some family and friends, that sort of thing. Instead, his trip back to St. Louis this week bears scant resemblance to a vacation, with a live TV appearance with his band; three gigs at two different venues; and an induction ceremony in which he'll enter the Hall of Fame for his alma mater University City High School.

Burrage, who graduated from UCHS in 1978, will be honored along with 10 other alumni including a Nevada Supreme Court justice and a NASA scientist in a ceremony and banquet on Friday at the Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel, held as part of the school's homecoming weekend.

The UCHS Hall of Fame was established in 1999 and now numbers 110 graduates among its members, including playwright Tennessee Williams, hip-hop performer Cornell “Nelly” Haynes, Oakland A's co-owner Lewis Nelson Wolff, and philanthropist E. Desmond Lee. This year's inductees also will participate in the school's homecoming parade, which begins at 10:00 a.m. Saturday and goes from the Delmar Loop to the high school at 7401 Balson Ave.

Before that, though, on Tuesday Burrage and his eponymous ensemble Band Burrage will perform live on the morning newscast on local Fox affiliate KTVI, appearing in the 9:00 a.m. hour with host Tim Ezell. (You can see a clip of Burrage's last visit to the station here.)

In addition to the leader on drums and keyboards, Band Burrage also includes another St. Louisan, guitarist Eric Slaughter, plus saxophonist Rick Tate, bassist Nimrod Speaks and singer Shenel Johns.

After their TV appearance, they'll perform three live shows this week. On Thursday, they'll play at Robbie's House of Jazz. Then after the Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, and again on Saturday, Burrage and company will move to midtown for two sets per night at the Kranzberg Arts Center.

All three gigs will featured material from the group's forthcoming CD Heal, which includes original songs by Burrage, Tate, Speaks, and saxophonist Alain Bradette.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Today is saxophonist Oliver Lake's 70th birthday, and Lake (pictured) is celebrating with a weekend of shows at NYC's Jazz Standard.

* Drummer Montez Coleman was profiled for the St. Louis Beacon by Terry Perkins.

* Saxquest has posted on their Facebook page a photo album from Sunday's performance and clinic by Bob Sheppard.

* And speaking of photo sets and Facebook, the St. Louis Big Band has posted some pictures from their gig last Saturday at Chesterfield Amphitheater.

* Are drummer Dave Weckl and keyboardist Jay Oliver, who first collaborated as up-and-coming musicians here in their hometown of St. Louis, getting ready for a new project together? Weckl this week teased the possibility by posting this photo to his Facebook page.

* Trumpeter, singer and U City native Jeremy Davenport was interviewed last week by News Orleans' WWNO radio. Davenport will be back in St. Louis at least twice during the 2012-13 presenting season - at Jazz at the Bistro for Thanksgiving weekend, and again in February at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

* While he was in town earlier this week to play two nights at Jazz at the Bistro, bassist Marcus Miller also stopped by the studios of local Fox affiliate KTVI for a short interview.

* And speaking of the Bistro, a recent article from the St. Louis Examiner on the website of CBS Radio affiliate KMOX named the club as one of the "Top Places for Rekindling Romance in St. Louis."

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* St. Louis' FOX affiliate KTVI had two jazz-related stories during this past Wednesday's local newscasts. The St. Louis Big Band (pictured) and singer Joe Mancuso were featured in a performance segment, and Jazz St. Louis executive director Gene Dobbs Bradford was interviewed about JSL's new season. The StLBB performs this Saturday evening at Chesterfield Amphitheater; Jazz St. Louis' season opens on Sunday with Marcus Miller at Jazz at the Bistro.

* And speaking of Marcus Miller, the bassist talked about picking cover songs for his new album Renaissance in an interview with the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson, which can be viewed online here.

* This also is the opening weekend for the Sheldon Art Galleries' new Al Hirschfeld exhibit, which focuses on the famed caricaturist and St. Louis native's interest in jazz and Broadway; see the stories by the St. Louis Beacon's Nancy Fowler and the P-D's Calvin Wilson for details.

* Also from the Post, Peter Martin shares some background about the piece he's writing for the Sheldon's 100th anniversary via what looks to be an email to Johnson; and book editor Jane Henderson has word that a 1962 Playboy magazine interview with Miles Davis is the first to be offered by the magazine for purchase in the Kindle ebook format.

* Ragtime pianist and composer Scott Joplin, who once lived in St. Louis, and Kansas City's renowned saxophonist and bebop pioneer Charlie Parker are among the latest inductees into the Missouri Music Hall of Fame in St. Joseph.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

Here's the latest wrap-up of links and short local news items of interest that you may have missed:

* Pianist Peter Martin has added singer Erin Bode (pictured) and bassist Chris Thomas to the lineup for his concert with guitarist Romero Lubambo on December 4 at the Sheldon.

* Jazz St. Louis offers some pictures on their Facebook page of guitarist Russell Malone's Wednesday night performance at Jazz at the Bistro. (You don't have to be logged in to Facebook to view the photos.) Malone, who continues at the club through tomorrow night, also appeared today on the morning news program at local FOX affiliate KTVI (Channel 2).

* Local music journalist, KDHX DJ and record-store-guy Steve Pick has a review of Jazz Matters, a new book by Donald Ake, now up at Blurt Online.

*The Riverfront Times' Diane Benanti previews this weekend's Noise Fest at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center.

* The Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson writes that The Jazz Spot - which, despite its name, hardly ever programmed any actual jazz music - has closed, yielding the space at 400 Washington Ave. to a dance club called Love.

* More than a year after switching from mostly local programming to syndicated fare, radio station WSIE (88.7 FM) has revamped their website. A blog post on the new site offers an update on current happenings at the station, and indicates that more changes are in the works, including the potential return of programs with local content. For those interested in keeping up with the latest developments, WSIE also has set up a Facebook Fan page and Twitter feed.

More coverage of KFUO sale

The proposed sale of radio station KFUO (99.1 FM) is continuing to generate controversy and press coverage. Over the weekend, reporter Charles Jaco of local Fox affiliate KTVI (Channel 2) did a story on the sale that included an interview with Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra president Fred Bronstein. You can see that report online here.

(For more background on the sale of KFUO, and why it matters to local fans of jazz as well as classical music, see here, here, here, here and here. )

Also, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Sarah Bryan Miller has another sale-related post today on the paper's Culture Club blog - specifically, it seems that the station's current owners, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, now have told KFUO personnel to refrain from talking to the press about the sale.

Over the weekend, the Post also ran a piece from religion reporter Tim Townsend headlined "Evangelism at the heart of KFUO-FM sale," which prompted a sharp response from pro-classical music commenters as well as an answering post from Miller.

Last but not least, an earlier StLJN post on the subject prompted an interesting comment by reader "fromwis," which apparently also is being posted on comment threads related to the story on various media outlets around town. The comment indicates that not all the LCMS board members are happy with the terms of the proposed sale, and because the post in question has slipped off the front page, the comment is reproduced in full below:

"Used with the express permission of Dr. Paul L. Maier

Paul L. Maier, Ph.D., Litt.D, LL.D.
Department of History
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008

(269) 387-4816 maier@wmich.edu Fax: (269) 387-4651

STATEMENT REGARDING KFUO

October 8, 2009

Selling KFUO-FM was a clear violation of Christian ethics. Primed with wrong information, the LCMS Board of Directors that authorized the sale ignored an appeal by 41 principal church leaders not to sell KFUO-FM, disregarded crucial ethical issues involved in betraying the trust of KFUO’s founders and supporters, and has now sold a vital mission of our church, gaining proceeds to which it was legally but not morally entitled. This was not Synod’s investment, but that of listeners across 85 years who prayed, worked, and gave sacrificially to support KFUO. Did the matter of basic ethics ever occur to board members, the obligation to do right rather than wrong? And in a church board, no less?

And all this while destroying one of our country’s great, pioneer radio stations and alienating the cultural community of St. Louis -- and the world.

Moreover, radio experts wonder why the Board relegated so important a decision to a small committee (one which avoided other options for Lutheran ownership), and are mystified that it would sell such an asset at the worst possible time economically. They deem the sales agreement “dead on arrival,” since the millions claimed in the sale have little chance of reali- zation. Joy-FM, the purchaser, is non-commercial and already owes $600,000 on its two “rim-shot” stations. One cannot escape the conclusion that this was one of the worst decisions ever made by any board in the history of our church body.

Paul L. Maier
Second Vice-President
The Lutheran Church—Mo. Synod"

(Edited after posting to add a link and fix a typo.)

Erin Bode featured on FOX 2 news

Singer Erin Bode was the subject of a feature last night on the newscast of St. Louis' Fox network affiliate KTVI (Channel 2). The story by anchor/reporter Dan Gray looked at Bode's work to raise money for a South African school and how the ongoing project has affected her religious faith. You can read the text version here, and see the video here.