For web_8
Alto sax player Oliver Lake (formerly of the Black Artists' Group and the brilliant, globally adored World Saxophone Quartet), is coming to town with his organ trio to play Jazz at the Bistro. Lake, in case you didn't know, is a St. Louis guy; as he told The St. Louis American, he's hoping all his uncles and cousins and kin will be at the show. Lake's appearance would be great news anyway, but it gets better: he'll be joined by young hip-hop jazz trumpeter Russell Gunn, another local guy and graduate of East St. Louis Lincoln High School's music program, which has contributed more than its fair share of great musicians to the contemporary jazz world. And there's even a little bit of lagniappe: also according to the American, poet Quincy Troupe will be in town too, and he's going down to Jazz at the Bistro to hear Lake and Gunn play. Which show (Wednesday? Thursday? Saturday?) he'll be at, though, is anyone's guess. Even without the literati-spotting though, trust us (and the American, and St. Louis Jazz Notes, who posted some great video of both musicians here), that this is the no-miss jazz show of 2009. --Stefene Russell
The Oliver Lake Organ Trio featuring Russell Gunn
December 16-19, 8:30 & 10:15 p.m.
$30 Wed & Thu, $35 Fri & Sat, $15 students
Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington, 314-289-4037, jazzstl.org
