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.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*From a flyer provided by a friend: Welcome to the Gold Star Lounge, the "New Home for Metro K.C. Jazz". Our opening night will be May 5, 2012 at 7pm with Sons of Brasil opening our new Jazz Venue.  Please come and join us for our Happy Hour from 5:00pm to 6:30pm and our outstanding food selections on our newly created menu which will be offered from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  Suggested donation for show is $5.00. We will also be selling ticket at $35.00 per person for our Dinner Shows featuring such performances from the McFadden Brothers, Angela Hagenbach and so many more.  I've added the the shows listed on the flyer- including a Bob James gig on May 20- to The Kansas City Jazz Calendar.  Alas, the venue lacks a web site and Facebook account.  Here we go again.

*Hearts of Darkness has a Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds for its second album.

*Ashley Hirt is the subject of an excellent Black House Improvisors' Collective interview.

*The People's Liberation Big Band is admired by KCJazzLark.

*Here's more from the recent I Rock Jazz interview with Bobby Watson.

*Michael Shults is pictured and interviewed in the June edition of Downbeat magazine.

*A California-based publication interviews Deborah Brown.

*T.J. Martley and Bill McKemy go hard at a Barnes & Noble in Leawood.

*Pop star Kenny Loggins and songwriter Arthur Hamilton sat in with David Basse and Mark Pender at a recent gig in California.  Sue Vicory  
filmed the encounter.

*Hearne Christopher reports on activity in the space once occupied by Jardine's.

*Lisa Henry is quoted in a preview of Aretha Franklin's appearance at Helzberg Hall.

*Carmen Bradford discusses her initial encounter with Count Basie.

*Here's a track from the forthcoming Pat Metheny album.

*The Bob James Jazz Festival is Saturday, May 19, in Marshall, Missouri.

*Tweet o' the Week: Django McTunes- It is a little known fact that Chris Getz of the Kansas City Royals is the son of jazz legend Stan Getz. #FakeRoyalsFacts

*Comment o' the Week: Matt Leifer- Uhhh...I'm not one to defend politicians, but I believe that the bridge leads somewhere, specifically, the other side of Brush Creek. Since when is infrastructure a waste of money? Get a grip.

*From Stan Kessler: We are having a joyous celebration of the life of Bill Caldwell, May 20, 2pm at The Blue Room. This is for those of us who knew & loved Bill, but could not make it to the funeral… Here's the format: Short set of tunes recorded by Bill by host band-Me, Kerry Strayer, Everett Devan, Bob Bowman, Mike Warren, (Jerry Hahn?). Remarks & stories by friends & family. Jam session  Tunes from Bill's CD projects played intermittently throughout.  The idea is for this to be fun and light, as Bill would have wanted it. This will last about 2 hours. There will be his CDs for sale, and part of the proceeds go to his wife, Kim, to help defray funeral costs.

*From Michael Pagan: Kansas City Youth Jazz organizers have re-set their annual MASTERS OF JAZZ fundraiser for 6:30 PM on Sunday, June 10, 2012 in Room 19 of the Education Center on the Metropolitan Community College Penn Valley campus… The event will include dinner and music provided by the Abel Ramirez big band and KCYJ groups for listening and dancing. Tickets cost $75 per person. A Patrons’ Party/reception will take place at 6:00 PM for donations of $150 or more. Dance only tickets will be available for $20. All proceeds will benefit Kansas City Youth Jazz.

(Original image of the new Troost Avenue bridge by Plastic Sax.)

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.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Bill Caldwell has died. The saxophonist was 49.

*Steve Miller, a popular Kansas City bandleader for decades, has died. He was 84.

*"It's still a nightmare of monumental proportions," Hearne Christopher suggests in an update about Jardine's in which he implies that the local audience for jazz is "nowhere to be found in numbers greater than 20 to 50 - sometimes maybe 100 - on any given night." Christopher filed a second report here.

*The redevelopment of the Jazz District is examined by KCJazzLark.

*The Pitch interviews Candace Evans.

*Mark Lowrey broadcast last night's gig at the Czar Bar on his Ustream channel.

*Black House posts about Blue Label.

*Chris Robinson reviewed the SF Jazz Collective's concert in Lawrence.

*Bobby Watson's international tour schedule resumes this summer.

*Jon Faddis remembers Frank Foster. (Via KCJazzLark.)

*Tweet o' the Week: Todd Wilkinson: RIP Bill Caldwell. You were a good friend and great musician. I'll miss you very much.

*Plastic Sax comment o' the Week: Anonymous- Jazz in the woods huh? More like bullsh(*)t only old white men would like or afford.

*From the American Jazz Museum: The American Jazz Museum is pleased to announce its 2012 Musicians & Artists Pro-Symposium, an informal career and business development luncheon and workshop… Artists of all disciplines are invited to attend, at no cost, courtesy of US Bank. (The) event is Saturday, April 14th… (A) panel is comprised of an impressive array of artists and musicians, featuring: Maurice Brown (and) Logan Richardson.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Here's a little history of the St. Joseph Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival. The 2008 edition takes place this weekend.

*Sometime jazz cat Bill Caldwell made the cover of the Star in a very interesting story about the increasingly prevalent use of prerecorded music at Branson's theaters.

*"Will the 18th & Vine District Survive?" A pretty rough headline is attached to Marissa Cleaver's KSHB piece on Rhythm & Ribs.

*Tim Finn makes the rounds Saturday, including a stop at Rhythm & Ribs.

*A saxophone museum in St. Louis? I don't see any Graftons listed.

*Our friend Lee Ingalls laments the loss of Esbjorn Svensson.

*Alaadeen received a grant.

*The Plastic Sax staff continues to mourn the loss of Ed Fenner. Selfishly, we shed a new tear each time we check to see if the Jazz Ambassador's calendar is still blank.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)