ST. LOUIS, MO — Some of the greatest jazz acts will perform at the Jazz St. Louis Harold and Dorothy Center for Jazz grand opening Thursday and Friday night, including Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Wynton Marsalis and HEC-TV has your ticket!

The musicians will perform at the center’s 220-seat capacity Ferring Jazz Bistro, formerly Jazz at the Bistro, which closed in the spring to undergo a $10 renovation. The space is home to the Centene Jazz Education Center, a jazz lounge and Jazz St. Louis.

Philanthropist and avid jazz fan David Stewart contributed to the campaign to finance the center, along with his wife Thelma. His vision is to see the long-ago glory days of the Gaslight Square district come back to life in St. Louis’ Grand Center.

“We’re trying to rekindle and preserve that legacy with this center for excellence in jazz,” Stewart said in a statement. “I want to preserve this art form that I grew up on.”

The newly designed Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, named after David Steward’s parents, will include an education center with two rehearsal rooms for jazz youth programs, and practice rooms where students can take lessons. The space will also have a recording studio and a resource center.

“My parents, Harold and Dorothy Steward, were passionate advocates of arts and education,” said Dave Steward in a statement provided by Jazz St. Louis. “My wife, Thelma, and I are eternally grateful that the new facilities will represent their legacy and incorporate an educational pillar to enrich the jazz community.”

Thursday night kicks off the grand opening of the new center with a ribbon cutting ceremony with members of the board of directors and St. Louis dignitaries. There will also be tours of the venue by invitation only and performances by world-class jazz musicians.

Friday night, a public grand opening celebration is planned with two performances from Grammy Award and Nobel Peace Prize winning jazz artist Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Unfortunately, no tickets remain for the shows at the newly renovated Ferring Jazz Bistro, but there are still ways to experience the concerts:

• Tune in online to a live stream by HEC-TV of the Grand Opening Gala Celebration with Wynton Marsalis & the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra this Thursday, October 2 at hectv.staging.wpengine.com. Coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. with exclusive interviews and the dedication of The Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, followed by the concert at 7:30pm.
• Join Jazz at the Bistro and HEC-TV at the Public Media Commons (between St. Louis Public Radio & the Nine Network at 3655 Olive Street, 63103) on Friday, October 3 at 7:00pm for a live performance by the Jazz St. Louis All-Stars, followed by a live stream by HEC-TV of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis from Jazz at the Bistro at 7:30pm. The Public Media Commons features two, two-story-high video screens on which the concert will be shown. Complimentary snacks and refreshments will be served and free parking is available in the lot across the street. Click here for more information and to reserve your tickets.

For more information, contact Christina Chastain at (314) 956-2703 or visit hectv.staging.wpengine.com.