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14 UMSL photos from 2014

14 UMSL photos from 2014

When looking back over the course of a year, August Jennewein remembers moments, including 14 photos he took in 2014.

St. Louis Jazz Orchestra to pay tribute to Maynard Ferguson

St. Louis Jazz Orchestra to pay tribute to Maynard Ferguson

The St. Louis Jazz Orchestra, led by Jim Widner, director of jazz studies at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, will showcase the music of Maynard Ferguson and feature the artistry of St. Louis’ own Maynard “disciple” Jim Manley. “St. Louis Jazz Orchestra: A Tribute to Maynard Ferguson” will begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL.

Eye on UMSL: Pre-interview banter

Eye on UMSL: Pre-interview banter

UMSL Chancellor Tom George jokes with Ruth Ezell of KETC (Channel 9) as Matt Bowman makes last-minute camera adjustments before an interview for an upcoming segment of “Living St. Louis.” The locally produced magazine series will profile Jim Widner, renowned bassist and director of jazz studies at UMSL. Ezell interviewed George, an accomplished jazz pianist, about Widner’s role as a faculty member and the times they’ve shared the stage together.

Eye on UMSL: Improvisation

Eye on UMSL: Improvisation

John Harner leads his charges through a trumpet master class on the second day of the weeklong UMSL Jazz Camp, which is now part of the Jim Widner Big Band Jazz Camp series. The musicians added an extra level of improvisation that day, moving class up to the naturally illuminated J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center lobby due to a power outage that hit North Campus.

Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival celebrates 10 years

Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival celebrates 10 years

Over the last ten years, the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival has grown to be one of the most significant jazz festivals in the Midwest. Produced by the University of Missouri–St. Louis, the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center and Jazz St. Louis, the 2013 festival will run April 18-20 and feature Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, Doc Severinsen and His Big Band and Anat Cohen and Matt Wilson.

Jazz orchestra to pay tribute to Count Basie

Jazz orchestra to pay tribute to Count Basie

The St. Louis Jazz Orchestra will pay tribute to one of the leading bands of the swing era, the Count Basie Orchestra, with a concert at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. “A Night of Count Basie” will begin at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Blanch M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL.

Jazz Orchestra to pay tribute to Ellington, Basie

Jazz Orchestra to pay tribute to Ellington, Basie

When speaking of jazz visionaries and musical trailblazers, Duke Ellington and Count Basie are typically mentioned in the same sentence. And while their music falls clearly into the same category, their styles were drastically different.

Grammy winner headlines 2012 Jazz Festival

Grammy winner headlines 2012 Jazz Festival

As a sideman with more than 20 years experience, bassist Christian McBride is no stranger to winning Grammy Awards. But never has he basked in Grammy glory as a bandleader – at least not until the most recent awards were handed out.

St. Louis Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to Stan Kenton

St. Louis Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to Stan Kenton

Innovative, sometimes controversial and unquestionably influential, Stan Kenton made an inimitable mark on big band jazz. As The New York Times noted, “Mr. Kenton was the last major jazz band leader to emerge from the Big Band Era of 1934-45, and his was one of only a handful of bands that survived when that era came to an end.”