About - Jazz St. Louis

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At the Center of it All is a Passion for Jazz

For nearly three decades, Jazz St. Louis has been the foremost jazz presenter in St. Louis and throughout the region. We are dedicated to preserving the legacy of this musical genre. Hundreds of local and nationally renowned musicians, such as Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Harry Connick, Jr., and Al Jarreau have graced our stage. Our state-of-the-art Ferring Jazz Bistro has earned praise from artists and patrons alike as one of the best listening rooms in the country. Year after year, Jazz St. Louis strives to be the leader in showcasing unique and diverse jazz performers and preserves the shared cultural heritage embodied in jazz music through our educational programs.

History

Jazz St. Louis was born in August 1995 when the late Barbara Rose (pictured) and Peter Bunce of Grand Center began presenting jazz musicians of national and international fame in a small, intimate atmosphere. The new music series was called Jazz at the Bistro. Following her death in 1998, Gene Dobbs Bradford was chosen to lead the organization. He began expanding the musical styles presented and building the education and community programs that are now an integral part of the organization. In 2006, the organization’s name was changed from Jazz at the Bistro to Jazz St. Louis to better reflect our focus on performance, education and community engagement. In October 2014 following an $8 million capital campaign, the Bistro and the adjacent building were renovated as the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz.