Jazz this week: No BS! Brass Band, a Grover Washington Jr. tribute, Funky Butt Brass Band turns 10, and more

The calendar of live jazz and creative music calendar typically thins out a bit this time of year, as summer concert series begin to wind down and the fall presenting season still is weeks away.

Nevertheless, there are several noteworthy shows happening over the next week, including a birthday celebration for one of St. Louis' most popular jazz-adjacent bands, plus soul-jazz, Latin jazz, traditional jazz and swing, and more.

Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, August 1
No BS! Brass Band (pictured, top left) returns to perform at the Old Rock House. Based in Richmond, VA, they put their own spin on the classic New Orleans sound, as you can see in the videos contained in this post from a couple of Saturdays ago.

Also on Wednesday, trumpeter Jim Manley is at Sasha's Wine Bar; guitarist and singer Tommy Halloran plays at Evangeline's; and this week's edition of the free "Grand Center Jazz Crawl" features pianist Marty Eggers at The Stage at KDHX, the jam session led by bassist Bob DeBoo at the Kranzberg Arts Center, and trumpeter Kasimu Taylor at The Dark Room.

Thursday, August 2
Guitarist Dave Black brings his "In Touch" trio with bassist Marc Torlina and drummer Kyle Hunnicutt to The Dark Room.

Friday, August 3
Jazz St. Louis presents the first of two nights of "Groovin' on Grover Washington Jr,"  a tribute show featuring saxophonist Amos Brewer (in for the previously announced Tim Cunningham) with bassist John King, keyboardist Pete Ruthenburg, guitarist Leland Crenshaw and drummer Montez Coleman.

Also on Friday, Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes perform at The Abbey in Belleville; vibraphonist Tom Rickard leads a trio at Cigar Inn; and saxophonist Kendrick Smith plays at Thurman's in Shaw.

Saturday, August 4
The Funky Butt Brass Band (pictured, bottom left) celebrates their tenth birthday with an early show at Broadway Oyster Bar.

Also on Saturday, percussionist Herman Semidey and Orquestra Son Montuno play salsa, Latin jazz and more at the Ozark Theatre
and Dizzy Atmosphere performs in the beer garden at Missouri Botanical Garden's Flora Borealis exhibit.

Sunday, August 5
Miss Jubilee plays for brunch at Evangeline's, and the Friends of Scott Joplin present their monthly "Ragtime Rendezvous" at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site's Rosebud Cafe.

Tuesday, August 7
The Tick Tock Jazz Band, featuring multiple generations of traditional jazz musicians going back to the Gaslight Square era, will play the first of what's projected to be a monthly series of gigs at the Tick Tock Tavern.

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: Spotlight on No BS! Brass Band

This week, let's take a look at some videos featuring the No BS! Brass Band, who are returning to St. Louis to perform on Wednesday, August 1 at the Old Rock House.

Coming out of Richmond, Virginia, the NBBB offers their own take on the classic New Orleans brass band tradition, adapting popular contemporary tunes from a variety of genres for the format, and performing their own originals as well. They've released five albums to date, the most recent being Brass Knuckles in 2015, and they've played here in St. Louis several times, including in June 2017 at the Old Rock House.

To help you get acquainted, StLJN has assembled a collection of videos that should provide an overview of their sound, starting up above with NBBB's cover version of Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean," recorded in 2017 in Portland, OR.

After the jump, you can hear their spin on "Everybody Wants To Rule The World," a hit for 1980s new wave band Tears for Fears, as recorded in March 2017 in Richmond.

Next up, it's a track that NBBB released as a single in February of this year, a new version of their original tune "3 AM Bounce" featuring vocals from MC Chance Fischer.

That's followed by a cover of Michael Jackson's "Thriller," recorded in June 2017 at the Grog Shop live in Cleveland Heights, Ohio; a full set recorded in February 2015 for the web series Audiotree Live; and the NBBB's appearance on NPR's "Tiny Desk Concert" from back in 2013.

For more about the No BS! Brass Band, read this interview with trombonist and co-founder Reggie Pace published in 2017 by the Richmond Navigator, and Pace's 2015 conversation with NPR's "Weekend Edition."

You can see the rest of today's videos after the jump...

No BS! Brass Band returning Wednesday, August 1 to Old Rock House

The Richmond, Virginia-based No BS! Brass Band is coming back to St. Louis to perform at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 1 at the Old Rock House.

No BS! Brass Band (pictured) has played all over the United States, including at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Festival of New Trumpet Music, and on National Public Radio’s "Tiny Desk Concert."

The 11-piece ensemble also has performed in St. Louis several times before, most recently in June of last year at the Old Rock House. The group recently released two singles - a version of Tears for Fears" "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" and "3 A.M. Bounce" - and has announced plans to put out a live album later this year.

Tickets for the all-ages performance are $13 in advance, $15 day of show, and will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. this Friday, June 1 via Metrotix.

Jazz this week: Fourth annual Richard McDonnell Scholarship Concert, Gerald Albright, No BS! Brass Band, and more

This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis includes a concert raising funds for music scholarships in honor of a much-loved local jazz supporter; gigs from a popular, groove-oriented saxophonist and a New Orleans-style brass band, and more.

Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, June 14
The third annual Richard McDonnell Scholarship Concert will take place at Jazz at the Bistro, featuring drummer Matt Wilson, members of Good 4 The Soul and the Funky Butt Brass Band, and various other guest musicians.

The event raises money for music scholarships for St. Louis area students in the name of Richard McDonnell, the late founder of MAXJAZZ Records who also was a board member of Jazz St. Louis and an enthusiastic, well-liked supporter of the local jazz scene before his sudden death in 2014.

Also on Wednesday, The Gaslight Squares will play a free outdoor concert for the Whitaker Music Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden.

Thursday, June 15
The Dark Room is changing up their regular music offerings a bit starting this week. Going forward, they're booking a different band every week on Thursdays, with pianist Ptah Williams moving to a regular weekly trio show at "happy hour" on Fridays. This week's debut of the "Thursday Night Revue" will feature drummer Kaleb Kirby's band Animal Children.

Also on Thursday, Cabaret Project St. Louis will present their monthly "Broadway Open Mic" at the Curtain Call Lounge.

Friday, June 16 
Saxophonist Gerald Albright (pictured, top left), will headline a "Salute to Fathers/Mentors" at the Sheldon Concert Hall, with support from saxophonist Tim Cunningham, comedian James Stephens III and singer Denise Thimes. For more about what Albright has been up to lately, and some videos of recent live performances, check out this post from last Saturday.

Also on Friday, guitarist Farshid Etniko Soltanshahi brings his multi-ethnic "world music" sound to Jazz at the Bistro; drummer Steve Davis leads a group with singer Feyza Eren in a free show at the Webster Groves Concert Hall; and Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes return to the Venice Cafe.

Over on the east side, Gypsy jazz/swing trio The Bonbon Plot will play a concert at Jacoby Arts Center; and drummer Marty Morrison leads a trio at Cigar Inn.

Saturday, June 17
The Gaslight Squares will play a matinee at the Blues City Deli; and keyboardist and singer Jesse Gannon and his band The Truth will perform at Jazz at the Bistro.

Sunday, June 18
The Grand Center district will be the site of not one, but two different Frank Sinatra tributes for Father's Day, as singer/impressionist Dean Christopher will do his "Sinatra...and Other Stuff" show for brunch in the relatively intimate confines of The Dark Room, while singer Steve Lippia will be featured with the St. Louis Symphony for a matinee of "Sinatra: 100 Years and Beyond" at the spacious Powell Symphony Hall.

Sunday night, the No BS! Brass Band (pictured, bottom left), a Virginia-based group offering their own contemporary take on the traditional New Orleans ensemble sound, will play at the Old Rock House.

Monday, June 19
A triple bill of free-improvising musicians featuring guitarist Shane Parish, the duo of Christopher E. Trull and Mabel Suen, and the Vernacular String Trio will play at Foam.

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.)

No BS! Brass Band to play Sunday, June 18 at Old Rock House

The Richmond, Virginia-based No BS! Brass Band will return to St. Louis to perform at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, June 18 at the Old Rock House.

No BS! Brass Band (pictured) has played all over the United States, including at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Festival of New Trumpet Music, Lockn festival, and on National Public Radio’s "Tiny Desk Concert.

They also have performed in St. Louis several times before, most recently in February 2015 at the Broadway Oyster Bar. The group's latest recording is Brass Knuckles, which they self-released on vinyl and CD in 2015.

Tickets for the all-ages performance are $10 in advance, $12 day of show, and will go on sale at 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 31 via Metrotix.

Jazz this week: Kenny Barron & Stefon Harris, No BS! Brass Band, Branford Marsalis, and more

Considering that it's still mid-winter and pre-Mardi Gras, it looks like there's a nice variety of jazz and creative music over the next few days in St. Louis, with everything from intimate duets to roaring big bands on the musical menu. Let's go to the highlights...

Wednesday, February 4
Pianist Kenny Barron and vibraphonist Stefon Harris (pictured, top left) begin a four-night run of duo performances at Jazz at the Bistro. You can get a close-up look and listen to Barron's considerable pianistic skills in this video post from last Saturday.

Also tonight, the St. Louis Jazz Orchestra offers "A Tribute to Stan Kenton" at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Thursday, February 5
Guitarist Chris Burchett will play a free concert for the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University, while guitarist Stuart Johnson plays standards at Thurman Grill.

Friday, February 6
The Ambassadors of Swing will play for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom; singer Joe Mancuso fronts a trio at EdgeWild Restaurant & Winery; and keyboardists Matt Villinger and Adam Maness will team up to perform at Thurman Grill.

Over on the east side of the Mississippi, the Midwest Jazz-tette will bring their West Coast "cool jazz" inspired sound to The Abbey Espresso Bar & Cafe in Belleville; and pianist Dave Becherer leads a trio at Cigar Inn.

Saturday, February 7
Pianist Carolbeth True and Two Times True will play the house concert venue KindaBlue, 6101 1/2 Idaho;  trumpeter Jim Manley and pianist Arthur Toney will be at One 19 North Tapas and Wine Bar; the Sidemen will play vintage swing at Evangeline's; and singer Feyza Eren will lead a quartet in concert at The Chapel.

Sunday, February 8
Inspired by the New Orleans brass band tradition but hailing from Richmond, Virginia, the No BS! Brass Band (pictured, lower left) will perform at the Broadway Oyster Bar.

Also on Sunday, the Dave Dickey Big Band plays their monthly gig at Jazz at the Bistro, with an intermission performance by the Ft. Zumwalt North HS Jazz Band.

Monday, February 9
While saxophonist Branford Marsalis' one-nighter at Jazz at the Bistro has been sold out for some time now,  there are several other jazz performances happening on Monday, including pianist Kim Portnoy's trio at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium; singer Dean Christopher's "Rat Pack & More" at One 19 North Tapas and Wine Bar; and Animal Children at BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups.

Tuesday, February 10
The Sheldon Concert Hall will be presenting jazz both morning and night, with the St. Louis Stompers playing a "Coffee Concert" in the morning, and vocal group Java Jived teaming up with the Midwest Jazz-tette for a "Notes From Home" concert in the evening.

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 2015 jazz preview, part 2

Today, we continue with part two of StLJN's winter/spring 2015 jazz preview, this time covering musicians and groups who will be visiting St. Louis during the first part of February. (To see part 1, which covers January, go here.)

The month will begin with a series of performances featuring pianist Kenny Barron and vibraphonist Stefon Harris, starting Wednesday, February 4 and continuing through Saturday, February 7 at Jazz at the Bistro.

Though Barron and Harris have paired up before, this short clip featuring a Barron solo from the 2013 Marciac Jazz Festival seems to be the only video documentation online. So instead, we've got clips here featuring each of them individually. Barron can be heard up top with bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Carl Allen playing his composition "Cook's Bay" in October 2013 at the Jarasum International Jazz Festival in South Korea. Down below, Harris and his band, including Nic Payton on trumpet and David Sanchez on saxophone, perform "Ninety Miles" at the 2012 Copenhagen Jazz Festival.

After that, you can check out the No BS! Brass Band playing their version of Charles Mingus' "Haitian Fight Song" in August 2013 for the web series Audiotree Live. They'll be here in St. Louis on Sunday, February 8 to play at the Broadway Oyster Bar.

Next up is saxophonist Branford Marsalis, who brings his band to St. Louis the very next evening (Monday, February 9) for a one-nighter at Jazz at the Bistro. Marsalis is seen here sitting in on a gig led by his pianist Joey Calderazzo this past summer at Pizza Express in London, in which the two of them plus bassist Orlando Le Fleming and drummer Donald Edwards take on "The Mighty Sword" from Marsalis' 2012 album Four MFs Playin' Tunes.

On Saturday, February 14, actors and cabaret singers Liz Callaway (the sister of longtime St. Louis favorite Ann Hampton Callaway) and Jason Graae will perform their show "Happily Ever Laughter: A Valentine's Party" at 560 Music Center for Washington University's "Ovations" series.

In addition to her live performances, Callaway over the years also has been the singing voice of a number of characters in animated movies, and here she can be seen in a audience-filmed clip from this past July performing "Journey to the Past" from the 1997 film Anastasia. That's followed by Graae singing "The Moment Has Passed," also filmed this past July as part of a tribute to Off-Broadway musicals staged in NYC by the indie label and production company Kritzerland.

Today's final video features keyboardist Jeff Lorber, who will bring his band featuring saxophonist Eric Marienthal and bassist Jimmy Haslip to St. Louis from Wednesday, February 18 through Saturday, February 21 to play at Jazz at the Bistro. They're seen here playing Lorber's song "Rain Dance" at a gig in June 2013 at Spaghettini in Los Angeles.

Look for part three of the winter/spring 2015 jazz preview here next week. You can see the rest of today's videos after the jump...

Stooges Brass Band, No BS! Brass Band set for shows at Broadway Oyster Bar

The Broadway Oyster Bar, home to monthly gigs from the Funky Butt Brass Band and frequent host to various New Orleans acts, has booked two more brass bands for gigs early next year.

New Orleans' Stooges Brass Band (pictured) will return to St. Louis to play the BOB on Thursday, January 15, while the No BS! Brass Band , an eleven-piece group based in Richmond, VA, will perform on Sunday, February 8.

The Stooges have played in St. Louis before, most recently in August of this year at the Oyster Bar, but as best as we can tell, this will be the first local show for the No BS! Brass Band. (We'll have videos of both groups in StLJN's winter/spring 2015 jazz preview, which starts tomorrow.)

Admission for the Stooges Brass Band will be $10 at the door. There's no ticket price for the No BS! Brass Band listed yet on either the Broadway Oyster Bar site or the Facebook page for the event, but given the BOB's usual pricing, it likely will be the same or similar.