Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Hermon Mehari was interviewed by Laura Spencer of KCUR.

*Eddie Moore appears on The People of 2020, a recording on which “40 composers from the NYC music community and around the globe, seeking a way to deeply speak about the times, collaborated to write and record an album... over a 14-day period.”  The project will be released on Friday, June 19.

*A politically-oriented arts site considers the cultural implications of Charlie Parker’s association with “Cherokee.”

*The Shawnee Mission Post reports on the cancellation of the Prairie Village Jazz Festival.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Deborah Brown and Tim Whitmer

*Vine Street Rumble will perform at a virtual version of the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in July.

*Tweet o’ the Week: The Folly Theater- Did you catch our Executive Director on @fox4kc this morning? Gale chatted with @markalfordkc about our reopening and upcoming concerts! (link)

*From The American Jazz Museum: The American Jazz Museum is excited to reopen on Tuesday, June 16th, 2020. Come celebrate the Jazz Experience again! We have taken careful precautions to keep our visitors, staff, and volunteers safe. Following the guidance from health agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, we have partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the KC Culture Cares group to welcome visitors back to the Museums at 18th & Vine. (Details are available here.)

*From a press release: Burnett Music Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $5,900 grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission. These funds will support the August 22, 2020 Bird Boot Camp that is also an official program of the annual Spotlight Charlie Parker festivities.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*As my note at The Kansas City Jazz Calendar indicates, Kansas City’s live music venues have been silenced.

*CJ Janovy created an audio feature about Logan Richardson for KCUR.

*I highlighted the careers of artists including Deborah Brown, Julia Lee, Marilyn Maye and Priscilla Bowman in an episode of 90.9 The Bridge’s Eight One Sixty program.

*Mike Herrera and Jim Lower discussed Kansas City’s jazz scene with Joe Dimino.

*The New York Times recommended Logan Richardson’s appearance at the Jazz Gallery.

*A devastating fire ravaged Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club.  The venue fostered the careers of musicians including Mike Dillon.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Mayor Quinton Lucas- Under the authority of Mayor Lucas’s State of Emergency proclamation, and per new @CDCgov guidance, no events or gatherings with 50 or more attendees will be allowed in Kansas City for the next eight weeks. #COVIDー19 #KCMO

*From the American Jazz Museum: In order to support Kansas City’s effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 the American Jazz Museum and The Blue Room jazz club will be closed temporarily, effective immediately.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The author of this site is once again manning The Kansas City Jazz Calendar.

*The Kansas City Star recommends Deborah Brown’s two Dexter Gordon-inspired concerts this weekend.  Maxine Gordon promoted the events on KCUR’s Up to Date.

*Michael Mackie crafted a profile of Candace Evans.

*Jeff Harshbarger informed Joe Dimino about the Purna Loka Ensemble.

*E.J. Becker narrates an audio feature about the American Jazz Museum’s children’s program.

*The American Jazz Museum’s Rashida Phillips appeared on Marcus Lewis’ Ask a Jazz Dude show.

*David Epstein of Tom’s Town Distilling Company laments the shortage of “balls-out, wild-ass jazz” performed in Kansas City clubs in an episode of the I Love This Town podcast.

*The Brandon Goldberg Trio will perform at the Folly Theater on September 26 in the 2020-21 season of the Harriman-Jewell Series.

*Newly uploaded footage of Brian Hanni’s introduction of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at a 2018 concert at the Lied Center isn’t cringey at all.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Green Lady Lounge- Kansas City jazz radio (ok David Basse @JazzBasse it's not actually radio) streaming online 24/7 --Green Lady Radio.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Deborah Brown spoke to Joe Dimino about her upcoming tributes to Dexter Gordon.

*Photographer Diallo French was interviewed by Tim Finn.

*Boney James returns to the Midland theater on September 11.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Pat Metheny- R.I.P. Lyle Mays (1953-2020) It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of our friend and brother, Lyle Mays (1953-2020). He passed today in Los Angeles after a long battle with a recurring illness, surrounded by loved ones.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Logan Richardson’s Blues People is the surprising but entirely worthy headliner of the 2018 edition of The Prairie Village Jazz Festival.  Molly Hammer, the Enormous Guitar Project, the Kessler-Embrey Conspiracy, Victor & Penny and Shawnee Mission East Blue Knights round out the lineup.

*As Plastic Sax first reported on May 2, the 2018-19 season of the Folly Jazz Series consists of concerts by Ramsey Lewis, Larry Carlton, the Yellowjackets, Kurt Elling, Joshua Redman and Arturo Sandoval.  The unnamed “mystery artist” at the venue’s site is Kandace Springs.

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated with July’s bookings

*Tweet o’ the Week: Terry Teachout- Bill Watrous, R.I.P. The first world-class jazzman with whom I ever played, he was a supreme virtuoso and a true artist. This performance dates from around the time he came to Kansas City and appeared with my college jazz band. It suggests his quality: (link).

*From a press release: The Charlie Parker Celebration returns and will celebrate its 5th anniversary… (O)ne of this year’s Artist-in-Residence is Lonnie McFadden, a singer, trumpeter and tap dancer… Joining McFadden as an Artist-in-Residence will be Grammy winner Tivon Pennicott. Both will participate in many of this year’s feature events and the jazz crawl (20+ performances at 14 jazz clubs or venues during the 10-day event)… Tickets will range from free to modestly priced.

*From a press release: Leaving for Europe on July 3, KU Jazz Ensemble I will perform at three of the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals: the 52nd Annual Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, 38th Annual Jazz A Vienne in France and 48th Annual Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. The group will also play in Italy at Scarperia Jazz Festival in Florence as well as performances at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music in Milan and shows in Stresa and Torino.  (Deborah) Brown will perform with the jazz ensemble throughout Europe.

*From a press release: Pat Metheny has been elected into the prestigious Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. The academy's purpose is to promote art music and musical life… (T)he 20-time GRAMMY® Award winner kicks off a 24-city European tour this week with Antonio Sanchez, Linda May Han Oh, and Gwilym Simcock, followed by a U.S. tour this fall.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Sam Zeff of KCUR reports on the latest twists and turns at the American Jazz Museum.

*The Kansas City Star’s Bill Turque assessed the City Council’s manuevering pertaining to the American Jazz Museum.

*A PBS panel discusses the American Jazz Museum at the 18:30 mark of the latest episode of Ruckus.

*The editorial board of The Kansas City Star infers that the ongoing turmoil surrounding the American Jazz Museum is a “distraction” that threatens to divert attention for citizen’s immediate needs.

*Michael Shults suggests that a “growing faction of ‘pretenders’ who wear fedoras and other ‘jazz hats’, make great looking gig flyers, and essentially act like a caricature of a JAZZ CAT on stage are gaining influence as well as an undue portion of the available gigs
in a provocative blog post.

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

*Deborah Brown and Joe Dimino chatted about the upcoming “Building Cultural Bridges Through Jazz” concert at the Gem Theater.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Kemet the Phantom- Pre-order my new single Fake It Till I Make It (feat. Kemet the Phantom & Hermon Mehari) by Marcus Lewis Big Band. Super honored to be a part of what I feel like will change the course of history.

*Comment o’ the Week: BGO- Thanks for linking the vintage interview with Jay McShann. I loved that man.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Laura Spencer of KCUR and Bill Turque of The Kansas City Star report on developments concerning the reorganization of the American Jazz Museum.  The editorial board of The Kansas City Star expresses displeasure with the latest news.

*A La Mode is featured in The Pitch.

*Jeff Shirley was interviewed by a representative of Johnson County Library.

*Deborah Brown, Bobby Watson, Sylswester Ostrowski and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will perform at a concert titled Building Cultural Bridges Through Jazz at the Gem Theater on May 31.

*Teddy Dibble recalls Sun Ra’s 1982 residency in Kansas City at the 12:50 mark of his vinyl-oriented video.

*An engaging interview with Jay McShann was recently made available.  (Tip via Marc Myers.)

*Dean Minderman examines Jazz St. Louis’ 2018-19 bookings.  Highlights include the Bad Plus, Lonnie Smith and Chucho Valdes.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Holly Forsman- Donated a rare Charlie Parker album of 78s to the Kansas City Jazz Museum. Didn't want them to wind up in a garage sale when I died. They kindly made me CDS as a thank you.

*Comment o’ the Week: BGO- Cheptoo is now history with The American Jazz Museum. Perhaps she'll come crawling back here to the library.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner of the American Jazz Museum, vocalist Deborah Brown and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra are featured in a Polish publication.

*Kansas City drummer Jerry Pollock was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

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

*A television reporter informs viewers of today’s legislative meeting regarding the direction of the beleaguered American Jazz Museum.

*Tweet o’ the Week: American Jazz Museum- OTD in 1953, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach made history by recording the live jazz album, The Quintet-Jazz at Massey Hall, in Toronto. Stop by AJM to pay tribute to Charlie Parker’s Grafton saxophone played on this historic day!

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Business Journal reports on an initiative intended to make the Jazz District more accommodating to new businesses.

*Joe Klopus interviewed members of the Hot Sardines in a preview of the band’s March 9 concert at the Folly Theater.

*The Kansas City Star follows up on the Zhou Brothers investment in the Jazz District.

*Sharon Valleau informed Plastic Sax that “Carol Comer is scheduled to be honored at the Blue Room on Monday, March 12th.”

*High school student Evan Kappelman was named a member of the Bands of America National Jazz Band.

*Jerry McEvoy lobbies for new jazz venues in the Jazz District in a letter published by The Kansas City Star.

*Jon Batiste’s March 9 concert at the Madrid Theatre has been canceled due to “scheduling issues.”

*Tweet o’ the Week: KC Library- The next listening party with @KCJazzOrch is March 12 at Central Library. (link).

*Comment o’ the Week: Christopher Burnett- Hear, hear! I must be slipping (to slightly relentless...) because I missed this post entirely.

*From a press release: Special guests Clay Jenkins and Gilbert Castellanos will headline the KU School of Music’s 41st Jazz Festival held on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3. The festival will include evening concerts on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas Union… Following the evening concerts, the music continues with After Hours Jazz Sessions hosted by the Matt Otto Quintet and featuring special guests.

*From a press release: Women have always played and continue to play a significant role in developing Jazz music… The American Jazz Museum takes pride in shining the light for their tremendous contributions to the music by paying tribute through the presentation, Women in Jazz 2018. Also, it honors them by collecting items that chronicle their lives and careers the Women in Jazz Collection... Women in Jazz 2018 will present performances in the Blue Room featuring local, regional, and national female artists. All month long, musicians will present innovative performances and selections that showcase the contributions of women to the jazz genre. Sunday, March 18th at 4:00 pm we will present a concert Women in Jazz 2018: Woman’s World featuring Deborah Brown, Marlene Rosenberg, Pam Watson, and Argarita Palavicini.

*From a press release: The American Jazz Museum together with Kansas City’s own renowned Jazz artist Deborah Brown is launching an initiative to showcase Kansas City Jazz and artists Internationally… Jazz from Kansas City with Love: The Cradle of Swing and Bebop promotes and showcases Kansas City… We are thrilled to announce that Jazz from Kansas City with Love will launch in Szczecin, Poland at the Szczecin Jazz 2018 Festival... The Festival takes place the first week of March with performances by Deborah Brown and Hermon Mehari on March 5… These artists will also be performing in other jazz clubs across Poland and Germany throughout the week.

*From a press release: “Women in Jazz” will be featured in two free events at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) on Wednesday, March 28: 12 p.m. – Carolyn Glenn-Brewer will give an illustrated talk on the history of women in jazz. 5:30 p.m. – The documentary film “The Girls in the Band” will be shown.  Both events will be held in the CoLab, room 100, located in the OCB building on JCCC’s Campus.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Marilyn Maye was featured in an eight-minute segment on CBS Sunday Morning.

*A travel writer for The New York Times noted Kansas City’s “City of Music” designation by UNESCO .

*Deborah Brown chatted with Steve Kraske on Up to Date.  Jessie Riggins reviewed Brown’s concert at Polsky Theatre.

*Jon Batiste, the musician caught up in the American Jazz Museum’s $18,000 flight scandal, will perform at the Madrid Theatre on March 9.

*Ben Allison, Jeremy Pelt, Steve Cardenas and Allan Mednard will perform at the 1900 Building on April 7.

*Lonnie McFadden was featured on KCUR’s Up to Date.

*A blogger ponders George Gershwin’s 1934 appearance in Kansas City.  (Via Tony’s Kansas City.)

*William Hughes, a longtime member of the Count Basie Orchestra, died earlier this month.

*Marc Myers saluted the Basie-ites.

*Tweet o’ the Week: UMKC Conservatory- We’re down at the historic #Gem, celebrating jazz, dance, and #JosephineBaker! #dance #UMKCDance @UMKansasCity @americanjazzkc (photo)

*From a press release: Logan Richardson returns to Kansas City for his fourth studio album… Blues People.  Recorded in Omaha and mixed in KC, the album features local musicians Ryan Lee on drums, DeAndre Manning on bass, Justus West on guitar, and the Berlin based, Ukrainian guitar player Igor Osypov.  Blues People begins with an assault on the senses – heavy guitar sets the tone... If you were hoping for a nice Jazz lounge evening sipping brandy, you are immediately informed that this will not be the case.  The album will be released March 2 on Ropeadope.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A promotional video for KC Jazz Alive suggests that “Kansas City is on its way to becoming the next major music city in America and retaking its title as jazz capital of the world.”

*Joe Klopus previewed Marcus Roberts’ concert at the Folly Theater.  Steve Kraske interviewed the pianist.

*Deborah Brown and Matt Otto were featured in an hour-long episode of KCUR’s Up to Date titled “From Kansas City And Beyond, The Best Music Of 2017”.

*Tweet o’ the Week: St. Louis Jazz Notes- St. Louis jazz pianist Nathan Jatcko has been missing since late Thursday night. Family is asking anyone with info on his whereabouts to contact St. Louis city PD: (link)

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A frank discussion of the problematic Kansas City Jazz & Heritage Festival and praise for Marcus Lewis’ Bad and Boujee project were included in a ”The Year in Arts” episode of KCUR’s Central Standard program.

*Deborah Brown spoke to Joe Dimino about the passing of Kevin Mahogany.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Californos- Jim Lower Jazz Orchestra featuring David Basse on vocals - tonight at @Californos Saloon for Jazz Nebula every Tuesday 7pm-10pm!

*From a press release: Lori Tucker is a versatile vocalist whose expressive voice crosses the spectrum of Soul, R&B, Jazz, Blues & Gospel and is a member of the legendary vocal group The Wild Women of Kansas City.  Tom DeMasters is one of KC’s premiere guitar players… 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2018, performing with Tim Whitmer & The Consort Band, Unity Temple on the Plaza, $7.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Star and KCUR reported on the death of Kevin Mahogany.

*The 2018 edition of the Jazz in the Woods festival has been canceled.  Event organizers blame the setback on “funding restrictions.”

*Stan Kessler was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*The Kansas City Star provides footage of a “Merry Bassmass” event at the Black Dolphin.

*Michael Pagán, the Music Department Chair at Ottawa University, discusses the institution’s “All-Steinway” designation.

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s annual holiday concert was previewed in KCUR’s Band of the Week segment.

*Mike Corrigan created a crowd-funding campaign to acquire John Jackson’s saxophone.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Marcus Lewis- Who said Jazz is Dead? #mlbb #brassandboujee

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- Good choice. John Scott has done so much to invigorate the scene... and despite what some cynics will say, it's not all B3!

*From a press release: World-traveled vocalist Deborah Brown will be the Jan. 28 featured artist as part of the Carlsen Center Presents series at Johnson County Community College… Brown has recorded 16 CD’s under her own name...  Performing with her in Polsky Theatre are… Rod Fleeman, guitar; Joe Cartwright, piano; Ben Leifer, bass; and Michael Warren, drums.

(Original image of the Hermon Mehari Quintet performing at Polsky Theatre on Sunday by Plastic Sax.)

Plastic Sax’s Favorite Albums and Performances of 2017

Favorite Albums by Kansas City Based Artists
1. Matt Otto and Ensemble Ibérica- Ibérica (Plastic Sax review)
2. Bobby Watson- Made in America (Plastic Sax review)
3. Hermon Mehari- Bleu (Plastic Sax review)
4. Dino Massa's Kansas City Quintet- Echoes of Europe (review at KCUR)
5. Julian Vaughn- Bona Fide
6. Matt Otto and Andy Ehling- Reunion (Plastic Sax review)
7. Deborah Brown- Kansas City, Here I Come
8. Steve Lambert- Seven Stories (Plastic Sax review)
9. The Matt Cook Collective- Along Those Lines (Plastic Sax review)
10. The Sextet- Blob Castle (Plastic Sax review)

Favorite Albums By Artists From Elsewhere
1. Miguel Zenón- Típico
2. Aruán Ortiz- Cub(an)ism
3. Yelena Eckemoff- Blooming Tall Phlox
4. Rob Luft- Riser
5. Rudresh Mahanthappa and the Indo-Pak Coalition- Agrima
6. Avishai Cohen- Cross My Palm With Silver
7. Tigran Hamasyan- An Ancient Observer
8. Kamasi Washington- Harmony of Difference
9. Ron Miles- I Am a Man
10. Various- The Passion of Charlie Parker (Plastic Sax review)

Favorite Performances by Kansas City Based Artists
1. Marilyn Maye- Quality Hill Playhouse (Plastic Sax review)
2. Matt Otto Trio with Anthony Wilson and Shay Estes- Blue Room
3. Alaturka- Polsky Theatre (Plastic Sax review)
4. Owen/Cox Dance Group and the People’s Liberation Big Band- Polsky Theatre (Plastic Sax review)
5. Gerald Spaits’ Sax & Violins- Westport Coffeehouse
6. The Project H- Black Dolphin
7. Eddie Moore, Dominique Sanders and Zach Morrow- Plaza Art Fair
8. Nate Nall Sextet- Homer’s Coffee House
9. Blair Bryant- The Kansas City Jazz & Heritage Festival
10. Stan Kessler Quartet- Black Dolphin

Favorite Performances by Artists From Elsewhere
1. Donny McCaslin- Folly Theater (Plastic Sax review)
2. Brian Blade Fellowship- Gem Theater
3. Danilo Pérez’s “Jazz 100”- Yardley Hall (Plastic Sax review)
4. Thundercat- Granada (Plastic Sax review)
5. Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison- Gem Theater (Plastic Sax review)
6. Ramsey Lewis- Gem Theater (review at The Kansas City Star)
7. Greg Tardy Trio- Blue Room (review at The Kansas City Star)
8. Flying Lotus- Midland (Plastic Sax review)
9. John Scofield- Kansas City Jazz & Heritage Festival (review at The Kansas City Star)
10. Victor Wooten Trio- Madrid Theatre (Plastic Sax review)

Plastic Sax conducted similar exercises in 2016 (albums and performances), 2015, 2014 (albums and performances), 2013 (albums and performances), 2012, 2011 and 2010.

(Original image of Thundercat at the Granada by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Dean Hampton, a prominent booster of Kansas City's jazz scene, has died.  Hampton founded the now-defunct Webjazz site and was a crucial advocate of the annual Charlie Parker gravesite memorial.

*The Kansas City Star reports on plans for Open Spaces 2018: A Kansas City Arts Experience, a 2018 festival intended to “show Kansas City ‘as both the cradle of modern jazz and the present day site of unprecedented technological innovation.’”

*Danny Embrey’s 1988 album Dues Blues has been reissued.

*The Count Basie Orchestra is nominated for a Grammy Award for its contribution to a track on Clint Holmes’ latest album.

*Deborah Brown was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*JazzTimes published a review of Bobby Watson’s Made in America album.

*Matt Otto’s 2016 album Soliloquy was reviewed for All About Jazz.

*Tweet o’ the Week: American Jazz Museum- Each year, we invest in 1,745 musicians, we provide over 40 local businesses opportunities through First Fridays, and have a $1.2million dollar economic impact in the city of @KCMO. Now is YOUR chance to have an impact. Visit https://buff.ly/2n88PwI  today. #GivingTuesday #Jazz

*From a press release: Kansas City’s own Jazz violinist, Marvin Gruenbaum, is known for his diverse musical and technical skills coupled with an electrifying flare for improvisation and captivating musical interaction. A classically trained violinist and violist, he’s been a member of the Kansas City Symphony since 1982. Performing with Tim Whitmer & The Consort Band. 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 6. $7.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Spring Fever

Bobby Watson and Deborah Brown, the King and Queen of Kansas City's jazz scene, are dropping new albums.

Watson’s Made In America, slated to be issued by Smoke Sessions Records on April 21, is billed as "a musical portrait gallery of nine influential African-Americans."  The saxophonist is accompanied by pianist Stephen Scott, bassist Curtis Lundy, and drummer Lewis Nash on the thematic recording.

Brown’s Kansas City, Here I Come, a project recorded last year in Poland with a string section and guest vocalist Kevin Mahogany, is apparently out now.  The American album release show is at the Blue Room on March 11. 

These two albums, along with the recent release of Matt Otto’s Reunion and the Dino Massa Kansas City Quintet’s Echoes of Europe, reflect the ongoing artistic vitality of the area’s jazz community.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Pat Metheny and Bobby Watson are among the jazz musicians who will perform at the White House on April 29.

*Deborah Brown’s most recent appearance at the Blue Room was documented by KC Jazz Lark.

*An audio component has been added to KCUR’s review of Matt Otto’s Soliloquy.

*The University of Kansas Jazz Ensemble I will perform in the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York on April 12.  Directed by Dan Gailey, the students bill be joined by Kansas City based musicians including Deborah Brown, Matt Otto, Danny Embrey, Jeff Harshbarger and Brandon Draper.  The program will be reprised at the Lied Center in Lawrence on Sunday, April 24.

*Joe Klopus previewed concerts featuring Branford Marsalis and Christian McBride.  The Pitch also recommends McBride’s appearance.

*Matt Otto was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*Mike Dillon's Functioning Broke, an album that "finds Dillon alone on vibraphone, mallet instruments and various percussion," will be released on April 29 by Royal Potato Family.

*A critic for The New York Times panned the Apollo Theater debut of the opera "Charlie Parker's Yardbird."

*The lineup of the 2016 edition of the Iowa City Jazz Festival includes the Vijay Iyer Trio and the Edmar Castaneda Trio.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Champian Fulton- Amazing & inspiring visit to the @americanjazzkc & negro league baseball museum. #JazzAppreciationMonth (photo with Charlie Parker’s plastic sax at the American Jazz Museum)

*From Jo Ann Daugherty: On Saturday April 16, KC’s own legendary jazz bass man, Bob Bowman, will be celebrating his 63rd birthday with a night of music at The Art Factory.  Joining him are special guests Chicago-based pianist Jo Ann Daugherty and drummer Ryan Bennett, both with strong musical KC roots.  This group of sympatico players rejoins forces after a stirring performance at the 18th & Vine Festival in this past October.

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

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Star reports that a coalition of non-profit organizations in the Jazz District are requesting $7 million in additional funding from the city.

*KC Jazz Lark looks back at 2015.

*Rich Wheeler is quoted in an article about the closing of the current incarnation of the RecordBar.

*Hermon Mehari will lead a band at Noce Jazz Cabaret, new jazz club in Des Moines, on January 7.

*Tweet o’ the Week: St. Louis Jazz Notes- Updated today w/ 18 more lists! - Rounding up the "Best Jazz of 2015" lists: (link)

*Comment o’ the Week: KC Jazz Lark- Wow. Sure didn't see this coming. Thank you. And let me note that putting Joe Lovano with her group was all Deborah's brilliance. The festival just gave her the opportunity to do so.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra

The unseemly exodus that occurred during Joe Lovano’s performance with headliner Deborah Brown at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival last year is unlikely to be repeated on Saturday, September 12.  The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and the McFadden Brothers- the event’s co-headliners- are proven audience pleasers.  The Prairie Village Post published a festival ”primer”.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Steve Paul considers Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s latest proposals for the Jazz District.

*The Columbia Daily Tribune published a feature about the quartet of Bobby Watson, Keith Brown, Ray Drummond and Marvin “Smitty” Smith.

*The Pitch endorses the new album by OJT.

*KC Jazz Lark considers the relationship between his blog and his new role at a jazz publication.

*Chris Burnett promotes ARC Label Week in a Tumblr post.

*David Basse was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Kevin Collison- Blue flame, blue Room #KC! Bobby Watson. (photo)

*Comment o’ the Week: Dean Minderman- Thanks for the link to StLJN, though it would seem that anyone who doesn't already have tickets for Robert Glasper is out of luck, as all four shows are sold to capacity and then some. With two local guys (Mark Colenburg and Keyon Harrold) on the gig, I guess that's not a big surprise, though.

*From a press release: The University of Kansas will celebrate the beginning of an era with an eight-concert series celebrating the renovation of Swarthout Recital Hall, the primary performance venue for the KU School of Music… Visiting Artist Series: Deborah Brown, vocalist with KU Jazz Combo I, under the direction of Matt Otto, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1 – free and open to the public… “Celebrating the reopening of Swarthout Recital Hall is one of the most exciting events in our history,” said Robert Walzel, KU School of Music dean. “The series of concerts celebrating our beautiful state-of-the-art facility allows us to show off exceptional musical talent in the most extraordinary small concert venue in America’s Heartland.”

*From a press release: Kansas City Jazz Legend Stan Kessler is not only a gifted performer but also wears the many hats of trumpet/flugelhorn instructor, bandleader, clinician, writer/arranger and educator. He performs, and leads, in numerous ensembles including the long-running Sons of Brasil, The Stan Kessler Quartet, Stan Kessler’s TV, HoraceScope, The Uncertainty Principle, Parallax, Mistra Fina and Passport…. with Tim Whitmer & The Consort Band, Wednesday, May 6, 2015, Unity Temple on the Plaza, $7.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)