Jazz this week: Kneebody, a tribute to Scott Joplin, "Sculptures in Sound," and more

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis offers a century-spanning variety of sounds, ranging from a tribute to legendary composer who helped lay the foundation for jazz to a group offering their own contemporary version of a musical melting pot.

Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, March 29
The eclectic electro-acoustic fusion quintet Kneebody performs for the first of four nights continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro.

The group (pictured, top left) is touring in support of their latest recording Anti-Hero, their eighth studio album, released earlier this month. For more about Kneebody, plus videos featuring performances of some of the music from Anti-Hero, see this post from Saturday before last.

Elsewhere in Grand Center, the weekly "Grand Center Jazz Crawl" proceeds with guitarist/singer Tommy Halloran at KDHX's Magnolia Cafe, Farshid Etniko at the Curtain Call Lounge, the jam session with bassist  Bob Deboo and friends at the Kranzberg Arts Center and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor at The Dark Room.

Also on Wednesday, the weekly jam session with pianist Curt Landes, bassist Glen Smith and drummer Chuck Kennedy continues at @Nesby's in South County.

Thursday, March 30
The Jazz at Holmes series presents a free concert by students from Washington University's jazz studies program; the Schlafly Tap Room hosts the March edition of the Bruxism experimental music series, this month featuring music from Ice, Catholic Guilt, and Beauty Pageant; and pianist Adam Maness' trio plays at Thurman's in Shaw.

Friday, March 31
Trumpeter Jim Manley returns to One 19 North Tapas and Wine Bar, and singer Tony Viviano will perform at @Nesby's.

Saturday, April 1
Paying tribute on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of Joplin's death, the Friends of Scott Joplin will present "Scott Joplin: A Centennial Reflection" at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site.

The event will feature music by pianist John Reed-Torres (pictured, bottom left), members of the Confluence Chamber Orchestra, and vocalists from the University of Missouri St Louis, plus  speakers from UMSL's history department.

Saturday night, the St. Louis Artists' Guild's "Sculptures in Sound" series resumes with a concert from trumpeter Keith Moyer's quintet.

Sunday, April 2
The Friends of Scott Joplin continue their observance of the centennial of Joplin's death with their monthly "Ragtime Rendezvous" at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, and the Jazz Troubadours will perform and host a jam session at Evangeline's.

Monday, April 3
Student from the jazz program at Webster University will present a free concert at Webster's Community Music School.

Tuesday, April 4
Singer Kim Fuller performs "A Tribute to Nancy Wilson" in the first of two late-morning "Coffee Concerts" - there's a second show on Wednesday morning - at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

For more jazz-related events in and around St. Louis, please visit the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar, which can be found on the left sidebar of the site or by clicking here. You also can keep up with all the latest news by following St. Louis Jazz Notes on Twitter at http://twitter.com/StLJazzNotes or clicking the "Like" icon on the StLJN Facebook page.

(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.)

"Sculptures in Sound" series launching Saturday, March 4 at St. Louis Artists' Guild

The St. Louis Artists' Guild has announced a new concert series of jazz and creative music called "Sculptures in Sound."

The series, curated by saxophonist and educator Christopher Braig, will begin with a concert featuring trombonist Michael Vlatkovich at 8:00 p.m. this Saturday, March 4 at the Artists' Guild, 12 N Jackson Ave in Clayton.

A St. Louis native who moved to Los Angeles in 1973, Vlatkovich (pictured) has toured extensively in the USA, Canada and Europe, and has worked as a collaborator and sideman with a variety of singers and instrumentalists, including Vinny Golia, Peggy Lee, Brian Setzer, ROVA Saxophone Quartet, Bryan Adams, Bobby Bradford, Gerry Hemingway, and Rob Blakeslee.

Though he's played jazz, rock, pop and world music, and can be heard on a number of film and TV soundtracks, Vlatkovich's own music emphasizes free improvisation, working in formats including solo performance, in a duo with poet Dorothea Grossman, and leading a trio or quartet.

For his St. Louis show, Vlatkovich will be joined by Braig and fellow St. Louis saxophonist Jay Hutson. And while he's here, the trombonist also will present a free, public open rehearsal and masterclass starting at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 3 at the Artists' Guild.

Subsequent concerts in the "Sculptures in Sound" series will feature performances by trumpeter Keith Moyer's quintet on Saturday, April 1, and Christopher Braig's Aboriginal Quartet with trumpeter Pat Harbison on Saturday, May 6.

Single tickets for any of the concerts in the series are $25 for general admission and a CD; $15 for general admission only; or $10 for students with ID, and can be purchased online or at the door. Series tickets are available for $40 for all three concerts, or $70 for three concerts plus three CDs.