The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is leaving the Big Apple enroute to that Midwest state with the city that boasts the 630 foot Gateway Arch. Yes, people it’s St. Louis, Missouri. I love this city, even though that arch celebrates Lewis and Clark, history left out.
No longer hidden from the story, the arch now celebrates York, Clark’s enslaved servant, whose skills as a hunter, his ability to navigate and negotiate with Native American tribes, and his physical strength in tasks like hauling boats and building shelters, were all vital to their success.
Inside the city limits is a well known venue located in the Arts District named for its city, Jazz St. Louis. Two rooms feature a 220 seat and a more intimate 75 seats. It all started as Jazz at the Bistro in 1995 before becoming its current version.
On tap is a drummer I’ve yet to experience. Fortunately I have a ticket to this sold out date. Kaleb Kirby is bringing a quartet to play tribute to guitarist John Scofield. The ensemble will reimagine Scofield’s work showcasing the expressive range and rhythmic ingenuity that define the guitarist’s voice.
The Band:
Kaleb Kirby | drums
Greg Dallas | guitar
Chris Thomas | bass
Austin Cebulski | tenor saxophone
Jazz St. Louis is located at 3536 Washington Avenue, 63103. For more information contact the venue at jazzstl.org.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Eric Soleil was born July 9, 1961 on the wind-swept plains of the Kansas prairie and began his musical career in elementary school where he was forced to play the trumpet that was handed down from his older brothers. He infuriated his band instructor by making up his own parts instead of playing the fourth-chair lines intended for him. He also began to compose little pieces on the family’s upright piano. In high school, Eric pursued concert choir and the thespian arts, earning a theater scholarship to college. At 19 years of age, he began studying the electric bass.
Deeply rooted in classical music, he also had an adoration for American jazz, which led to incorporating classic orchestral voices with some neo-Baroque, jazzified idioms that became Jazz-Symphonia. He later played the baritone, french horn, trombone, finally settling on the tuba where he remains an inveterate bass clef performer.
A unique blend of symphonic instruments with jazzy undertones, JasmPhonia is the nom de guerre of Eric, a gifted multi-instrumentalist/composer who utilizes acoustic symphonic voices and midi composition to create a rich mixture of chamber music and Nu-jazz styling. Eric has compiled his first CD, “Ad Astra Per Aspera” (To The Stars Thru Difficulty).
Tubist Eric Soleil continues to pursue a career in music, writing from the keyboard, drums, and bass, and performing his own unique original compositions. He is also continuously developing his skills as an artist, producer, and engineer.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Karl Kiffe, born July 6, 1925 in Los Angeles, California first attracted attention as winner of the annual Gene Krupa Contest in 1943. Succeeding Chuck Falkner as leader of the Hollywood Canteen Kids he was featured in novelty numbers in several feature films before working as a single in Ken Murray’s Blackouts.
1945 saaw him hired by Jimmy Dorsey, with whom he worked for about a year, and then again from 1950 through 1953. Over the next decade, Kiffe worked with Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo and Woody Herman, as well as singers Andy Williams, June Christy, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Speaking in 1946, when asked which drummer he most admired, Kiffe cited the solos of Buddy Rich, while praising the big band work of Don Lamond and Jo Jones.
Drummer Karl Kiffe, who was great friends with saxophonist Warne Marsh, died on May 10, 2004 at the age of 76 in Las Vegas, Nevada
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
John Cusick was born on July 1, 1949 in Washington, D.C. He studied percussion with former drummer of the Charlie Byrd Trio, Bill Reichenbach. He has gone on to perform with other jazz greats that call Washington home, such as legendary pianist John Malachi and Keter Betts.
He has entertained DC area jazz audiences for more than 30 years, and has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Drummer John Cusick leads the area’s finest jazz performers, in trios, quartets, quintets and larger ensembles for night club, concert and private engagements.
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JOHN YARLING
John Yarling studied classical percussion at Florida State University and jazz performance at the University of Miami. He has taught music and percussion at North Broward Preparatory Schools and founded the percussion program at the Florida Youth Conservatory.
A versatile and sought-after drummer, John has performed with top South Florida acts including Ira Sullivan, the Inter-Outer Continental Quintet, South Florida Jazz Orchestra, Brian Murphy Trio, Nicole Yarling 4-Tet, and more. Comfortable in jazz, blues, funk, and rock, his past collaborations include legends such as Mose Allison, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderley, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, and Mick Taylor. His recording credits feature artists like Ira Sullivan, Curtis Fuller, Joe Williams, and Pink.
Cover: Member ~ $33.85 | General Admission ~ $44.52
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