Most nights had the same sets, with the 2nd set changing slightly from night to night. The week featured all original material, both old and new, from The Bad Plus, save for a single performance of Flim by Aphex Twin during Thursday’s 2nd set.

Set 1 – 7:30 pm

Photo by Stephen Gallagher

Wolf Out – Dave King

Who’s He? – Ethan Iverson

1979 Semi-Finalist – King

Rhinoceros is My Profession – Reid Anderson

For My Eyes Only – King

I Want to Feel Good, Pt. 2 – King

Never Stop -Anderson

2 PM – Iverson

Lost of Love – Anderson

Set 2 – 9:30 pm

Everywhere You Turn – Anderson

Knows the Difference – Anderson

My Friend Metatron – King

Sing for a Silver Dollar – Iverson

People Like You – Anderson

Cheney Piñata – Iverson

7 Minute Mind – Anderson

Re-elect That – Iverson

Pound for Pound – Anderson

Legacy Jazz Quintet plays the music of Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers
January 13-14, 2012

Wee Trio
January 27-28, 2012

Valentine’s Day with Erin Bode
Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Rick Haydon Trio
March 9-10, 2012

Dave Venn Trio
April 6, 2012

An evening of Latin Jazz with Javier Mendoza
May 4-5, 2012

Frank Vignola with Vinny Raniolo
May 18-19, 2012

Tickets for these shows go on sale this Friday, December 9 at 10 a.m. via all Metrotix locations, online at www.metrotix.com, or by calling 314.534.1111 or 314.289.4030.

You can also view photos from the Dianne Reeves and Ahmad Jamal performances.

Jazz St. Louis (JSL) is seeking students to fill street team positions throughout the community and on local college campuses. Street Team members will work in cooperation with JSL to improve the organization’s visibility throughout the area, increasing both student and adult attendance at Jazz at the Bistro (JATB) performances and other JSL events.

Position Responsibilities:

• Distribute flyers and other information provided by JSL on campus, making sure all flyering guidelines are followed.
• Distribute flyers at local businesses and restaurants with approval from owners/managers.
• Build awareness among students and the local community of the many JSL programs, events, and its mission.
• Facilitate word-of-mouth opportunities and social networking for JSL events.

Requirements:

• Reliable transportation is needed to pick up and distribute promotional materials.
• A digital camera or camera phone to email pictures of the materials at various locations in your area.
• Facebook and/or Twitter accounts and knowledge of those networks is preferred.

Benefits*:

• Free admission for you to all 9:30 p.m. sets at JATB.
• Free admission for you and a guest to two 7:30 p.m. shows on a Wednesday or Thursday each season.
• Other volunteer opportunities at JATB and other JSL events throughout the community.

*All benefits are pending availability and subject to change.

To apply, contact:

Devin Rodino

Jazz St. Louis

3547 Olive Street, Suite 260

St. Louis, MO 63104

devin@jazzstl.org

This past spring, 85 students from the metro area auditioned to be part of JazzU, which is  now entering its 5th year.  Of those who auditioned, 55 were accepted into the program.  Groups, meeting dates, and times have been assigned and students are anxiously awaiting the mid-September start date of this intense, 32-week long program.  This new class of students represents the largest in the program’s history, with seven student combos (up one from last year) representing students from more than 40 schools.

The Jazz St. Louis All-Stars, which comprises approximately the top 10% of those who auditioned, took seven members into its ranks for the coming season (three returning).  A new twist this year is that four of the seven members come from the Illinois side of the river, which is the first time that a majority of the members have not been from Missouri.  You can read up on each of the All-Stars on their bio page, located here.

On the faculty side of things, we continue to offer students the opportunity to study with some of the finest musician/educators this area has to offer, including our Artist-in-Residence, Peter Martin, who joins us for a second year.  New to the JazzU faculty is pianist Adaron “Pops” Jackson.  Check out the full list of faculty and their bios by clicking here.

Because of generous support, we are able to continue our amazing Artist Residency program with three amazing artists/educators.  The Sherman Irby Quintet, Byron Stripling and Matt Wilson’s Arts and Crafts will each be joining us for a week, visiting schools, working with JazzU students and conducting master classes.  All of this concludes with weekend performances at Jazz at the Bistro.  Schools/teachers interested in hosting an artist should visit the Residency page to download the request form.

Also continuing this year are our 2011 Youth Concerts, presented by PNC Arts Alive.  Last year over 3000 students and teachers attended these concerts.  Featuring JazzReach, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to the promotion, creation, teaching and performance of jazz music, these engaging and interactive performances are great for students of all ages.  We are grateful to the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ College of Arts and Sciences for hosting these concerts at the amazing Touhill Performing Arts Center on October 10 & 11, 2011.  To check out the performance offerings and to download the ticket request form, click here.

The Emerson Jazz in the Schools program has brought Jazz at the Bistro artists into area schools for the past 11 years.  A few years ago we were able to make artists’ participation in this program a permanent part of their obligations while in St. Louis.  This year being no exception, all 18 of the artists appearing on the Jazz at the Bistro stage will do some type of education activity under the banner of this program.  This allows us to bring artists like Take 6, Ramsey Lewis, Kurt Elling, Freddy Cole and Stanley Clarke to schools  in the St. Louis area that would otherwise never have the opportunity to host artists of their stature.  This, of course, would not be possible without the generosity of the artists involved.

New this year is our first foray into the general music classroom with our new curriculum, Jazz Concepts for the Young Beginner.  Currently being piloted in five St. Louis Public and six Arch Diocese schools, this new resource focuses on teaching basic jazz concepts to general music students in grades 5-9.  Featuring 11 engaging and interactive lessons, students learn rhythmic, harmonic, and improvisation concepts as well as a solid understanding of the social and cultural climate that made the development of jazz possible.  Look for more about this as the school year progresses.

Without writing too much, let me just say that we at JSL are extremely excited for the coming year in education.  The best part is that all of these resources are completely FREE for participating students, teachers, and schools.  We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the generous support of so many individuals, corporations, foundations, and collaborative non-profits.  Anyone interested in these programs can contact me, Phil Dunlap, at 314.289.4033 or phil@jazzstl.org.

From the time I was in high school, Reggie was someone I’ve looked up to.  I’d see him at the SIUE jazz festival and summer jazz camp, and when I decided to study at SIUE, he became an integral part of my development as a musician, and a hugely influential person in my life.  By pushing me to go outside of my “comfort zone” as a player, I discovered new music and learned to appreciate things much more than I ever had before.  Reggie opened my eyes to so many different things that have now become such a part of my musical life that I can’t imagine what I’d do without them.

A deep appreciation of the work of Nat King Cole’s trio came straight from Reggie Thomas.  When I listen to old recordings of the King Cole Trio, I smile because the music gives me such an enormously positive feeling and I often think back to Reggie hipping me to “Solid Potato Salad” and “Little Joe from Chicago.”  When I started working in radio at WSIE, Reggie & Rick Haydon were my first live guests in the studio and kept me constantly supplied with great music to play on the air.  If I remember correctly, Reggie was getting back in town late on a Sunday afternoon and rushed to SIUE to grab some King Cole Trio discs so I’d have them in time for a feature I was doing on Nat.

As brilliant a performer as Reggie is, he is just as brilliant an educator.  Reggie has a way of inspiring students and getting the very best out of them.  If you look at the most in-demand and respected young musicians in St. Louis, many of them have been students of Reggie Thomas and the SIUE program at one time or another.  Many of the younger faculty members at colleges and universities in the area have also come by way of SIUE.  Alongside Brett Stamps & Rick Haydon, Reggie Thomas helped build a world class program that is widely respected in the jazz community.

Upon leaving SIUE and coming to work for Jazz St. Louis, Reggie continued to be a source of advice and inspiration for me.  As our education programs expanded, so did the involvement of Reggie Thomas.  He has worked with our students since the first incarnation of the Jazz St. Louis All-Stars seven years ago and continues to work with them today.  He’s worked with our adopted schools and residency programs and students always look forward to an opportunity to learn from him.

Of course, since coming to work for Jazz St. Louis, I have had countless opportunities to listen to Reggie’s playing in a variety of contexts.  No matter what the situation, the groove is always killer and the show always swings.  Really, words cannot due justice to the talent Reggie Thomas posseses as a performer AND an entertainer.  I dstinguish between the two because not all performers are great entertainers.  Reggie has a way of communicating with an audience that brings the show to that next level, where everyone feels as if they’re all in his living room amongst old friends.  As a performer, he simply excels at a level that is rarely heard and does so with versatility that I can honestly say I’ve never experienced in another musician. Name another musician who is known for being an incredible pianist AND organist.  Usually you get one or the other, but never both.  And for those that don’t know, the man is pretty killer on trumpet, bass and guitar as well.

To say that Reggie Thomas has been influential would be a vast understatement.  Everywhere you look, there’s someone he’s touched…someone he’s made a better musician, a better person.  I feel truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn and work alongside Reggie for so many years.  I expect to continue to do so no matter where the future may take him.

Michigan State University has some new “magic” coming their way.  I wish both Reggie and Mardra the very best in this new chapter in their lives.

Bob Bennett

Director of Operations & Artistic Administration

Jazz St. Louis

With a Jazz at the Bistro subscription, you receive the best choice of seats for all our performances, with the same seat for every performance (pending availability, does not apply to Choose Your Own Series).  In addition to great seats for great performances, your subscription helps Jazz St. Louis continue to present the finest artists in jazz today.

This year, we are continuing to offer a Choose Your Own Subscription package. For this package, you are able to select any four shows in our subscription season for your subscription.

Advantages of Subscribing

• Complimentary valet parking for Jazz at the Bistro performances for Series One, Two, Three and Four Subscribers.
• Purchase the entire season (Series 1) and save 15% off the regular single ticket prices.
• Advance notice of special events and upcoming shows. Subscribers are able to purchase tickets before the general public.
• Scheduling conflicts?  Subscribers have exchange privileges within the same engagement – best seating available at time of exchange.
• Receive invitations to exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with select Jazz at the Bistro artists, a benefit only for subscribers.
• Receive two complimentary seats to your choice of select Spotlight Performances for each subscription seat purchased.
• Receive an invitation to our Annual Subscriber Appreciation Party!

Learn more about Jazz at the Bistro subscriptions here.

Your Dollars. Your Support. Their Future.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the stories about Brady, Everette, Marvin, and Carlos. This is the final week of the 10 in 6 campaign, and we still need your help to make our goal of $10K by May 31. If you haven’t given yet, a gift of just $10 will help us reach the goal. Please give today!

As the school year comes to a close, students are already sending in applications for the JazzU 2011-12 auditions. This year’s group has been a successful and talented bunch, and we are excited to keep the momentum pushing forward. A full third of the Missouri All-State Jazz Band was comprised of members of our education programs, and 80% of the students enrolled in the Jazz St. Louis All-Stars (the top JazzU group) have/will go on to major in music at some of the most prestigious universities in the country. With your continued support, these milestones are possible for students throughout the area – many of whom would not otherwise have such an opportunity. Phil Dunlap, Director of Education, says that JSL will continue to “evaluate and better [its] programming to connect with even more students in the St. Louis area.”

As you know, our educational programming has been especially beneficial to our adopted school, East St. Louis High (ESLH). The JazzU program supports the tailored education they receive as an adopted school, and our work with them will continue. As for the four young men featured in this campaign; they have one year left at ESLH and are already looking forward to joining JazzU 2011-12.

Because of your support, young musicians with a passion for jazz have a place to meet, play, and perform with like-minded students throughout the area. It’s a great experience for students and an especially significant opportunity for those looking to continue in music. It’s so rare to find programming this beneficial offered free of cost. And we thank you for making this possible!

We’ve already received nearly 80 applications for JazzU 2011-12, let’s all look forward to another groundbreaking year in jazz education.

Donate now to help us raise $10K by May 31 and make more of these stories possible through our JazzU and Adopt-a-School programs.

We’ve raised $1,000 toward our goal of $10K in 6 weeks. We can still make this goal by May 31^st if you give $10. Would you please give $10 today? There are just two weeks to go, and your gift will make so many stories possible.

Carlos Brown, Jr. is the final student we’ll be featuring from East St. Louis. A junior and a third-year member of the JazzU program, he credits Jazz St. Louis (JSL) for the leaps in his development as an alto-sax player. “I don’t think I would be in contact with so many different musicians or instructors, and I definitely wouldn’t be playing on the level I’m playing on now. [JSL] really means a lot to me,” he says.

But Carlos has been immersed in music for most of his life. He grew up in a musical family; his father, a trumpeter, introduced him to jazz early on. “Music was everywhere,” Carlos says. “It was meant for me to do it.” And so, as soon as he was eligible, Carlos auditioned for JazzU – and made it. With both hands, he seized the opportunity to advance his skill and learn from some of the same artists his father played for him as a child. “I got a chance to talk to the great Lou Donaldson. It was amazing to have him share his musical experiences with me,” he says.

And it’s the one-on-one time with musicians, like Donaldson, that inspires Carlos to share his gift with others. He is beyond his years in both wisdom and ability: “Our role as young musicians is to keep the torch burning, because if we don’t, who will?” he says. When finished with high school, Carlos looks to major in either music performance or music therapy. “I’m the type that loves to help people out. My main goal when I’m on stage is not to have the best solo, but to touch one person in the crowd. If one person is moving to my music, then I’ve done my job,” he says.

As you read this, Carlos (along with Brady, Everette, Marvin and the rest of the ESLH Jazz Band) is performing in New York City for the Essentially Ellington competition and festival. “It [has given] us something to work towards,” he says. And as a section leader, Carlos will guide the ensemble as they fill Jazz at Lincoln Center with that signature St. Louis sound.

For our part, we hope that you’ve enjoyed getting to know these four young men. It has been a pleasure to share their stories with you, and it has been an honor to help make those stories possible.

Donate now to help us raise $10K by May 31 and make more of these stories possible through our JazzU and Adopt-a-School programs.

Until then, we are pleased to announce the performers we have booked for our 2011 Summer Series.  All performances will be at regular set times of 8:30 p.m. & 10:15 p.m. and are at Jazz at the Bistro, with the exception of The Jazz Crusaders, which is at The Touhill.  Tickets for all shows will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 16, 2011 at 10 a.m. through Metrotix at 314.534.1111, online at http://metrotix.com or via the Jazz St. Louis box office at 314.289.4030.

Jim Manley’s Wild, Cool & Swingin’ Orchestra
Sponsored by Tim & Debbie Callihan of The Spectrum Band
June 3-4, 2011
$20 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID

Coco Soul
June 10-11, 2011
$20 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID

* The Jazz Crusaders featuring Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson & Wilton Felder (ON SALE NOW!)
Sponsored by World Wide Technology, Inc. and Centene Corporation
June 11, 2011, 8:00 p.m. at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center
$100(Gold Circle, includes post concert reception with artist) | $50 | $35
For tickets: The Touhill Ticket Office at 314.516.4949 or purchase online here

Tim Cunningham & Jim Stevens
June 17-18, 2011
$20 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID

Denise Thimes
June 24-25, 2011
$20 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID

Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra
June 27, 2011
$10 Mon | $5 students

Eric Slaughter Trio with special guest Jason Swagler

July 1-2, 2011
$15 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID

Legacy Jazz Quintet: the music of Miles Davis, 1959-1968
In cooperation with the Center for the Humanities Summer Institute at Washington University
July 8-9, 2011
$20 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID

Reggie Thomas with Mardra Thomas: The Farewell Performance, the music of Stevie Wonder
In cooperation with the Center for the Humanities Summer Institute at Washington University
July 15-16, 2011
$20 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID

Willie Akins Quartet: the music of the John Coltrane Quartet
In cooperation with the Center for the Humanities Summer Institute at Washington University
July 22-23, 2011
$20 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID

Good 4 The Soul
July 29-30, 2011
$20 Fri/Sat | $10 students w/ID