Swagler, Slaughter, Jost & Morrison to celebrate album release Thursday, February 7 at Jazz at the Bistro

Four St. Louis musicians known for their busy live-performing schedules will celebrate the release of their first collaborative recording with performances at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 7 at Jazz at the Bistro.

Rough Stuff is the first album jointly credited to saxophonist Jason Swagler, guitarist Eric Slaughter, bassist Nick Jost, and drummer Marty Morrison, who have worked together frequently in various local venues, sometimes under Swagler's name, sometime using Slaughter's.

The album (pictured) features nine tracks, including original compositions by members of the group and an interpretation of Charles Mingus' "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat," and currently is on sale as a digital download from both Amazon and iTunes.

Tickets for the album release event at Jazz at the Bistro, which will include a digital copy of Rough Stuff, are $20 for general admission, $10 for students, and on sale now via Metrotix.

(Edited 1/13/13 to fix a typo.)

A Jazz Heaven returns to the Kranzberg Arts Center on Sunday, October 11

Following a sold-out debut performance in August, singer Wendy Gordon will stage a revamped version of her cabaret show A Jazz Heaven at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 11 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 S. Grand.

A Jazz Heaven tells the story of a meeting between singers Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at New York's Savoy Ballroom, through songs made famous by each singer, Gordon's original poetry, and live music from a three-piece ensemble.

The new version of the show includes some script revisions and dialog changes, some new songs, and a new cast member: longtime St. Louis favorite Jeanne Trevor (pictured), who will play the role of Ella Fitzgerald. Gordon will reprise her role as Billie Holiday, joined by Adrian Bowers as Miles Davis and Edie B as the narrator. The musicians for the production once again will be Jeff Anderson, playing saxophone and bass and taking the role of Charlie Parker; Marty Morrison, playing drums and portraying Chick Webb; and Arthur Toney on keyboards.

Tickets for A Jazz Heaven are $25 and are available in advance by calling 314-838-9198. Since the Kranzberg only seats 80 people, and the previous show sold out, advance reservations are suggested. However, if any tickets remain at show time, they'll be available for sale at the door.