So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Guitarist and singer Tommy Halloran's new album State Streets was reviewed by the Riverfront Times' Christian Schaeffer.

* Composer and sound artist Chris Kallmyer, who's based in Los Angeles, created a piece of music this fall for the Pulitzer Arts Foundation that was performed with bells made from clay dug in the St. Louis area, and now you can hear a recording of that composition via a report from St. Louis Public Radio.

* Saxophonist Oliver Lake has posted to Facebook a set of photos from his gig with bassist William Parker and drummer Dieter Ulrich last week in Luzern, Switzerland.

* A recent workshop and perofrmance by drummer Dave Weckl (pictured) in Dubai was the subject of a feature story in the Khaleej Times (via Yahoo News).

* Singer Tony Viviano was interviewed about his Frank Sinatra 100th birthday tribute show tonight by the Post-Dispatch's Kevin Johnson.

* St. Louis-based Entertainment Cruise Productions announced the debut of The Contemporary Jazz Cruise, a luxury full-ship charter that will feature performances by Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, Terence Blanchard, Gregory Porter, Dianne Reeves, Joshua Redman, Robert Glasper Trio, Chucho Valdes, The Bad Plus, Lalah Hathaway, Marcus Miller, Candy Dulfer, and more.

The cruise aboard the ship Celebrity Summit will sail February 4-11, 2017 from Ft Lauderdale, traveling to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

* KDHX has added to their website a page collecting their reviews, photos, and other coverage of St. Louis cabaret performances.

Anita Rosamond performing on Dave Koz Smooth Jazz Cruise

Singer and pianist Anita Rosamond (pictured) is escaping the St. Louis winter cold this week, heading down to the Caribbean where she's been added to the roster of performers for the 2010 Dave Koz Smooth Jazz Cruise.

The sold-out cruise, which starts Saturday and continues through January 24, is produced by St. Louis-based Jazz Cruises LLC. It will feature nearly 40 musicians and singers, including Rosamond and two East St. Louis natives - vocalist Phil Perry and saxophonist Andre Delano - as well as Marcus Miller, Stanley Jordan, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Euge Groove, and other smooth jazz stars.

Rosamond performed on the company's Jazz Cruise in November of last year, and also is booked to appear on the Jazz Cruise scheduled for January 2011.

(Edited 1/20/10 to fix a bad link.)

Thimes, Rosamond and Kennedy on board for fall jazz cruise

Singers Denise Thimes and Anita Rosamond and bassist Tom Kennedy (pictured) are among the musicians who will be on board for the fall 2009 edition of "The Jazz Cruise" produced by the St. Louis-based company Jazz Cruises LLC. The cruise is scheduled for November 8 - 15 on the Holland America ship Westerdam, and will traverse the Caribbean visiting ports of call such as St. Thomas, St. Barth's and Half Moon Cay.

The three St. Louisans on "The Jazz Cruise" will be part of a large roster of players known primarily for mainstream jazz and swing, including several who have appeared in recent years in St. Louis, such as singer Karrin Allyson, pianist Shelly Berg, singer/pianist Freddie Cole and saxophonists Houston Person and Tom Scott. For complete details, see "The Jazz Cruise" Web site.

Jazz Cruises LLC sets 2008-09 schedule

St. Louis-based Jazz Cruises LLC has announced their schedule of events for the fall of 2008 and winter of 2009.

They'll offer four different cruises during the season, starting with Dave Koz & Friends at Sea from November 2 through November 9. Koz' seagoing amigos will include musicians such as Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Eric Benet, George Duke, Najee and more, plus a special appearance by funk and soul legends Tower of Power.

Next up is the event known simply as The Jazz Cruise, which will take place November 9 through November 16, 2008 with featured performers including the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Heath Brothers, Andy Bey, Tom Scott, Regina Carter, Benny Green, Trio da Paz, Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet, St. Louis' own Denise Thimes, and more.

The new year will kick off with The Smooth Jazz Cruise, hosted by Wayman Tisdale, from January 18 through January 25. The NBA star turned electric bassist will be joined by musicians such as Gerad Albright, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Peter White, Jeff Golub and more.

Last but not least is the first-ever Playboy Jazz Cruise, which sails from January 25 through February 1 and will feature host Marcus Miller, special guest Herbie Hancock (pictured), Dianne Reeves, James Moody, Roberta Gambarini, Roy Hargrove, Eldar, the New Birth Brass Band and more. For more information, check out the links to the individual cruises or visit Jazz Cruises LLC's Web site.

(Edited 5/23/08 to fix a typo.)

Perkins' Post article recounts jazz cruise

Jazz writer and Post-Dispatch freelancer Terry Perkins had an article in this weekend's paper describing his experiences on a recent jazz cruise presented by the St. Louis-based firm Jazz Cruises LLC. You can read the story online here.