St. Louis, MO – Jazz St. Louis presents one of the most significant months of its 30th Anniversary Season this May, highlighted by the highly anticipated Miles in May series honoring the 100th birthday of St. Louis region legend Miles Davis. The month also features globally celebrated artists and bold contemporary voices at the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center.
May programming blends international innovation with hometown pride, featuring South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, modern jazz icon Allison Miller, and local trumpet standout Kasimu Taylor. The month culminates in multiple performances paying tribute to Miles Davis’s extraordinary legacy.
All May Long: Jazz St. Louis Celebrates the Legacy of Miles Davis with “Miles in May”
Miles in May is Jazz St. Louis’ month-long celebration honoring the life, legacy, and enduring influence of St. Louis-area native and jazz visionary Miles Davis.
Presented as part of the organization’s 30th Anniversary Season, the series features a dynamic lineup of performances, talks, and special events culminating in a centennial week celebration of Davis’ 100th birthday.
Through concerts led by acclaimed artists and tributes exploring the many eras of Davis’ groundbreaking career – from bebop to fusion – Miles in May celebrates a hometown icon whose fearless innovation continues to shape the sound of jazz around the world.
“Few artists have shaped the sound and spirit of jazz the way Miles Davis did. As a son of the St. Louis region, his fearless creativity and constant reinvention continue to inspire musicians and audiences around the world," said Adaron "Pops" Jackson, Interim Co-Executive Director, Artistic and Community Programs at Jazz St. Louis. "Through Miles in May, we’re proud to celebrate not only his extraordinary musical legacy, but also the deep connection he has to this community, a legacy that still resonates on our stage and throughout the global jazz landscape.”
More information about Miles in May can be found here.
May Subscription Series Performances
Nduduzo Makhathini (May 6–10)
Acclaimed South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini merges spiritual jazz with ancestral Zulu influences.
Show times: Wed – 7:30 pm | Thu – 11:00 am & 7:30 pm | Fri, Sat – 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm | Sun – 6:30 pm
Acclaimed South African pianist Nduduzo Makhathini merges spiritual jazz with ancestral Zulu influences.
Show times: Wed – 7:30 pm | Thu – 11:00 am & 7:30 pm | Fri, Sat – 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm | Sun – 6:30 pm
Allison Miller & Boom Tic Boom (May 20–24)
Genre-defying drummer Allison Miller leads her celebrated ensemble in adventurous modern jazz.
Show times: Wed, Thu – 7:30 pm | Fri, Sat – 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm | Sun – 6:30 pm
Season Special Performances
Whitaker Jazz Speaks: Miles Davis – Reinvention and the Final Years (May 13)
An in-depth discussion examining Davis’s late-career innovations, visual art, and lasting cultural impact.
Event time: Wed – 7:30 pm
An in-depth discussion examining Davis’s late-career innovations, visual art, and lasting cultural impact.
Event time: Wed – 7:30 pm
Happy Birthday Miles: Terell Stafford & Tim Warfield (May 26–29)
A celebratory concert series honoring Miles Davis on his 100th birthday with two of today’s leading jazz voices.
Show times: Tue–Thu – 7:30 pm | Fri – 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm
A celebratory concert series honoring Miles Davis on his 100th birthday with two of today’s leading jazz voices.
Show times: Tue–Thu – 7:30 pm | Fri – 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm
Miles Runs the Voodoo Down (May 30–31)
Funded in Part by Arvan Chan & Brandon Gray
Pianist Adam Maness reimagines Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew in an immersive live experience.
Show times: Sat – 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm | Sun – 6:30 pm
Funded in Part by Arvan Chan & Brandon Gray
Pianist Adam Maness reimagines Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew in an immersive live experience.
Show times: Sat – 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm | Sun – 6:30 pm
STL Made Performances
Matthew Henry’s Agbara (May 1–2)
A vibrant celebration of West African roots in Latin Jazz, blending tradition, innovation, and deep ancestral connections.
Show times: Fri – 7:30 pm | Sat – 7:30 pm
A vibrant celebration of West African roots in Latin Jazz, blending tradition, innovation, and deep ancestral connections.
Show times: Fri – 7:30 pm | Sat – 7:30 pm
Kasimu Taylor (May 14)
St. Louis trumpeter Kasimu Taylor blends jazz and soul with fiery passion and modern style.
Show time: Thu – 7:30 pm
St. Louis trumpeter Kasimu Taylor blends jazz and soul with fiery passion and modern style.
Show time: Thu – 7:30 pm
Anthony Wiggins (May 15–16)
A powerful hometown tribute led by East St. Louis native Anthony Wiggins in honor of Miles Davis’s centennial.
Show times: Fri – 7:30 pm | Sat – 7:30 pm
A powerful hometown tribute led by East St. Louis native Anthony Wiggins in honor of Miles Davis’s centennial.
Show times: Fri – 7:30 pm | Sat – 7:30 pm
Running September 2025 through June 2026, the Jazz St. Louis 30th Anniversary Season celebrates the city’s deep jazz heritage and its global connections.
All performances will take place at the Steward Center, 3536 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103.
For tickets and more information, visit jazzstl.org.
Downloadable press images are available here.
About Jazz St. Louis
Jazz St. Louis is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the uniquely American art form of jazz through performance, education, and community engagement. Presenting more than 270 performances each year, the organization is committed to nurturing future audiences and supporting the next generation of musicians through transformative educational programs at no cost to participants.
Jazz St. Louis is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the uniquely American art form of jazz through performance, education, and community engagement. Presenting more than 270 performances each year, the organization is committed to nurturing future audiences and supporting the next generation of musicians through transformative educational programs at no cost to participants.
