Now's the Time: Carmell Jones

Carmell Jones was born in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1936.  He’s probably best known for his contribution to Horace Silver’s classic 1964 recording “Song for My Father”.  Locally based jazz enthusiasts regularly turn to Jones’ 1965 album Jay Hawk Talk.  Jones appears alongside Joe Henderson in Silver’s band in the embedded video.  The trumpeter died in 1996.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Dominique Sanders recently won the iStandard Producers Showcase for the Kansas City area.  Here’s a related interview.

*The Mutual Musicians Foundation has three special events planned in June.

*Thisiskc.com praised the Green Lady Lounge and Take Five Coffee + Bar. 

*The Pitch notes Saturday’s triple-bill at the Blue Room.

*Jaleel Shaw has been named as the artist in residence at the Charlie Parker Celebration in August.

*Johnny Hamil was interviewed by Nick Omiccioli.

*Bobby Watson promoted his gigs at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.

*Marc Myers highlights a new Carmell Jones reissue.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Stefon Harris.

*Tweet o’ the Week: NPR R&B- Now playing on I'll Take You There  ♬ Jay McShann - Blue Devil Jump ♬ (link)

*Comment o’ the Week: John Scott Fitness: Chained Lighting, Black Peter and OJT theme are my favorite tracks on OJT's album. Their next album will be all originals. I hope they put Brian Baggett's original composition Pickles on it. He wrote that for his then ex gf and future wife back when he was in high school. Always enjoy and appreciate your insight Plastic Sax. Thanks for doing it!

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: HoraceScope

Horace Silver died yesterday.  Two of the beloved musician's connections to Kansas City come immediately to mind.  The late trumpeter Carmell Jones, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, recorded with Silver on classic albums including Song For My Father.  In recent years, HoraceScope, a band led by Plastic Sax's 2013 Person of the Year Stan Kessler, has kept Silver's music alive in Kansas City.  HoraceScope performs a rendition of "The Outlaw" in the embedded clip.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*I suspect the future of jazz looks a lot like this- young, arty, government-subsidized and shared via Twitter.

*All About Jazz enthusiastically reviewed Sons of Brazil's While You Were Out.

*Steve Paul endorses Trio All.

*The sequel to the Metheny Music Foundation video "Pages From the Scrapbook" has been posted at YouTube. Additionally, Mike Metheny's hilarious essay on the noise level in area jazz clubs is once again available at his site.

*Kansas City-based writer Robert Folsom reviews reissues of albums by Freddie Hubbard, Art Tatum and other jazz greats at his new site.

*Drummer Al Foster, 65, plays Jardine's October 14-15.

*Carmell Jones is perhaps the most important "forgotten" Kansas City jazz musician. The trumpeter now has an entry at Jazz.com.

*The co-chair of KCRiverFest laments the absence of a 2009 Rhythm and Ribs event.

*Rick Hellman profiled artist Janet Kuemmerlein. He notes that she "has embarked upon a series of portraits of female jazz singers." The series includes the likenesses of Marilyn Maye, Karrin Allyson and Carol Comer.

*Joe Klopus previewed area appearances by drummer Allison Miller.

*John Brewer announces the release of a forthcoming recording project.

*I spotted this text at the Mutual Musicians Foundation's site: August 29: ...is the birthday of Charlie “Bird” Parker. That’s a Saturday and on that day at “The Foundation” there will be 5 special events: 1. MUSICIANS! At 10AM a photo will be taken of all Musicians on the front steps of the Foundation (you remember one was taken in 1999 so this will be a 10 year anniversary). 2. Friends of the Foundation! just after the Musicians photo another photo will be taken of any and all friends of the Foundation (all friends including musicians). 3. FLAGS OF FAME – On each light pole between 18th & 19th Streets on HIGHLAND, banners will be hung and each banner will depict one or two musicians who have been important to JaZZ in Kansas City 4. JAZZ on Stage (you know it will be good). 5. Historian Sonny Gibson bring displays and tell about the life of Charlie Parker. August 30 After the Sunday salute to “Bird” at the Cemetery, all are welcome to come to “The Foundation” for JAZZ and fried Chicken (no entry fee and free Chicken until it is gone).

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)