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.)

Charlie Parker's Grave Situation

Fans, journalists and family members gathered around Charlie Parker's grave in Lincoln Cemetery Sunday afternoon for a memorial service. Parker would have been 87 years old on Wednesday.

The highlight of the ceremony was a spirited round of "Now's the Time." Amateur enthusiasts joined some of Kansas City's most notable musicians. It was nice.

The 150 people at the service are more than I've seen at the last six or seven jazz shows I've attended. Combined. Parker merits remembering, of course. But living jazz musicians have a hard time drawing enough fans to carry a casket. Perhaps that's one reason Parker left Kansas City in the first place.





















While I was pleased by the presence of New Orleans-style brass band Dirty Force, a few people were put off by their sloppy and irreverent performance after the formal service ended. "Are they supposed to sound this bad?" a crank complained.
















For his part, Parker probably would have asked everyone to play a little longer and quite a bit louder.

(All images by Plastic Sax, 8/26/07)