In “Expression and Reflection” (2014), jazz bassist and composer Eric Warren balances a gift for melody with “straight eights”-style playing inspired by the legendary ECM record label.
At 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, Warren and his band will perform excerpts from “Expression and Reflection” in Washington University in St. Louis’ Holmes Lounge.
The free concert will launch the spring Jazz at Holmes series. In all, the series will present 12 performances by locally and nationally known artists in a relaxed, coffee-house setting most Thursday evenings throughout the semester.
Joining Warren will be pianist Ken Kehner and tenor saxophonist Joel Vanderheyden as well as two faculty from the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences: drummer Steve Davis, teacher of applied music, and guitarist William Lenihan, director of jazz performance.
On Tuesday, April 7, Jazz at Holmes will welcome acclaimed ECM recording artist John Abercrombie. Widely acknowledged as a master of jazz guitar, Abercrombie is known for both pushing the music’s boundaries and experimenting with its traditions.
Other spring highlights will include an evening of solo piano with Ptah Williams (Jan. 29); an evening of modern trio interplay featuring Davis, Lenihan and pianist Kara Baldus, a teacher of applied music (Feb. 26); and Carolbeth True & Two Times True performing American jazz classics (March 19).
Saxophonist Eric Person, a native St. Louisan described as “a major talent of his generation” by All About Jazz Magazine, returns home from New York April 2. Concluding the series, April 9, will be an evening with students in the university’s Jazz Performance Program, featuring senior saxophonists Elise Cramer and Adam Schefkind.
Jazz at Holmes
All performances take place from 8-10 p.m. Thursdays, unless otherwise noted. Holmes Lounge is located in Ridgley Hall, on the west side of Brookings Quadrangle.
For more information, call 314-862-0874; email staylor@wustl.edu; or visit Jazz at Holmes on Facebook.
Jazz at Holmes is sponsored by Arts & Sciences: Student Union; Congress of the South 40; the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences; University College and Summer School; Campus Life; Community Service Office; Office of Student Involvement and Leadership; Greek Life Office; Office of Residential Life; and the American Culture Studies program in Arts & Sciences.
Spring Schedule
Jan. 22
Bassist Eric Warren and his band
Jan. 29
Ptah Williams, solo piano
Feb. 5
Guitarist Chris Burchett and his band
Feb. 12
Guitarist Tim Fischer and his group
Feb. 19
Saxophonist Kristian Baarsvik and his group
Feb. 26
Kara Baldus, piano; William Lenihan, guitar; Steve Davis, drums
* Sponsored in conjunction with Arts & Sciences Ampersand Week
March 5
Scott Alberici, clarinet; Steve Schenkel, guitar; Ric Vice, bass
March 19
Carolbeth True & Two Times True
* Sponsored by the American Culture Studies Program in Arts & Sciences
March 26
Elsie Parker & The Poor People of Paris
“Jazz in Paris 1930”
April 2
Saxophonist Eric Person and his trio
“From New York”
Tuesday, April 7
John Abercrombie Quartet
April 9
Washington University Jazz Performance Program
* Featuring senior saxophonists Elise Cramer and Adam Schefkind.