Troy's Jazz Gallery "grand opening" set for October 25 - 27

The Central West End venue Troy's Jazz Gallery will hold a "grand opening" celebration this weekend featuring a Sunday night performance from a specially assembled band of local jazz performers.

The weekend also will serve as an extended birthday celebration for club owner Troy Williams, with keyboardist Matt Villinger's trio getting it started with a performance at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25.

Next up are singers Mary Dyson and Diane Vaughn, who will reprise their "Ladies Sing The Bluezz" show with a 5:00 p.m. performance on Saturday, October 26. After Dyson and Vaughn, saxophonist Tim Cunningham (pictured) and his band will take the stage at 8:00 p.m.

The main event is Sunday, October 27. The group for that evening, dubbed "Troy's All-Star Jazz Ensemble," will feature drummer Montez Coleman, pianist Tony Suggs, guitarist Eric Slaughter and bassist Darell Mixon, along with guest performers including pianist Ptah Williams, saxophonist Kendrick Smith, trumpeter Delano Redmond and singer Denise Thimes. They'll play from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $20 each.

The club first had its "soft opening" nearly 11 month ago. Williams, who formerly operated Filter and Troy's on the Park, says that the long interval between opening and "grand opening" wasn't necessarily planned that way, but he's happy with the result. "I'm glad I'm doing it like this, because I've learned a lot," he said.

As for future plans, Williams says he's re-booked Ptah Williams' trio for Thursday, October 30 - his actual birthday - with the "All-Star Jazz Ensemble" set to return (but without the special guests) on Sunday, November 3.

He said he hopes to bring back Dyson and Vaughn as a recurring act, probably twice a month, and also will presenting a series of "Jazz Sunday Funk' shows featuring Mixon, Slaughter and drummer Chuck Smothers. Finally, Williams said he wants to establish a recurring Saturday afternoon jam session in the near future, and is looking for a musician to serve as organizer and host.

Jazz this week: Michael Dease with WGHS Jazz Bands, Javier Mendoza's Latin Jazz Experiment, Montez Coleman, Mary Dyson, Joe Mancuso, and more

The first part of January typically is time off for a lot of touring musicians who'd just as soon stay home as deal with bad weather, audiences suffering from empty pockets or the post-holiday blahs, and so on.

So even though the weather in St. Louis actually has been pretty nice for this time of year, it's no surprise that most of this week's jazz and creative music highlights are once again local in origin.

Tonight, the jazz/funk/R&B combo Good 4 The Soul returns to BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups for an early evening show.

Tomorrow night, singer/songwriter Javier Mendoza once again will activate his Latin Jazz Experiment for the first of two evenings at Jazz at the Bistro. The performances will showcase Mendoza's original songs with an expanded version of his band featuring additional guitar from Dave Black, horn arrangements from saxophonist Jim Stevens and trumpeter Rob Endicott, and extra percussion (usually from R. Scott Bryan).

Also on Friday, trombonist Michael Dease will be in town to perform as guest soloist with the Webster Groves High School jazz bands in their annual concert at The Pageant. Dease is a Juilliard graduate who's played with numerous big bands, including those led by Illinois Jacquet, Dizzy Gillespie, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Jimmy Heath and Charles Tolliver, as well as with small groups led by Claudio Roditi, Sharel Cassity, and Wycliffe Gordon. Metrobones, the ensemble led by Dave Dickey that features more than a dozen student trombonists from local high schools and colleges, will round out the bill.

And if that weren't enough for one night, Friday also will find drummer Montez Coleman's trio with guitarist Eric Slaughter and bassist Chris Thomas at Cigar Inn; bassist Willem von Hombracht with singer Hannah McDonald and pianist Mike Carosello at Robbie's House of Jazz; and the St. Louis Big Band at the Casa Loma Ballroom

On Saturday, the eclectic south side venue Rue Lafayette reopens after a short winter break with a brunchtime performance from swing band the Sidemen.

On Saturday night, singer Mary Dyson and and keyboardist Brock Walker team up for a performance at Robbie's; and Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes will play swing, jump blues and more at the Venice Cafe.

Update: 10:30 a.m., 1/12/13: Mary Dyson has announced by email and on Facebook that tonight's performance at Robbie's House of Jazz is cancelled. 4:15 p.m.: Guitarist Eric Slaughter and Tom Byrne have been booked for a duo performance in Dyson's place.

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday, the jazz fusion band Steizuello will be at at BB's Jazz Blues and Soups.

Then on Tuesday, singer Joe Mancuso will do a "Notes From Home" concert at The Sheldon, performing standards from the Great American Songbook with an expanded band including special guest trumpeter Randy Holmes and saxophonist Willie Akins.

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: Legacy Jazz Quintet, Maurice Carnes, Mardra Thomas, and more

It's the dog days of summer, and as often happens this time of year, once again this weekend the St. Louis area is bereft of touring jazz performers. That makes it a good time to sample some of the proverbial home cookin', so here's a brief look at some of the next few days' highlights:

On Thursday evening, drummer Maurice Carnes will do a free concert for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University.

On Friday, the Legacy Jazz Quintet, , led by Jazz St. Louis education director Phil Dunlap (pictured) will open a two-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro. The performances are being presented in association with Washington University's National Endowment for the Humanities summer institute "The New Negro Renaissance in America, 1919-1941," and so Dunlap and company will perform what's being billed as "music of the Harlem Renaissance." (No word as to how the Magnus Chord Organ seen in the photo with Dunlap figures into this scenario.) Also, Jazz St. Louis is offering a two-for-the-price-of-one discount on tickets for both nights; for details, see this post.

Meanwhile, this weekend Robbie's House of Jazz will feature keyboardist Curt Landes and his trio with singer Mary Dyson on Friday, and pianist Carolbeth True on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, singer Mardra Thomas continues the Nu-Art Series' current slate of shows featuring St. Louis vocalists, performing songs associated with Nancy Wilson in a matinee at the Metropolitan Gallery.

For more jazz-related events in St. Louis this weekend and beyond, 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.)

Belleville's Wine, Dine and Jazz Festival set for Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6

Belleville's Wine, Dine and Jazz Festival has announced the lineup of performers for this year's event, which will be held on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6 in the square in downtown Belleville, Illinois.

Friday night's musical menu includes the Scott Air Force Base "Shades of Blue" combo at 5:00 p.m.; Two Times True, featuring pianist Carolbeth True and her son, drummer David True, at 6:45 p.m.; and singer Brian Owens at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the festival kicks off at 2:00 p.m. with Tony D. and the Groove Merchants, featuring organist Tony DiPasquale and saxophonist David Fatek, followed by funk/rock band Fresh Heir at 3:30 p.m. and singer Mary Dyson (pictured) and the Brock Walter Trio at 5:00 p.m. The day wraps up with sets by singer Anita Rosamond at 6:45 p.m. and Wild, Cool & Swingin' at 8:30 p.m.

The Wine, Dine and Jazz Festival is free and open to the public. For more details and a complete schedule of events, visit the festival's Web site.

Jazz this week: Dianne Reeves, Kim Massie, Jason Swagler, Mary Dyson and more

This week's notable jazz and creative music performances in St. Louis include a benefit concert featuring a well-known touring headliner and a number of shows spotlighting featuring local musicians.

The touring artist in question is singer Dianne Reeves (pictured), who performs Sunday night at the Sheldon Concert Hall in a benefit for Community Women Against Hardship. Touring in support of When You Know, her latest release on Blue Note, Reeves is working with a quartet including St. Louis native Peter Martin on piano, Romero Lubambo on guitar, Reuben Rogers on bass and Gregory Hutchinson on drums.

As for the local talent, on Thursday evening singer Kim Massie gives a free concert at the Foundry Arts Centre in St. Charles as part of Jazz St. Louis' new Whitaker Community Concerts series.

Then on Friday and Saturday, saxophonist Jason Swagler leads his group in a two-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro. A graduate of the jazz program at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Swagler now teaches at SIU-E in addition to gigging around town with various bands playing straightahead jazz and funk.

And speaking of funk, Friday night also is when self-described "groove oriented modern jazz and funk" band Elastik Soul performs at The Gramophone. Meanwhile, other notable shows on Saturday include New Music Circle's Rich O'Donnell and friends doing a multi-media performance piece called WORDSDROW at Satori, located at 3003 Locust downtown, and keyboard player Tony Simmons offering a tribute to Ray Charles at the Black Cat Theatre in Maplewood.

On Sunday, singer Mary Dyson and pianist Brock Walker's trio will inaugurate the new jazz and blues vespers series at Second Baptist Church, 9030 Clayton Rd. near the Galleria. Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday the Sessions Big Band is at BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups, and on Tuesday, guitarist Pete Lombardo and his group perform at The Gramophone.

As usual, these are just some of the week's highlights, so to see listings of more jazz-related events in and around St. Louis this weekend and beyond, please visit the St. Louis Jazz Notes Calendar.

(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 and blues vespers series to begin Sunday, October 19 at Second Baptist Church

Singer Mary Dyson and the Brock Walker Trio will be the first musicians to perform in a new jazz and blues vespers series that begins Sunday, October 19 at Second Baptist Church, 9030 Clayton Rd. at McKnight.

The concert is free and open to the public, and starts at 6:00 p.m. in the church's Sanctuary of the Beatitudes. Dyson, backed by Walker on piano plus bassist Terrance Coleman and drummer Keith Robinson, will perform two sets of jazz and popular music.

Dr. Stephen Jones, pastor of the church, will offer a brief, non-sectarian inspirational message between sets, and a free-will offering will be taken to benefit the musicians. Refreshments will be served in the church’s narthex after the vespers. Attire is casual, and there is free parking in the lighted lot surrounding the church.

The church plans to continue the vespers series on the third Sunday of each month, with pianist Carolbeth True and Two Times True scheduled to perform on Sunday, November 16. For more information, visit the Second Baptist Church Web site or call 314-991-3424.