Gateway Grooves

It's been a LONG winter in St. Louis. And even though it's officially March, we're enduring yet one more cold front threatening to drop several inches of snow on us. Maybe if it hadn't been 75 degrees this past weekend, it wouldn't be so hard to get through this--hopefully--last blast of winter.

Thankfully, there were some ...

Yes, jazz is still happening in St. Louis, despite the fact I didn't write a column in August. Which brings up the question... if the local daily decides to write about Nelly buying a new ride to some hippity-hoppin exclusive party instead of the concert at the Fox Theater featuring a very nice double bill of ...

July is usually a slow time for jazz in the St. Louis area, but this year there are a few more choices than usual. Jazz at the Bistro has extended its season through June and into July, and Finale is presenting several worthwhile jazz events as well.

The Greg Osby Four come to the bistro on ...

It's been a strange spring weather-wise in the St. Louis area, but the music scene has seen plenty of highlights over the past couple of months. The Pat Metheny/Brad Mehldau concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall in early April was outstanding, and recent appearances by Ahmad Jamal and Mulgrew Miller at Jazz at the Bistro. over ...

This column may be a little late for March... but on the positive side, it's early for April. I'm thinking ahead, realizing that I'm going to be a little pre-occupied the next few weeks pulling together assorted invoices, receipts and forms and instructions in my annual effort to make sense of paying taxes as a self-employed ...

The deep freeze has settled in big time in the St. Louis area over the past couple of weeks. And temperatures and wind chill factors in the single digits--occasionally with a minus sign in front--certainly don't encourage jazz fans to bundle up and head out into the bitter cold to catch some live music. But for ...

The holiday season may end in terms of the calendar, but it has a tendency to continue rolling pleasantly along in our mental outlook on life. That is, until the bills start showing up. And as freelance writers and musicians all know, that January 16th estimated tax deadline is always a major wakeup call.

It certainly ...

2006 wraps up with an interesting mix of live jazz dates on the St. Louis scene... with a strong emphasis on talented musicians who either grew up or still live in the area. December's lineup at Jazz at the Bistro is a prime example. Native St. Louisan Dave Weckl returns home to headline the Bistro with ...

October has already seen St. Louis appearances by the world Saxophone Quartet, Tierney Sutton and Kevin Mahogany during the first week of the month. And the jazz action continues with some more interesting musical events on tap over the next few weeks.

Jazz at the Bistro conrinues its concert series in October with a couple of ...

September's Labor Day holiday marks the final end of the summer season, but that date is definitely good news for area jazz fans. September also means that Jazz at the Bistro, the Sheldon Concert Hall, Washington University's Edison Theater series and free Holmes Lounge jazz series, Webster University's jazz series and the University Of Missouri St. ...

August usually vies with January as the slowest month for live jazz in almost every metropolitan area in the U.S., and St. Louis is no exception. Jazz at the Bistro is dark for almost the entire month, with one very interesting exception. But thanks to Finale, area jazz fans can check out an interesting mix of ...

Now that the annual U.S. Bank Saint Louis Jazz & Heritage Festival has concluded, you might expect happenings on the St. Louis jazz scene to slow down during July. That's what usually seems to happen every summer... but not this time. This July, the jazz events just keep on coming, thanks to three appearances by female ...

The big jazz event in the St. Louis area in June--as it has been since 2001--is the sixth annual U.S. Bank Saint Louis Jazz & Heritage Festival. The name has changed this year to include “Heritage," with an obvious nod to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest. That tribute to New Orleans is also reflected ...

After several years in a row when spring seemed to only last a week or so before giving way to that famous St. Louis summer heat and humidity, we're finally enjoying a lengthy stretch of balmy, enjoyable weather. There are several interesting jazz events on the May calendar as well--ranging from some interesting offerings at Jazz ...