ST. LOUIS, MO – Jazz St. Louis, based at the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz in Grand Center, proudly announces its 30th Anniversary Season, a landmark year of musical celebration featuring a dynamic lineup of world-class artists. Running from September 2025 through June 2026, the season features GRAMMY Award-winning legends, genre-defying innovators, and rising stars who represent the rich diversity and ever-evolving spirit of jazz, a uniquely American artform with deep roots in St. Louis.
"This anniversary season celebrates our legacy while embracing the future of jazz," said Victor Goines, CEO of Jazz St. Louis. "For three decades, we've remained a home for world-class jazz of all varieties while expanding access and education to our community, young and old. This milestone season showcases the breadth and vitality that makes jazz America's greatest cultural export."
The 2025/26 Subscription Series brings a dynamic range of voices to the stage. Highlights include seven-time GRAMMY winner Chucho Valdés, GRAMMY-nominated Jamaican-American piano master Monty Alexander, New Orleans great Herlin Riley, vocal powerhouses Mary Stallings, Luciana Souza, and Bria Skonberg, the genre-pushing The Bad Plus, alto sax phenom Grace Kelly, and the Kind of Blue Sextet, a fiery ensemble keeping hard bop alive. From Latin to swing, straight-ahead to experimental, these artists exemplify the scope of modern jazz, solidifying Jazz St. Louis’ role as a key stop on the international jazz circuit.
A cornerstone of the year-long celebration will be honoring Miles Davis' 100th birthday. The St. Louis-born jazz icon's centennial will be celebrated with "Happy Birthday Miles: Terell Stafford & Tim Warfield" (May 26–29, 2026), featuring two of today's most accomplished interpreters of Davis' legacy. The Miles Electric Band will also perform as part of the subscription series, paying tribute to the trumpeter's groundbreaking fusion period.
Complementing the Subscription Series, the STL Made Series spotlights local and regional artists throughout the year, while Special Presentations bring additional globally renowned performers to the Jazz St. Louis stage. For the full season lineup visit jazzstl.org.
St. Louis has long been a pivotal center for musical innovation, from ragtime and blues to gospel and jazz. The city's rich musical heritage includes legendary figures like Miles Davis, Scott Joplin, and Chuck Berry. Jazz St. Louis continues this proud tradition, serving as the region's premier jazz presenter for more than three decades. The organization has brought legends like Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, and Harry Connick Jr. to St. Louis, while nurturing generations of new talent and jazz lovers.
Beyond the stage, Jazz St. Louis continues its longstanding commitment to education and community impact. Jazz St. Louis’s educational programs include clinics, field trips and masterclasses for young people from elementary school through college. Programs such as JazzU, artist residencies, and free community performances provide thousands of students annually with direct access to music education, mentorship, and creativity-building opportunities, ensuring jazz's future while honoring its past.
The 30th Anniversary Season represents an incredible opportunity to experience jazz's living legends and most innovative voices in St. Louis's premier intimate concert setting. The Ferring Jazz Bistro, located within the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, offers an acoustically exceptional venue allowing audiences to connect deeply with the music and the artists. Guests enjoy full dining and beverage service, featuring seasonal cuisine, craft cocktails and a robust wine and beer selection.
Subscription Series packages go on sale June 23, 2025. Single tickets are available for purchase July 21, 2025.
About Jazz St. Louis
For three decades, Jazz St. Louis has been the foremost jazz presenter in St. Louis, while nurturing young talent and advancing access to jazz education throughout the St. Louis region.
Founded in 1995 by Barbara Rose and Peter Bunce to bring world-class jazz to an intimate venue with its “Jazz at the Bistro” series, Jazz St. Louis has since evolved into a cultural cornerstone. The organization was renamed in 2006 to reflect its expanded mission on performance, education and community engagement. Today, Jazz St. Louis operates within the state-of-the-art Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz in Grand Center, which houses both administrative offices and the Ferring Jazz Bistro, serving as a hub for performance, education, and community engagement.
Each year, Jazz St. Louis presents over 270 performances in its internationally acclaimed concert series. The non-profit organization takes a three-pronged approach to its work: presenting jazz, encouraging and educating future audiences, and nurturing budding musicians.
Full season announcement, season subscription packages and individual tickets are available online at www.jazzstl.org.
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Media Contact: Serena Mounts, serenam@lwcstrategies.com
