Miles on Monday: Newport box set wins awards, Miles Ahead film news, and more

This week in Miles Davis news:

* The 1957 Louis Malle film Elevator to the Gallows, which features a score composed and played by Davis, will get a St. Louis screening this spring courtesy of Cinema St. Louis’ Robert Classic French Film Festival. The movie, which is in French with English subtitles and stars Jeanne Moreau (pictured, with Davis), will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium.

* According to a story in the Alton Telegraph, the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau last week recognized Pat Ackman for her work on the Miles Davis Memorial Project, presenting her with both the Spirit of Tourism award and a Chairman’s Award from the association for her efforts. The bureau also recognized Karen Wilson for her contributions to the effort to place a statue of Davis to downtown Alton.

* Producer Teo Macero's work on Davis' landmark album Bitches Brew was the subject of a New Music Box article by George Grella, who recently wrote a book about the album for the 33 1/3 series.

* The box set Miles Davis At Newport 1955-1975 has won the award for "Best Historical/Vault/Reissue" in Jazz Times magazine's 2015 Readers Poll for 2015, as well as "Reissues/Archive Album of the Year" in Jazzwise magazine's Albums of the Year Critics Poll.

* The screening of Don Cheadle's film Miles Ahead last month at the Sundance Film Festival continues to inspire media coverage, including interviews with Cheadle by The Root, Variety, Business Insider, and Uptown, plus reviews of the movie from Consequence of Sound, Park City Record, and Guff.com.

* As part of a series of essays about albums originally issued on the Prestige label, blogger Tad Richards considered a 1956 recording session marking the end of Davis' time with the label in "Listening to Prestige Part 166: Miles Davis".

Edited to correct the date of the Elevator to the Gallows screening.

Notes from the Net: Miles biopic moves ahead, Oliver Lake's solo set, plus news, reviews, interviews, and more

Here's the latest compilation of assorted news briefs and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest:

* In recent Miles Davis-related news, Miles Davis Online looks at what's ahead for the trumpeter's legacy in 2011, and the proposed feature film biography of Davis now has a script and appears to be moving closer to reality. Meanwhile, Miles' producer Teo Macero was the subject of a roundtable discussion among contemporary DJs published by The Revivialist.

* Saxophonist and former St. Louisan Oliver Lake (pictured) did a solo show last month in San Diego; via Avant Music News, here's a feature on Lake from the local paper, and here's a review from Robert Bush of AllAboutJazz.com.

* Speaking of AAJ, here's a review from that site's Clifford Allen of The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer, the recently issued CD of a 1986 duet performance by trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith and drummer Ed Blackwell. Smith's Golden Quartet performed in St. Louis in November at 560 Music Center.

* In related news, Golden Quartet pianist Vijay Iyer has a new project, a trio called Tirtha that blends jazz and Indian music.

* Guitarist John McLaughlin, who played the Sheldon Concert Hall in November, recently talked to NPR about John Coltrane and spirituality in music.

* Singer Jane Monheit, who performed last month at Jazz at the Bistro, recently did an extended interview with AllAboutJazz.com's Esther Berlanga-Ryan.

* The Bad Plus just wrapped up their annual visit to St. Louis on Saturday to general acclaim, but the Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich felt their recent performance in Chicago, which preceded their gig here, could have been better.

Notes from the Net: Teo Macero passes away; Elling, King and Botti reviewed; Tom Scott in a tribute to Cannonball Adderley; and more

From all over the Internets right to your screen, here's the latest batch of short news items regarding musicians from St. Louis, recent visitors and coming attractions:

* It's something of a tradition here that, when possible, these compilations start with something about or related to Miles Davis. This time, there's sad news, as Davis' longtime record producer Teo Macero has died at age 82 after a long illness. Macero produced many of Davis' important recordings in the 1960s and 1970s, and his editing skills played a major role in shaping the finished form of albums like Bitches Brew and On The Corner. Here's a brief video in which Macero discusses his work with Davis:



* On a somewhat related note, veteran bassist Harvey Brooks, who has worked with musicians including Bob Dylan, Al Kooper, and the short-lived 1960s rock supergroup the Electric Flag, also was part of Davis' Bitches Brew sessions. In the video window below, you'll find a recent interview with Brooks which he discusses Davis and the making of Bitches Brew.



* A three-day "Miles Davis Jazz Summit" was held at Manhattan School of music, featuring a panel discussion moderated by Marcus Miller; a concert of Davis' small group music from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s; and complete renditions of of the Gil Evans-arranged albums Miles Ahead and Porgy and Bess performed live at Zankel Hall in NYC by the Manhattan School of Music Orchestra with guest artist Dave Liebman on saxophone.

* There's also news about a couple of trumpet players who recently have visited St. Louis. From AllAboutJazz.com, a review of trumpeter Chris Botti's recent two-week residency at Bay Area jazz club Yoshi's. Botti played the Touhill Performing Arts Center in January.

* Meanwhile, trumpeter John Brunious, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's leader and senior member, has passed away at age 67 after an apparent heart attack. The PHJB played the Argosy Alton Casino just last month. Brunious' musical friends and colleagues planned a traditional New Orleans jazz funeral for the trumpeter.

* Nate Chinen of the New York Times reviews a joint performance at NYC's Allen Room by singers Kurt Elling, who's played Jazz at the Bistro a couple of times in recent years, and Nancy King, who has recorded for the St. Louis-based MAXJAZZ label.

* Saxophonist Tom Scott, who will be in St. Louis in April for the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival, is one of the key players on Cannon Re-Loaded, a new CD paying tribute to the late saxophonist Cannonball Adderley.

* Another group of recent performers at the Bistro, The Bad Plus, just played the Portland Jazz Festival in Oregon. The Festival apparently did well both artistically and financially with a substantive and adventurous lineup that included shows from Cecil Taylor and Ornette Coleman, lending credence to yr humble editor's perennial contention that such events need not be watered down to be financially viable. Veteran jazz journalist Howard Mandel adds his perspective on the Portland fest in this blog post.

* Lastly, speaking of financial viability, here's some food for thought in an election year. Due to the often uncertain financial and employment prospects for professional musicians, many jazz performers are among the 50 million Americans who lack health insurance; this article from the New York Times looks at the plight of two working NYC musicians who lack coverage and recently have been stricken with serious illnesses, while Secret Society composer/blogger Darcy James Argue offers cogent and sensible commentary on the subject.

(Edited 2/26/08 to fix a typo.)