So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* Bassist and St. Louis native Tom Kennedy (pictured) is the subject of a profile in the latest issue of Down Beat

* Meanwhile, saxophonist Oliver Lake's Trio 3, with bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Andrew Cyrille, got a plug from the New Yorker for their gig next week at NYC's Birdland.

* Last Thursday's show by Victor Wooten at the Old Rock House was reviewed by KDHX's Wil Wander.

* The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries are looking for volunteers for their 2012-2013 season. Volunteers are needed for a range of jobs, from ushering at concerts and welcoming guests to the art galleries, to assisting with mailings and other office duties. If you'd like to get involved, call The Sheldon's volunteer coordinator at 314-553-9900, ext 30, or visit the Sheldon's website.

* Jazz St. Louis has announced the list of area music students who will participate in the organization's JazzU and Jazz St. Louis All-Stars programs during the 2012-13 academic year. In all, fifty high school and middle school students, comprising seven different ensembles, will take part. You can see the complete list of the student musicians and their schools here.

* And while we're on the Jazz St. Louis beat, there's news this week that they're one of five presenters in the USA who will receive funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (via the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus) to implement findings from a recent study by the Jazz Audiences Initiative.

According to this story posted at JazzCorner.com, the program is funded to the tune of $120,000 and begins in the fall of this year. It will focus on "presenting in new/smaller venues, booking new artists in particular markets, and testing new marketing messages and images."

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

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

* The Fox Theatre is conducting a giveaway of two tickets to see Tony Bennett (pictured) in concert on November 16 at the Fox, plus a copy of his latest album, Duets II. Get your entry in before midnight Sunday, November 6 at the Fox website.

* The Classical Jazz Quartet's performance at a benefit this Sunday for Five Acres Animal Shelter is the subject of a feature story by Terry Perkins for the Jewish Light.

* The exhibit "Ralston Crawford and Jazz" at the Sheldon Art Galleries, is the subject of a short article by the Post-Dispatch's Calvin Wilson.

* St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) will offer an educational workshop on "Public Speaking for Artists" from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. this coming Monday, November 7 at the VLAA offices, 6128 Delmar. The instructor is Tripp Frohlichstein of MediaMasters, Inc, and the cost for the workshop is $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

* Jazz St. Louis is looking for students to work as a "street team" on local college campuses and in the community. Duties include distributing flyers and facilitating "word-of-mouth opportunities and social networking for JSL events." Would-be street-teamers will need reliable transportation, a digital camera or camera phone, and knowledge of Facebook and/or Twitter.

Benefits include free admission to the Bistro for 9:30 sets, and the chance to take part in other volunteer opportunities. For details, see the Jazz St. Louis website, or to apply, send a resume and cover letter to Devin Rodino, Jazz St. Louis, 3547 Olive Street, Suite 260, St. Louis, MO 63104 or via email to devin @ jazzstl.org.

* There's some encouraging news in this week's blog entry from Gwen Terry, wife of Clark Terry. The hospitalized trumpeter once again is enjoying solid food, and had his spirits buoyed this past week by visitors including singer Dianne Reeves, who will perform here in Terry's hometown Sunday night at the TouPAC.

* Less encouraging, however, is the news that though local NBC affiliate KSDK ran a story in September on the run-down condition of Miles Davis' childhood home in East St. Louis that at least prompted a reply from the trumpeter's estate, the property has continuing to deteriorate since then, according to this item by Albert Samaha posted Tuesday on the RFT Music blog.

So What: Local News, Notes & Links

Here's the latest wrap-up of links and short local news items of interest that you may have missed:

* Jazz St. Louis has produced a new short video for this fall promoting their education programs, and you can see it online here.

JSL also is looking for volunteers to help staff an information booth at the 2010 Saint Louis Art Fair in Clayton. Volunteers are needed to cover shifts of two to three hours on Friday, September 10; Saturday, September 11; and Sunday, September 12. If you'd like to volunteer, please email Devin Rodino at devin@jazzstl.org or call 314-289-4144.

* Here's one more link for you from saxophonist David Sanborn's recent trip back home to perform at Jazz at the Bistro: an interview Sanborn did with KSDK's Art Holliday.

* Trumpeter Jim Manley (pictured) and the Wild Cool & Swingin' Orchestra are the latest subjects in the St. Louis Beacon's summer series of profiles of local musicians.

* Lastly, although StLJN usually confines our coverage to the immediate St. Louis metropolitan area, we did want to point out that tickets go on sale Tuesday, August 31 for the 2010-11 We Always Swing jazz series in Columbia, MO. The series, now in its 16th season, each year usually presents a few musicians just before or after their St. Louis engagements, as they're doing this season with Tierney Sutton, Dave Brubeck, Stanley Clarke & Hiromi and Ray Vega.

However, they're also presenting a number of acts who (so far) are not scheduled to appear here, including the very talented clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen's quartet, plus a proverbial passel of prime pianists - specifically, groups fronted by Alfredo Rodriguez, Joey Calderazzo, Ellis Marsalis and Danilo Perez; plus a duo piano performance by spouses Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes; plus pianist Lynne Arriale's group, featuring trumpeter Randy Brecker, with the University of Missouri Concert Jazz Band. If you're thinking one or more of these concerts might be worth the two-hour trip down I-70, call the We Always Swing series at 573-449-3001, email them at info@wealwaysswing.org, or visit their website.

Jazz St. Louis seeks part-time employee, volunteer ushers for Jazz at the Bistro

Via this week's email newsletter, there's word that Jazz St. Louis is hiring a part-time Guest Relations Assistant for Jazz at the Bistro. The job will require 5 to 10 hours per week on evenings when there are performances at the Bistro. Interested applicants should email a cover letter and resume to operations director Bob Bennett at bob@jazzstl.org.

JSL also is looking for volunteer ushers to work at the Bistro. These volunteers help seat guests before and during shows, a task that takes about three and a half hours of per night. If you're interested in volunteering or would like more information, call Devin Rodino at 314-289-4144 or send an email to devin@jazzstl.org.

(Edited after posting to add links.)

Campaign seeks musicians to play at polling places on Tuesday

Political observers are expecting an extraordinarily large turnout for Tuesday's elections, and as a result, voters at some polling places may have long waits in line before they can cast their ballots. To help make the time spent in line a little more enjoyable, the St. Louis office of the Barack Obama campaign is looking for musicians who can volunteer some time on Tuesday to perform at polling places for those waiting to vote.

Ted Rose, who's coordinating the effort for the Obama campaign, explains in an email: "We're looking for people who can play between 6 and 8:00 pm, before and just after the polls close. The only rule is to entertain everyone and have a good time. The idea is to make waiting at the polls a party! We'll be assigning polling places on Sunday up until that evening. Interested people should contact me at entertainersforchange@yahoo.com."

Jazz St. Louis seeks volunteers for Art Fair booth this weekend

Jazz St. Louis is looking for help with their information booth at this weekend's Art Fair. Their email newsletter says that volunteers "are urgently needed to staff the Jazz St. Louis booth during the Saint Louis Art Fair, held in the heart of Clayton September 5 through 7...Volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts. Call Kedra Tolson at 314-289-4034 or e-mail at kedra@jazzstl.org to book your time."

Jazz St. Louis seeks volunteer drivers

Jazz St. Louis is seeking volunteer drivers to help transport visiting musicians to and from educational activities while they're in St. Louis. From the blog post by JSL education director Phil Dunlap:

"Drivers will be responsible for picking up artists from their hotel, driving them to the specific event and then returning them to their hotel after the event. Educational activities are typically scheduled between the hours of 11 AM and 2 PM on week days. The total time commitment is around 2.5 - 3 hours.

Volunteers will get the opportunity to meet and hang with the artists that play on the Jazz at the Bistro stage. In addition to this great opportunity, volunteers will also receive two complimentary tickets to Jazz at the Bistro for that week's performance!

Interested people should contact Director of Education, Phil Dunlap at 314-289-4033 or phil@jazzstl.org. Applicants must have a working, clean vehicle that can comfortably seat three people, plus the driver. Applicants will also be asked to come to an interview at the Jazz St. Louis offices."