
TARIQ GARDNER & EVENING STAR
Evening Star is a group of long time peers and friends from the Detroit Music Community. The group merges the roots traditions of jazz with the modern sounds of neo-soul, hip-hop, and R&B. Group Leader Tariq Gardner channels rhythms from the vast African Diaspora including Gospel, Rhumba, Samba, Swing, and many many more to make the band’s textures go from smooth to rough to velvety. This group has played many venues within the state as well as out of state including Jazzin’ at the Vanity, Third Place Music Festival, Cliff Bells, Blue Llama Jazz Club, and Detroit Jazz Festival. The band has an afro-futuristic aesthetic with the mission that simply makes music the forefront of positive outlets with original compositions as well as arrangements on popular songs from the Black American Canon. Most Recently they have released their freshman album “GATEWAY DRUG” as well as performed at the international Detroit Jazz Festival 2023.
THE BAND:
Tariq Gardner – Drums
Caelin Amin – Bass
LeRoy Mickens – Piano and Keyboards
Jeffrey Trent – Saxophone
Coleman Ward – Vocals
Tickets: $40.00 Cocktail Table (Pre-Pay $20.00 Cover/$20.00 Bar or Menu) | $75.00 Diner & Show (Pre-Pay $20.00 Cover | $55.00 Dinner)
More Posts: adventure,bandleader,club,drums,genius,instrumental,jazz,music,preserving,travel

MELISSA ALDANA
Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana brings her visionary sound to Jazz St. Louis, including music from her latest Blue Note Records release, Echoes Of The Inner Prophet. Blending deep introspection with dynamic collaboration, Aldana’s music explores themes of personal growth, storytelling, and sonic innovation. Influenced by jazz legends like Wayne Shorter and Sonny Rollins, she crafts compelling compositions that push the boundaries of modern jazz while honoring its rich tradition. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience one of today’s most captivating jazz artists live at Jazz St. Louis!
Performing:
Melissa Aldana – saxophone
Sam Yahel – piano
Joe Martin – bass
JK Kim – drums
Tickets: $40.00 ~ $50.00
Show times: 7:30pm & 9:30pm | 3.27 @ 11:00am
More Posts: adventure,bandleader,club,genius,instrumental,music,preserving,saxophone,travel

Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Layla Angulo was born March 12, 1976 to a Greek mother and an Irish-American father and started playing the piano at age 6. However, it was her grandfather’s upright bass playing that inspired her to learn the saxophone at age 10. She began playing in jazz clubs during high school. After graduation, she played in various funk, jazz, and pop and groups and performed as the horn section leader of various salsa bands around the Northwest.
Developing the idea to write her own music. Soon after Layla released her debut album, Live at The Triple Door, was recorded at the noted Seattle theater in 2005. The album’s first single Que Te Vaya Bien was Top 10 for three months. Mientras, her sophomore album, was recorded in New York with Arturo O’Farrill, Oscar Estagnaro, Tony Escapa, and Dario Escanazi and released in 2008.
Moving to New York City in 2009, she subsequently spent a year on tour with reggaeton artist Don Omar. Her third album TriAngulo gave up a single, No Se Como Olvidarte that rose to #16 on the Billboard Tropical Charts. Another song from TriAngulo, La Pelicula, reached #1 in the National Latin Record Pool.
On March 24, 2015, the International Songwriting Competition announced its 2014 Finalists, including Layla’s song Dame Todo.
Alto saxophonist, composer, singer, band director, and recording artist known professionally by the mononym Layla, continues to specialize in Latin music.
More Posts: bandleader,composer,history,instrumental,jazz,music,saxophone,vocal

NICOLE HENRY
The electrifying crescendo of the Jazz St. Louis Big Band, led by Victor Goines is honored to celebrate Women’s History Month. Out front of this iconic band is the talented vocalist Nicole Henry, whose sensational voice has mesmerized audiences around the world, captivating them with every note she sings. Be swept away by fresh arrangements crafted and reimagined by Goines of Ms. Henry’s beloved songs.
Tickets: $40.00 ~ $45.00
More Posts: adventure,bandleader,genius,instrumental,jazz,music,preserving,travel,vocal

Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ofer Assaf was born on March 10, 1976 in Israel and went to the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts dividing his time between his two passions: music and dance, and started training as a professional ballet dancer at the age of eight before switching to a full-time jazz career. He won the Israeli National Competition in Jazz and Contemporary Music for young musicians in 1991. He went on to become a member of the Air Force and IDF Orchestras of the Israeli Army, played with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and a diverse array of national TV and radio shows. He has performed with leading Israeli musicians and was a member of the Tel Aviv Big Band in the mid-1990’s.
Moving to New York City in 1997 he entered The New School University’s jazz program and also studied with tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, bassist Reggie Workman, pianist Richie Beirach, trumpeter Jimmy Owens and percussionists Bobby Sanabria. Upon graduation in 2002, Ofer performed with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock at Carnegie Hall as part of the JVC Jazz Festival.
A recipient of scholarships and awards from the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, he was pre-nominated for the Grammy Awards in the “Best Jazz Instrumental Album” category in 2009 for his debut album Tangible Reality for Summit Records. With the Bernie Worrell Orchestra he was awarded “Best Funk/Fusion/Jam Song of the Year” at the 12th annual Independent Music Awards in 2013.
Tenor saxophonist, composer and educator Ofer Assaf continues to perform and conduct workshops around the world.
More Posts: bandleader,composer,educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music,saxophone