Album Review: Matt Otto with Ensemble Ibérica- Ibérica

Ibérica, the new album by Matt Otto and Ensemble Ibérica, is so rapturously beautiful that sensitive listeners might be inclined to savor it only on special occasions.  The sublime recording would provide ideal accompaniment to the celebration of an anniversary or the homecoming of a newborn baby.

Limiting play of Iberica to extraordinary life moments would be a shame. Even though it might seem like an extravagant misappropriation of delicate artistry, Ibérica is capable of enlivening and elevating even the most mundane activities.  Otto, one of Kansas City’s most accomplished jazz musicians, and Beau Bledsoe the leader of the Latin-themed chamber group Ensemble Ibérica and the Turkish jazz band Alaturka, are proven creators of transcendent music.

Unlike many so-called third stream albums that seem stuffy or precious, Iberica is a consistently soothing aural balm that is nonetheless imbued with a sad awareness of the bittersweet truths of life.  Iberica echoes the most abstract works of the late jazz masters Jim Hall and Paul Desmond, but a handful of notable Kansas City musicians give the project a local flavor.

Brad Cox contributes keyboards and electronic effects.  Bledsoe, Michael McClintock and Jordan Shipley add a tasteful array of stringed instruments including guitars, oud and cavaquinho.  Cello and gently swinging bass are played by Karl McComas-Reichl.  The ethereal steel guitar work of Mike Stover adds earthy textures to the beguiling album.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: Alaturka at Polsky Theatre

Tenor saxophonist Rich Wheeler opened Alaturka’s concert at Polsky Theatre on Sunday with an incantation that resembled an adhan, the Islamic call to worship.  His conjuring was an exceedingly welcome sound to adherents of the Kansas City based Turkish jazz group.

Alaturka commanded an inordinate amount of coverage at Plastic Sax in the first half of this decade.  Yet the innovative band has been out of commission lately.  Aside from a mention in a review of a 2016 Brandon Draper album, Alaturka hasn’t been cited at this site in a couple years.  About 100 people purchased $20 tickets to attend Sunday's reunion. 

Wheeler’s playing evoked Pharoah Sanders by way of Joe Henderson.  Beau Bledsoe wielded a Turkish oud with his customary fastidiousness.  Bassist Jeff Harshbarger contributed a smoky pulse that contrasted with Brandon Draper’s peripatetic percussion.  The addition of violinist Zsolt Eder on a few intriguing selections transformed Alaturka into a chamber music group. 

Bledsoe joked that he and his colleagues no longer resemble the men in the dated publicity photo on the cover of the program.  Their visages may have changed since the formation of the band in 2007, but the men in Alaturka sound as magnificent as ever.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Joe Klopus surveyed the week in jazz for The Kansas City Star.

*The Pitch recommended Marcus Hampton’s outing at the Blue Room on Friday.

*The Kansas City Star previewed a new production of “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” that features Nedra Dixon.

*A television station reported that items related to the late Oscar “Lucky” Wesley of the Scamps were given to his grandson after they turned up in an auction.  (Via Tony’s Kansas City.)

*KOJH, the radio initiative affiliated with the Mutual Musicians Foundation, recently began streaming a blend of jazz, soul and old-school hip-hop.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Dave Holland- Dave @DeJohnetteMusic @morethan88 free show at Tompkins Square Park NYC for Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Aug 28. (link)

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- Totally agree with Beau Bledsoe. Audiences at KC jazz clubs talk almost the entire time. It can ruin a great gig for those who like to listen. It is esp. bad at the Blue Room on Mondays and Thursdays.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Todd Strait was interviewed by Zack Albetta for Working Drumming.

*Joe Klopus surveyed the week’s jazz bookings for The Kansas City Star.

*Two prominent area jazz boosters- Dr. Leslie E. Becker, Jr. and Chuck Berg- have died.

*An interview with Beau Bledsoe includes commentary on the behavior of audiences at Kansas City jazz clubs.

*A three-song OJT set was documented by KJHK.

*The Kansas City Business Journal reports on a criminal trial involving the owner of a Jazz District restaurant.

*The Curtis Project, the new album by the Prism Quartet, was released in April.  Zachary Shemon, a professor at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance, is a member of the saxophone quartet.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Ted Gioia- Yes, I am coming to Kansas City on November 17 to give a talk on "The Future of Jazz" at the American Jazz Museum.

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- I'm looking forward to hearing Dan Thomas play at the PVJF. We don't get to hear him often enough!

*From a press release: The 3rd Annual Kansas City Charlie Parker Celebration (CPC) will again explore and recognize the legacy of one the most influential saxophonists and jazz icons to ever perform.  The Celebration, a comprehensive Charlie Parker tribute, continues to grow locally and gain recognition through the U.S…  The 2016 Charlie Parker Celebration includes some new elements while maintaining the popular events from the first two Parker Celebration events, including the Charlie Parker Historical Tour and Graveside Musical Salute in conjunction with his birthday (Aug. 29, would be age 96). 

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated for August.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Fabricating a Festival

The transmutation of Jazz in the Woods into SoJo Summerfest is a disheartening blow to the jazz community.  Details about the 2016 editions of the one-day events The Prairie Village Jazz Festival and The 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival are still under wraps.

Neglected jazz aficionados in Kansas City have been provided with plenty of reasons to eye the ambitious lineups of  large-scale, multi-day festivals in Chicago, Detroit and Iowa City.

Kansas Citians needn’t succumb to wanderlust.  With careful planning and a willingness to bar-hop, it’s possible to fashion makeshift jazz festivals.  That’s what I did on the opening night of Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest.   The four-day music portion of the festival has an indie-rock orientation, but I managed to catch three engaging left-of-center jazz sets on Wednesday.

The Jorge Arana Trio evoked the abrasive electric jazz associated with the late Sonny Sharrock at Mills Record Company.  The quartet of vocalist Annie Ellicott, the modified instrument master Mark Southerland, bassist Jeff Harshbarger and drummer John Kizilarmut veered between conventional jazz standards and wild flights of fancy at Californos.  Backed by elite musicians including keyboardist Brad Cox and guitarist Beau Bledsoe, the former Kansas City resident Krystle Warren performed a compelling blend of folk, gospel and jazz at the same venue. 

Devotees of small jazz ensembles could make a full night of sampling the offerings at the cocktail lounges of restaurants including The American, Cafe Trio, Chaz and Sullivan’s.  People who prefer not to drive could partake of the miniature festival that transpires at Green Lady Lounge every weekend.

Still not satisfied?  The three-day festival in the jazz capital of Iowa City features performances by bands led by heavy hitters including Edmar Castaneda, Vijay Iyer, Allison Miller, Poncho Sanchez and Miguel Zenón.  I may see you there.

(Original image of Krystle Warren and Brad Cox by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Star reviewed Earl Klugh’s concert at the Folly Theater.

*Kristin Shafel Omiccioli previews a few forthcoming jazz performances.

*The Pitch recommends a gig by Shay Estes and Mark Lowrey at the American Restaurant.

*Beau Bledsoe is among the musicians interview in a report by C.J.Janovy about next month’s Folk Alliance Conference.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Eric Willey- #KC after dark! #jazz @ Mutual Musicians Foundation International Instagram video)

*From Take Five Coffee + Bar: This weekend we have a feast of shows to lighten the winter mood.  Friday, January 23, 8pm: James Isaac Quartet featuring Courtney Williams. James plays sax, Courtney Williams sings, Brad Cox plays piano, Andrew Stinson plays bass and Sam Wisman plays drums. $5 cover.  Saturday, January 24, 8pm: Victor & Penny and the Loose Change Orchestra. With the great Loose Change Orchestra behind them – James Isaac on clarinet, Rick Willoughby on bass. $10 cover.  Sunday, January 25, 10am - 2pm: Sunday Jazz Brunch: Kim Sivils & Steve Rigazzi. No cover.

(Original image of Ryan Lee and Peter Schlamb at the RecordBar by Plastic Sax.)

Folk Jazz

I spotted a lone tuba amid the hundreds of fiddles, banjos and guitars I saw on stages and in the hallways at the Folk Alliance Conference at the Westin Crown Center on Saturday.  Brass instruments were a rarity at the four-day event that attracted a reported 3,000 people to Kansas City. 

With 11 official stages and countless spontaneous jam sessions, the absence of a designated jazz-themed forum was disheartening.  The addition of the music associated with Kansas City would have been a nice component of what seemed to be an entirely successful event.

The proposal isn't all that strange.  Locally-based jazz musician Matt Otto refers to his music as "folk-jazz".  And Béla Fleck is just one of thousands of jazz-minded musicians who have emerged from the world of progressive bluegrass.  Beau Bledsoe of Alaturka gets it.  I saw him taking in a performance by the Turkish-born oud master Ismail Hakki Fencioglu at the expansive festival.

Kansas City will host the conference for the next few years.  I fully expect enterprising jazz musicians and promoters to explore the possibilities of an artistically fruitful association with the locally-based Folk Alliance.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The 2013 edition of the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival includes Matt Otto, Stan Kessler with Kathleen Holeman, the Doug Talley Quartet and the Wild Men of Kansas City.  The free event takes place June 14-15 at Coleman Hawkins Park in St. Joseph, Missouri.

*The headliners of the fourth annual Jazz Winterlude are Terri Lyne Carrington and Arturo Sandoval.  The festival at Johnson County Community College is January 24-25.

*Deborah Brown was interviewed by Joe Dimino of Neon Jazz.

*Michael Pagán praises the Green Lady Lounge.

*Beau Bledsoe offers a fascinating peek behind the curtains at Fado Novato's successful fundraising campaign to finance an extended trip to Portugal.

*Jim Mair has been recognized for his work at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

*Hermon Mehari provides background about a young musician in legal trouble.  (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

*KC Jazz Lark commends the vitality of Kansas City's jazz scene while taking an apparent swipe at the author of this blog.  Noting the cancelation of Kanrocksas, my good friend implies that had the festival been a jazz-oriented event, I would be "wetting myself" in a rush to "morbidly declare jazz is dead."  The failure of the rock/hip hop/EDM-oriented Kanrocksas to sell 25,000 advance tickets at $200 a pop bears no relationship to the "lively but peaceful" status of a handful of small-capacity jazz venues.  I reject the notion that I "hold the mortality of jazz to a different standard."  Just last night, almost 2,000 fans paid $40 each to hear the XX- a band with rock, hip hop and EDM elements- perform at the Uptown Theater.  The harsh reality is that far less than 2,000 people will attend jazz live jazz performances in the Kansas City area during the first ten days of June.

*In response to the previous Plastic Sax post about Charlie Parker, T.J. Martley kindly reminded the excitable author of this blog of his video transcription of "Little Willie Leaps."

*UMKC's Jazz Camp is June 23-27.

*Dean Minderman of St. Louis Jazz Notes analyzes the outstanding 2013-14 season of Jazz St. Louis.  Highlights include Rudresh Mahanthappa, Joe Lovano's Us Five and the Bad Plus.

*Here's a promotional video for the Parkville River Jam, Jazz, Blues and Fine Arts Festival.

*Tweet o' the Week: Kyle Broussard- If @jpwayman post 1 more time about jazz in the woods I am un-following him.

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- I made it 90 seconds before I turned it off, but that's because I was distracted, shoving needles in to my gonads and extinguishing cigarettes on my forearm.  (A less acerbic discussion is taking place here.)

*Clint Ashlock reports that his gig at Take Five Coffee + Bar this Saturday, June 8, features "a new project called Forward."  The band includes Ashlock, Ryan Lee, Michael Shults, Andrew Ouellette and Karl McComas-Reichl "doing all original stuff."

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Review: Alaturka- Yalniz

The average age of Alaturka's audience at the Jazz Winterlude festival in January was about 65.  I heard the phrase "Turkish jazz" bandied about with suspicion before the band began playing and feared that outraged advocates of traditional swing would walk out during the first selection.  I underestimated both the audience's willingness to accept new sounds and the persuasive virtuosity of the members of Alaturka. 

The stellar set by string master Beau Bledsoe, saxophonist Rich Wheeler, bassist Jeff Harshbarger and percussionist Brandon Draper won over the entirety of the room.  The audience even demanded- and received- an encore.

Tamam Abi, Alaturka' 2010 debut release, was one of my favorite albums of 2010.  While the new release Yalniz is every bit the equal of its predecessor, it documents the band's rapid evolution. 

Not only is Yalniz less brash than Tamam Abi, the project includes vocals by Nihan Yesil.  The result is a sublime album that emphasizes the Turkish side of the Turkish-jazz equation.  Having already proven that their concept works, the members of Alaturka seems less intent on demonstrating their jazz chops than on developing new textures.  The opening track "Divane Aşık Gibi" is representative of the captivating album.

Alaturka's album release party for Yalniz is Sunday, March 10, at the RecordBar.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Review: Stan Kessler and Beau Bledsoe's Passport

Passport, the self-titled debut album by the duo of guitarist Beau Bledsoe and trumpeter Stan Kessler, is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful recordings to emanate from Kansas City in recent memory. 

As its name implies, Passport serves as a musical travelogue with destinations including Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Portugal, Spain and Turkey.  The tranquil album rewards intent listening but can also serve as splendid background music.  The unadorned arrangements and sensitive playing are exquisite. 

Although Kessler is one of the most prominent jazz musicians in Kansas City and Bledsoe is a core member of the Turkish jazz band Alaturka, Passport is not a jazz album.  Yet anyone who enjoys both Andrés Segovia and Sketches of Spain and will appreciate the gorgeous project.

Plastic Sax interviewed Bledsoe in 2010.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Business Journal reports that a new "120-seat club will focus on jazz music and rum-based drinks" and is slated for an August opening in the Power & Light District.  Joyce Smith offers additional details about the Kill Devil Club.

*The Folly Theater has announced an outstanding lineup for the 2012-13 Folly Jazz Series.  Pat Metheny's Unity Band will appear in a non-series concert at the Folly on September 6.  Joe Klopus applauds the bookings.

*Broken Waltz, the latest release by Matt Otto, is now available.

*David Hudnall enjoyed celebrating Juneteenth in the Jazz District.

*KCJazzLark dissects the strategy behind the 2012 edition of the Rhythm & Ribs Jazz & Blues Festival.

*Beau Bledsoe, Shay Estes and Jordan Shipley have formed Fado Novato.  The trio's commitment to the Portuguese style is on display here.

*Another update on the lack of activity at the former location of Jardine's is filed by Hearne Christopher.

*A story about the redesign for the space formerly occupied by sometime jazz venue The Marquee makes no mention of plans for live music.

*Emanuel Cleaver submitted recognition of the Mutual Musicians Foundation into the Congressional record.

*Janelle Monae's headlining turn at the Ottawa Jazz Festival is praised.

*Tweet o' the Week: theprojecth- Happy to say that we will be playing the MLB fanfest. Monday, July 9 at 1pm at Bartle Hall. The snowball keeps getting bigger!

*Comment o' the Week: Michael Shults- Thanks for the post and the kind of words, Happy. Much-appreciated. That was a really fun night playing music with some of my favorite people in the world. One small note: it is not captured on the video but the audience that night was well upwards of 50, in a room about the size of Take Five. The median age was probably 25. Not a rock audience, no, but for a Wednesday night at a coffee shop, not bad! If you catch the last 20 seconds or so of the video of "REL" from the same night posted on youtube, you'll hear proof from the crowd reactions that it is possible to play live jazz and have it resonate with young people. It's difficult, yes, and hard to sustain on a regular basis, but I do think if you work really hard at promoting, play original music, and have a good band, there's hope.

*From Tim Whitmer- The year's July Jazz Jam follows up on the standing-room-only inaugural concert in 2011. The acclaimed concert event will be Sunday, July 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m...  Featured headliners of the concert will be a trio of celebrated All-Star Keyboard Kings: Tim Whitmer, Everette DeVan and Joe Cartwright. Also returning this year is the highly acclaimed July Jazz Jam House band, which includes saxophonist Jim Mair, bassist James Albright and drummer Jurge Welge...  The July Jazz Jam is at Community Christian Church...  Tickets are on sale now: $10 in advance... $15 at the door...

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A saxophone once owned by Charlie Parker will be auctioned June 8. The instrument is "expected to sell for $30,000-$35,000."

*Here's a slideshow commemorating the life of the late Bill Caldwell.

*The Topeka Jazz Workshop has unveiled its 2012-13 season. Highlights include Byron Stripling, Marilyn Maye, Harry Allen and Wycliffe Gordon. Chuck Berg reviewed Sunday's performance by the Kenny Barron Trio in Topeka, the final concert of the 2011-12 season.

*Passport, the duo of Beau Bledsoe and Stan Kessler, is releasing an album. Here's the trailer.

*The new release by the Chris Hazelton Trio is reviewed by KCJazzLark.

*Michael Pagan is profiled by Eric Crump of the Marshall News.

*Bobby Watson is among the Kansas City Symphony's guests at Celebration at the Station on May 27.

*A set of videos documents a Brothers Leifer performance at Take Five Coffee. Check 'em out here, here, here and here.

*Here's footage of Diverse performing at the Middle of the Map festival.

*TJ Martley filmed his piano trio from an odd angle.

*Roger Lewis of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is interviewed by The Pitch in advance of his band's concert Thursday at Crossroads KC.

*Chris Lewis of Killer Strayhorn blogs at his band's site. He recently reviewed the new ECM release by the Marcin Wasilewski Trio.

*Glenn North provides insights on the history of cakewalking.

*I heard a DJ spin vinyl versions of tracks by Duke Ellington and Eric Dolphy at last weekend's Psychfest. The festival, which featured about fifty acts, was precisely the sort of enthusiasm-driven, forward-thinking event I recently proposed for Kansas City's jazz scene.

*Phonologotronic comments on his recent activity.

*The entertainment at the 2012 edition of Jazzoo includes an R&B band, a hip hop act, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band and Ida McBeth.

*Miles Bonny and Brandon Draper discuss Kansas City Academy's Grassroots Concert Series with Sam Wisman. (Via KC Stage Blog.)

*A fan uploaded ten minutes of shaky footage of last weekend's Ramsey Lewis concert at the Gem Theater.

*Tweet o' the Week: EldarMusic- New Yorkers! Come out to Blue Note: MAY 20- ELDAR + guest CHRIS POTTER MAY 22- ELDAR + guest KARRIN ALLYSON MAY 23- ELDAR + guest JOE LOCKE

*Comment o' the Week: Clint Ashlock- There were a bunch of things going on Sunday night, and I think you can look at it in a different perspective - that over half of the crowd were musicians shows how much respect these five guys have. There's another show Thursday night at the Blue Room if you happened to miss the Record Bar hit.

*From Lisa Engelken: Extraordinary singer, songwriter & arranger Lisa Engelken returns to Kansas City to perform at the Blue Room on Friday, June 22, 2012… Lisa is thrilled to Kansas City after last Summer’s sold-out performances, and to be joined once again by the powerhouse combo that includes Kansas City’s own Roger Wilder on piano, Gerald Spaits on bass and trumpeter Stan Kessler. Rounding out the quintet is San Francisco drummer Matthew Swindells. The program includes the premiere new works from Lisa’s upcoming album Anima Explorations and selections from Engelken’s Caravan, named to the “Best of 2010” List by the Jazz Journalists Association. Engelken is a Kansas-born straight-shooter, known for a fearless stage presence that has garnered her comparisons to Evel Kneivel, Janis Joplin and a roaring Harley Davidson.

(Original image of Psychfest by Plastic Sax.)

The Ghost of a Jazz Club Past

The specter of Jardine's loomed large Friday at Kansas City Academy.

"When I got the idea for this concept," Brandon Draper explained before Alaturka's performance. "This is what I had in mind."

Draper said that the ensemble's monthly gig at Jardine's had been a staple of Alaturka's schedule. The new Grassoots Concert Series was partly inspired as a response to that loss. The gambit seems to be working. A full house of over 75 paid $10 and $15 each for the performance.

Because I've written extensively about Alaturka at Plastic Sax and elsewhere I'll simply suggest that its performance was no less exceptional than usual. Beau Bledsoe, Draper, Rich Wheeler and 2011 Plastic Sax Person of the Year Jeff Harshbarger are four of Kansas City's premier musicians. Tamam Abi was my fourth favorite "jazz" album of 2010. I also interviewed Alaturka founder Beau Bledsoe a couple years ago.

The performance space at 7933 Main Street features bleacher-style seating, fine acoustics and a family atmosphere. Rather than being nuisances, the children on hand Friday were among the most attentive and enthusiastic members of the audience. The sole distractions were occasional ambient noises from the halls of the school and a piercing light above the venue's main entrance.

A question-and-answer segment- often a dubious proposition- was excellent. Harshbarger and Wheeler are remarkably adept at articulating complex ideas.

Sure, I miss Jardine's. I like Beena, the club's owner. And I enjoy adult beverages. Even so, from an obsessive music fan's perspective, the performance space at Kansas City Academy represents an upgrade.

(Original pre-show image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Otra Cosa

I don't care that it's not jazz. The ardent music and enchanting visuals in the embedded clip transcend genres. Beau Bledsoe's Otra Cosa perform Friday, January 13, at R Bar.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Pitch takes note of 1911 Main. Joe Klopus' comments on the addition to the jazz scene are here.

*Here's a new track by Sir Threadius Mongus. The band performs a free show Friday, October 7, at La Esquina.

*Here's a digital scrapbook from a recent tour of Spain by Beau Bledsoe and Flamenco Mio.

*Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is the subject of an extensive profile by The Los Angeles Times.

*Here's a review of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra concert Saturday at Helzberg Hall.

*KCMetropolis offers reviews of concerts by the UMKC Conservatory and Wynton Marsalis.

*Bobby Watson is featured on the Renolds Jazz Orchestra's big band version of Three Penny Opera. The album was released last April.

*Victoria "Fanny" Dunfee blogs about Alaadeen's Dysfunctional autobiography.

*Photos of previous Rhythm & Ribs festivals are shared by KCJazzLark.

*"…Miles Davis never had to bill himself as a tribute to someone else," sighs Hunter Long in a review of Ambrose Akinmusire's performance last week.

*Tweet o' the Week: KCJazzLark: Brad Cox is playing & introducing this 1st PLBB set as if he's at the PV Jazz Fest on a beautiful Sept night. On the outside, I'm laughing.

*Today's Groupon is for The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's October 14 concert.

*From a press release: Popular and versatile pianist/vocalist Candace Evans will be the featured performer at the Spirituality and All That Jazz Concert Series at Unity Temple on The Plaza, Wednesday October 5, 7pm - 8:30pm. The concert is a homecoming celebration for Candace, since performing the last four years at the nationally known Lodge of Four Seasons Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks.

*From Joe Athon on his Thursday, October 13, gig at Jardine's: For the first time, long time KC musician and front man Joe Athon will present live selections from his debut CD- Portrait of the Man. Many of KCs finest will be on board including Bill McKemy, Stan Kessler, and many others!

*From Hermon Mehari: Ben Van Gelder and Peter Schlamb are leading a quintet that will play at 1911 Main this Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th from 9-Midnight. Ben Van Gelder is a young saxophonist from the Netherlands who has been making waves on the scene in NYC and Europe. Peter Schlamb, a vibraphonist who has spent some time in NYC, has been making repeated trips to KC (including a couple with Mike Moreno) from his hometown of St. Louis and is excited to be coming back again. The rest of the group consists of Sean Mullins on drums (NYC), Karl McComas-Reichl on bass (Iowa City), and myself on trumpet. There is no cover.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Kansas City's Jazz Geniuses

Jazz percussionist and composer Dafnis Prieto was awarded the MacArthur Foundation's so-called "genius grant" last week. Who on Kansas City's jazz scene qualifies as a potential recipient? The MacArthur Foundation rewards "talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction." I'm nominating ten individuals accordingly. A brief explanation follows each selection.

1. Black House Improvisors' Collective- aggregated creativity (I'm not entirely certain who's responsible for the collective.)

2. Beau Bledsoe- musical brilliance, musical proselytism

3. Leon and Linda Brady- music education, moral guidance, musical proselytism

4. Chris Burnett- economic applications, musical proselytism

5. Brad Cox- musical brilliance

6. Jeff Harshbarger- musical brilliance, musical proselytism

7. Larry Kopitnik- historic preservation, institutional memory, musical proselytism

8. Hermon Mehari- musical brilliance, musical proselytism

9. Matt Otto- musical brilliance

10. Bobby Watson- musical brilliance, music education

Feel free to disparage my picks or suggest who I have incomprehensibly overlooked. (I ruled out artists including Bob Brookmeyer, Pat Metheny, Harold O'Neal and Logan Richardson on the basis that they don't reside in the area.)

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Malachy Papers

A seemingly unlikely jazz-related double bill takes place Friday, August 12, at Davey's Uptown Rambler's Club. Alaturka, the exquisitely tasteful Turkish jazz ensemble led by thoughtful multi-instrumentalist Beau Bledsoe performs with Malachy Papers, an in-your-face ensemble that features Mike Dillon and Mark Southerland. Relatively conservative jazz fans are tossed a lifeline in the embedded video when a Monk composition kicks in at the 4:25 mark. "Misterioso" indeed.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The NEA has awarded $200,000 for the restoration of Boone Theater in the Jazz District. A press release is available as a PDF here. Key line: The restoration and redevelopment of the historic Boone Theater – a $2.5 million project – is being undertaken with the goal of creating a new home for Folk Alliance International, a non- profit cultural organization presently based in Memphis, Tennessee... (Before jazz fans get too giddy, they should know that F.A.I. is, as its name suggests, an organization dedicated to folk music.) Here's the story in The Star. KCUR also covers the development.

*Hearne Christopher reports that Marilyn Maye will return to Jardine's August 25- September 2. A medical condition forced her to cancel her dates at the club in June.

*Hunter Long conducts a heady interview with Matt Leifer. Long also ponders tribute albums here.

*Credentials Hip Hop posted an interview with Hermon Mehari.

*KCJazzLark is disappointed by two area jazz establishments.

*Beau Bledsoe uploaded video of Bach Aria Soloists' Night of Tango concert. The February event is one of my favorite musical experiences of 2011.

*Plastic Sax readers aside, most Kansas Citians don't appreciate Bobby Watson's status as an international star. They might be surprised to learn that the saxophonist is a headliner at the forthcoming Guinness Jazz Festival in Cork, Ireland.

*Bobby Watson is featured in a new video documenting a performance at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz at Lincoln Center led by Matt Savage.

*Here's a set of photos from the recent A Vibe Called Def performance at The Blue Room.

*Kansas City-related artists were shut out of the 2011 DownBeat Critics Poll.

*The saga of John Coltrane's former home in Philadelphia will sound all too familiar to Kansas City jazz historians. (Tip via AZ.)

*Tweet o' the Week: KCJazzLark: 5 minutes until Ernie Andrews & Bobby Watson is scheduled to start & I'm one of 30 patrons in The Blue Room. Sad.

*Via Facebook, regarding the late Ahmad Alaadeen: To celebrate Alaadeen's birthday, there will be a book signing/release for "Dysfunctional" at the American Jazz Museum, 1616 East 18th Street in Kansas City, Missouri on July 23rd from 11:00 - 1:00. And then, the tribute for Alaadeen will be the next day at The View Community Center, 13500 Byars Road in Grandview. Najee will come in to play a couple of Alaadeen's originals. See you there. Fanny

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A local jazz blog extols the virtues of the People's Liberation Big Band.

*Eldar was featured by NPR. (Tip via KCJazzLark.)

*KCJazzLark shares compelling war stories from jazz's trenches.

*Nick Rowland is interviewed at the site of the Black House Improvisors' Collective.

*I just discovered a 2009 interview in which Jazz Wax's Marc Myers provided an update on the whereabouts of former Kansas Citian Ronnell Bright. (The segment begins at the 7:49 mark.)

*"... some differences of opinion" resulted in an organizational change within the Prairie Village Jazz Festival. (Via KCJazzLark.)

*A local television station covers an American Jazz Museum fundraising initiative.

*Here's a review of Diverse's Michael Jackson tribute at the Record Bar. The Star reviewed recent concerts by The Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Del McCoury, Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer, Jeff Beck and Terence Blanchard.

*Tweet o' the Week: beauzmuzik: Every time I start learning a new song from Guinga, it's like discovering a beautiful garden with little animals and flying babies.

*In a stringent bout of spring cleaning, I deleted dozens of defunct and dormant artist links. MySpace accounts without 2011 logins, for instance, have been eliminated. Several of Kansas City's most prominent jazz artists, consequently, are no longer listed in the column to the right. I implore these musicians to rectify the situation- not for Plastic Sax, but for the sakes of their careers and legacies.

*From the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra: With a jazz heritage that began decades ago in Leavenworth, KS, has touched nearly 200 movie soundtracks, and added to numerous studio recordings along the way, saxophonist Gary Foster returns to Kansas City on April 29 to join The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra in concert. Dubbed "Big Band Summit: The Master Returns," the limited seating performance is set for 8 p.m. at Unity Temple on the Plaza.

*From Brad Cox: The People's Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City celebrates International Workers Day, Sunday May 1 with an 8:00 pm performance at the RecordBar. The band will perform excerpts from its score for Battleship Potemkin (with video screening), selections from Threepenny Opera (arranged by Brad Cox and Jeffrey Ruckman) and present a lively musical debate on the subject of intellectual property and copyright law. Cover price at the door is $5. Here's an amusing PLBB plea for funding at Kickstarter.

(Original image of Logan Richardson in 2009 by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Snuff Jazz

Snuff Jazz will be joined by Brian Haas of the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey at the Record Bar on Sunday. Here's Plastic Sax's 2009 interview with Haas. While the embedded video captures a performance by "Snuff Flamenco" rather than Snuff Jazz, Plastic Sax readers will surely appreciate the opportunity to hear Mark Southerland play (relatively) straight. Besides, Beau Bledsoe's guitar work is impeccable and the visuals are rather enchanting.