Now's the Time: Eboni Fondren

The tradition-minded vocalist Eboni Fondren will perform in Johnson County Community College’s Winterlude series at Polsky Theatre on Sunday, January 19.  She'll be backed by pianist Joe Cartwright, bassist Seth Lee and drummer John Kizilarmut.

Now's the Time: Charles Williams

The elegant pianist Charles Williams accompanies Eboni Fondren at the Phoenix on Thursday, May 23.  Williams will lead a trio at Eddie V's on the second, third and fourth Sundays in June.  Plastic Sax reviewed Williams' fine 2018 album Flavors of Jazz.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*An editorial published by The Kansas City Star suggested that tthe American Jazz Museum’s financial travails are a “mighty embarrassment.”  The slow drip of bad news is documented by The Kansas City Star and KCUR.

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra has announced its 2017-18 season.

*Joe Klopus unveiled the Folly Theater’s forthcoming season in his latest column.

*Eboni Fondren’s contribution to the Fringe Festival was reviewed by Anthony Rodgers.

*Clint Ashlock was featured in an article about full-time musicians.

*Marc Myers unearthed an obscure 1959 album by the Kansas City trombonist Arch Martin.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Bill Brownlee- Bird’s complicated relationship with Kansas City is examined on “The Passion of Charlie Parker.” My album review

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- Thanks to Bobby Watson for a cool listening list. I loved reading his comments about why he liked these artists.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The People’s Liberation Big Band’s final show at the current incarnation of the RecordBar attracted the biggest crowd I’ve encountered for the ensemble at the venue.  KC Jazz Lark documented the show.

*Joe Klopus previews the week’s events in his latest column.

*Jessie Riggins reviewed the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s most recent concert at Helzberg Hall.

*Eboni Fondren is among Joe Dimino recent interview subjects.

*Tweet o’ the Week: DalTee- Check Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle "@PLATINUMVOICEPR: What happened to jazz’s popularity in the black community?

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- Congratulations to Tim Whitmer. His concert series Spirituality and all that Jazz has run the first Wednesday of the month since 1994. Several hundred people attend every month. The audience may be dying off but numbers have remained consistent for 21 plus years. His Jazz Carol Fest and July Jazz Jam concert productions are consistently well attended and feature many musicians.

*From Lisa Engelken: It's all sort of sudden, but I was delighted when I was requested to perform at MOODS- an art gallery and performance space that is brand spankin' new, and is the hottest new addition to Northern Topeka (NOTO)'s Art District! This will be my first concert in Topeka-- and it's so close to where I grew up!  The Lisa Engelken Quartet in concert featuring: Joe Schoonover (gtr), Kurt Morrow (bass) & David Liston (drums). Saturday, December 19th! Two Sets: 8pm & 9:15pm. $10 in advance (highly recommended) / $15 at door.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Eboni Fondren

Eboni Fondren, one of Kansas City's finest jazz and pop vocalists, sang with the Salina Symphony in 2012.  She brought down the house with a rendition of Etta James' "At Last."  Fondren performs Friday, November 14, at Broadway Jazz Club and Sunday, November 16, at a jazz brunch at Chaz.

Now's the Time: Everette DeVan

I didn't give much thought to the man with a video camera at last week's Crosscurrents performance. It's not uncommon to see someone filming jazz musicians in area clubs. Very rarely, however, is the documentation uploaded to sites like Vimeo and YouTube. So this footage of Eboni Fondren, Matt Hopper and Everette DeVan at the Phoenix is most welcome. Watch the generous man's footage of Crosscurrent here and here. DeVan performs at The Phoenix every Tuesday in September.