So What: Local News, Notes & Links

After an extended hiatus, yr. StLJN editor is pleased to once again be able to offer a wrap-up of the week's assorted links and short news items of local interest:

 * Trumpeter Nate Wooley talked with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Calvin Wilson about his performance with electronic musician Ikue Mori tomorrow night at The Luminary.

* Abdul Hamid Royal, pianist and music director for the production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill playing through March 4 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, was interviewed by the St. Louis American's Kenya Vaughn.

The play-with-music by Lanie Robertson recounts the story of singer Billie Holiday using one of her nightclub performances as a framing device, and stars Alexis J. Roston (pictured) as Holiday. Roston and Royal also spoke with St. Louis magazine's Rosalind Early for a brief feature story, which you can read here.

* The Dark Room's new space at the Grandel Theatre, which opens for business next week, was the subject of a feature by the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson

* The website St. Louis Musicians Unite has compiled Spotify playlists of local music by genre, including a playlist for St. Louis jazz artists. You can see all the lists here.

* Organizers of the Hermann Wine and Jazz Festival have announced their date and lineup for this year. The 2017 event will be held on Saturday, August 19 at the Clara Eitmann Messmer Ampitheater in Hermann, and will feature music from Funky Butt Brass Band, Bach to the Future, The People's Key, singer/songwriter Sean Coray, and the Nick Savage Quintet.

* Speaking of the Funky Butt Brass Band, they have just recorded a version of "St. Louis Blues" and posted it to BandCamp, with the proceeds from downloads of the song going to support "Blues For Kids," the charity organization of the St. Louis Blues hockey team. You can get a copy and support the cause here.

Post story says downtown St. Louis will get new jazz venue in March

According to a story in yesterday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, downtown St. Louis will be getting a new live music venue called the St. Louis Jazz Cafe in the spring of 2009.

Business columnist Joe Whittington's December 25 entry included an item saying that the venue "will occupy the space that once housed the Red Moon restaurant in the Terra Cotta Lofts, 1501 Locust Street. Arnold and Aundra Charleston will be opening it in March. Tim Simms will be putting together the food offerings. Arnold Charleston said the new spot would have live entertainment three or four nights a week, and maybe a Sunday jazz brunch. The rest of the week will consist of local talent and streaming smooth jazz from the Internet. "Once a week we'll get a headliner, and I've been talking with Erin Bode and Tim Cunningham," said Arnold Charleston."

The above is a direct quote from the Post story, and after reading it three times, I'm still a little confused about how many nights a week the club will feature live music, and whether they'll be booking local or touring acts. The story starts out saying "three or four nights a week," which seems clear enough, but in the very next sentence adds that "the rest of the week will consist of local talent." Very confusing, especially when you consider that the two potential headliners mentioned in the story are both from St. Louis.

Still, news of any new jazz venue in town certainly is a welcome development, and StLJN will be following this story with interest. The St. Louis Jazz Cafe doesn't seem to have a Web site yet, but you can get a peek at their logo here, on the blog of the design firm that created it. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Win free tickets to Return to Forever

From the Department of "Because Everyone Likes Free Stuff": STLtoday.com and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch are giving away tickets to see Return to Forever's concert next Tuesday, June 17 at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. The winner of the promotional giveaway will receive a "VIP Package for 2 to the Return to Forever Show that Includes access to Pre-Show Party, Meet and Greet, and Merchandise!".

You have to have (or be willing to create) an STLtoday.com ID to enter the drawing, which closes at 5:00 p.m. this Friday, June 13. You can see the rules and submit your entry here.

Haynes interviewed by Post-Dispatch

Today's Post-Dispatch has an brief interview with drummer Roy Haynes, in which the drummer discusses his long career with the Post's Calvin Wilson. Read it online here.