TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): Sunday, July 21

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Who: The Gateway Festival Orchestra
What: A Tribute to Maestro William Schatzkamer
When: Tonight at 7:30
Where: Brookings Quadrangle on the Washington University campus
Why: What's more summery than an outdoor concert, especially it's the fifty-piece Gatewaty Festival Orchestra? Bring a blanket or lawn chair, buy a Ted Drewes Frozen Custard or two (they're available at the concert) and settle down for an evening of easy-on-the-ear (but still certifiably great) classics, including Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 ("New World"), Smetana's The Moldau from Ma Vlast, Richard Strauss's The Duel for flute and bassoon (with soloists Janet Scott and Peggy Bumb), Carl Komzak's Polka for Two Piccolos (with soloists Janet Scott and Carolyn Hoyer), and music from Bernstein's West Side Story.

Admission and parking (which is plentiful) are both free.

Schatzkamer, who died last year, was the conductor of the Gateway Festival Orchestra until 2002.  He was also on the faculty of Washington University and the original music director of the University City Symphony.

TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): Sunday, July 14, 2013

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Who: The Muny
What: Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific
When: Tonight at 8:15
Why:  When South Pacific hit the stage in 1949, the aftermath of the horror that was the war in the Pacific was still very much on everyone’s minds.  Combine that with the show’s occasionally trenchant commentary on racism, the futility of war, and what Emile De Becque, in a moment of despair, refers to as “a mean little world / Of mean little men,” and you can easily understand why the show took Broadway by storm.

The war has since receded to sepia-tinged nostalgia (although the mean little world of mean little men is still with us), so it's harder to put on a South Pacific with any real impact these days.  Judging from the critical response, the Many has nevertheless managed to do just that.  In his review for 88.1 KDHX, Bob Wilcox describes this South Pacific as "maybe the finest production of it I've ever seen."  In the Riverfront Times, Paul Friswold gives it "two thumbs up."  In the Belleville News Democrat, Lynn Venhaus says it's "simply magnificent, creating an as-good-as-it-gets enchanting evening at the Muny."

I could go on, but you get the idea.  For more information: muny.org

TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): Saturday, July 13, 2013

artszipper.com

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Who: Arthur Migliazza and Boogie Bob Baldori
What: Boogie Stomp!
When: Tonight at 7:30
Where: The Foundry Art Centre, 520 North Main Center in St. Charles
Why: "Experience an evening with two of the greatest jazz/boogie/stride/blues pianists in the world. Together, Saint Louis favorite Arthur Migliazza and music legend Boogie Bob Baldori tell how the basic elements of boogie woogie - rhythm and improvisation over a blues form - became the backbone of American music." I'm a big fan of ragtime, stride, and piano styles that came from them, so this sounds like a little slice of heaven to me.  The Centre plays host to a wide variety of musical acts during the year and includes 5200 square feet of exhibition space with four exhibitions currently on show, so you can soak some visual art along with the music.  For more information: www.foundryartcentre.org

TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): Friday, July 12

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Who: Anita Jackson
When: Tonight and Saturday at 7:30 and 9:30 PM
Where: The Jazz Bistro, 3536 Washington
Why: "Soulful and swinging, vocalist Anita Jackson makes her return to the Bistro as a leader. Drawing on jazz, blues, and gospel influences, Jackson’s powerful voice and commanding stage presence endears her to audiences. Don’t miss one of St. Louis’ finest ladies of song!" The Bistro is known for booking big-name jazz acts from out of town, so it's good to see a local artist take the spotlight. For more information: www.jazzstl.org. The Bistro has a full dinner menu as well; call 314-534-3663 for reservations.

TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): Saturday, July 6

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Who: Gitana Productions
What: Soy Yo! (I Am Me!) An Afro Latina Suite
When: Tonight at 7:30, running through July 14
Where: The Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand
Why: Soy Yo! "takes the audience on a journey from the 1700’s to 2013 with one family of mixed African and Latino heritage. The range of struggles faced by this family mirror those of more than 9 million Americans who self identify as multi-racial or multi-ethnic. A collaboration between playwright Mariah Richardson and director Vivian Anderson Watt, Soy Yo! uses drama, dance and music to address the complex issue of mixed identity during different generations in America." What better time than the July 4th weekend to learn about a little-known contribution to the rich ethnic mix that makes America strong?  "America’s many famous Afro-Latinos," according to the producer, "include Marian Carey, Sammie Davis Jr., Roberto Clemente (baseball player), Celia Cruz (singer), and Soledad O’Brien (TV Journalist)." For more information: www.gitana-inc.org

TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): Friday, July 5

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Who: Farshid Etniko featuring Sandy Weltman
Where: Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington
When: Tonight and Saturday at 7:30 and 9:30 PM
Why: "Born in Iran, Farshid Etniko is a multi-instrumentist who started the guitar at the age of 16. He studied and worked in France for 15 years as industrial drafter, professional musician, and guitar and Middle Eastern instruments instructor before touring across Europe. Moving to St. Louis in 1999, Etniko began to mix his Middle Eastern influences with Latin jazz and blues to find his unique sound.

While at home in the jazz realm, Sandy is equally skilled in blues, celtic, klezmer, Latin, and much more. He learned much of his harmonica styling while under the tutelage of harmonica wizard Howard Levy, a member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. He has since gained international recognition in the World Harmonica Competitions."

Weltman is a true virtuoso at his instrument.  If you doubt that, check out the variety of sounds and range of notes he can pry out of a standard harmonica.  He's always worth seeing and, of course, you can have dinner and drinks at the Bistro along with the show.

TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): Thursday, July 4, 2013

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Who: The Northwinds Concert Band
What: Independence Day Concert
Where: Florissant Civic Center, Parker and Waterford in Florissant
When: 7:30 tonight
Why: Sure, you could go down to the arch along with everybody else within a 10-mile radius, bake in the sun, buy food on a stick, and then sit in traffic for hours trying to go home afterwards. Or you could head north for an old-fashioned band concert of "patriotic marches and hits from Broadway and film" followed by a fireworks display. I'm a big booster of city life, but unless you're a city resident who can take public transportation to and from the event, even I have to admit this sounds like a better deal.  For more information: www.florissantmo.com

TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): February 9, 2013

Radu Lupu plays a genial and low-key Beethoven 4th piano concerto with a seemingly effortless grace (like Fred Astaire, he makes virtuosity look easy), David Robertson leads the orchestra in a lush Brahms Symphony No. 2, and it all starts with a Gemütlichkeit-filled cruise down the Beautiful Blue Danube of Johann Strauss Jr. It must be another first-class evening with the St. Louis Symphony.  The concert starts at 8 PM Saturday and repeats Sunday at 3 PM at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center.  See my review for 88.1 KDHX and get your tickets at stlsymphony.org.

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TPTBT (The Place to Be Tonight): February 8, 2013

Photo by John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 102nd season with the comedy of Engaging Shaw by John Morogiello Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, February 8-17. There will also be a show on Thursday, February 14, at 8 PM. “The story follows the real-life courtship of George Bernard Shaw and Charlotte Payne-Townshend, the woman he pursued until she caught him. The play brims with the wit and ego of Shaw, creating what the New York Times called 'a charming romantic comedy featuring four razor-sharp tongues. If there's a minute of the play that's less than clever, you'll be hard-pressed to find it.'“ Full disclosure: I did the sound design for this one, but I'd be looking forward to it regardless.  Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

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TPTBT (The Place to be Tonight): February 7, 2013

Kirsten’s Open Cabaret Thursday presents Love Songs tonight from 9 to 11 PM at Meyer’s Grove, 4510 Manchester in The Grove. It's an open mic but singers (including yours truly) had to sign up in advance so it'll be a little less wild and wooly than your average open mic night.  Come one down and celebrate Valentine's Day in advance.

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