St. Louis has always stood at the intersection of the great modern musical genres, whether that’s the blues, jazz, rock and roll, or hip-hop. So it only makes sense that Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane’s centennial celebration of jazz titans Miles Davis and John Coltrane is making a stop at Powell Hall on June 6.
Davis and Coltrane’s reputations precede them as two of America’s foremost modern jazz musicians, on trumpet and tenor saxophone, respectively. Both were innovators who pushed the boundaries of jazz, and their influence is still felt today. Notably, they also collaborated throughout the late ’50s as part of Davis’ First Great Quintet ensemble, including on his milestone album Kind of Blue.
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While perhaps not quite as well known as the two musicians they’re celebrating, Blanchard and Coltrane are contemporary icons. Terence Blanchard is a Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. He’s also no stranger to the city, having previously produced and premiered work with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Ravi Coltrane is John Coltrane’s son and has built a successful career as a saxophonist and an accomplished improviser and innovator.
Paul Pietrowski, chief operating officer of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, notes that this performance leans heavily on the collaborative side of Davis’ and Coltrane’s work together, as Blanchard and Coltrane channel and interpret it in their own style.
“They’re going to be doing some of the tunes everybody knows, from ‘Flamenco Sketches’ to ‘’Round Midnight’ and kind of playing off of that,” Pietrowski says. “Terence and Ravi are good at a fusion kind of feel, so they’re going to explore both that relationship—the music that was developed together—and what it means to be a modern jazz player. It’s kind of like their take on Miles Davis and John Coltrane.”
When presented with the opportunity to host Blanchard and Coltrane at Powell Hall, Pietrowski says the SLSO was excited to bring this music with deep local roots to St. Louis’ cultural hub in Grand Center.
“Miles Davis being something of a local hero, performing a tribute at Powell Hall, right in the heart of where his musical journey began, is really kind of awesome,” Pietrowski says. “To think that this is one stop of many—they’re going to Paris and London after St. Louis—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear this program in this centennial year.”
While Blanchard and Coltrane will be performing with a band, don’t expect them to be playing with the orchestra. This performance is part of the Powell Hall Presents series, which opens the recently renovated stage to more artists and expands the musical palette audiences can hear there.
“Powell Hall is, of course, the home of the orchestra, but it’s about more than just the orchestra being on stage,” Pietrowski says. “The series allows our world-famous hall that has great acoustics to have legendary artists like Terence and Ravi perform in it.”
Pietrowski is also quick to note that, although the world of “serious” jazz can often be intimidating to folks who aren’t well-versed in the genre, this show is meant to be accessible to listeners of all levels. It’s more about the feeling you get listening to the music live in the room than any technical understanding.
“The music is all about emotion and energy,” Pietrowski says. “You don’t need a degree in music theory to feel Miles Davis’ ‘cool.’ It’s exactly the type of show St. Louis deserves to have and that we’re excited to present.”
MILES AHEAD
MILES DAVIS’ LOCAL LEGACY LOOMS LARGE.
Given Miles Davis’ St. Louis roots, the June 6 Powell Hall concert is especially meaningful. Davis was born just a stone’s throw away in Alton, Illinois, and grew up in East St. Louis, where he developed an affinity and talent for the trumpet. He played in bands and talent shows, and even took trumpet lessons from Joseph Gustat, then-principal trumpet player for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. It was also at Club Riviera in St. Louis where 18-year-old Davis sat in on trumpet with Billy Eckstine’s band, which included heavy hitters Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Sarah Vaughan. The experience gave him the push to leave the Midwest for New York City. It only makes sense to bring Davis’ singular body of work back to the SLSO’s newly renovated home for a centennial celebration.
