November Concert Candidates Are All Winners

Now that the elections are over, you still have plenty of musical choices here in the St. Louis area. And whether - like me - you're looking for some interesting jazz to help you forget the presidential voting results, or looking for a way to celebrate... you can't go wrong by attanding any of the following performances.

A couple of jazz vocalists kick off the month. Singer/pianist Peter Cincotti, who seems to have attained a musical maturity rare for his age, is at the Sheldon Concert Hall on November 4. And Chicago-based singer extraordinaire Kurt Elling performs at Jazz at the Bistro from November 3-6. (Not hard to figure out Elling's taske on the recent election - he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.)

On Monday, November 8, the Webster University Big Band - with the considerable help of noted valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer - will celebrate the Count Basie centennial with a program of Basie tunes. And to celebrate Brookmeyer's 75th year, the band will also play several of Brookmeyer's compositions and arrangements. You can expect to hear Basie classics such as "Kansas City Shout" and Brookmeyer's memorable arrangement of "St. Louis Blues." The Chaminade College Preparatory School Jazz Ensemble opens the benefit concert, which kicks off at 7 p.m. A $10 donation at the door will go to the Donald O. Davis Memorial Jazz Scholarship, which is awarded to a Webster University student who shows exceptional promise.

Fans of classic jazz-fusion can catch Brian Auger and Oblivion Express at Off Broadway the following night, November 9... and smooth jazzers will undoubtedly fill the Pageant for the sax styling of Boney James on Wednesday, November 10. Medeski, Martin & Wood roll into Mississippi Nights on Thursday the 11th to keep the End of the World Party CD vibe rolling for their fans.

Oleta Adams, who made a big impression with crowds at this past summer's U.S. Bank Saint Louis Jazz Festival, returns to the Sheldon on Sunday to headline a benefit for the non-profit group, Community Women Against Hardship. Tickets are $35 for the 7:30 show and are available through MetroTix.

The always popular Dirty Dozen Brass Band return to town on Wednesday, November 17 - this time in the intimate confines of Blueberry Hill's Duck Room. That same night, the Caribbean jazz Project - under the direction of Dave Samuels - kicks off four nights at Jazz at the Bistro. And for your post-Turkey Day pleasure, University City native Jeremy Davenport heads home from New Orleans for his fifth annual Thanksgiving weekend performances at the Bistro. He'll be playing Fridays and Saturdays at the normal set hours of 8:30 and 10:45, with Sunday matinees at 4 and 6 p.m.

Riffs:
The Columbia, Missouri-based We Always Swing jazz series continues to provide plenty of music worth driving to see - a lot of which isn't on the St. Louis musical calendar. Here's a prime example. On Sunday, Nov. 14, the legendary Latin jazz pianist, Eddie Palmieri, will play at the Blue Note with his band, La Perfecta II. By the, this 8 p.m. show is a DANCE concert, so you'll be able to get up and shake it! And by the way, if you miss Kurt Elling at Jazz at the Bistro in St. Louis, you can still catch him at Murry's in Columbia on Sunday, Nov. 7. But you better hurry. Murry's is an intimate venue and tickets are almost gone.