This week's calendar of live jazz and creative music in St. Louis offers an album release event from one of the city's favorite homegrown piano players, plus funk and fusion, free improv, cabaret, swing, and more. Let's go to the highlights...
Wednesday, October 7
The popular fusion band Yellowjackets (pictured, top left) return to St. Louis to begin a four-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro, with a new member, bassist Dane Alderson, as part of the swarm.
Alderson, who's originally from Australia, replaces Felix Pastorius, who played with the group during their last visit to St. Louis in June 2014. Pastorius had replaced co-founder Jimmy Haslip as a touring member in 2012.
Thursday, October 8
The Gaslight Cabaret Festival begins its fall series with New Hampshire-based singer Wendee Glick performing her show “Moon Over The Mississippi" at the Gaslight Theater.
Meanwhile, this week's free Jazz at Holmes concert at Washington University will feature a tribute to saxophonist John Coltrane's early years on the Blue Note label, with the lineup of musicians still TBA at post time.
Friday, October 9
The Gaslight Cabaret Festival continues with singer Maxine Linehan in the first of two performances of “An Immigrant’s Journey From Ireland To America" at the Gaslight Theater.
Elsewhere around town, Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes return to Nathalie's; The Sidemen play for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom; the Midwest Jazz-tette will perform West Coast-style “cool" jazz at Cigar Inn; and the Funky Butt Brass Band will be back for their monthly outing at Broadway Oyster Bar.
Saturday, October 10
Pianist Peter Martin (pictured, center left) will resume his eponymous concert series and celebrate the release of his new album What Lies Ahead with a performance at the Sheldon Concert Hall.
For much more about the album - which features Martin, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Gregory Hutchinson, and various guests - plus video samples of a couple of tracks, see this post from last Saturday.
Also on Saturday, guitarist Tom Byrne leads a trio at the house concert venue Kinda Blue; and Franglais will bring some late-night Gypsy jazz to Mangia Italiano.
Sunday, October 11
Keyboardist Mo Egeston's trio will be substituting for Tommy Halloran's band this week for Jazz at the Bistro's Sunday brunch.
That afternoon, the St. Louis Jazz Club will present clarinetist Dave Bennett in a matinee performance at the DoubleTree Hotel at Westport. Bennett is a 31-year-old Michigan native who “brings to life the classic sound and music of Benny Goodman with incredible technique, style, beauty of tone and naturalness."
Shortly after that, saxophonist Harvey Lockhart will kick off a late-afternoon quintet performance at BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups.
Then on Sunday evening, percussionist and improvisor Tatsuya Nakatani (pictured, lower left) once again will convene his Gong Orchestra at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center, enlisting up to ten local musicians in his quest to draw unexpected sounds from an array of gongs of all sizes.
Monday, October 12
Bassist Ben Wheeler leads a quartet of musicians who all played with Willie Akins in a concert paying tribute to the late saxophonist at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium.
Tuesday, October 13
The Saxquest Jazz Orchestra will hold another open rehearsal and performance at the Tavern of Fine Arts; and Miss Jubilee plays for the weekly “Tuesday Night Swing" event presented by Lindy Hop St. Louis at Grandel Theatre.
Wednesday, October 7
The popular fusion band Yellowjackets (pictured, top left) return to St. Louis to begin a four-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro, with a new member, bassist Dane Alderson, as part of the swarm.
Alderson, who's originally from Australia, replaces Felix Pastorius, who played with the group during their last visit to St. Louis in June 2014. Pastorius had replaced co-founder Jimmy Haslip as a touring member in 2012.
Thursday, October 8
The Gaslight Cabaret Festival begins its fall series with New Hampshire-based singer Wendee Glick performing her show “Moon Over The Mississippi" at the Gaslight Theater.
Meanwhile, this week's free Jazz at Holmes concert at Washington University will feature a tribute to saxophonist John Coltrane's early years on the Blue Note label, with the lineup of musicians still TBA at post time.
Friday, October 9
The Gaslight Cabaret Festival continues with singer Maxine Linehan in the first of two performances of “An Immigrant’s Journey From Ireland To America" at the Gaslight Theater.
Elsewhere around town, Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes return to Nathalie's; The Sidemen play for dancers at the Casa Loma Ballroom; the Midwest Jazz-tette will perform West Coast-style “cool" jazz at Cigar Inn; and the Funky Butt Brass Band will be back for their monthly outing at Broadway Oyster Bar.
Saturday, October 10
Pianist Peter Martin (pictured, center left) will resume his eponymous concert series and celebrate the release of his new album What Lies Ahead with a performance at the Sheldon Concert Hall.
For much more about the album - which features Martin, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Gregory Hutchinson, and various guests - plus video samples of a couple of tracks, see this post from last Saturday.
Also on Saturday, guitarist Tom Byrne leads a trio at the house concert venue Kinda Blue; and Franglais will bring some late-night Gypsy jazz to Mangia Italiano.
Sunday, October 11
Keyboardist Mo Egeston's trio will be substituting for Tommy Halloran's band this week for Jazz at the Bistro's Sunday brunch.
That afternoon, the St. Louis Jazz Club will present clarinetist Dave Bennett in a matinee performance at the DoubleTree Hotel at Westport. Bennett is a 31-year-old Michigan native who “brings to life the classic sound and music of Benny Goodman with incredible technique, style, beauty of tone and naturalness."
Shortly after that, saxophonist Harvey Lockhart will kick off a late-afternoon quintet performance at BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups.
Then on Sunday evening, percussionist and improvisor Tatsuya Nakatani (pictured, lower left) once again will convene his Gong Orchestra at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center, enlisting up to ten local musicians in his quest to draw unexpected sounds from an array of gongs of all sizes.
Monday, October 12
Bassist Ben Wheeler leads a quartet of musicians who all played with Willie Akins in a concert paying tribute to the late saxophonist at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium.
Tuesday, October 13
The Saxquest Jazz Orchestra will hold another open rehearsal and performance at the Tavern of Fine Arts; and Miss Jubilee plays for the weekly “Tuesday Night Swing" event presented by Lindy Hop St. Louis at Grandel Theatre.
