Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*KCUR's KC Currents reports on the ongoing collaboration between saxophonists Matt Otto and Rich Wheeler.  (The segment begins at the 42:40 mark.)

*The Houston Chronicle cites the charitable efforts of the Olathe-based Mike Corrigan and B.A.C. Horn Doctors in New Orleans.

*Mark Lowrey has a Kickstarter campaign for his next album.

*Project H's YouTube channel includes clips from the band's recent trip to New Orleans.

*Howard Reich reviewed Bobby Watson's opening night at Chicago's Jazz Showcase.

*Pat Metheny will tour behind a new album that features Chris Potter, Ben Williams and Antonio Sanchez.  A Kansas City date isn't on the published itinerary. 

*A David Basse title receives a positive review.

*A set by KU jazz students was recorded by KJHK.

*Here's a video of Horace Washington performing the National Anthem at the Royals' home opener.

*Tweet o' the Week: Jason Harper- The People's Liberation Big Band brings riotous sound to silent Battleship Potemkin (Instagram photo)

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- LOL - that album cover is nasty!

*From the American Jazz Museum: The American Jazz Museum is pleased to announce the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS has released its 2012 Art Works Grant Awards Recipient listing. The American Jazz Museum is honored to be among those recipients. Specifically, the American Jazz Museum has received $16,000 to support the 2012 Rhythm & Ribs Jazz and Blues Festival. The Rhythm & Ribs Jazz and Blues Festival is a day-long indoor/outdoor event featuring 15 performances on three stages by local and nationally known jazz and blues artists such as: Christian McBride, Charlie Hunter, Greg Gisbert, and Bobby “Blue” Bland, along with educational programming. The American Jazz Museum Board of Directors unanimously approved the 2012 Rhythm & Ribs Jazz and Blues Festival be produced on Saturday, October 13th. Ticket pricing, programs and feature artist talent element of the event are now in development.  “The news of receiving a 2012 NEA Art Works Grant is extremely encouraging to our mission,” says Greg Carroll, CEO of the American Jazz Museum. “The funding allows continued growth of the Rhythm & Ribs Jazz and Blues Festival and also reinforces the diverse cultural programming we deploy in support of our organizational mission pillars of Performance, Education, Exhibition, and Research,” Carroll concluded.

*From Jim Mair: Kansas City Kansas Community College rolled out its best in vocal jazz at the annual Jazz Cabaret Thursday night.  A crowd estimated at nearly 200 filled the Jewell Center for the annual showcase of KCKCC’s talented array of soloists and ensembles.

*From Jim Mair, part two: The Big Dogs had their way at the 2nd Annual Kansas City Jazz Summit at Kansas City Kansas Community College April 23-27.  The Blue Valley Northwest Big Dog Band took home first place in the Kansas City Jazz Heritage “Basically Basie” competition. Directed by John Selzer, the BV Northwest band received 787 votes to out-distance runnerup Lee Summit North and third place Winnetonka in voting by text by members of the audience. “I think voting by text was a first for a jazz competition,” said Jim Mair, KCKCC Associate Professor of Music and Festival Coordinator. The text voting represented 25 percent of the total score.  Not including KCKCC instrumental and vocal groups, 31 middle school, high school and college jazz bands and vocal groups from three states took part in the festival, a 25 percent increase over the initial festival.

*Spotted on the Folly Theater's calendar: Join with a group of stellar Kansas City musicians as we depart on a narrated journey of musical “time travel.” Starting in the early 1900s, we explore how America’s “melting pot” of many cultures provided the ingredients for the development and evolution of our country’s original the true meaning of our country's original musical art form – Jazz! This Folly Theater Production is high energy, great toe-tappin’ fun! The event is April 4, 2013.

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)