Outdoor Event in Grand Center Honored St. Louis’ Jazz History and Launched Miles Davis Centennial
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 19, 2025) – Jazz St. Louis officially launched its 30th Anniversary Season with a lively community celebration and second line parade through Grand Center on Tuesday, September 16. The free public event drew crowds and brought together the energy and soul of St. Louis’ live music scene.
Led by renowned New Orleans jazz drummer Herlin Riley and Yolonda Lankford, co-host and producer of the Own Your Now show, the parade featured three beloved local brass bands: St. Boogie Brass Band, Red and Black Brass Band, and Funky Butt Brass Band.
The spirited procession began at Compton and Washington Avenue and concluded in Strauss Park, where the party continued with live music, food trucks, and community connection until 8:00 p.m.Attendees enjoyed the chance to purchase tickets and subscriptions for the upcoming season, which will showcase a dynamic lineup of GRAMMY-winning artists, rising stars, and innovators representing the diversity and vitality of modern jazz.
“Our 30th Anniversary Season is off to an incredible start after this exciting celebration,” said Victor Goines, President & CEO of Jazz St. Louis. “Thanks to the support of our season sponsors, The Steward Family Foundation and World Wide Technology, as well as parade and subscription sponsor, Ameren, this week’s events commemorated 30 years of concerts. They, and established a foundation for a season full of world-class artists performances, and ongoing impact. This milestone year is both a tribute to St. Louis’ rich jazz legacy and an invitation to experience the future of this art form together.”
As part of its landmark 30th Anniversary Season, Jazz St. Louis is showcasing an extraordinary lineup of internationally acclaimed and homegrown talent. Highlights include:
- New Orleans jazz drummer Herlin Riley
- The groundbreaking Miles Electric Band
- Saxophone phenom Grace Kelly
- Powerhouse pianists The Rodriguez Brothers
- Seven-time GRAMMY Award winner Chucho Valdés and
- St. Louis-native Shedrick Mitchell
St. Louis’ own vibrant scene will be represented by favorites such as Jim Manley, Denise Thimes, The Jazz St. Louis Big Band, Funky Butt Brass Band, and Anita Jackson.
A cornerstone of the year-long celebration will be honoring Miles Davis' 100th birthday. The centennial celebration of the St. Louis-born jazz icon will take place from May 26 to 29, 2026, with the event titled "Happy Birthday Miles: Terell Stafford & Tim Warfield." This celebration will feature two of today's most talented interpreters of Miles Davis' legacy, along with a creative, modern Afro-Cuban influenced rendition of his masterpiece, "Sketches of Spain," performed by The Rodriguez Brothers from June 24 to 27, 2026.
These artists, alongside dozens of other world-class performers scheduled throughout the season, embody both the city’s rich jazz legacy and the innovative future of America’s greatest art form.
Photos from the event can be accessed here.
For more about the Jazz St. Louis 30th Anniversary Season, visit jazzstl.org.
Media Contact: Serena Mounts, Leigh Walters Communications (314) 374-2334 serenam@lwcstrategies.com
Leigh Walters, Leigh Walters Communications (314) 221-0965 leighw@lwcstrategies.com
About Jazz St. Louis
Jazz St. Louis is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to lead our community in advancing the uniquely American art of jazz through 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.
Jazz St. Louis Education programs cultivate leadership and cultural appreciation in the next generation of musicians and listeners through training, educational resources, and transformative engagement with musicians from St. Louis, the U.S. and around the world. Jazz St. Louis has an extensive portfolio of education programs aimed at elementary through college students in the greater St. Louis area and beyond. The organization provides field trip experiences, hands-on training programs, in-school clinics and masterclasses, and curricular resources for teachers, all at no cost to participants.
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.
Jazz St. Louis Education programs cultivate leadership and cultural appreciation in the next generation of musicians and listeners through training, educational resources, and transformative engagement with musicians from St. Louis, the U.S. and around the world. Jazz St. Louis has an extensive portfolio of education programs aimed at elementary through college students in the greater St. Louis area and beyond. The organization provides field trip experiences, hands-on training programs, in-school clinics and masterclasses, and curricular resources for teachers, all at no cost to participants.
Jazz St. Louis 1 - From left to right: Herlin Riley, nationally-renowned jazz drummer; Yolanda Lankford, co-host and producer of the Own Your Now show; & Victor Goines, President & CEO of Jazz St. Louis, led the Jazz St. Louis 30th Anniversary Season Kickoff Party & Parade.
Jazz St. Louis 2 - Jazz St. Louis officially launched its 30th Anniversary Season with a lively community celebration and four-block second line parade through Grand Center on Tuesday, September 16. The parade featured three beloved local brass bands: St. Boogie Brass Band, Red Black and Brass Band, and the Funky Butt Brass Band, along with Jazz St. Louis’ JazzU student and graduate performers.
Jazz St. Louis 3 - Nationally-renowned Jazz Drummer Herlin Riley leads the Jazz St. Louis 30th Anniversary Season Kickoff Party & Parade.
Jazz St. Louis 4 - Robert Steward (right), Chairman of the Board of Jazz St. Louis, and Dustin Shrum (left), lead trumpeter in the Jazz St. Louis Big Band, play their trumpets in the Jazz St. Louis 30th Anniversary Season Kickoff Party & Parade.
Jazz St. Louis 5 - Gene Dobbs Bradford, former President & CEO of Jazz St. Louis, playing harmonica during the Jazz St. Louis 30th Anniversary Season Kickoff Party & Parade.
Jazz St. Louis 6 - Herlin Riley, nationally-renowned New Orleans jazz drummer, and Yolanda Lankford, co-host and producer of the Own Your Now show, lead the parade back to Strauss Park in front of the Steward Center.
Jazz St. Louis 7 - The second-line parade concludes in front of the Steward Center, home of Jazz St. Louis. The parade featured three beloved local brass bands: St. Boogie Brass Band, Red Black and Brass Band, and the Funky Butt Brass Band, along with Jazz St. Louis’ JazzU student and graduate performers.
Jazz St. Louis 8 - A lively crowd enjoys food trucks and music during the Jazz St. Louis 30th Anniversary Season Kickoff Party in Strauss Park in front of the Steward Center, home of Jazz St. Louis.
Jazz St. Louis 9 - Vocalist Denise Thimes; Robert Steward, Chairman of the Board of Jazz St. Louis; Renowned Jazz Drummer Herlin Riley; Yolanda Lankford, co-host and producer of the Own Your Now show; and Victor Goines, President & CEO of Jazz St. Louis, celebrate Jazz St. Louis’ 30th Anniversary Season kickoff.
Jazz St. Louis 10 - From left to right: Renowned jazz drummer Herlin Riley; Susan Smith; Victor Goines, President & CEO of Jazz St. Louis; Nancy Thompson; and Yolanda Lankford, co-host and producer of the Own Your Now show, share a joyful dance in the second line parade through Grand Center on Tuesday, September 16.
