Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A seven-song set and a six-minute interview recorded during Louis Armstrong’s 1957 visit to Lawrence, Kansas, have been unearthed.  The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the material will air on KANU on Saturday.  (Tip via Plastic Sax reader Phil F.)

*KC Jazz Lark documented Saturday’s Art Blakey tribute at Take Five Coffee + Bar.

*Jeff Harshbarger and Hunter Long will receive $10,000 grants from the Charlotte Street Foundation.

*The Kansas City Star reports that the American Jazz Museum will receive a $427,000 appropriation from the city this year, $65,000 less than it received last year but $60,000 more than the $125,000 cut initially proposed in the new city budget.

*Jason Jackson was featured in Joe Klopus’ column for The Kansas City Star.  The Pitch also notes the trombonist’s appearances. 

*The world premiere of the new opera ”Charlie Parker’s Yardbird” will take place in Philadelphia on June 5.

*Pat Metheny will serve as the artist-in-residence at the Detroit Jazz Festival in September.  Here’s the festival’s schedule.

*The Matt Otto Quartet and the People’s Liberation Big Band will perform at the Wichita Jazz Festival later this month.

*Benny Heckman is among Joe Dimino’s latest interview subjects.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Dave Douglas- @sunthekevin @HappyInBag Raspberry zone! Unfortunately we were all in range of the joke. We winced. BTW He only told it once, never again.

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- Let's do the math. About 25 people attended that NYC gig with a metro area of around 20 million. The KC metro area is about 2.3 million. Hmmm. Several times I've been one out of 5-6 patrons at "outside jazz" gigs in KC. Oh crap... I hope this doesn't start another "jazz is dead" rant ;)

*From the Green Lady Lounge: Wed: Adam Schlozman's Earth Trio 7:30 to 8:30 - Adam begins his every weds 1 hour gig working on all original compositions for a new album - Adam Schlozman, Joel Stratton, John Kizilarmut. OJT 9 to mid - New Album release date April 22nd - Next album will concentrate on original compositions from all three members of OJT - Ken Lovern, Brian Baggett, Kevin Frazee. Thurs: Kevin Frazee Trio 9 to mid - Matt Hopper (Matt Hopper... has completed recording most of a studio album concentrating on his original compositions with Kevin and Ken), Kevin Frazee and Ken Lovern… Fri: Tim Whitmer Quart 5:30 to 8:30 - Tim Whitmer, Ray DeMarchi, Taygun Ozakinci, Todd Wilkinson.  Electric Tinks 8:30 to 10 (Orion Room) - This is Peter Schlamb's Quartet or Quintet depending on night, focusing on playing music from his 2014 Tinks Album - Peter Schlamb, Hermon Mehari, Karl McComas Riechl, Ryan Lee, etc... band will vary but it's every 1st Friday 8:30 to 10pm in our Orion Room through the rest of 2015... except with Paul Shinn Trio is in town.   Chris Hazelton's Boogaloo 7​ 10pm to 1:30am - Boogaloo7 is back the 1st 4 Fridays of every month through the rest of 2015 (Mark Lowrey Trio has 5th Fridays)…  Boogaloo7's newest 45 record will release in May of 2015...  I'm happy to say he's going to record a live at Green Lady album sometime this summer or fall... Sat: Brett Jackson Quart 6 to 9…. OJT 9:30pm to 1:30am.

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

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*From Eddie Moore: We the musicians of the Kansas City jazz scene both members and non members of the Mutual Musicians Foundation (MMF) are issuing a boycott of this organization. Over the years the MMF has blatantly disrespected the musicians community at large along with the failure to follow the structure of the By- Laws. Their actions have gone unanswered and this will not be tolerated any longer. On February 19th an official meeting was called where only one board member was present (secretary), the organization as a whole refused to meet with us and open their doors to help resolve this matter.  We are asking that ALL Patrons of the arts and musicians to stop supporting this organization and their functions until this issue is resolved out of respect to the musicians who give their talents and knowledge to the historic organization.  For more information email: moorepiano1@gmail.com

*KC Jazz Lark pays tribute to the ailing Everette DeVan.

*The latest installment of the Hermon Mehari video series featured at Plastic Sax on February 17 is a duet with Andrew Ouellette on "If I Were a Bell."

*The Robert Glasper Experiment will perform with Ledesi at the Midland theater on May 13.

*The Pitch reports on Everette DeVan's health issues.

*Hunter Long was interviewed by Calli Parker.

*Here's a new episode of 12th Street Jump's "Blues In the News".

*Tweet o' the Week: - Oh the Bill- Everette DeVan Benefit - TapDance: (video)

*Comment o' the Week: Sam- I'm gigging and can't be there tonight, but the Horizon show (with this exact lineup) at the Blue Room about ten years ago is still one of my favorite performances ever. The place was buzzing before, during and after.

*From a press release: The University of Kansas School of Music proudly presents the 37th Annual KU Jazz Festival concerts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 in Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas Union. This year’s concerts feature special guest artists Jaleel Shaw, saxophone (March 7) and Dave Douglas, trumpet (March 8). Both concert events are open to the public… Both Shaw and Douglas will be featured on new arrangements of their compositions written for the occasion by KU Jazz Studies students and faculty, including works by 2013 DownBeat Student Music Award winners David von Kampen and Clint Ashlock…. Following the main stage concerts at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union, the music will continue with the KU Jazz Festival After Hours Jazz Sessions, held at the All Seasons Den at The Oread Hotel, from 10:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. both evenings. These jazz sessions will feature performances by the Matt Otto Quartet.

*From Rob Scheps: Drummers- There is a great opportunity coming. New York drummer Eliot Zigmund will do a clinic in KC..... On Sunday April 6,  from 2 pm - 4:30 pm, The Rob Scheps/ Eliot Zigmund 4tet (with Roger Wilder & Bob Bowman), will do a concert/ clinic in Kansas City. The venue is being confirmed and will be announced  soon.  But the date and time are firm.. The 4tet will play; Eliot will speak about his career and the drums; and those who wish will get to play with the band, and can receive advice and critique from Eliot.... a jazz master class situation.

*From a press release: Award-winning Canadian vocalist and pianist Laila Biali will be gracing the stage at the American Jazz Museum on March 1… Described as “an exciting and unique talent” by Sting, Laila is a genre-bending performer known for intertwining pop, rock, classical, soul, and jazz into truly remarkable arrangements… Kicking off in Kansas City, she is joined by vibraphonist Greg Carroll, the CEO of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City as well as an award-winning jazz performer and educator!

(Original image of a monitor at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*An "Everette DeVan Jazz Benefit" will be held Monday, February 24, at Broadway Jazz Club.  Dionne Jeroue initiated a related fundraising campaign on behalf of the ailing organist.

*Kevin Whitehead reviewed Frank Wess' posthumous Magic 201 for NPR's "Fresh Air."

*Hunter Long of Black House Collective is interviewed by Drew Williams of the Wing Walker Music podcast.

*The first night of January's Jazz Winterlude festival is documented in photos by KC Jazz Lark.

*Bobby Watson was interviewed in advance of his appearance at the Portland Jazz Festival.

*The National Portrait Gallery suggests that Lester Young was the first "cool" American.

*Guitarist Brian Baggett created an infomercial for his instructional DVD.

*T.J. Martley created a video transcription of a Herbie Hancock solo.

*Magnet offers an MP3 of a track from the Mike Dillon Band's forthcoming album.

*The Kansas City Star published a story about the Marr Sound Archives.

*Dean Minderman of St. Louis Jazz Notes recognizes the passing of Richard McDonnell, the founder of the MaxJazz label.

*Tweet o' the Week: Green Lady Lounge- Mon Feb 24th we'll be closed 2 better focus the KC "Jazz Love-Laser" on Everette DeVan's benefit party ~ 7pm-1am Broadway Jazz Cub.

*Comment o' the Week: Cb- Genius. One of my personal favorite. musicians. ever.

*From Tim Whitmer: Community Christian Church... is pleased to host the inaugural presentation of the very first Big Band Boogie Bash, with Tim Whitmer presenting the one and only Vine Street Rumble Jazz Orchestra, as they honor the legacy of Kansas City’s “Golden Era” of world renowned Jazz, on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at 4:00 p.m.  The Vine Street Rumble performs exclusively the same exciting music that made Kansas City “the” place to be in the 1930’s, 40’s and beyond… Tickets are $10 (prior to the concert), $15 (at the door)...

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: The Black House Quartet

A recently completed opera project offered further evidence that the Black House Collective is one of Kansas City's most multifarious ensembles.  Four musicians affiliated with the collective- saxophonist Hunter Long, guitarist Jeff Stocks, bassist Andrew Stinson and drummer Matt Leifer- will return to their foundation in forward-thinking jazz on Saturday, May 25, at Take Five Coffee + Bar.