So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Singer Denise Thimes was interviewed about Aretha Franklin by St. Louis Public Radio. 

* Trombonist and St. Louis native Jimmy Wilkins (pictured) has died at age 97 in Las Vegas. Wilkins, the brother of saxophonist Ernie Wilkins, performed with Count Basie, Clark Terry, Motown studio band The Funk Brothers, and more. He spent much of his adult life in Detroit, and had lived in Las Vegas since 1994.

* Pianist Ptah Williams and other jazz acts playing at this year's Loufest are the subjects of a brief St. Louis magazine feature penned by Thomas Crone.

* Also in St. Louis magazine, writer Jeannette Cooperman previews tomorrow night's "Labor of Love" show featuring the Kranzberg Arts Foundation's resident artists at the Grandel Theatre. 

* Bassist and singer Janet Evra of The Bonbon Plot has released a music video for "You or Me," a song from her forthcoming debut album Ask Her to Dance. The video, directed by Bill Streeter of Hydraulic Pictures, features Evra and the musicians who performed on the track, including guitarist Will Buchanan, drummer Montez Coleman, pianist Adam Maness, and trumpeter Khamali Cuffie-Moore.

* The House of Miles East St. Louis is hosting a "Kind of Blue and You Fundraiser!" on Tuesday, September 25 at the Casino Queen.

* St. Louis multi-instrumentalist and freelance writer Kevin Mitchell has teamed up with Webster University Community Music School violin teacher and ensemble director Joanne Keefe to write  Jazz Songs for the Student Violinist, which is available now from Sher Music.

* There still are some spaces open in the "Drum Fantasy Camp" tour group traveling with drummer Dave Weckl in January to Havana, Cuba.

* The Sheldon Art Galleries have announced a new exhibit showcasing more instruments from the Hartenberger World Music Collection. "St. Louis, A Musical Gateway: The Balkans, India and Mexico" will open with a reception at 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 5 and continue through Saturday, April 13, 2019. The exhibit will feature more than 150 "unique and rare" instruments from India, Mexico and the Balkan region.

Curator Dr. Aurelia Hartenberger will present a gallery talk about the instruments at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 4. The talk is free, but space is limited, so to reserve a spot, send an email to plincoln@thesheldon.org or call The Sheldon at 314-533-9900 x37.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* New Music Circle will raise money for their upcoming 59th season with "an evening of drinks and DJs" from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 22 at Tick Tock Tavern, 3459 Magnolia Ave in the Tower Grove East neighborhood.

The free event will include raffles for prizes including CDs, LPs, and tickets to upcoming NMC concerts; and a preview of the upcoming season schedule.  Proceeds from drinks purchased during the event will go to support NMC.

* Speaking of season previews, Jazz St. Louis will (re)introduce their upcoming season with a free "preview party" event at 6:00 p.m. next Tuesday, August 8 at Jazz at the Bistro.

JSL's Gene Dobbs Bradford and Bob Bennett will offer their insights into the artist selection and planning process for the year, and complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Space is limited, so they're asking those who want to attend to RSVP by emailing boxoffice@jazzstl.org or calling 314-571-6000 by tomorrow (Friday, August 4).

* Also from Jazz St. Louis, their monthly book club will resume for the 2017-18 season on Tuesday, September 12 with a discussion of Dorothy Baker's novel Young Man with a Horn.

The group, which is facilitated by Washington University professor Gerald Early, meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the first floor lounge at Jazz St. Louis headquarters, 3536 Washington Ave. There's no charge for membership, and meetings are free to attend. For more details, including the list of books that will be discussed this season, go here.

* In advance of his concert next Thursday, August 10 at Powell Hall, keyboardist Herbie Hancock (pictured) answered some questions from the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson.

* Keyboardist/bandleader and writer Kevin Mitchell was profiled by the St. Louis County Arts blog

* Also new from the St. Louis County Arts blog: a brief feature story on the Route 66 Jazz Orchestra.

* Music Record Shop in Grand Center was the subject of a feature story on KSDK-TV's local newscast.

* There's still time to vote in DownBeat magazine's 82nd annual readers poll by casting your online ballot here.  Results of the poll will be published in the mag's December issue.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The 50th anniversary of famed sound engineer and designer Bob Heil's company (based in Fairview Heights, IL) is the subject of an article by St. Louis freelance writer and musician Kevin Mitchell for the music trade website Front of House Online.

* Speaking of freelance writers, St. Louis' own Terry Perkins has two articles in the current (February 2016) issue of DownBeat magazine: a feature story on trumpeter Randy Brecker, and a short history of Murry's, a club in Columbia, MO that's listed in the same issue as one of "193 Great Jazz Venues" worldwide.

Also making the jazz venue list from Missouri were Jazz St. Louis' Ferring Jazz Bistro, aka Jazz at the Bistro, and the Blue Room in Kansas City. While neither of Perkins' articles currently is among the limited content offered by DownBeat for free online, the mag would, of course, be happy to sell you a copy or an annual subscription to either the print or digital version. (Or you can look for a print copy at a bookstore or newsstand, if you can find one of those.)

* And speaking of Jazz St. Louis, the organization's executive director Gene Dobbs Bradford was interviewed on video by the website OnStL.

* According to an article by Joe Holleman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and STLtoday.com, downtown's Thaxton Speakeasy (pictured), which features live vintage jazz and swing most Thursday evenings, is being sued by ASCAP for non-payment of performance rights fees.

* Free-improvising pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn was interviewed briefly for a preview, published on the KDHX website, of her New Music Circle concert tonight with drummer Frank Rosaly.

* Also on the KDHX website, the St. Louis Banjo Club is the subject of a feature article by volunteer Bill Motchan.

* Two St. Louis natives, trumpeter Keyon Harrold and keyboardist Shedrick Mitchell, were among the musicians pictured in a New York Times photo feature about the recently concluded Winter Jazzfest.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn is set to be a guest performer on the upcoming album from Chicago saxophonist Frank Catalano and ex-Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain.

* Collinsville native Angela Sapolis' cabaret show on January 28 at the Monocle was previewed in a story in the Belleville News Democrat.

* Keyboardist and impresario Michael Silverman was featured on the blog of digital sheet music vendor Musica Neo.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Clark Terry just got a birthday-week visit from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, who detoured between scheduled stops on their current trek through the southern USA to perform for the legendary trumpeter at his bedside in a Little Rock hospital.

You can read JaLCO leader Wynton Marsalis' account of the visit here, and see more photos here. (In case you didn't know, Terry turns 94 on Sunday; StLJN will be paying tribute in this week's Saturday Video Showcase.)

* Speaking of photo albums, we've got links to several more today, starting with some shots from last week's New Music Circle concert featuring saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell and pianist Craig Taborn.

* Also from last week, the Dave Dickey Big Band has posted some pics to Facebook of their most recent gig at Jazz At the Bistro.

* Lastly, the Kevin Mitchell 4 is one of several local groups and musicians tapped during the holiday season to serenade Metrolink riders from inside their train car, and they've posted the photographic evidence on Facebook here.

* The Lindbergh High School jazz ensemble was featured on Fox 2's Thursday morning newscast. The band heads to Chicago next week to perform at the Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference, but first, they'll play for the hometown crowd in a free preview concert at 7;00 p.m. this coming Monday, December 15 at Lindbergh HS, 5000 S. Lindbergh Blvd.

* The recently rediscovered recording of singer and East St. Louisan Leon Thomas performing with the British jazz-fusion group Nucleus at the 1970 Montreux Jazz Festival has been reviewed again for AllAboutJazz.com, this time by AAJ's Bruce Lindsay.

* And speaking of "recently rediscovered," a 43-minute video of St. Louis-born guitarist Grant Green playing live in 1969 in Paris has been made available online as a paid download. (A copy of the show briefly posted to YouTube was removed after a take-down notice from Green's son.)

Given that up until now, any video of Green (pictured) has been scarcer than the proverbial hen's teeth, it's certainly a welcome find, though $19.99 for a download - no packaging, no extra materials, just a video file - seems a bit steep, even for something of this relative rarity.

* John Fornaszewski, longtime owner of Fornaszewski Music in Granite City, drummer, and father of drummer and bandleader Stan Fornaszewski, died this past Saturday at age 74 after suffering a heart attack. Our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues...

* Jazz radio update: WSIE (88.7 FM) aka "The Jazz Station" is conducting another fund-raising drive today, tomorrow and Sunday. You can tune in to the broadcast or check out the live online stream for details on pledge premiums, and to listen throughout the weekend for special guests, interviews and more.

Meanwhile, this Saturday on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis, Calvin Wilson's “Somethin’ Else” program will feature the songs of Harold Arlen (composer of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," "Blues In The Night," and many more jazz and pop standards) as interpreted by Nicholas Payton, Max Roach, Dominique Eade, and others.

Right after that, Jason Church's The Jazz Collective will be in a holiday mood with season sounds from Harry Connick, Jr., Lynne Fiddmont, Candy Dulfer, Dave Koz, Vibraphonic, Manhattan Transfer, Mindi Abair, Al Hammerman, Dawn Weber, Funky Butt Brass Band, Jim Manley, and more.

Wilson's program can be heard at 8:00 p.m., followed by Church at 9:00 p.m., on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

A guide to holiday jazz in St. Louis

Along with parties and presents, the holidays always include plenty of seasonal music, and if you're the sort who likes some jazz with your jingle bells, you'll have plenty of choices this month in St. Louis.

Here's a quick look at some noteworthy holiday shows from local and visiting jazz musicians, listed in chronological order:

Wednesday, December 3 - Saturday, December 6
Joey DeFrancesco Trio - "Home for the Holidays"
7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro
$35 Wednesday & Thursday, $40 Friday & Saturday
The organist's return to the Bistro coincides with the release of Home For The Holidays, a new album of seasonal material, and he'll be incorporating selections from it into his show.

Saturday, December 6
Oikos Ensemble - "What Child is This? A Jazz Nativity"
3:00 p.m., First Congregational Church, 10 W Lockwood Ave., 63119
Free
This year's holiday program from saxophonist Rev. Cliff Aerie and friends will be performed at three different locations over two weekends.

Sunday, December 7
Funky Butt Brass Band - "A Funky Butt Holiday Concert" with the St. Louis Community College-Meramec Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Concert Choir
3:00 p.m., Meramec Theatre, St Louis Community College-Meramec
Free
St. Louis' favorite New Orleans-style brass band teams up with three different ensembles from StLCC-Meramec.

Oikos Ensemble - "What Child is This? A Jazz Nativity"
3:00 p.m., Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 N Ballas Rd, 63131
Free

UMSL's Jazz for the Holidays with the UMSL Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Point and University Orchestra
3:00 p.m., Touhill Performing Arts Center
Free
This annual presentation showcases three of UMSL's student ensembles.

"A Common Time Christmas" with Joe Mancuso, Michelle Knollhoff, and more
5:00 p.m., The Duck Room at Blueberry Hill
$15
Jazz-fusion band with guest vocalists offers their take on holiday songs.

Dave Dickey Big Band and Webster Groves H.S. Jazz Band 1 - "Big Band Christmas"
6:00 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro
$15 adults, $5 students
This month's gig by the DDBB features original big band arrangements of holiday favorites

Erin Bode - "Christmas Jazz and Dessert Concert"
6:00 p.m., Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand
$18
Bode and her band will perform holiday favorites, both traditional and original. Admission price includes beverage and dessert.

Monday, December 8
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O
7:30 p.m., Joe's Cafe
$20 adults, $8 students and "struggling music supporters"
The versatile drummer and friends reprise some of the music from their 2010 holiday album.

Friday, December 12
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O with Webster Groves HS Jazz Big Bands
7:00 p.m., Webster Groves HS Auditorium, 100 Selma Ave, 63119
$10 general admission
Culminating a week-long residency, Wilson and the Tree-O this time will be supported by big band arrangements performed by student musicians from WGHS.

Friday December 12 & Saturday, December 13
Jim Manley’s Mad Brass & Rhythm - "A Very Manley Christmas"
7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro
$25 adults, $10 students
One of St. Louis' favorite trumpeters and his seven-piece band "bring you holiday cheer."

Saturday, December 13
Oikos Ensemble - "What Child is This? A Jazz Nativity"
3:00 p.m., St. Paul United Church of Christ, 115 West B Street, Belleville, 62220
Free

Kevin Mitchell 4 Christmas Show
7:00 p.m., Evangeline's
No cover charge
Jazz-pop combo serves up "martini music" with a sprig of mistletoe.

Thursday, December 18
Tony Viviano - "Christmas in St. Louis"
6:30 p.m., Four Seasons Wine House
$50 (includes buffet dinner and show)
Sinatra-inspired singer celebrates the holidays Italian-American style.

Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20
Funky Butt Brass Band Holiday Brasstravaganza
9:00 p.m., Off Broadway
General admission $15 advance, $18 DOS; reserved balcony seating $25 advance, $28 DOS; plus $3 surcharge for minors
Now in its sixth year, the FBBB's annual holiday show has grown too popular to be contained in just one night.

Monday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 23
Jazz St. Louis Big Band plays Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker”
7:30 p.m., Jazz at the Bistro
$25 adults, $10 students
A big band featuring mostly SIUE grads turned local pros performs Ellington's re-imagining of Tchaikovsky's classic, plus favorites from the Duke's vast catalog.

Do you know of any holiday jazz shows in St. Louis that we missed? If so, please share the relevant info in the comments.

(Edited 12/5/14 to add the Erin Bode event.)

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Euclid Records has completed their move to new digs and is now open for business at 19 N. Gore in Webster Groves, as documented by the local edition of Patch.com.

* The fifth part of Dennis Owsley's documentary on St. Louis jazz history will air during his program "Jazz Unlimited" at 9:00 p.m. this Sunday on KWMU (90.7 FM). This installment covers the Gaslight Square period of the late 1950s and 1960s, and features music from Sammy Gardner, Singleton Palmer, Muggsy Sprecher, the St. Louis Ragtimers, Ceil Clayton, Clea Bradford, Jeanne Trevor and the Quartet Tres Bien, and others, plus interviews with Jeter Thompson, Norman Menne and Joe Buerger. Previous installments can be heard online on KWMU's website.

* Erin Bode (pictured) is the subject of a new episode of HEC-TV's program A Conversation With..., which features a half-hour long interview with the singer.

* Alarm Will Sound has posted to their Facebook page an album of photos from last week's performance of 1969 at the Touhill, plus a video from the show of bassist/guitarist Miles Brown re-creating a Hendrix-at-Woodstock style version of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

* Speaking of videos, here's a clip of electronic musician Joe Raglani performing last weekend at mushmaus.

* And speaking of photosets, here's one from the Dave Dickey Big Band's performance on Sunday at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company.

* Also, via KDHX, here are some photos of the show by guitarist Bill Frisell and his band Beautiful Dreamers last Sunday at the Old Rock House.

* Pianist and bandleader Kevin Mitchell has been named editorial director of a group of music magazines including Musical Merchandise Review (MMR), School Band & Orchestra (SBO), JAZZed, and Choral Director. Mitchell is a longtime freelance contributor to publications run by the magazines' new owners, Timeless Communication Corp.

* St. Louis University and the Kwame Foundation are sponsoring a jazz composition competition for high school seniors in the St. Louis area. Entry deadline is September 1, and you can get the details here.

Kevin Cole of Webster Groves HS featured in JazzEd Magazine

Trombonist and educator Kevin Cole, who directs the high school jazz band program in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves, is the subject of the cover story in the current issue of JazzEd magazine.

The piece covers Cole's background, teaching philosophy, and more, and was written by local freelance writer, pianist and bandleader Kevin Mitchell. You can read it online here.

Kevin Mitchell featured on STLtoday's Book Blog

Pianist and bandleader Kevin Mitchell, whose "day job" is author and journalist, recently was interviewed by writer Clair Applewhite for an article on STLtoday's Book Blog about his new tome St. Louis Dad. You can read the interview online here.