Now's the Time: BCR

Anyone who’s ever wanted to see Stan Kessler lip-sync is in for a treat.  Kessler and bandmates including Dwight Frizzell, Bill Dye and Randy Weinstein mug their way through a tune from a recently released BCR album in footage captured at the Grand Emporium in 1995.  BCR hosts an "ultra-flesh dance" party at Californos on Saturday, December 26.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Chris Robinson reviewed Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle’s Live in Kansas City.

*Danny Alexander wrote a thoughtful review of a new album by Johnny Hammil’s Gav7d.

*Natalie Gallagher dares to dig into the BCR archives.

*The Jorge Arana Trio created a video for “Crime of Passion Fruit.”

*The Ptich recommends a Megan Birdsall gig.

*A writer for The New York Times ponders the baseball and jazz connections between New York and Kansas City.

*Chris Burnett elucidates a friendly World Series wager made by the American Jazz Museum and the Louis Armstrong House Museum.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Darcy James Argue- Congratulations to Kansas City for recapturing the coveted Jazz Capital of the World title for the first time since 1936.

*I apologize for not updating the Kansas City Jazz Calendar for November.  I’ll get to it this weekend. 

*From Gerald Spaits: Sax and Violins, A Double Quartet… featuring: Gerald Spaits on Bass, Charles Perkins: alto sax, Bass Clarinet, Rich Wheeler: Soprano sax, Tenor sax, Brian Steever: drums and percussion (and) Strings: Adam Galblum : violin, Matthew Bennett: violin, Chisitine Grossman: viola, Justin Cowart: cello. This concert features original music of Gerald Spaits as well arrangements of Thelonious  Monk, Duke Ellington, the Beatles and more… I've brought this particular group together to explore new possibilities in combining different genres of music in an improvising setting… The strings are not just added to the jazz quartet for background but are interactive within the ensemble… 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 18, 2015, Westport CoffeeHouse Theater. $10.00.

(Original image of Ron Carlson's band by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: B.C.R.

Thirty-seven years ago, a kid affiliated with the Kansas City Art Institute created a noisy sound collage. A befuddled blogger listed it as one of the Ten Best Kansas City Jazz Recordings. Black Crack Revue, eventually better known as B.C.R., evolved into a Dada-esque Sun Ra-inspired jazz band in the late '70s and early '80s. B.C.R. then morphed into the arty dance band displayed in the embedded 1995 video. Thomas Aber, Dwight Frizzell, Jazzbo, Stan Kessler and Randy Weinstein are among the featured musicians. B.C.R. performs at the RecordBar on Sunday, April 29.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Tim Finn checks in with BCR on the band's 30th anniversary.

*KCJazzLark laments the premature death of Bill Caldwell and the absence of Jardine's in a typically excellent post.

*The Wichita Eagle notes the passing of Bill Caldwell.

*Bobby Watson, Book of Gaia and the David Basse Orchestra are scheduled to perform at the Meet Me at the Bridge Street Festival at 48th & Troost on May 5.

*The 2nd Annual KCKCC Jazz Summit at Kansas City Kansas Community College will conclude with a concert by Lisa Henry and an all-star band.

*A new Ella Fitzgerald-themed exhibit at the American Jazz Museum is noted by The Star.

*The People's Liberation Big Band's score for Battleship Potemkin will be performed on May 1 at the Plaza branch of the Kansas City Library.

*A critic declares that Chris Hazelton's new album is the greatest thing since sliced bread. (Link removed at request of critic.)

*KJHK's audio archives include a few jazz sessions. (Tip via Lucas Homer.)

*Kansas City native Halbert White has died. The noted economist performed with Eddie Baker's New Breed Orchestra in the '60s.

*Black House Improvisors' Collective is hosting a "sound painting" workshop.

*A publication in Iowa notes the current Midwestern barnstorming tour of the Rob Scheps/Frank Basile Quintet.

*Doug Ramsey reports on plans for a memorial service for Bob Brookmeyer.

*A few jazz-related acts are participating in KKFI's band auction.

*Hey, Ted Nash! What's the big idea of naming your new record label Plastic Sax?

*Tweet o' the Week: Alaadeenswife- Thank you Bobby Watson for honoring Alaadeen last night at the Spring Concert of your Concert Jazz Band - University of Missouri-KC

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- we all know what happens when you assume things dont we?

*Don't forget about the Kansas City Jazz Calendar.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Jazz At the Plaza Art Fair

There are a few unwritten laws for residents of the Kansas City area. Rooting for the Chiefs isn't optional. A firm preference for Gates or Bryant's must be established. And attendance at the Plaza Art Fair is mandatory.

Not everyone realizes that the annual ritual is more than ceramics, couch paintings and people-watching. Many jazz-oriented artists are included among the over two dozen musical acts featured at the event. Here's a partial listing:

Friday, September 21
Dan Bliss, 6:45 p.m., near Starbucks

Saturday, September 22
D.J. Sweeney, 1:00 p.m., near Plaza III
BCR, 5:00 p.m., Wornall Bridge

Sunday, September 23
Kerry Strayer with Earlie Braggs, 11:00 a.m., Wornall Bridge
Grand Marquis, 1:00 p.m., Grand Marquis, Wornall Bridge
Beau Bledsoe, 2:00 p.m., near Starbucks
Ken Lovern's OJT, 3:00 p.m., Wornall Bridge

(Dandy R. Crumb image used without permission.)

Space Is Still the Place For BCR

This is Dwight Frizzell in the early evening of July 26, 2007. That was the date on Earth's calendar, anyway. I recall my first encounter with him here.


















As is customary for Frizzell and the rest of BCR, they began their performance outside the venue. I'd love to know what the driver of that pickup truck thought.

















I sat next to my friend and colleague Tim Finn for much of the show. His fine recap is here. I'll only add that I was pleased to find that after the band's recent forays into funk, they're once again squarely positioned amidst the space junk.

(All photos taken by Plastic Sax.)