Per the press release: The City of University City presents the first U City Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. in Heman Park. Local and nationally renowned jazz artists perform free concerts featuring straight-ahead, contemporary, and Latin jazz music.
When you consider the rich musical pedigree that’s grown from the small inner-ring St. Louis suburb of University City, you might have expected the artistry of a jazz festival soon to match. University City is home to over a third of the St. Louis Symphony, and it has also been nationally recognized in jazz education. There are numerous jazz figures who started out in University City — Todd Williams, Peter Martin, Neil Caine, Jeremy Davenport, Chris Thomas, Mike and Rob
Silverman — and it remains home to many more.
“I think people in St. Louis are somewhat aware of the legacy of University City, but it’s important for U City to make a big noise about it, and harness the great talent that is in the area,” said University City native Mike Silverman, who went on to say, “it takes some organization to let people know what we’ve got, and the jazz festival is one way to do that.”
Brothers Mike and Rob Silverman are the Artistic Directors of the festival. “Both of our parents are music educators and our father was a member of the St. Louis Symphony for over 40 years,” said Mike Silverman. The Silverman brothers are the by-products of symphonic masters who call the University City historic district home.
The mission of the festival: “The U City Jazz Festival stimulates interest in and promotes awareness and appreciation of jazz by facilitating cross-cultural interaction, providing performance opportunities, and educating young people and adults about the important role of jazz as an indigenous American art form.”
SCHEDULE
Heman Park Stage
11 am: Washington University Jazz Clinic
12 Noon: Clave Sol – Latin Jazz
1:30 pm: John Coltrane Tribute with Maurice Carnes Hipjaz Quintet
3 pm: U Cityʼs Young Jazz Lions
4:30 pm: Michael Silvermanʼs Classical Jazz Quartet
6 pm: Jeanne Trevor & Friends
More information at the festival’s website: http://www.ucityjazzfestival.com
