Jazz at Holmes fall line-up

Series kicks off with three European combos Sept. 25 and Oct. 2

Three European jazz combos will launch Washington University’s fall Jazz at Holmes Series with a pair of free Thursday-evening performances Sept. 25 and Oct. 2.

On Sept. 25, Sicilian pianist Antonio Figura and his trio join Tuscan saxophonist Nico Gori and his quartet for a joint appearance. Both groups — which are currently based in Florence — employ their unique cultural heritages, including melodic traditions of Neapolitan folk and popular songs, as the basis for jazz improvisations. Also featured that evening will be St. Louis bassist Tom Kennedy.

On Oct. 2, saxophonist Dick de Graaf and his group arrive from the Netherlands. Subsequent performances this fall will include Open Strings, with guitarist Steve Schenkel (Oct. 9); the Paul DeMarinis Quartet (Oct. 16); the Dave Stone Trio with Eric Markowitz (Oct. 30); the Ptah Williams Group (Nov. 6); and Pianist Eddie Fritz & His Quartet, featuring saxophonist Willie Akin (Nov. 20).

Now in it’s seventh year, Jazz at Holmes features professional jazz musicians from around St. Louis and abroad performing in a relaxed coffeehouse-style setting most Thursday evenings throughout the fall and spring semesters.

All concerts are free and open to the public and take place from 8 to 10 p.m. in Holmes Lounge, located in Ridgley Hall, on Washington University’s Brookings Quadrangle, near the intersection of Brookings and Hoyt drives. For more information, call (314) 935-4841.

The series is sponsored by Washington University’s College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Music in Arts & Sciences and Student Union.