Free U City Jazz Festival is Today in Heman Park

The University City Jazz Festival, a dynamic collection of local and nationally renowned jazz artists, is today in Heman Park.

The event, which will showcase the best in contemporary, straight-ahead, and funky music is slated from noon - 8:30 p.m. 

"In many ways, putting together this year's line-up was enjoyable and easy, but it was also a balancing act," said producer and co-artistic director Michael Silverman.

Spotlighting diverse talent from the St. Louis area is an important part of the festival. Silverman went on to say, "The depth of talent was the real impetus to start the festival in the first place. I've been all over the country, and nobody sounds like St. Louis. We have our own language of jazz, or at least our own dialect. There are some highly technical players in town as well as those with pure soul, and everything in between. It's as good as it gets!"

This year's festival roster includes:

"We want to honor the jazz heritage of University City with this event," says co-artistic director Robert Silverman, "But we also want that tradition to continue."

The U City Jazz Festival is founded by Mike Silverman, Rob Silverman and Dawn DeBlaze. It is produced by Silverman Brothers Music and Jazz Midwest to stimulate interest in, and awareness and appreciation of, jazz in historic University City.

The event is sponsored by the City of University City, HEC-TV, WSIE, the Riverfront Times, Hip 96.3, St. Louis American, Steinway & Sons, St. Louis Public Radio, KDHX, Studio Drum Shop, Jazz Midwest, Vintage Vinyl and DeBlaze and Associates.

Its mission also facilitates cross-cultural interaction, provides performance opportunities, and educates young people and adults about the important role of jazz as an indigenous American art form.

For more information about the U City Jazz Festival or to view artist biographies visit www.UCityJazzFestival.com. The events go on rain or shine.

*The schedule is subject to change.