The non-profit organization, Jazz at the Bistro recently announced a new name change. It will now be known as Jazz St. Louis, which the organization said is a better reflect their mission to present, promote and perpetuate the best of jazz to the greater St. Louis community and to enhance St. Louis’ reputation as a center of jazz activity. Jazz St. Louis is unlike any organization of its kind in the region and one of only a handful of non-profit jazz organizations nationally.
“The former name, Jazz at the Bistro, sounded as though the organization was limited within the walls of The Bistro performance venue in Grand Center. In reality, the organization was also bringing acclaimed jazz performers into schools, hosting national jazz educator conferences in conjunction with Washington University, creating a signature high school jazz ensemble, and so much more,” Gene Dobbs Bradford, executive director for Jazz St. Louis, said.
“The name Jazz St. Louis signifies that we are dedicated to bringing jazz and the education of jazz to the whole of the St. Louis Region. I think the name Jazz St. Louis is more clear, concise, and accessible which will help achieve our goals.”
Jazz St. Louis will continue to present the performance series Jazz at the Bistro known for bringing both local and nationally recognized artists to The Bistro listening room in Grand Center. Performances are held on an 18-week schedule, four nights per week, with two sets each night from September through July.
During the last 10 years, Jazz at the Bistro has entertained over 200,000 concertgoers during 1,250 performances. Past performers include Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr., Dianne Reeves, Ahmad Jamal and Chucho Valdes among others. Jazz St. Louis does not own or operate The Bistro at Grand Center restaurant where the Jazz at the Bistro Series takes place, but is provided with space at no cost.
Along with the name change, the education initiatives of Jazz St. Louis will expand to encompass all ages and are integrally linked to the performances hosted by the organization. Current programs include The Whitaker Jazz Education Collaborative, which has reached over 45,000 St. Louis school children in the last five years through unique in-school jazz workshops, youth concerts and master classes presented by jazz legends in the classrooms. The THF Realty All-Star Student Ensemble is another program that, with support from The Trio Foundation of Saint Louis, is an exemplary student ensemble of emerging high school musicians who receive coaching and training from Jazz at the Bistro artists.
Future educational programs will include an Adopt-a-School program to provide schools with a high level of interaction with Jazz St. Louis as well as the Trio Foundation of Greater St. Louis master class workshop series with additional support from the Norman J. Stupp Foundation. A lecture series in conjunction with Washington University and an Avant-Garde Jazz Series are also planned to take jazz to various regional venues.
Jazz St. Louis has received numerous accolades for their efforts in the community and will be recognized with the prestigious St. Louis Excellence in the Arts Award presented by the Arts and Education Council at the January 30, 2006 awards gala. Jazz at the Bistro has been touted as one of the “100 Great Jazz Clubs” by DownBeat magazine.
Jazz St. Louis was founded in 1995 by Barbara Rose, who brought the program to the Grand Center Arts and Entertainment District after her popular “Just Jazz” Series was discontinued at the Hotel Majestic. Grand Center recognized that a series featuring world-class jazz music would be an excellent addition to the district and changed the name to Jazz at the Bistro. At its inception, Jazz St. Louis operated under the fiscal umbrella of Grand Center on a program of declining financial support. In April of 1998, Jazz St. Louis received independent status as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and has been successfully fulfilling its mission and financial goals.
The new offices of Jazz St. Louis will be relocated to the Centene Center for the Arts in early February. For more information about Jazz St. Louis call (314) 531-1012 or visit www.jazzstl.org. The Jazz at the Bistro performances are located at the Bistro in Grand Center at 3536 Washington Blvd. and concert tickets may be purchased online or through MetroTix at (314) 534-1111.