Jazz This Week: Gateway Jazz Festival, Moaje Jam Session, and More

As the dog days of August wind down and we look forward to the start of the fall presenting season, here's a look at some of the more noteworthy live jazz performances happening in and around St. Louis this Labor Day weekend.

On Friday night, singer Ann Dueren's trio will provide the music for the annual Queeny Park Art Fair; The Sidemen will play at Evangeline's; guitarist Tom Byrne's trio will perform at Thurman Grill; saxophonist Kendrick Smith leads a trio at Cigar Inn; and Boisiac will do a late-night set at the Tavern of Fine Arts.

• Saturday afternoon, British clarinet phenom Julian Bliss will present a free public clinic/workshop at Saxquest.
• Saturday evening, singer Feyza Eren and pianist Carolbeth True will duet at The Wine Press; singer Joe Mancuso and guitarist Randy Bahr will perform at Mahogany Grille in the Omni Majestic Hotel downtown; Sarah Jane and the Blue Notes will take the stage at Thurman Grill; and drummer Montez Coleman leads a trio at Tavern of Fine Arts.
• Sunday afternoon, the St. Louis Jazz Club will present their second “Gateway Jazz Festival" at the DoubleTree Hotel St. Louis at Westport, featuring sets from Cornet Chop Suey (pictured), Red Lehr's Powerhouse Five, St. Louis Stompers, Miss Jubilee and more during two sessions on Sunday and a daytime session on Monday. 

Also on Sunday, the Missouri Association for Jazz Education will sponsor a jam session at Kirkwood Station Brewing Company; saxophonist Jim Stevens returns to The Loading Dock in Grafton; and vibraphonist  Peter Schlamb will be back in town to lead a trio in a concert at the Kranzberg Arts Center

Looking beyond the weekend, on Monday the St. Louis Jazz Club's “Gateway Jazz Festival" continues during the day; and that evening the improvising ensemble Numbers, featuring pianist David Parker and drummer Charles “Bobo" Shaw, will perform at the Tavern of Fine Arts.