Jeremy Davenport makes triumphant return to his hometown of St. Louis

I caught up with 29-year-old trumpeter/vocalist Jeremy Davenport, a suave, stylish crooner from the MTV generation, at a benefit concert for his alma mater, University City public schools.

More than 10 U. City High graduates who have gone on to stardom in the world of jazz got together at the Westport Playhouse Saturday for a four-hour concert that can only be described as epic.

It was the perfect opportunity to see Davenport perform with his friends. Davenport had wowed the audience June 9 at the Whitaker Jazz Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Davenport has two CDs out: his first is self-titled and his second is "Maybe in a Dream." He has performed with the likes of Diana Krall, Wynton Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr. and recently was named Offbeat Magazine's Most Promising Jazz Newcomer for 1999.

Davenport doesn't have the world's greatest chops and he's not the most pristine of technicians on the trumpet, but his sheer energy and youthful buoyancy, his stylish interpretations of classic, romantic love ballads by such contemporary masters of song as Johnny Mercer and Will Hudson and his boyish charm and charisma make him a fan favorite whenever he returns to his hometown of St. Louis.

Q: Since you graduated from University City High in 1988, how has the jazz scene in St. Louis changed?
A: Well, because of the fact that I don't live here anymore, I live in New Orleans, I don't really know much about the jazz scene in St. Louis. But I do know that I wish I could live in St. Louis and make a living playing jazz here, but I know that it's impossible, for whatever that's worth.

Q: So you went to New Orleans out of necessity?
A: Well, kind ofÉ From here I went to New York first. There are just a lot more live music opportunities in New Orleans.

Q: Why do you think the U. City jazz program has been so successful through the years?
A: I think it's partly because once you get something started like that, as a kid growing up in the area, you aspire to do it yourself.

Q: So where you went to school, the big thing wasn't the basketball or football team, but the jazz band?
A: Right. It was very competitive. I believe they had three jazz bands at the school when I went there. Unfortunately, now it's a lot smaller. Part of the reason we did the benefit concert was to re-energize the program and get some support.

Q: In your own trumpet playing, I can hear a little bit of Miles Davis, a little bit of Louis Armstrong and a little bit of Wynton Marsalis. How have these musicians influenced your playing?
A: Those are my favorites. Since my parents were both musicians, I got the opportunity to listen to music that most kids my age probably wouldn't listen to, so I consider myself lucky. Then when I was 13 or 14, I met Wynton Marsalis and he really exposed me to a wider range of jazz music that I never would have been exposed to.

Q: How did you first meet Wynton?
A: My dad plays in the symphony here in St. Louis and Wynton was coming to St. Louis in '83 to play a concerto. I was 13 and my dad took me to the rehearsal to meet him, and he took an immediate interest in me because Wynton is very, very interested in developing young musicians. He's been a great friend. Sometimes he would call me on the phone and say something like "I want you to learn the Clifford Brown solo on Joy Spring," then he would hang up and I would call him back on the phone when I learned it and play it for him over the phone. It was an interesting relationship.

Q: This is going to sound like a blunt question, but do you think you would have made it if you couldn't sing?
A: I don't know, but I can tell you that in New Orleans the singing has allowed me many more working opportunities. I think people can relate to the singing easier, especially people who aren't jazz fans. But it's been an interesting experience because some of the hard core jazz people can't get with the singing. They associate the singing with the show business part of jazz, and jazz musicians have a history of denying the show business part. But I've always been intrigued by the show business part of it.

Q: What's the neatest thing that ever happened to you while you were on tour?
A: That would probably be when we got to play for the Queen of England for her husband's 75th birthday party. It was very exciting, but what was even more exciting was when I got to meet Roger Moore, who plays James Bond in the 007 movies.

Q: Your on-stage persona is very extroverted and flamboyant. Were you always this way or did this develop over time?
A: It hasn't been a conscious thing, but the more comfortable I get with my presentation, the more extroverted I get. When I was younger, I was scared out of my mind. This might sound contrived, but I love what I'm doing so much that I can't help but be excited about it. For me, there's nothing in the world more exciting than getting up there and performing.

Q: When you go to a record store and see your albums in between guys like Chick Corea and Miles Davis, does it shock you?
A: It still surprises me. I could say that it is a dream come true. It's still pretty cool.

Q: Where do you think you would be today if jazz music never existed?
A: I don't know, but that's an interesting question. I might be working at a gas station or something like that. É You know, I think I might try to be an actor, because I've always liked to entertain people. I've always been extroverted, and I've always liked to make people laugh.

Davenport said he is currently looking for another record label to produce his next album, which he says will be much the same format as "Maybe in a Dream." On that album, he wrote the music and lyrics to about half the songs, the rest of which are standards.