BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups, one of St. Louis’ premier music clubs, served up a tasty mix of music by the legendary Miles Davis – as well as one of his favorite dishes, bouillabaisse – late Thursday afternoon, May 26.
The music, supplied by a talented quartet of young East St. Louis musicians known as the Young Lions Miles Ahead Quartet, celebrated what would have been Davis’ 85th birthday. But despite his death almost two decades ago in 1991, Miles’ music continues to live on, influencing generations of young musicians.
That influence could certainly be heard at BB’s, as alto saxophonist Kendrick Smith, trumpeter Brady Lewis, keyboardist Brian Harrison and drummer Michael Walker supplied the soundtrack for a press conference announcing metro area events that will be part of a 2011 Miles Davis Festival.
“Today marks Miles Davis’ birthday,” declared Deborah Granger, producer of the Miles Davis Festival and head of Miles Davis Properties LLC. “And it marks the perfect time to announce events that will happen here in St. Louis and East St. Louis that will be part of a worldwide celebration of his music.”
According to Granger, area events will include a series of concerts by young musicians such as Smith, Lewis, Walker, Harrison and others in July at the Nu-Art Series/Metropolitan Gallery. In addition to the music series, the Metropolitan Gallery will also host a Sony/Legacy Photo Art exhibit along with the Sheldon Art Galleries.
“We’ll also be working with the Sheldon to present a major concert this fall,” said Granger. “BB’s will be presenting a summer concert series, and we’ll be doing monthly jazz jams at Grand Marais Golf Course in Centreville, Illinois, as well as a golf tournament in September.”
Additional speakers at the press conference included Nu-Art Series Director George Sams, and Eugene B. Redmond, ESL poet laureate and professor emeritus at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Sams’ comments focused on the continuing power of Davis’ music to influence young musicians like those who will perform at his Nu-Art Series.
Redmond, who was an integral part of a Mile Davis birthday celebration earlier in the day at East St. Louis City Hall, reminisced about growing up in East St. Louis and seeing Miles come back for visits – and hearing about Davis’ death in 1991. He read two poems dedicated to Davis, which provided a fitting coda – along with the tasty bouillabaisse – to this celebration of Miles Davis.
For more information as it develops, Granger advised listening to radio station WSIE, 88.7 FM, and checking http://milesdavisfestival.com.
