History Museum to host Kind of Blue tribute, "Jazz Cavalcade" with Kirk Whalum

The Missouri History Museum and Jazz St. Louis are teaming up to present a 50th anniversary tribute to Miles Davis' classic album Kind of Blue at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, May 7 in the Museum's MacDermott Grand Hall. The tribute concert will feature JSL director of education Phil Dunlap and the Legacy Jazz Quintet performing and discussing selections from Kind of Blue. Admission is free and open to the public.

The History Museum's just-announced Twilight Tuesdays series of free outdoor concerts also has some shows of interest to jazz fans, most notably the "Jazz Cavalcade" on Tuesday, June 2. This concert will feature saxophonist Kirk Whalum; his uncle, the veteran pianist, saxophonist and singer Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum; and a group of St. Louis musicians including Jeff Anderson, Marty Morrison, Danny Campbell, Eric Slaughter and Reggie Thomas. (Fans of Kirk Whalum also should note that he'll be back in the St. Louis area in July with fellow saxophonist Gerald Albright when their "Sax for Stax" tour plays the Bottleneck Blues Bar in St. Charles.)

Other noteworthy dates in the Twilight Tuesdays series include a show on May 5 by Friendz, featuring singer Cheryl Brown, keyboardist/singer Jeremiah Allen and saxophonist Amos Brewer; and a May 12 concert by singer Kim Massie. The Twilight Tuesdays shows are free and open to the public, and begin at 6:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the History Museum, Lindell & DeBaliviere in Forest Park. For more details and a complete schedule of the spring 2009 Twilight Tuesdays concerts, go here, or call 314-454-3199 or 800-916-8212 for more information.

History Museum sets lineup for fall Twilight Tuesdays concerts

The Missouri History Museum has announced the musical lineup for the fall Twilight Tuesdays series, and the first three concerts feature artsts of potential interest to jazz fans. Singer Kim Massie will kick off the fall series this Tuesday, September 4, followed by the Tommy Money Orchestra on September 11 and singer Denise Thimes on September 18.

Non-jazz performances in the series will include disco cover band Dr. Zhivegas (September 25; Steve Davis' Memories of Elvis show (October 2); the Grateful Dead-inspired Jake's Leg (October 9); and variety group Power Play (October 16).

All concerts are free and open to the public, and take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.n. outside the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Listeners are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair and/or blanket, but the Museum also provides up to 100 chairs free on a first-come, first-served basis. When those are gone, they'll rent you one for $5. They also now are selling seats in a VIP section for $10 per person or $8 for Museum members; to purchase those tickets in advance for individuals or a group, call 314-361-9017.