* Singer Denise Thimes was interviewed about Aretha Franklin by St. Louis Public Radio.
* Trombonist and St. Louis native Jimmy Wilkins (pictured) has died at age 97 in Las Vegas. Wilkins, the brother of saxophonist Ernie Wilkins, performed with Count Basie, Clark Terry, Motown studio band The Funk Brothers, and more. He spent much of his adult life in Detroit, and had lived in Las Vegas since 1994.
* Pianist Ptah Williams and other jazz acts playing at this year's Loufest are the subjects of a brief St. Louis magazine feature penned by Thomas Crone.
* Also in St. Louis magazine, writer Jeannette Cooperman previews tomorrow night's "Labor of Love" show featuring the Kranzberg Arts Foundation's resident artists at the Grandel Theatre.
* Bassist and singer Janet Evra of The Bonbon Plot has released a music video for "You or Me," a song from her forthcoming debut album Ask Her to Dance. The video, directed by Bill Streeter of Hydraulic Pictures, features Evra and the musicians who performed on the track, including guitarist Will Buchanan, drummer Montez Coleman, pianist Adam Maness, and trumpeter Khamali Cuffie-Moore.
* The House of Miles East St. Louis is hosting a "Kind of Blue and You Fundraiser!" on Tuesday, September 25 at the Casino Queen.
* St. Louis multi-instrumentalist and freelance writer Kevin Mitchell has teamed up with Webster University Community Music School violin teacher and ensemble director Joanne Keefe to write Jazz Songs for the Student Violinist, which is available now from Sher Music.
* There still are some spaces open in the "Drum Fantasy Camp" tour group traveling with drummer Dave Weckl in January to Havana, Cuba.
* The Sheldon Art Galleries have announced a new exhibit showcasing more instruments from the Hartenberger World Music Collection. "St. Louis, A Musical Gateway: The Balkans, India and Mexico" will open with a reception at 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 5 and continue through Saturday, April 13, 2019. The exhibit will feature more than 150 "unique and rare" instruments from India, Mexico and the Balkan region.
Curator Dr. Aurelia Hartenberger will present a gallery talk about the instruments at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 4. The talk is free, but space is limited, so to reserve a spot, send an email to plincoln@thesheldon.org or call The Sheldon at 314-533-9900 x37.
