Love and passion in action birthed an institution that is preparing to celebrate 30 years.
Victor Goines has had a front row seat for its origin story. He played at Just Jazz, the series that became a venue inside the Majestic Hotel thanks to the late Barbara Rose.
“She was a true believer in jazz,” Goines said.
He saw it evolve into the not-for-profit Jazz at The Bistro in Grand Center. He was also on hand for the grand opening of the world-class Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz in 2014 and the organizational upcycle into Jazz St. Louis.
Since 2022 he has served as the organization’s president and CEO.
“We have expanded the building and have wonderful education and community engagement programming,” Goines said. “It’s a very exciting time, especially with my own career. I’ve seen it as a musician who worked there, an educator who taught there and experienced community engagement. And now to be in this particular position, it is very exciting.”
Next Tuesday Grand Center’s Strauss Park will host a second line parade to commemorate the milestone.
“Whoever comes to this event on September 16th – and I hope it’s everybody – I hope we have a street party like none other in St. Louis or around the world,” Goines said. “I want them to come as themselves.”
He wants them to leave knowing that there are two types of people in the world.
“There are those who like jazz and those who are going to like jazz – and you just don’t know it yet,” Goines said. “We are trying to find a portal that they can enter into this particular art form to realize that it’s actually their art form.”
The St. Louis region has a leg up in the portal thanks to the fact that one of its sons is a singular figure in the art form.
“Few people in the world, and I do mean in the history of the world – and in the history of mankind – you say just one name to them and it is universally known who the person is,” Goines said. “In music, you say Miles – and not just in jazz music.”
Goines didn’t have the opportunity to meet Rose personally, but he is certain that Davis played a hand in her decision to establish Just Jazz.
“If you came after Miles, you were influenced by Miles,” Goines said. “You can’t avoid it. Especially if you decide to be a musician of any kind.”
The party will also serve as the start of the centennial celebration of his birth, which will feature a robust schedule of programming leading up to and beyond his 100th birthday on May 26.
“Over his lifetime, he changed the way not only how people play music, but how they listen to music,” Goines said. “He created something for everybody. He had such an internal flame that he used it to catapult himself to be around people like Charlie Parker, who would actually help him reach his North Star.”
Goines wants people to know that Jazz St. Louis also has something for everybody – because the music has something for everybody.
“It’s not a ‘one person’ type of music,” Goines said. “You can take the same song and everybody can get something different out of it through their own lens.”
He said the parade will give everybody a chance to do their own thing.
“If they want to dance, they can dance. If they want to watch, they can watch. It’s going to be the party of all parties.”
It will be a time to celebrate the artists who were able to have a platform for their artistry through the organization. And an homage to the tireless supporters who have helped Jazz St. Louis grow into the top notch institution with a world-class venue in the Steward Center for Jazz and its Ferring Jazz Bistro.
The list is endless, but Goines is especially excited to celebrate those musicians who have been generous enough to keep their talents in their hometown. He named Kendrick Smith, Adam Maness, Anita Jackson, Denise Thimes and many others.
“Obviously we are going to celebrate those St. Louisans who have gone on to do amazing things outside of our community, and celebrate artists who come in from all over the world,” Goines said. “But I think this is a great chance for us to continue to elevate the visibility of our people who live in St. Louis, so that they can actually be celebrated in the same capacity of those who have left – but at home.”
Although heralded for its improvisation, Goines believes jazz music’s secret sauce is in the swing.
“The most fundamental definition of swing is being in coordination with the person you are with,” Goines said. “When they come together, they swing – and they produce the highest level of art.”
That swing is what has given Jazz St. Louis its staying power.
“This has blossomed into the beautiful flower that Barbara Rose planted some time ago,” Goines said. “I never had a chance to meet her personally, but I think she would say the same thing now that I’m sure she said back then, ‘Keep swinging.’”
Jazz St. Louis’ 30th Anniversary Parade will take place from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. in Strauss Park in the heart of Grand Center. For more information, visit jazzstl.org.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
