What: 2008 Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival
Who: University of Missouri - St. Louis and Jazz St. Louis Presenters
When: Wednesday - Saturday, April 16-19
Where: Jazz at the Bistro, 3536 Washington, St. Louis, 63103 (Wed & Thurs)
Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., St. Louis, 63121 (Fri & Sat)
Cost: Daytime = Free, Evenings = $10 - $25
INFO: Visit www.gsljazzfest.com [1], www.touhill.org [2], or www.jatb.org [3]
Call for Tickets: (800) 516-4949 or (800) 239-5949

St. Louis, MO, USA,March 19, 2008 – The Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival (GSLJF) continues its tradition of bringing jazz masters together with regional students and public audiences for four days at two different venues. Together they will make history by creating the largest jazz educational event in the region. Jazz St. Louis, a Des Lee Collaborative member, cooperates with the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) once again to co-present programs for the third year.

Join UMSL Jazz Studies Director Jim Widner (bass) and guest artists Buddy DeFranco (clarinet), Wayne Bergeron (trumpet), Paul McKee (trombone), and the Shelly Berg (piano) Trio with Tom Scott (saxophone), Gregg Field (drums), Chuck Berghofer (bass) and the UMSL Jazz Ensemble for this very special event.

When Jim Widner began the University of Missouri–St. Louis’s GSLJF five years ago, he had a bigger dream –investing in future generations to perpetuate jazz as an art form. What makes this jazz festival different is its commitment to education. The festival provides daytime opportunities for over 750 students from elementary school through college to participate in adjudicated performances. Experienced adjudicators make written comments during their shows and meet with the large ensembles immediately following for a clinic to review their performance and offer suggestions for improvement.

The atmosphere of live evening performance leads to unique improvisations, and impromptu comments that reflect the joy and magic of the music during the festival experience. The GSLJF guest artists consistently receive the highest public, critical and professional accolades for their work and are considered the masters of their trade. History is often made during the festival when these artists perform together, often for the first time or in combinations rarely seen or recorded.

Jazz Appreciation Month
It is no accident that the festival coincides with Jazz Appreciation Month (J.A.M.). The annual spotlight on jazz draws attention to America’s cultural patrimony as a historical and living treasure. Anyone can participate in J.A.M. All you need to do is attend concerts, study or listen to jazz, read books about jazz, and/or support institutional jazz programs.

About Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival
The UMSL Jazz Ensemble will appear with the Shelly Berg Trio, Tom Scott, Gregg Field, and Chuck Berghofer, and Paul McKee on Friday, April 18, and with Wayne Bergeron and Buddy DeFranco on Saturday, April 19, both at 8 p.m. at the Touhill Performing Arts Center located on the UM-St. Louis campus. Admission is $10-$20 Friday and $10-$25 Saturday with discounts available to seniors, and UMSL students/employees. For more information about the evening performances, visit www.touhill.org [4] or call (314) 515-4949 / toll free (866) 516-4949 for advance tickets.

The UMSL Jazz Faculty will appear with special guest all-stars Shelly Berg, Tom Scott, and Paul McKee on Wednesday, April 16 at 8:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. at Jazz at the Bistro in the historic Grand Center Arts District. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for students with a valid i.d. For more information about Wednesday's performance or advance tickets, visit www.jazzstl.org [5] or call (314) 534-1111, (314) 289-4030, or Metrotix at (800) 293-5949.

About University of Missouri - St. Louis
The Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, located on the UM-St. Louis campus, provides an extraordinary, world-class venue for faculty and students to showcase their talents of artistic innovation. A cultural classroom for the community, this state-of-the-art performance laboratory is a valued home to St. Louis and Midwest audiences. It symbolizes the University's commitment to integrate education, innovation and excellence.

UM-St. Louis offers "first class performances, clinics, venues and guest artists," Widner said. In recent seasons they have hosted more jazz guest artists than any other higher learning institution in the St. Louis area. Widner continues to grow the university's world-class jazz program, and he assures us they "cut no corners."

Participating Schools
Parkway Central M.S, Parkway Central H.S., Parkway South, Chaminade, DeSmet, St. Joseph Cottleville M.S., Fort Zumwalt North H.S., Fort Zumwalt South H.S., Reeds Spring H.S., Lafayette H.S., St. Dominic H.S., Warrensburg H.S., Francis Howell H.S , Francis Howell North H.S., North County H.S., Branson H.S., Hannibal H.S., Cross Keys M.S., Sperreng M.S., Meramec Community College, O’Fallon Township H.S., Rock Bridge H.S., Lindbergh H.S., Belleville East H.S., Diamond H.S., Webster Groves H.S., Washington University, Genesis, Metro Academic, University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Sponsors
The Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival sponsors as of press time are Mozingo Music, Yamaha, Jazz St. Louis, and the University of Missouri - St. Louis.