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:
- We start, as usual, with some Miles Davis news, much of it related in some way to this year's 40th anniversary re-release of Bitches Brew. The website LAist has a look at a panel discussion on the 40th anniversary of Bitches Brew at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, featuring saxophonist Bennie Maupin, who played on the sessions; actor Don Cheadle, who's set to portray the trumpeter in the proposed film biography; Davis's nephew Vince Wilburn, Jr. and his son, Erin Davis; and others.
On a similar note, the New York Times' Ben Ratliff devoted a good part of recent podcast to Miles and the recording of Bitches Brew. In somewhat-related news, here's a beer enthusiast's review of the new Bitches Brew ale, the brewers of which claim Miles as inspiration. Lastly, Miles Davis Online recently asked readers to pick their favorites from a gallery of Davis' album covers. - Following up on some recent visitors to St. Louis, guitarist Pat Metheny's Orchestrion Tour, which played here in May at the Touhill, is set to resume in October for 19 more shows, mostly in the northeast US.
- Meanwhile, bassist Christian McBride and his band Inside Straight, including St. Louis' own Peter Martin on piano, recently were featured on NPR's Jazz Set. McBride and Martin did a duo concert last Saturday at the Sheldon Concert Hall, and the bassist will be back here in March for a Ray Brown tribute at Jazz at the Bistro.
- Speaking of Martin, he and fellow MAXJAZZ recording artists Russell Malone and Romero Lubambo will perform this weekend with vocalist Dianne Reeves at the 53rd annual Monterey Jazz Festival. Malone will be at the Bistro next month to celebrate his upcoming release on the St. Louis-based MAXJAZZ, while Lubambo will play with Martin at the Sheldon in December.
- In other news of coming attractions, singer and guitarist Jonathan Butler recently was featured on CNN. Butler will be in St. Louis next Friday for a concert at the 560 Music Center.
- Singer Jane Monheit just did a interview with Jazz Times discussing the Great American Songbook and her favorite contemporary composers. Monheit comes back to St. Louis in December for four nights at the Bistro.
- Also on the road right now are pianists Mulgrew Miller and Kenny Barron, seen here together at the Detroit Jazz Festival; singer/guitarist John Pizzarelli, who just did a Duke Ellington-themed show at Scullers in Boston; and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who were just in Indiana at Goshen College. Miller and Barron are here next week at the Bistro; Pizzarelli will return to St. Louis in April to play the Sheldon, and the PHJB will perform with the Del McCoury Band in October at the Family Arena in St. Charles.
- Pianist Vijay Iyer's new solo CD was featured on NPR's “Piano Jazz," reviewed in DownBeat and on the blog Music and More, and served as impetus for a feature about Iyer in the Wall Street Journal. Iyer will be in St. Louis with the Golden Quartet in November for a New Music Circle-sponsored concert at the 560 Music Center.
- Speaking of new records, The Bad Plus' latest album Never Stop is out this week, and already has been featured on NPR and on the website Spinner, and reviewed by Music and More. They'll be back in St. Louis in January to kick off the new year at Jazz at the Bistro.
- In other recording news, the band Yellowjackets have signed a deal with Mack Avenue Records. The 'Jackets, with drummer Will Kennedy back in the fold after the departure last year of St. Louis native Marcus Baylor, will return to St. Louis in April to play at the Bistro.
- Also, Rebirth Brass Band (pictured) have signed with Basin Street Records, also home to trumpeter, singer and St. Louis native Jeremy Davenport and many other jazz artists. The label “worked with Rebirth from the sidelines" in 2005 on Throwback, an album that reunited the band with founding member and now labelmate Kermit Ruffins. Rebirth are expected to release their first album on Basin Street in February 2011. They'll be in St. Louis on Thursday October 7 to perform at The Gramophone.
