Established in March 2016, the Wednesday Night Jazz Crawl is a much-loved fixture of the live music scene in Grand Center Arts District. The weekly event takes in multiple venues featuring established and up-and-coming artists from the St. Louis jazz community. Facilitated by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, we caught up with Andrew Warshauer, senior marketing manager, to learn more about the thriving jazz scene in Grand Center Arts District.

“The Wednesday Night Jazz Crawl was started to provide a free musical experience for patrons in St. Louis and out of town visitors,” says Warshauer. “The intimacy of the venues tears down the barriers between patrons and musicians.”

Each week the Crawl starts off at Squatters Café in KDHX for a happy hour at 5pm. Then attendees can wander over to the Kranzberg Arts Center for the Jazz Jam Hosted by Bob DeBoo. Young players who are still in high school can sign up to jam with the band and sample playing with older, more experienced musicians in front of a friendly crowd.

The incubator approach that the Crawl fosters gives young musicians an opportunity to jam and perform on stage. Andrew says “We can help elevate the overall jazz scene in St. Louis by offering youngsters the opportunity to hone their craft.” Oftentimes these young performers head off to music college across the nation and spread the word about the vibrant scene in St. Louis. Keith Bowman, a recent graduate, cut his teeth at the Wednesday night Jazz Crawl’s jams and now has a regular Monday night spot at The Dark Room.

The Wednesday Night Jazz Crawl is free and takes in an eclectic mix of venues: Squatter’s Café, Kranzberg Arts Center, The Dark Room and occasionally a live simulcast with Jazz St. Louis in Nancy’s Lounge.

Wednesday Night Jazz Crawl

Every Wednesday night at the following venues:

5pm – Squatters Café at KDHX
7pm – Kranzberg Arts Center
9pm – The Dark Room