So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Singer and bassist Janet Evra will provide the musical entertainment for “Wine and Jazz Under the Stars,” a benefit for Classic 107.3 (Radio Arts Foundation) to be held starting at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, September 12 at The Public School House in St. Charles.

The ticket price of $95 per person also includes appetizers by Russo’s Catering, wines from A. Bommarito Wines, free on-site parking, and the chance to participate in a silent auction of items including Cardinals baseball tickets, a wine-tasting package, gift certificates, and more. For details or to reserve a spot, go to https://classic1073.org/wine-and-jazz/.

* In an effort to "ensure the future of the music economy is sustainable, profitable, and inclusive," the Regional Arts Commission is conducting a survey of the St. Louis music scene, inviting participation from musicians, venues, festivals and fans. If you're in one of those categories, you're encouraged to complete the online survey form before October 10 at https://racstl.org/music-strategy/.

* More St. Louis venues are setting admission policies regarding COVID vaccinations and testing, as the new Chesterfield concert club The Factory and the Hollywood Casino Amphtheatre (aka Riverport) this week announced that patrons will be required to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to be admitted.

* Saxophonist Lisella Martin (pictured) was profiled in a feature story on Bloomington, IL's WGLT radio.

* Trumpeter and Webster Groves native Ally Hany Albrecht will transfer from the Air Force to the U.S. Navy and relocate from California to Washington DC to join the United States Navy Band Commodores, the premier jazz band of the Navy.

Albrecht, a graduate of North Texas State University and the Manhattan School of Music, has spent the past four years with the USAF Band of the Golden West at Travis Air Force Base, California.

* DownBeat magazine is conducting their annual readers poll, with voting continuing through Tuesday, September 14. If you're a subscriber to the print magazine, digital edition, or free email newsletter, you can cast a vote at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DownBeatReadersPoll.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Bassist, composer, former St. Louisan, and SIU Edwardsville alumnus Dan Loomis (pictured) has launched a crowd-funding campaign to pay for a recording of his jazz song cycle "Job's Trials." You can read more about the project and, if you like, pledge your support here.

* Trumpeter Keyon Harrold was interviewed about his guest spot on the new Nas album and more by HipHopDX.com

* The STL Free Jazz Collective has posted on YouTube a video of their performance on April 27 at the Link Auditorium, their first show without founding member and former St. Louis poet laureate, the late Michael Castro.

* Also new on YouTube, bassist and singer Janet Evra performing "Tenderly" for the web series Lo-Fi Cherokee 2019.

* Singer, actor and St. Louis native Craig Pomranz wrote a personal essay for CabaretScenes.org about how the late Doris Day taught him to sing.

* Pianist and St. Louis native Dred Scott was the subject of a feature story on the web site Berkeleyside.
 
* The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's collaboration with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on a recording of the trumpeter's "Swing Symphony" made Jazziz magazine's list of "10 Albums You Need To Know For July 2019."

* Voting in the 2019 DownBeat Readers Poll is open, and you can cast your ballot here.

* Multi-instrumentalist Lamar Harris is looking for young musicians in high school or their first year of college to participate in "From The Lab," a free educational program that will teach recording techniques, music business skills, and more. Applications for the first session starting in Fall 2019 are being accepted now on Harris' website.

* Pianist Kim Portnoy will have an original composition premiered by Chamber Project St. Louis during their upcoming 2019-20 season. Portnoy's "From an Imaginary Musical" will be on the program for the group's concert in April 2020 at the Missouri History Museum.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Organizers of the Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival remind us that there's still time for musicians and singers to enter their "Webster's Got Talent" contest and compete for a chance to perform at this year's OWJBF on Saturday, September 15. You can get more information and download the application here. Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, August 14.

* A new episode of HEC-TV's I Love Jazz premiered last night, featuring spouses and former St. Louisans Reggie and Mardra Thomas. Recorded during the Thomases' recent homecoming gig at Jazz at the Bistro, the episode will air periodically until October on local cable and satellite systems - check your program guide for details - or you can watch online at HEC's website.

* Saxophonist Willie Akins this week was the subject of a feature story written by Terry Perkins for the St. Louis Beacon.

* Musicians, artists and other creative types looking for a place to live and work have a new option in the Metropolitan Artists Lofts, located at 500 N. Grand (at Olive) in the Grand Center district. (That's across the street from the Fox Theatre, and just down the block from Powell Symphony Hall and the Bistro at Grand Center.)

The newly redeveloped building has features aimed specifically at artists, including music and media spaces and studios for pottery and dance, as well a fitness center and other more conventional amenities. One bedroom spaces begin at $654 per month, two bedrooms at $802. For more information, visit the website or call 314-535-2110.

* Lindy Hop St. Louis has announced a new monthly swing dance, West End Stomp!, to be held on the first Friday of every month at the Mahler Ballroom in the Central West End. The event will feature live music and free swing dance lessons for beginners, starting September 7.

* DownBeat magazine's 77th Annual Readers Poll is underway, and the deadline to cast a ballot is midnight on Tuesday. August 21. You can vote for your favorite jazz and blues artists of 2012 online here. Results of the Readers Poll will be reported in the December issue.

Online voting now open for Jazz Times readers poll

Online voting is now open for Jazz Times magazine's annual readers poll. To cast your vote for your favorite musicians, bands and recordings, go here.

Online voting now open for DownBeat's 75th annual Reader's Poll

Online voting is now open for DownBeat magazine's 75th annual Readers Poll. You can cast a ballot for your favorite musicians, bands and recordings of the past year here. (Note: You must register and provide an email address in order to vote.)

DownBeat Readers Poll voting open until Monday, August 24

As has become its custom in the Internet age. DownBeat magazine once again is allowing online voting in this year's annual Readers Poll. You can see a list of those already elected to the magazine's Hall of Fame here, and cast your ballot for your favorite musicians, bands and recordings of the year here.

If you're concerned with online privacy, please note that - ostensibly to help the mag's staffers curb any attempts at ballot box-stuffing - you must submit your name and address in order to vote. Results of the 2009 DownBeat Readers Poll will be reported in the magazine's December issue.

DownBeat opens Readers Poll to online voting

Once again this year, DownBeat magazine has opened its annual Readers Poll to online voting. The Readers Poll is a long-running tradition for the jazz journal, and usually provides some good discussion fodder and an interesting snapshot of tastes and trends. To vote for your favorite musicians, groups, recordings, and so on, go to the online ballot for the 2008 poll here. (While you don't have to be a DB subscriber to vote, the online ballot does require a name and email address, so as to discourage any potential ballot box stuffing.)

Down Beat 2007 readers poll includes St. Louis connections

The December 2007 issue of Down Beat has been sent to subscribers, and results from the magazine's annual readers' poll show several musicians with St. Louis connections.

Clark Terry placed fourth in the balloting for trumpet players, while Hamiet Bluiett shows up at number five in the poll's list of baritone saxophonists. Greg Osby grabbed tenth place in the alto sax category, Marty Ehrlich finished tenth among clarinetists, and the St. Louis based independent MAXJAZZ came in ninth among record labels.

In addition, saxophonist and composer Oliver Nelson tied for tenth place in the Hall of Fame category, and Miles Davis: The Legendary Prestige Sessions finished second in the voting for Historical Album/Box Set.

Alas, DB still does not post the complete poll results online, but the December issue should be available soon at better bookstores and newsstands everywhere.

Vote online in Down Beat's 2007 Readers Poll

Down Beat's annual Reader's Poll is always a good opportunity to ponder the current state of jazz and express support for your favorite musicians and recordings, and this year the jazz journal has elected to conduct the poll online.

While write-in votes are allowed, DB also supplies suggestions in each poll category. There are a number of musicians with St. Louis connections on the ballot, including Oliver Nelson (Hall of Fame, pictured), Miles Davis (Best Historical Album), Clark Terry (trumpet), Greg Osby (alto sax), Hamiet Bluiett (baritone sax), and Marty Ehrlich (clarinet). In addition, local label MAXJAZZ is nominated in the "Record Label" category, and former St. Louisan Ike Turner shows up as a nominee in the poll's two blues categories.

(Note that the poll does ask for some personal info, ostensibly to precent stuffing of the ballot box. I had no qualms, since I'm a longtime subscriber and the mag already has my address and other info, but your mileage may vary.)

Online voting ends on August 31. To cast your ballot, go the Down Beat Web site, look on the left-hand side of the page for the Reader's Poll graphic, click and follow the instructions.