Jazz this week: "Celebrating George Benson," Willie Akins Scholarship Concert, and more

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis includes a tribute to one of the most popular guitarists and singers in jazz; a concert raising money for scholarships in the name of a longtime local favorite saxophonist; a gathering of cabaret singers from around the nation, and more. Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, July 17
Pianist and St. Louis native Matt Villinger will be back in town for a visit from his current home in Kansas City to promote the release of his new album All Day with a performance at The Dark Room.

Also on Wednesday, the Cabaret Project of St. Louis, which this week is hosting attendees for around the country at its annual Cabaret Conference, presents their monthly "Singers Open Mic" night at Sophie's Artist Lounge.

Thursday, July 18
Author, radio host, and photographer Dennis Owsley will promote his new book St. Louis Jazz: A History via "A Conversation and Book Signing with Dennis Owsley" at UMSL at Grand Center. The event, which is free and open to the public with registration, will include brief performances by singer Jeanne Trevor and singer/percussionist Don Cunningham, both veterans of the Gaslight Square era.

Also on Thursday, the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University continues their "Jazz in July" schedule with a free concert featuring guitarist Vincent Varvel's trio; and Cabaret Project of St. Louis will present their "2019 Cabaret Gala" fundraiser at Jazz St. Louis, with music from Marilyn Maye, Faith Prince, Jeff Harnar, Peisha McPhee, Jim Caruso and Christine Pedi.

Friday, July 19
With George Benson having recently released an album that includes five songs by St. Louis' own Chuck Berry, it seems fitting somehow that Jazz St. Louis is "Celebrating George Benson" for two nights this weekend.

Guitarists Eric Slaughter (pictured) and Matt Sewell and singer Brian Owens are fronting the ensemble, with support from Adam Maness and Adaron “Pops” Jackson on keyboards, Bob DeBoo on bass, and Montez Coleman on drums.

(No word as to whether or not they'll be including any Berry-via-Benson arrangements in their sets, but they should be well-equipped otherwise to handle Benson's extensive catalog of popular favorites.)

Saturday, July 20
The "Willie Akins Scholarship Benefit Concert" will feature music from the groups of saxophonists Harvey Lockhart, Matt McKeever, and Kendrick Smith (pictured), plus guest appearances by singers Joe Mancuso and Erika Johnson, Akins' widow Sandra, and more at the Grandel Theatre.

Also on Saturday, the Cabaret Conference will present their "Professional Track Showcase" at The Stage at KDHX.

Sunday, July 21
If you'd like some music with your Sunday brunch, the options this week include The Gaslight Squares at the Angad Arts Hotel; pianist Adam Maness at Thurman's in Shaw; Miss Jubilee at Evangeline's; and guitarist and singer Tommy Halloran at The Dark Room.

Then on Sunday evening, the Cabaret Conference wraps up with a "Closing Night Showcase and Celebration," also at The Stage at KDHX.

Tuesday, July 23
Singer Arvell Keithley reunites with trumpeter Jim Manley and the Wild Cool & Swingin' Horns for a concert at the Gaslight Theater.

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: The Bad Plus, Matt Villinger CD release event, and more

As usual for the season, things are a bit slow for live jazz and creative music in St. Louis during the first full week of the new year, but there is at least one notable touring act in town this weekend, along with enough music from local performers to satiate those prepared to venture out against the winter's chill. Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, January 6
The Bad Plus (pictured, top left) return for the tenth consecutive January for a four-night engagement continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro.

Since their last visit here, TBP spent a good chunk of 2015 touring with saxophonist Joshua Redman, and, augmented by two saxophonists and a trumpeter, also invested some time revisiting all the music from Ornette Coleman's historic album Science Fiction.. However, having just completed their annual week-long gigs at the Dakota in Minneapolis and Village Vanguard in NYC, the core trio should be fully locked in by the time they hit St. Louis. As usual with The Bad Plus, advance reservations are recommended, as some sets likely will sell out.

Also on Wednesday, the Presenters Dolan resume their production of cabaret shows at The Emerald Room, the newish venue that's part of The Monocle in the Grove neighborhood, with actress and singer Johanna Elkana-Hale's "Starting Here."

Thursday, January 7
Guitarist Dave Black, singer Joe Mancuso and friends return to Nathalie's; guitarist Vincent Varvel performs at the Tavern of Fine Arts and saxophonist Jim Stevens and his band will be back at Hammerstone's

Friday, January 8
For those who can make to the Grand Center area at mid-day, The Bad Plus will be featured in a free, public event at lunchtime, combining performance, discussion, and free pancakes from noted St. Louis artist/chef Dr. Dan the Pancake Man.

That evening, the Midwest Jazz-tette will perform West Coast jazz in the style of Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Shorty Rogers, and more at Evangeline's, while Miss Jubilee plays for dancers at Casa Loma Ballroom.

Saturday, January 9
Matinee-goers can take in an assortment of local free improvisors gathered for "It Takes Two: An Afternoon of Improvised Duets" at the Tavern of Fine Arts.

Then on Saturday evening, Franglais and singer Eve Seltzer (pictured, bottom left) will play Gypsy jazz and swing at Evangeline's, and pianist Matt Villinger returns home from his new digs in Kansas City to promote the release of his first CD with a performance at The Dark Room.

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.)

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* If you feel like catching a buzz - musically and metaphorically speaking, that is - at lunchtime, Yellowjackets will be presenting a brief performance and Q&A session that's free and open to the public at noon today (Friday, October 9) at Jazz at the Bistro.

As with previous "brown bag" events hosted by Jazz St. Louis, there will be no food or beverage service available, but audience members are welcome to bring their own food and drink. You can RSVP or direct any questions to Jazz St. Louis' Andy Ament via an email to andy(at)jazzstl.org.

* The death of saxophonist Willie Akins was noted by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the St. Louis American.

* On a related note, saxophonist Greg Osby posted to Instagram a collage of photos of him and Akins together over the years.

* All Night, the just-issued solo debut album of keyboardist Matt Villinger, was reviewed by Bill Brownlee of the Kansas City jazz blog Plastic Sax. Villinger recently moved from St. Louis to KC.

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake has posted to Facebook some photos from last week's Trio 3 gig featuring guest pianist Vijay Iyer at Blue Note in NYC

* Also on Facebook, Saxquest has posted photos from last Saturday's performance and workshop by Jeffrey Collins.

* The Nine Network's "City of Music" has won this year's Mid-America Emmy award for "Arts/Entertainment – Program/Special." Based on recordings made at a concert last October at the Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries (pictured), the program pays tribute to 250 years of St. Louis music history with performances from local musicians and singers including Peter Martin, Denise Thimes, Billy Peek, the St. Louis Ragtimers, and many more. You can watch both parts of the two-hour special online here.

* The music streaming service Pandora has opened an ad sales office in St. Louis.