Album Review: David Basse- The Hero and the Lover…

 When David Basse was known as the singing drummer in the City Light Orchestra in the late 1980s, it seemed as if the good times would never end.  Kansas City had over a dozen dedicated jazz venues and Basse's band was capable of filling all of them. 

The audience for jazz has since dwindled dramatically.  While Basse is still one of the the best known musicians in the Kansas City area, he's no longer a mainstay on the calendars of the handful of remaining jazz venues. 

The Hero and the Lover…, Basse's latest release, reflects this drastic transformation.  The themes of resiliance and hard-won endurance inform most tracks.  Selections including "Easy the Hard Way" , "That's Life," "Sixteen Tons" and "Vacation From the Blues" reinforce the motif of dogged perseverance. 

Backed by saxophonist Stacy Dillard, pianist Richard Johnson, bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Neil Smith, Basse sounds like Mose Allison's favorite son.  The Hero and the Lover… won't restore Kansas City's jazz scene to its former glories, but it's one of Basse's best albums.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Ahmad Alaadeen, 1934-2010

Kansas City jazz saxophonist Ahmad Alaadeen died Sunday. He was 76. Here's the notice in The Star.

I have yet to see any mention of his work with The City Light Orchestra, so I'll start there. I included the band's 1984 release Raised Spirits in my listing of "The Ten Best Kansas City Jazz Recordings". The selection was partly sentimental. When I moved to Kansas City's Waldo neighborhood in the 1980s, the group was serving as the house band at City Light Restaurant. Alaadeen, one of the group's elder members, was the primary draw for me. I've been a fan ever since.

I shot the embedded video at the annual Charlie Parker gravesite service at Lincoln Cemetery in 2008. Alaadden is wearing a white hat and dark suit. Here's the best performance video online. This interview footage is also wonderful.

In my review for of Alaadeen's final public performance in April, I wrote "The saxophonist was also presented with the museum's Lifetime Achievement Award. His heartfelt acceptance speech was touching, but Alaadeen was even more eloquent during his stirring solo on "Full Moon At Midnight." The effort reminded the audience of about 200 of Alaadeen's lyrical gift. (The Star review is no longer online.)

Of the in-print Alaadeen albums I've heard, the post-Coltrane sound of New Africa Suite most appeals to me.

Alaadden has, of course, been referenced dozens of times at Plastic Sax. Here's a compilation of mentions at this site.

Elsewhere:

*Joel Francis eulogizes Alaadeen.

*Andrew Zender shared his thoughts on Alaadeen's passing.

*Here's The Pitch's notice. The publication also took pictures at a May 1 tribute to Alaadden at Salaam Cafe.

*Here's Alaadeen's Wikipedia entry.

*Details on this morning's service are here.

UPDATES:
*Here's a set of KCUR features on Alaadeen.

*Chris Burnett writes about his relationship with Alaadeen.

*The Star provides photographs of Tuesday's memorial jam session at the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

*Gerald Dunn and Dennis Winslett spoke with Steve Kraske about Alaadeen on Tuesday. Their discussion is available as a podcast.

*A television station provides a bit of footage shot at Tuesday's memorial jam session.

*KCUR offers a remembrance.

*An examination of Alaadeen's musical legacy is published by The Star.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*She's big in France. Dee Dee Bridgewater, who goes all Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf in this video, will perform with a ten-piece band October 13 at the Gem Theater.

*Lee Ingalls interviews Eldar here. Lee also recorded a compelling conversation with Alaadeen about the saxophonist's new album.

*UMKC's student newspaper dared to highlight the school's jazz program. (Link via Tony's Kansas City)

*Joe Klopus' interview with Greg Abate is here.

*The American Jazz Museum's Dennis Winslett and Greg Carroll get a little ink for their efforts in jazz education here.

*Reminder: The City Light Orchestra reunites for a jazz brunch Sunday, October 14, at the Athenaeum.

*An advertisement for "Johnson County's Premier Jazz Event" recently began appearing in the Star. It states that Joe Cartwright and Roger Wilder will appear Sunday afternoon at the Overland Park Marriott. I've asked the contact person for further details and I'll provide an update when I receive a response.

Update- Russell Simmons, the event's organizer, responded to Plastic Sax with the following information about Sunday's 4 p.m. concert:
*Seating capacity is limited to 300. It's table seating in the hotel's ballroom.
*Smoking is not allowed. Two cash bars are available.
*Tickets are $20, and can be obtained at the Marriott or directly from Simmons (913/226-8401). Simmons recommends the latter option.
*"I see this as an opportunity to present the best KC jazz to Johnson County," Simmons said via email.  "I believe there is substantial interest in live jazz music in Jo Co.  However, people can't/won't always go downtown. We'll determine what we do regarding future events based upon the response we get to our offer."

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*The City Light Orchestra, arguably the most successful Kansas City-based jazz group of the last quarter century, will reunite for a "KC Jazz Brunch" Sunday, October 14, at the Athenaeum, 900 East Linwood. Alaadeen, David Basse, Joe Cartwright, Jason Goudeau, Jack Lightfoot, Chris Burnett, Will Matthews and Tyrone Clark are scheduled to participate.

*Our friend Lee gets busy with jazz on KCUR, commentary and notes on Kansas City artists.

*The Star's Steve Paul wrote a front-page feature about Megan Birdsall's ailment.

*Tim Finn conducted an interesting interview with Karrin Allyson. Stop by the bank on your way to her show tonight- tickets to the benefit are $175.

*Joe Klopus' weekly column focused on organist Melvin Rhyne.

*Steve Penn offers final thoughts on the American Jazz Museum's anniversary celebration.

*The Village Voice reports on an infiltration in New York of "a tribe of KC bohemians" including Plastic Sax faves Dirty Force.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)