So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Drummer and U City native Ronnie Burrage (pictured) was interviewed on the "Jazz on the Tube" podcast.

* Singer Anita Jackson was the subject of a feature story by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson.

* Saxophonist, clarinetist and St. Louis native Dan Block's album Block Party was reviewed by London Jazz News.

* A decades-old trumpet track from Miles Davis is incorporated into a new version of "Quiet Nights, Quiet Stars" just released by singer Alexandra Jackson on her new album Legacy and Alchemy.

* The Regional Arts Commission's new plan for the future of St. Louis' arts scene was examined in an article by the Riverfront Times' Paul Friswold.

* Message To Our Folks, the book about the Art Ensemble of Chicago by bassist and Wash U assistant professor Paul Steinbeck, is out now in a paperback edition, which is available from the publisher University of Chicago Press as well as bookstores and online retailers.

* Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway's performance of their show "Sibling Revelry" this week at Jazz St. Louis was reviewed by Chuck Lavazzi of KDHX.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson was interviewed by DailyMailTV.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Pianist Peter Martin (pictured) and his company Open Studio Network were featured in a Sunday New York Times story about taking jazz piano lessons online.

* On a related note, Open Studio Network this week released their first saxophone course, "Fundamentals of Jazz Saxophone," featuring alto saxophonist Steve Wilson.

* Harris-Stowe State University has announced plans to renovate an historic building on campus that will serve as a home for the university's Don and Heide Wolff Jazz Institute and the National Black Radio Hall of Fame.

* Bassist and singer Janet Evra was the subject of a short feature by the Riverfront Times' Christian Schaeffer.

* Flute player and composer Fred Tompkins has self-released Four For St. Louis, an EP featuring four of his most recent jazz compositions, recorded with musicians including vocalist Johanna Nordhorn, pianists Greg Mills and Maryse Carlin, and drummers Steve Davis, Kyle Honeycutt, and Charlie Dent.

* The first-ever STL Drum Show will take place Saturday, October 20 at the Koken Art Factory. The free event will feature 40 vendors, drum clinics, personal appearances from drummers Glen Sobel and James Sexton, and more.

* The Miles Davis statue in Alton, IL is listed at #1 on the Chicago Tribune's "Bucket list: 20 things to see linked to influential Illinoisans."

* The Regional Arts Commission has released their report on "A Creative Vision For St. Louis," laying out "a series of priorities for the immediate future of the region’s arts scene." You can read the entire report here.

* Drummer and St. Louis expat Kimberly Thompson made news this week, in a tabloid sort of way, for a request for a restraining order she filed against her former employer, pop star Beyoncé, that contains some bizarre allegations. Read more about it in the Riverfront Times, Pitchfork, and/or TheBlast.com.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Can't make it to Jazz at the Bistro this week to hear the new lineup of The Bad Plus? You can see a free online video stream of tonight's first set starting at 7:30 p.m. via Jazz St. Louis' Facebook page.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn (pictured) was interviewed last week on NYC public radio station WBGO.

* Metro Theater Company, the long-running local troupe specializing in theater for children, will take over the Grandel Theater for most of February with two jazz-related events.

They'll present a benefit concert with music from Peter Martin, Brian Owens, and Terence Blanchard on Friday, February 3 at the Grandel, followed by a three-week run of Bud, Not Buddy, a "concert play" that is based on a Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning children's novel and will feature a live, 13-piece jazz band on stage.

* The film Django was reviewed for KDHX.org by film critic Diane Carson. In French with English subtitles, the movie dramatizes the life of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt during World War II, and will play tonight through Sunday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. each evening at Webster University's Winifred Moore auditorium.

* The death of pianist Nathan Jatcko was covered in stories written by Daniel Hill of the Riverfront Times and Nassim Benchaabane of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

* Drummer and St. Louis native Kimberly Thompson has posted to her YouTube channel a video of a full set by the Mike Stern Band recorded live at Jazz at the Bistro during their appearance there in February, 2017. Along with Thompson on drums and Stern on guitar, the band included tenor saxophonist Bob Franceschini and bassist Teymur Phell.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Saxophonist and former St. Louisan Oliver Lake (pictured) was interviewed about the founding of the Black Artsists Groups and various other subject by journalist Seth Colter Wells for a feature story on Bandcamp.com

* A recent visit by drummer Kimberly Thompson and trumpeter Keyon Harrold to Francis Howell High School was chronicled by the school's student newspaper FHC Today. Thompson and Harrold were back home in St. Louis last month for a week-long educational residency sponsored by Jazz St. Louis and performances at Jazz at the Bistro.

* Pianist Peter Martin's Open Studio Network, which produces music education videos featuring wll-known jazz musicians, was featured on a recent episode of KETC's Living St. Louis.

* Condolences to the family and friends of Tom McMahon, trombonist with the Route 66 Jazz Orchestra, who died last Wednesday, May 10 after a two-year fight with melanoma.

McMahon, 57, worked days as a software application architect at Enterprise Holdings. He is survived by his wife Amy McMahon; children Michael, Nathan and Hannah; and other members of his extended family. A visitation will take place at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday, May 20 at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd. in Kirkwood, followed at 2:00 p.m. by a remembrance. The Route 66 Jazz Orchestra dedicated their performance on Wednesday, May 17 at Jazz at the Bistro to McMahon's memory.

*.ZACK, the newest venue in Grand Center - and yes, the name is supposed to be pronounced "dot-zack" - was the subject of  a feature story on KSDK's Show Me St. Louis.

* Vernacular String Trio was profiled in the Riverfront Times as one of the 77 local bands set to perform in the paper's ShowcaseSTL event, which is set for Saturday, June 17 at various venues in The Grove.

* The jazz program at St. Dominic's High School in St. Charles, directed by saxophonist Larry Johnson, was featured in the Archdiocesan newspaper St. Louis Review. Trombonist Wyatt Forhan, a junior at St. Dominic's, is one of two St. Louis area student musicians selected this year for the Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.

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

* The 10th annual Record Store Day celebration will be held this year on Saturday, April 22, and yr. StLJN editor once again will be playing a small part in the festivities at Vintage Vinyl in University City, serving as a "guest DJ" spinning tunes on the in-house sound system for an hour starting at 4:00 p.m.

In addition to this year's special RSD releases, VV's all-day event will feature live bands outside, guest DJs inside, and free Schlafly beer. Other St. Louis stores participating in RSD 2017 include Euclid Records, Planet Score Records, Music Record Shop, and Kismet Creative Center.

* Saxophonist David Sanborn talked about his friendship with the late drummer and fellow former St. Louisan Phillip Wilson for an interview published on Do The Math, the blog of The Bad Plus pianist Ethan Iverson.

* Trumpeter and vibraphonist Joe Bozzi was profiled on KSDK's Show Me St. Louis in a segment by reporter Heidi Glaus highlighting his decades of service as a music teacher for schools in the St. Louis Archdiocese.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson, back home this week for an educational residency at Jazz St. Louis and gigs this weekend at Jazz at the Bistro, is also back online in animated form, as the second episode of her children's program "Music Time with Kimberly Thompson" has been posted to YouTube. As part of that educational residency, Thompson returned to her alma mater Pattonville High School for a clinic with the school's jazz band. 

* Bassist, Washington University faculty member, and now, author Paul Steinbeck went to Chicago last month for a concert and book signing to promote Message To Our Folks, his new history of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and DownBeat magazine was there to cover the event.

* The weekly Wednesday night jam sessions at @Nesby's are the subject of a brief feature in St. Louis County Arts, a new blog started by Valerie Tichacek and writer/photographer Bill Motchan.

* Drummer and St. Louis native Andre Boyd, now living in New Orleans after leaving Cirque du Soleil's road show Quidam last year, was profiled by the New Zealand magazine elocal..

* Pioneering bassist Jimmy Blanton, who played his first professional gigs in the late 1930s with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra in St. Louis before going on to fame with Duke Ellington's band, is one of 10 musicians eligible this year for election to Jazz at Lincoln Center's Jazz Hall of Fame. You can see a list of all the candidates and cast your vote by April 30 here.

* The 2017 Chesterfield Jazz Festival has announced this year's date and musical lineup. The free concert will be held Saturday, June 24 at the Chesterfield Amphitheater and will feature music from the Wooten Brothers, with bassist Victor Wooten, drummer Roy "Futureman" Wooton and siblings, along with Bach to the Future with Tracy Silverman, Anita Jackson, Soul Cafe, and Kim Fuller & Maurice Carnes.

Jazz this week: Laurence Hobgood, three young St. Louis jazz stars come home, COCA goes "Uptown," and more

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis includes a visit from a fine veteran pianist, a homecoming gig for three St. Louis natives who have earned international recognition, a dance production with live music paying tribute to the Harlem Renaissance, and more.

Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, April 5
Pianist Laurence Hobgood and his trio will perform for the first of two nights at Jazz at the Bistro.

Known to many jazz fans primarily for his long tenure working behind singer Kurt Elling, Hobgood (pictured, top left) stepped into the spotlight himself a few years ago, and has enjoyed success as a solo performer, bandleader, composer, and producer.

For more about his work as a solo artist, plus some videos of him playing in some different musical contexts, see this post from a couple of Saturdays ago.

Thursday, April 6
The Vernacular String Trio will promote the release of their new album Parlance with a performance at Foam; and the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University finishes the spring semester with a free concert featuring two Chicago-based musicians, saxophonist Rob Denty and drummer Tim Mulvenna, with St. Louis guitarist Vincent Varvel.

Friday, April 7
An ad hoc ensemble featuring three St. Louis natives now living in NYC - trumpeter Keyon Harrold, pianist Lawrence Fields, and drummer Kimberly Thompson (pictured) - plus saxophonist Adam Larson, who's originally from Normal, IL, will perform for the first of two nights at Jazz at the Bistro.

These four rising jazz stars with Midwestern roots are back home this week for an educational residency with Jazz St. Louis, working with students in the organization's JazzU program and at local schools, and closing out their stay with a weekend of performances at the Bistro. 

Since this weekend is a one-off for this ensemble, it's difficult to preview in the usual way, but you can find out more about what Keyon Harrold has been up to since his last shows here (as a guest with pianist Robert Glasper in 2015), and see some videos from some recent performances of his in last Saturday's video showcase post.

Also on Friday, COCA presents the first of five performances this weekend of  "Uptown,"  a work about the Harlem Renaissance created by Alvin Ailey dancer/choreographer Matthew Rushing.

Described as "an episodic tour through 1920s Harlem bringing to life the rich artistic activity of the era," the production features students from COCA's dance programs accompanied by a live band including Phil Dunlap (piano), Andy Hainz (bass), Kaleb Kirby (drums), Adam Hucke (trumpet), Kwanae Johnson (tenor sax), Ben Reece (alto sax), and Cody Henry (trombone).

Elsewhere around town, Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes return to Evangeline's; singer Joe Mancuso brings his Organ Trio to @Nesbys, and Miss Jubilee will perform for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom, with special guest, Cincinnati blues pianist Ricky Nye.

Saturday, April 8
Trumpeter Jim Manley's trio will perform for brunch at Evangeline's, and saxophonist Tim Cunningham will play an afternoon show at Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta.

Monday, April 10
Dizzy Atmosphere plays swing and Gypsy jazz for diners at The Shaved Duck.

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.)

Jazz this week: Mike Stern & Kimberly Thompson, George Sams, Ralph Towner, Ikue Mori & Nate Wooley, Russell Gunn, and more

As you might be able to deduce from looking at the headline for this post, it's very busy week for jazz and creative music in St. Louis.

Over the next few days, there will be a plethora of visiting performers on local stages, plus the opening of a play about one of the most famous jazz singers ever, free master classes from two guitar greats, and more. Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, February 15
Guitarist Mike Stern performs for the first of four nights continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro, joined by drummer Kimberly Thompson, saxophonist Bob Franceschini, and bassist Teymur Phell.

It's been nearly seven years since Stern (pictured, top left) last headlined a show at the Bistro, and with St. Louis native Thompson on the gig, demand for tickets should be brisk, so advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Also on Wednesday, Cabaret St. Louis presents their monthly "Open Mic Night" at The Emerald Room at The Monocle.

Thursday,
February 16
On Thursday afternoon, Mike Stern will present a free jazz guitar clinic sponsored by Mozingo Music at Lindenwood University's J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts.

Thursday evening, trumpeter George Sams (pictured, center left) will perform for the "Not So Quiet" concert series at the St. Louis Public Library's main location downtown with a group including poet Shirley LeFlore, percussionist Henry Claude, cellist Tracy Andreotti, and violinist Alyssa Avery.

Also on Thursday, singer Erin Bode returns to Cyrano's; and the first preview performance of Max and Louie Productions' staging of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, the Tony Award-winning play-with-music about Billie Holiday, will be presented at the Kranzberg Arts Center.

The show, which features Chicago-based actress and singer Alexis J. Roston reprising her award-winning performance as Holiday, opens officially on Friday night and continues through Saturday, March 4.

Friday, February 17
Friday afternoon, the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University presents a "Symposium on the Music of Ralph Towner" with Towner, William Lenihan and Steve Schenkel at the Goldberg Formal Lounge in the Danforth University Center on the Wash U campus.

That evening, funk legends Tower of Power will perform at River City Casino. Although drummer David Garibaldi and substitute bassist Marc Van Wageningen are still recovering from serious injuries suffered in an accident before a gig last month in Oakland, TOP's current tour is continuing, with original bassist Francis "Rocco" Prestia back on the bandstand and former drummer Herman Matthews, who played with the group for several years in the 1990s, filling in for Garibaldi.

Also on Friday, trumpeter Byron Stripling will be guest soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as they present their Black History Month program "Lift Every Voice and Sing," at Powell Symphony Hall.

Elsewhere around town, trumpeter Jim Manley returns to Evangeline's; trumpeter Kasimu Taylor and pianist Ptah Williams perform duets at Thurman's in Shaw; and Second Generation Swing plays for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom.

Saturday, 
February 18
New Music Circle presents electronic musician Ikue Mori and trumpeter Nate Wooley at The Luminary.

For more about that, and some videos of Mori and Wooley (pictured, bottom left) in performance, see this post from last Saturday.

Also on Saturday, the Jazz at Holmes series presents a solo concert by Ralph Towner at 560 Music Center. Towner has just released a new album of solo guitar performances, and you can read more about that and see and hear some videos of him in this post from a couple of weeks ago.

Sunday, February 19
Trumpeter and East St. Louis native Russell Gunn, now living in Atlanta, will be back home to headline Community Women Against Hardship's "Black History Benefit" at Jazz at the Bistro, accompanied by pianist Adam Maness, singer Anita Jackson, bassist Jeff Anderson and drummer Montez Coleman.

Also on Sunday afternoon, St. Louis Jazz Club presents pianist Bob Row and friends at the Elks Lodge #9 in Creve Coeur.

Monday, February 20
Webster University Jazz Collective will perform at Winifred Moore Auditorium on the Webster campus.

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.)

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Winter/spring 2017 jazz preview, part four

Today, it's the fourth installment of StLJN's winter/spring 2017 jazz preview, presenting videos of the jazz and creative music artists who will be coming to our town to perform over the next few months. The preview posts are in chronological order of their appearances here; you can see part one here, part two here, and part three here.

Leading off today is pianist Laurence Hobgood, who will play with his trio on Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 6 at Jazz at the Bistro. Hobgood, known for for his long association with singer Kurt Elling, has concentrated more on his own music since leaving Elling's band in 2013, and he's seen here playing solo back in August, 2014 for the Chicago Jazz Festival's "PianoForte Sessions" in a hour-long session that also includes interview segments with host Barry Winograd.

Next up, Jazz St. Louis will bring together four young jazz stars with Midwestern roots, as trumpeter Keyon Harrold, pianist Lawrence Fields, saxophonist Adam Larson, and drummer Kimberly Thompson join forces for two nights of performances on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 at the Bistro.

These dates should inspire a healthy turnout of hometown fans, as Harrold, Fields and Thompson all are originally from St. Louis, and Larson is from just up the the road in Bloomington, IL. All four will be working with local music students for the preceding week, then wrapping up their residencies with the weekend shows.

Since this a band brought together specifically for the occasion, there's no video of all four of them together; instead, they are featured here individually, starting with the first clip after the jump, a full set of Keyon Harrold and his band recorded in April, 2016 at the Boiler Room New York.

Below that, you can see Fields performing with trumpeter Christian Scott's band, playing John Coltrane's composition "Equinox" at the 2016 Montreux Jazz Festival. Fields is featured with a nice long solo that starts at about 6:50 into the clip and continues for more than three minutes. In addition to Scott and Fields, the rest of the ensemble includes Elena Pinderhughes (flute), Braxton Cook (alto sax), Kris Funn (bass), and Corey Fonville (drums).

The fourth clip features Larson, accompanied by pianist Fabian Almazan, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Jimmy Macbride, playing his composition "The Dope Pope" at Birdland in NYC. That's followed by Thompson showing off her chops and use of textures and space in an extended solo recorded during the "Hit Like A Girl" drum festival in April of last year.

The final two videos feature the following week's attractions at the Bistro, harmonica player Gregoire Maret and guest vocalist Alicia Olatuja, who will be in town to perform at the club starting Wednesday, April 12 through Saturday, April 15. Maret is seen here playing "The Gospel" at the 2016 Montreux Jazz Festival, followed by Olatuja singing her original composition "In The Dark" at a gig in August 2015 at Dizzy's Club in NYC's Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Look for the fifth part of StLJN's winter/spring 2017 jazz preview next week. You can see the rest of today's videos after the jump...

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Trumpeter Jim Manley has a new album, 62 Summers, out this month.

Available now in digital formats and as a limited-edition CD, the recording (pictured) includes 12 tracks of groove-oriented original material and also features guest solos from guitarist and former St. Louisan Jeff Snider.

* The Bosman Twins' gig this weekend at the Blue Room in Kansas City was previewed on the KC jazz blog Plastic Sax.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson was profiled last month in a promotional feature by microphone manufacturer Audix.

* Drummer Dave Weckl recently took part in a big band tribute to Buddy Rich at London’s Royal College of Music.

* Bassist Dan Loomis has posted to YouTube a video of his jazz oratorio "Job's Trials - Our Trials," which premiered in a performance in June at Ibeam in Brooklyn, NYC.

* Trumpeter Bruce Purse is the co-author of "The Band Room," a new semi-autobiographical play set in 1986 in St. Louis that "pays tribute to the power of music education." The play debuts next week at Lehman College in NYC.

* Flow, the latest recording by saxophonist Oliver Lake with the Generations Quartet, was reviewed by Karl Ackermann of AllAboutJazz.com.

* Saxophonist Chris Cheek's new album Saturday Songs was reviewed by AAJ's Jakob Baekgaard.

* Jazz St. Louis' efforts to bring jazz performances to area public schools were featured in a story on St. Louis Public Radio.

* St. Louis musicians are being invited to submit music videos to GOTV, a new local cable channel featuring original documentaries and films and "the largest independent made-for-television music format in the world." GOTV's programming airs on Charter’s channel 995 from 7-11 am and 6-10 pm daily, with "plans to expand to Atlanta and LA in September and Dallas in January of 2017." For more information, visit mygotvmusic.com.

* Trumpeter Russell Gunn was the featured attraction for the final performances last weekend at the Atlanta jazz club Churchill Grounds, which closed after a 16-year run.

* The voice of the late Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs, who grew up in St. Louis, is accompanied by music from guitarist Bill Frisell, keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, and others on a new album, Let Me Hang You, out now from Ernest Jenning Record Co/Khannibalism. Recorded by producer Hal Wilner shortly before Burroughs' death in 1997 but unreleased until now, the album features Burroughs reading excerpts from his infamous novel Naked Lunch.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The Tavern of Fine Arts (pictured), the Central West End restaurant and bar that has presented numerous jazz, free improv, cabaret, and classical music performances over the past five years, will close permanently at the end of service next Saturday, June 25.

In a message posted on the venue's website, proprietors Aaron Johnson and Matt Daniels wrote, "While the performances have often attracted large audiences, and we have always paid the bills, the business is not profitable." Next week's performances will go on as scheduled, but the closing means the cancellation of a CD release party planned by local free improvisors for next month, as well the loss of the venue for recurring events including poetry readings, a monthly free improv jam session, and Cabaret Project St. Louis' monthly "open mic."

* KDHX has posted online photo albums from Genesis Jazz Project's concert last Thursday at Chesterfield Amphitheater; the New Orleans Suspects' show on Friday at the Broadway Oyster Bar; and Saturday's "Summer Gras" at Old Rock House.

* Bjorn Rannheim of The 442s was interviewed about the band's new release RELAY on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis.

* Saxophonist Christopher Braig has started a podcast called, fittingly enough, Sax St. Louis Podcast, offering "an eclectic mix of music, jazz, saxophone history, interviews, performing and educational topics relating to the greater St. Louis music community." Episode 1 is online now, with a second installment promised soon.

* The culinary offerings at The Dark Room were the subject of features this past week in the Ladue News and on the morning newscast at KTVI/Fox 2.

* In a new entry on his blog Devil at the Confluence, author, historian, and illustrator Kevin Belford takes a deep dive into the question of how Jelly Roll Morton got credit for a recording of the song "Soap Suds" that actually was made by the St. Louis Levee Band.

* Belford also posted to Vimeo a 30-second clip from Blues for Charlie O'Brien, a "doc in progress" about the former St. Louis police detective who in the 1950s helped revive interest in the city's early blues and jazz performers.

* A new entry on Marc Myers' blog Jazzwax looks into the connection between guitarist Grant Green's 1965 album I Want to Hold Your Hand and the line of "Little LPs" produced for stereo jukeboxes by Blue Note records.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson was honored for her work on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers at the SESAC Film & Television Composers Awards Dinner held on June 1 in Santa Monica, CA. The performing rights organization presented more than 100 awards to music composers in the categories of network TV, local TV, cable TV, film composing, jingles, and streaming media.

* Bassist and St. Louis native Dan Loomis will debut "Job's Trial's - Our Trials," a new jazz oratorio he composed for bass, guitar, drums, voices, and a narrator, in a performance next Friday, June 24 at IBeam Brooklyn in NYC.

* The website Boiler Room has posted online a video of trumpeter and St. Louis native Keyon Harrold's performance at Revive Music's 10th anniversary event last month in NYC.

* Saxophonist Eric Person and his band Meta-Four are booked to perform at the 2016 Hudson Valley Jazz Festival, which takes place August 11-14 in Peekskill, NY.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The June issue of the NYC Jazz Record (note: PDF) includes a cover story on trumpeter and St. Louis native Lester Bowie.

* The ongoing financial woes of radio station WSIE are the subject of a feature story by Sandra Jordan of the St. Louis American.

* Bimhuis Radio has posted to Mixcloud some audio from a recent concert featuring saxophonist Greg Osby in Amsterdam with his protege and fellow saxophonist Tineka Postma.

* The Riverfront Times this week published profiles of the nominees in the jazz category of this year's RFT Music Awards.

* The St. Louis Gypsy Jazz Festival, organized by members of the band Franglais, announced that the 2016 edition of their event will be held October 21 through October 23 at Evangeline's, with further details TBA.

* Drummer and St. Louis native Kimberly Thompson was interviewed for a recent feature on the website of drum manufacturer Gretsch. Thompson's latest album (pictured) is called Treasures Abound, and is on sale now via CD Baby,  iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake is gigging this weekend with drummer Billy Hart's "Enhance" ensemble at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival in California. In addition to Lake and Hart, the all-star band includes trumpeter Eddie Henderson, saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Craig Taborn, and bassist Dave Holland.

* Meanwhile, trumpeter and St. Louis native Keyon Harrold is in Chicago this weekend, headlining the Four Star Music Festival at the Goose Island Barrel Warehouse.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* In New Orleans this week with his trio to perform at Snug Harbor, pianist Peter Martin was interviewed on radio station WWOZ, and has posted on Facebook some video of the segment in two parts.

* Martin and drummer Terreon Gully also got brief-but-favorable mentions in jazz critic Doug Ramsey's review of a recent Dianne Reeves show in Portland.

* The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries is hiring in their maintenance and events set-up department. For more information about available positions and how to apply, go to http://thesheldon.org/jobs.php.

* Another venerable St. Louis venue, the Casa Loma Ballroom, is getting spruced up in advance of its 90th birthday next year, and they've posted on Facebook some photos of recent refurbishing work.

* Speaking of photo sets, Sound Unlimited has posted on Facebook a photo set from last week's Saturday matinee at Frederick's Steakhouse

* Last week's presentation of "New Dance Horizons IV” at the Touhill, featuring choreography set to the music of Miles Davis, Lester Bowie and more, was reviewed by the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson (pictured) is set to deliver a new CD, Treasures Abound, with a release event scheduled for Saturday, April 16 at The Cell Theatre in NYC.

* Meanwhile, saxophonist Greg Osby announced this week that he'll be decamping NYC in August for a week of New York Jazz Masters International workshops in Trzebnica, Poland. Osby also was just named as the new artistic director of the Sopot Jazz Festival, which happens October 13-15 in Sopot, Poland.

* In yet another ranking of "best jazz clubs," the website ClickItTicket.com has enshrined Jazz at the Bistro on its list of "The 50 Best Jazz Clubs in America". While the Bistro was the only St. Louis venue to make the list, Kansas City's Blue Room also made the cut as a second representative of the state of Missouri.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Saxophonist Paul DeMarinis (pictured) has been named Webster University's "Outstanding Jazz Instructor of the Year."

* Bassist Bob DeBoo's weekly Wednesday night gig and jam session at the Kranzberg Arts Center was the subject of a short feature on KTVI/Fox 2 news.

* Singer Cyrille Aimée is featured in a photo set shot by Valerie Tichacek and posted to KDHX's website. Aimée continues at Jazz at the Bistro through Saturday night.

* Drummer Emanuel Harrold was profiled in an article by Kevin Johnson of the Post-Dispatch/STLtoday. Harrold and bassist/fellow St. Louisan Jahmal Nichols will perform with singer Gregory Porter on Saturday night at the Touhill.

* St. Louis Public Radio's Dennis Owsley is devoting his "Jazz Unlimited" programs this month to a series called "Jazz Families-Blood Relatives." Owsley, who wrote City of Gabriels: The History of Jazz in St. Louis, 1895-1973, researched the subject and found "around 175 jazz musicians who have fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and cousins who are also performing musicians," making up "sort of a genetic map of jazz."

That cohort includes some St. Louis musicians, such as Arville Harris, Leroy Harris Sr. and Jr., Asa Harris, her father Ace Harris, and her uncle Erskine Hawkins; and Lloyd Smith and the Bosman Twins, as well as well-known clans like the Adderley family, the Jones family, the Heath family, and others.

* The proprietors of The Pageant concert club, U City mogul Joe Edwards and Patrick Hagin, announced this week that they'll open a new venue called Delmar Hall this fall.

Using the space next to The Pageant occupied until recently by Big Shark Bicycle Company, the venue is intended to "fill the gap in The Loop’s current concert offerings with a capacity of 800, between Blueberry Hill’s 340-person Duck Room to the 2,000 capacity of The Pageant - and hosting a similarly wide range of music styles, comedy, events and private parties."

* Saxophonist Rev. Cliff Aerie and trumpeter Tim Osiek of the Oikos Ensemble have released the third volume of arrangements in their "Worship in a New Key" series, featuring 12 charts for use in jazz ministry in conjunction with Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter.

* Stringed-instrument repair shop, studio, and manufacturer Tritone Guitars will present their second annual "Tritone Expo" on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 at the @4240 building on the Cortex campus in the Central West End.

* The late saxophonist, arranger/composer, and St. Louis native Oliver Nelson was one of the composers featured in "Suite History: Jazz Composers And The African-American Odyssey," this week's episode of the "Night Lights" program on WFIU/Indiana Public Media.

* The St. Louis Banjo Club has elected Dave Kempa as its new president. Kempa succeeds Al Lehmann, who served as president of the group for five years.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The free concert featuring pianist Ptah Williams (pictured) this Sunday at Ivory Perry Park was previewed by Kenya Vaughn of the St. Louis American.

* Next week's St. Louis Cabaret Festival was previewed in an article on the website of St. Louis Public Radio, which also will cover the festival during the broadcast of the "Cityscape" program at noon today. You can hear it online at http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php.

* Speaking of the Cabaret Festival, the event's organizers and Metrotix are offering a $10 discount online for tickets to the festival's opening show next Wednesday, which will feature Broadway star Faith Prince performing in the Sheldon Concert Hall's upstairs ballroom. To take advantage of the discount, use this link to access the Metrotix site, and when prompted enter the promo code THEATER.

* A new episode of HEC-TV's I Love Jazz, hosted by Don Wolff, has been posted online. It includes performances and interviews from the concert paying tribute to Richard McDonnell, the late founder of the MAXJAZZ record label, that was presented in May at Jazz at the Bistro, as well as coverage of the Bistro's renovation and expansion plans. You can watch online here, or consult your TV provider's program guide for air times.

* Regarding the Bistro renovations, Ruth Ezell of KETC's Living St. Louis did a story on Monday's program on how the construction is progressing; and a seating chart posted online by Jazz St. Louis shows what the layout for the room will look like post-expansion.

* And speaking of Richard McDonnell, jazz-related artwork remaining from his personal collection after a sale last month can still be seen and purchased by appointment, according to Jeff Appel, the photography dealer who's managing the sale of collection for the McDonnell family. "We have found some great St. Louis collectors for probably around 1/4 of the collection, but hundreds of great pieces remain, from signed festival posters to a variety of framed photographs and etchings," he said. To arrange a viewing at the MAXJAZZ offices in Webster Groves, email Appel at photoaddictappel at gmail dot com, or call or text him at 314-520-1572.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson took a bit of time from her duties with the house band on NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers to visit the makers of Gretsch drums and record a short promotional video.

* In this week's Miles Davis news, IndieWire has photos from the set of Miles Ahead, Don Cheadle's film about Davis that's now shooting in Cincinnati.

* On a related note, a post this week on the website Open Culture looked back at the night in 1970 when Davis opened a show for the Grateful Dead at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

* And for those who'd like to delve even further into the trumpeter's history, a new website, Scaled In Miles, offers a unique interactive timeline view of Davis' recording career.

* Pianist Stephanie Trick, who's been performing this summer in England and Europe, recently met British royalty when Prince Charles and Lady Camilla attended a concert of hers in Scotland.

* The Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival once again will pick the opening act for this year's fest via a "Webster’s Got Talent" competition. The entry deadline is August 17, and applications are available for download at the festival's website.

Entrants will compete in public performances on Tuesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 28 at a location TBA, with the two winning bands from the semi-finals playing a final showdown on Thursday, September 4. The winner gets the first slot onstage at this year's OWJBF on Saturday, September 20. For more information, email webstersgottalent@gmail.com.

* Jazz radio update: On this week's edition of Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis' “Somethin’ Else,” host Calvin Wilson will pay tribute to the late bassist Charlie Haden, with recordings of Haden's work as a bandleader, his collaborations with Ornette Coleman and Keith Jarrett, and more. "Somethin' Else" can be heard at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

So What: Local News, Notes and Links

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

* Trumpeter Jim Manley's recently released album Chilled Brass was reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello of AllAboutJazz.com.

* Meanwhile, Fast Friends, the new recording from trombonists Wayne Coniglio and Scott Whitfield, got a review from AAJ's Jack Bowers.

* Marty Ehrlich's most recent album Trumpet In The Morning, for which the multi-instrumentalist put down his various horns to conduct his original compositions arranged for big band, was reviewed by Troy Dostert of The Free Jazz Collective blog.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson (pictured) of The Late Show with Seth Meyers has posted a new recording, A Child's Eyes, on iTunes. It features 14 of Thompson's original compositions performed by a quartet that also includes Eden Ladin (piano), Aaron Burnett (tenor sax), and Nick Jozwiak (bass).

* The June episode of HEC-TV's State of the Arts, which offers a look at the current local popularity of swing dancing and vintage jazz bands, is available for viewing online.

* A story by Allison Babka of the Riverfront Times this week revealed that the main location of the St. Louis Public Library downtown has a basic but functional recording studio available for library patrons to use for free.

* In this week's update from actor/director Don Cheadle on his forthcoming Miles Davis film, which is scheduled to begin shooting this month in Cincinnati, here's the latest as told by Cheadle to Down Beat magazine, the Times of India, and on a recent episode of The Queen Latifah Show. The IndieGoGo campaign to raise an additional $325,000 for the film ends on July 10.

* Hip 96.3 HD-3 has posted on Facebook a photo album from last Saturday's Chesterfield Jazz Festival.

* Speaking of photo sets, here's one from St. Louisan and Cirque du Soleil drummer Andre Boyd's recent drum clinic at Sound Attak in London.

* Also on the promotional tip, Bob Walther of Strictly Audio STL was quoted extensively in a news release from Soundcraft about his use of the company's Si Expression mixing console.

* Jazz St. Louis has posted their 2014-15 season brochure online.

* Jazz radio update: On this week's episode “Somethin’ Else” on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis, host Calvin Wilson pays a virtual visit to the Village Vanguard with live recordings made at the famed NYC club by musicians including pianist Geri Allen, trumpeter Woody Shaw, guitarist Marc Ribot, and more. "Somethin' Else" can be heard at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays on 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

Elsewhere on the radio dial, Dennis Owsley's "Jazz Unlimited" program will begin re-broadcasting Owsley's ten-part audio documentary on "The Jazz History of St. Louis"  starting this Sunday. "Jazz Unlimited" airs from 9:00 p.m. to midnight Sundays on KWMU/St. Louis Public Radio (90.7 FM), and also can be heard online at http://www.stlpublicradio.org/listen.php.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Today, we salute the memory of guitar great Grant Green (pictured), who was born in St. Louis on this day in 1935.

For more about Green, and a previously unreleased album of his recorded here in his home town back in 1959, check out this article from NPR's Kevin Whitehead. You can see the only known video footage of Green, playing "Blue Mist" with fellow plectrists Kenny Burrell and Barney Kessell, here.

* Drummer Dave Weckl is headed next month to Europe, where he'll spend July teaching large group clinics and one-day intensive workshops with just 12 to a class. Weckl will be in Copenhagen, Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden; Oslo, Norway; Naples, Italy; Winterswijk, Norway; Treppendorf, Germany; Reykjavik, Iceland; and more.

For more about what Weckl's been up to lately, check out this new interview with the drum website The Black Page.

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson is featured in a new magazine ad for Gretsch drums.

* Saxophonist Eric Person has posted on Facebook an album of photos from his big band's gig last week at Dizzy's in NYC.

* Speaking of photo sets on Facebook, the Jazz Edge Big Band has posted an album of pictures from their show last Friday at the Touhill.

* And while he was in town last week to perform with Jazz Edge, trumpeter Keyon Harrold was the subject of a feature story on local NBC affiliate KSDK.

* Actor/director Don Cheadle this week talked with USA Today about Miles Ahead, his film about trumpeter Miles Davis that will shoot this summer in Cincinnati.

* In related news, Cheadle turned to crowdfunding via IndieGoGo to raise an additional $325,000 in funds for the film between now and July 6. As of Thursday night, the campaign had garnered $78,370 toward the total. For more, see the embedded video update from Cheadle below, or visit the campaign page on IndieGoGo.



* Jazz radio update: WSIE's spring fundraising drive begins today at 4:00 p.m. and continues, with some breaks, through 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon. As part of a procession of supporting appearances from people involved with the local jazz scene, yr. humble StLJN editor will be on the air to help stump for pledges for a few minutes around 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Meanwhile on Radio Arts Foundation - St. Louis, this Saturday's episode of Calvin Wilson's “Somethin’ Else” will highlight musicians who have performed at NYC's forward-looking Vision Festival, including pianists Myra Melford and Matthew Shipp and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell.

Following that on "The Jazz Collective,"  host Jason Church will spin music from Mindi Abair, Harvey Mason, The Ault Sisters, The Rippingtons, Cookin' on 3 Burners, Oscar Peterson, Bob James, John Klemmer, Ramsey Lewis, Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Clave Sol, The LP Outsiders, Jim Manley and Erin Bode.

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

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Drummer Kimberly Thompson is keeping busy with her duties with the house band for NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers, even participating in some on-camera comedy bits, like the one pictured here with Michelle Wolf and Alison Agosti of the Late Night writing staff. However, Thompson did manage to find time this week to post on SoundCloud an excerpt from her band's performance last month at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

* Jazz students from Webster Groves High School are in New York City this week, and band director Kevin Cole has a full schedule planned for his young charges. The trip will include visits to NYC venues to hear Ambrose Akinmusire, Maria Schneider, Ulysses Owens, Charles Turner, Walter Smith III, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra; and a clinic at Queens College with Michael Philip Mossman, Antonio Hart, Paul Bollenbeck, and Luis Bonilla.

In addition, the WGHS Jazz 1 group will perform Sunday at St. Peters Jazz Vespers with pianist Kenny Werner, and then serve as the opening act that evening at Birdland for Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.

* Also on the education front, Jazz St. Louis has announced a $35,000 gift from the Arthur & Helen Baer Foundation in support of the 2014-15 season of their JazzU program. Applications to audition for next year's JazzU are due by Friday, May 2, with auditions beginning on Monday, June 2. For more details, see the Jazz St. Louis website.

* Writing for the website NextStL, Kevin Belford has an update on recent wind damage to the historic Palladium Building in Grand Center and the possible effects on efforts to save the structure.

* Via Miles Davis Online, here's a video interview from IRockJazz with Davis' nephew Vince Wilburn, Jr., who helps administer his uncle's estate, in which Wilburn discusses the forthcoming movie about the trumpeter and various other Miles-related topics. MDO blogmaster Jeffrey Hyatt also has created a new site, Kill The Trumpet Player, to track news of the Davis film.

* Singer Connie Fairchild's show last Saturday for the Gaslight Cabaret Festival was reviewed for KDHX by Chuck Lavazzi.

* The late ragtime pianist and historian Trebor Tichenor was the subject of a tribute episode of KWMU's "CityScape" program.

* Galactic's performance last week at The Pageant was reviewed by KDHX's Amy Burger.

* A set from the Funky Butt Brass Band's gig last month at The Gramophone has been posted to archive.org.

* And speaking of The Gramophone, they're celebrating the venue's sixth anniversary this week with the announcement that their Sandwich and Bottle Shop will be open for regular daytime business offering food, drink and free wi-fi to the growing Grove neighborhood starting April 1.

* Also on the culinary tip, the Post-Dispatch's Ian Froeb is the latest to review the Louisiana-style menu at the new Central West End spot Evangeline's.

* HEC-TV last night debuted a new episode of I Love Jazz, featuring previously unseen archived performances by singer Marlena Shaw, trumpeter Dawn Weber, singer Marilyn Maye and pianist Billy Stritch, saxophonist Willie Akins and drummer Montez Coleman, and jazz faculty and students from Webster University. Check your TV provider's program guide for channels, dates and times, or watch online at http://www.hectv.org.

* Jazz radio update: On this Saturday's episode of Radio Arts Foundation-St. Louis' "Somethin' Else," host Calvin Wilson spotlights New Orleans trumpeters including Louis Armstrong, Derrick Shezbie, Joe Newman, Terence Blanchard and Wynton Marsalis. You can listen at 8:00 p.m. Saturdays via 107.3 FM, 96.3 HD-2, and online at http://www.rafstl.org/listen.

(Edited after posting to add the KWMU "CityScape" link.)

Kimberly Thompson to drum with house band for NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers

Former St. Louisan Kimberly Thompson has been chosen to fill the drum chair in the house band for NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers.

Known as The 8G Band (after the studio where the show will be taped), the group will perform on the program Monday through Friday starting on Monday, February 24, when Meyers, former head writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live, takes over NBC's late-night slot from Jimmy Fallon.

Thompson is perhaps best known as the former drummer in the all-female backing band for pop singer Beyonce. Since leaving that gig a couple of years ago, Thompson has been working on songwriting and production, teaching, and doing jazz gigs with guitarist Mike Stern and others.

The 8G Band will be led and "curated" by Fred Armisen, formerly of SNL and currently working on the IFC comedy series Portlandia. Though he's known more as a comic actor, Armisen also is an experienced drummer and guitarist who, before turning to comedy, played drums in the punk band Trenchmouth and worked as a backing musician for the Blue Man Group.

After joining SNL, Armisen also contributed to NYC rock band Les Savy Fav’s 2007 album Let’s Stay Friends and performed live in 2011 with singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom. He created numerous musical spoofs and parodies for SNL, including the character Ian Rubbish, a send-up of Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten, and is expected to do more as part of the Meyers version of Late Night.

Shown here with Meyers (fourth from left), the members of the 8G Band will be (from left) guitarist Seth Jabour, also a member of Les Savy Fav; Thompson; keyboardist Eli Janney, from the band Girls Against Boys; Armisen; and bassist Syd Butler of Les Savy Fav.

Late Night With Seth Meyers will air at 12:35 a.m. Eastern, 11:30 p.m. Central on NBC affiliates across the country.