THE VESPERS ARE BACK FOR 2012-2013

All Events are start at 6:00 p.m. and run until 8:00 p.m.

St. Louis Jazz and Blues Vespers is a monthly professional concert featuring the best jazz and blues performers in St. Louis in one of the most acoustically resonant halls in the metro area. The performers play and sing their best music, their favorite numbers. They have the treat of performing to an appreciative, diverse audience where they are not competing with food and conversation. In this great concert setting, audiences truly get to know the performers and enjoy their artistry “up close.”

Musicians You'll Want to Hear


October 21

Ray Vollmar and Deborah Sharn

Saxophonist Ray Vollmar has been entertaining St. Louis audiences for more than 30 years with his mellow tenor saxophone. Teaming up with her stylish blend of jazz theatricality is hometown favorite Deborah Sharn.

Ray's Web Site - Deborah's Web Site

November 18

Montez Coleman

Drummer Montez Coleman fronts a quarter of SLJ&B Vespers veterans Eric Slaughter on guitar and Bob DeBoo on bass along with Peter Schlamm on vibes in what is sure to be a great evening of jazz.

YouTube of Roy Hargrove (feat. Montez Coleman)

January 20

Ptah Williams

Ptah Williams has been voted five times the best jazz musician by readers of the St. Louis Riverfront Times and has performed throughout Europe and the United States. Ptah has been called the Winton Macellous of the keyboards with a style reminiscent of Charlie Bird and Thelonius Monk.

Ptah's Web Site - YouTube

February 17

Marquise Knox

Marquise Knox was born in 1991 in St. Louis while his mother was visiting family. They returned to Granada, Mississippi, but moved to St. Louis for good a couple of years later. Marquise still resides in St. Louis, Missouri, but also spends a lot of time in Grenada, where he loves to fish and visit friends and family.

Marquise Knox was honored by Living Blues Magazine with their Best Debut Award for Man Child, which was also honored by the Blues Foundation with a nomination for their Blues Music Award for Best New Debut Release. He was also nominated for two Blues Blast Awards– Best New Artist Debut Release And the Sean Costello Rising Star Award. STL Bluesweek also honored Marquise with its Rising Star Award in 2012. Here I Am was also nominated by STL Bluesweek for Recording of the Year.

Marquise's Web Site - YouTube

March 17

Rick Haydon and Jason Swagler and the SIUE Jazz Faculty

Rick has been playing guitar for forty years and has studied with many of the Masters of Jazz Guitar. Among these are, Johnny Smith, Howard Roberts, Pat Martino, and most recently Bucky Pizzarelli (7-string).

Jason Swagler has performed in nearly every major (and minor!) venue in the St. Louis area, including Jazz at the Bistro, UMB Bank Pavillion, Fox Theatre, Pageant, Savvis Center, Busch Stadium, Touhill, and Sheldon Concert Hall. He has toured extensively throughout Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the United States (from Key West, FL to Hollywood, CA).

Rick's Web Site - Jason's Web Site

April 21

Anita Rosamond

Vocalist/pianist/songwriter Anita Rosamond has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting performers on the Midwest music scene. Anita has won critical acclaim for performances at venues such as the Pageant, the Sheldon Concert Hall and Jazz at the Bistro… and at events like the KMOX Jazz & Wine Festival, the St. Louis Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival and The Big Muddy Blues Festival. Anita's Web Site - YouTube

You Don't Want to Miss This Season.

There are no tickets, no entry costs, no reservations necessary. It's just 100 minutes of St. Louis' best jazz and blues with an inspirational interlude. Now, in its second season, jazz and blues vespers will be held from 6:00 - 8:00pm on the third Sunday evening of these months: October, November, January, February, March and April (monthly, except December). There is free, lighted adjacent parking at the church.