Album Review: Brian Scarborough- Sunflower Song

I began tracking the steady ascent of Brian Scarborough even before I snapped the embedded photo of the young Kansas City trombonist at Homer’s Coffee Shop in 2017.  I’ve impatiently anticipated the release of his debut album since catching an astounding performance by Scarborough’s band at recordBar last year.  Released August 7, Sunflower Song is worth the wait.

Not only does the uncommonly elegant album showcase Scarborough’s talents as a trombonist and bandleader, Sunflower Song is an essential document of the artful component of Kansas City’s jazz scene.  In recruiting four of Kansas City’s most notable musicians- tenor saxophonist Matt Otto, guitarist Adam Schlozman, bassist Jeff Harshbarger and drummer Brian Steever- Scarborough is responsible for giving the rest of the world an opportunity to hear the magnificent sounds a small cadre of locally based fans of improvised music have enjoyed in recent years.  

Rather than dominating the nine tracks, Scarborough allows his bandmates equal footing.  The democratic collaboration pays homage to the cool West Coast jazz of the 1950s, an approach allowing Scarborough to honor the adventurous spirit of Bob Brookmeyer.  The late Kansas City native is Scarborough’s most obvious reference point.  The sound may be based on a venerable tradition, but there’s nothing stale about Sunflower Song.  

Serene on the surface, the album is deceptively subversive.  Otto invokes the underappreciated Jimmy Giuffre while Schlozman’s thorny solos reveal the influence of Thelonious Monk.  The stutter-step rhythms of “City Lights” highlight the synchronicity between Harshbarger and Steever.  Scarborough exhibits none of the youthful aggression you’d expect to hear on the debut album of a rising star.  

Immanuel Wilkins’ very fine Omega, the most prominent jazz album released August 7, is characterized by brash solos and innovative production tricks.  That’s clearly not Scarborough’s style.  Yet his reserved sensibility produced one of the most consequential acoustic jazz albums made entirely by Kansas City musicians in recent years.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Jeff Harshbarger and Johnny Hamil’s treacherous trip to Paris is documented by KCUR.

*Candace Evans is featured in Johnson County Lifestyle magazine.

*Joe Dimino interviewed A La Mode, B.J. Jansen and Jackie Myers.

*A graphic novel will depict Charlie Parker’s stint in California.  (Via St. Louis Jazz Notes.)

*Tweet o’ the Week: The Folly Theater- We're ecstatic to announce our involvement in Charlie Parker's 100th birthday celebration with Charlie "Bird" Parker 100! with Dan Thomas and the Kansas City All Star Band and almost 20 special guests! Tickets are available Friday!

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Wynton Marsalis chatted with Steve Kraske about Rock Chalk Suite on KCUR’s Up To Date.

*Brandon McCray died from a coronavirus-related illness.  The saxophonist was 52.

*Brian Scarborough’s debut album will be released August 7.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Chris Burnett, Jeff Harshbarger and Matt Kane.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Green Lady Lounge- Steve Cardenas - RR (Composer: Steve Cardenas) #Jazz #NowPlaying #KansasCityJazz Green Lady Radio

(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.)

Concert Review: Tatsuya Nakatani at the Ship

For a recital featuring a manic percussionist who blows into cymbals and mercilessly batters small instruments, Tatsuya Nakatani’s appearance at the 1900 Building in April was a remarkably formal affair.  (Plastic Sax review.)

Tucked into a corner of the West Bottoms speakeasy the Ship with keyboardist Shawn E. Hansen, steel guitarist Mike Stover and bassist Jeff Harshbarger, Nakatani gave a pleasingly casual performance with an entirely different sound on Wednesday, October 9.

Saxophonist Assif Tsahar accentuated Nakatani’s sharp edges at the 1900 Building six months ago, but the Kansas City based musicians situated the percussionist’s enormous bag of improvisational tricks in a luxurious bed of hypnotic grooves.  Hansen added surgical slashes of melody, Stover contributed spooky drones and Harbarger provided a vigorous rhythmic pulse. 

What could have been a self-indulgent mess was instead
an exercise in spellbinding minimalism.  I was obligated to leave 45 minutes into the opening jam but I’d like to think the otherworldly quartet didn’t let up for another two hours.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: The Brian Scarborough Quintet at RecordBar

Brian Scarborough has arrived.  Once a precocious boy wonder brimming with potential, the trombonist, composer and bandleader proved that he’s joined the ranks of Kansas City’s elite jazz musicians at RecordBar on Sunday, August 18. 

Scarborough possessed the assurance and advanced conception of a musician twice his age as he led a stellar quintet consisting of saxophonist Matt Otto, guitarist Adam Schlozman, bassist Jeff Harshbarger and drummer Brian Steever in a performance of original material.

I wasn’t surprised when he told the dozen people who paid the $5 cover to catch the first set that he’d been listening to Albert Mangelsdorff.  While decidedly thornier than his previous playing, Scarborough’s slightly left-of-center attack wouldn’t have caused conservative devotees of Bob Brookmeyer or J.J. Johnson to squirm.

Focusing solely on Scarborough would be imprudent.  Otto remains the best soloist in town not named Bobby Watson.  And the group’s sophisticated comping was frequently as intriguing as the individual solos.  Scarborough’s rapid evolution suggests that I’m likely to encounter a much different musician the next time I catch him.  I can hardly wait.

(Original image of Adam Scholzman, Brian Scarborough, Matt Otto and Brian Steever by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Ralph Caro, the Interim Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum, shared his plans for the institution with The Kansas City Star.

*Jeff Harshbarger chatted with Tim Finn and Jon Hart on 90.9 The Bridge.

*Warren Vaché and Jeff Hamilton are among the featured artists in the 2019-20 season of the Topeka Jazz Concert Series.

*Joe Dimino documented a performance by Stan Kessler, Kathleen Holeman and Sam Copeland.

*Howard Reich of The Chicago Tribune reports that the 65th annual Charlie Parker tribute at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago will feature appearances by Gary Bartz and Ira Sullivan.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Tony’s Kansas City- Critics Claim Outgoing Councilman Jermaine Reed Clings To American Jazz Museum Leadership Whilst Many 3rd District Insiders Demand Traveling Music & His Departure From Influence On Future Operations: (link)

*From Chris Burnett: The Charlie Parker Student Music Boot Camp is a jazz immersion program for middle school and high school students with at least one year of music experience. Spend the day learning about jazz music, improvisation, and the music and genius of Charlie "Yardbird" Parker from the Kansas City music scene's top musical talents! We will close the camp with a mini-concert performance.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Kerry Politzer

Kerry Politzer, an exemplary representative of Portland’s thriving jazz scene, will perform at Black Dolphin at Wednesday, March 6, and Thursday, March 7.  She’ll be joined by saxophonist David Valdez, bassist Jeff Harshbarger and drummer Anthony Pinciotti.  All of March’s gigs are posted at The Kansas City Jazz Calendar.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Jeff Harshbarger’s presentation for GuildIT streams at YouTube.

*The headline of a KCUR feature- “How Robert Altman's 'Kansas City' Helped Revive The Jazz District”- is provocative.

*Brandon Draper was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Rudy Harper- AT SIX: A portion of the old Mardi Gras building in KC’s Jazz District collapsed while renovations were underway. I’ll have a live report on @KCTV5

*From a press release: The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University–Newark recently acquired the full collection of late great jazz icon, William J. “Count” Basie Jr… The collection, which features nearly 1,000 artifacts, including Count Basie’s pianos, Hammond organ, photos, correspondence, concert programs, business records and press clippings, will become available to the public in the near future.

*From a press release: After focusing on his vocals for the past decade, David Basse has returned to the drums, his first and primary instrument. David has teamed up with multi-instrumentalist and producer Greg Richter and bassist Joe Straws to create The David Basse Trio… This past Thanksgiving the trio picked up a Nebraska Music Hall of Fame award.

*From a press release: Founded as a premier student jazz opportunity for students in grades 9-12, the philosophy of the KC Area Youth Jazz organization is to develop selected jazz repertoire for refined performance opportunities… The organization has strategically teamed with BRC Audio Productions and its owner, Bill Crain.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Chris Neville at Black Dolphin

Five of the seven musicians in the embedded video filmed 23 years ago have died.  Only pianist Chris Neville and saxophonist Plas Johnson survive.  The Boston based Neville performs at Black Dolphin on Monday, May 14.  He’ll be accompanied by bassist Jeff Harshbarger and drummer Todd Strait.  The Kansas City Jazz Calendar lists 68 gigs between today and Neville’s outing.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Anne Kniggendorf of KCUR interviewed Brad Cox and Jeff Harshbarger in a preview of the People’s Liberation Big Band’s performance on Saturday, May 11.

*Doug Ramsey recommends Todd Strait’s new album There’ll Be Some Changes Made.

*Chuck Haddix considers the woes of the American Jazz Museum.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Phil Schaap- I get asked about the young musicians a lot and it’s possible that I diminish their propers by always pointing out that what’s desperately needed is young listeners  … and lots of them.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Tatsuya Nakatani

The experimental percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani will make a racket at the 1900 building on Sunday, December 17.  The embedded video indicates that he doesn’t require accompaniment, but Shawn Hansen, Mike Stover and Jeff Harshbarger will be on hand should Nakatani need any assistance.

Concert Review: Alaturka at Polsky Theatre

Tenor saxophonist Rich Wheeler opened Alaturka’s concert at Polsky Theatre on Sunday with an incantation that resembled an adhan, the Islamic call to worship.  His conjuring was an exceedingly welcome sound to adherents of the Kansas City based Turkish jazz group.

Alaturka commanded an inordinate amount of coverage at Plastic Sax in the first half of this decade.  Yet the innovative band has been out of commission lately.  Aside from a mention in a review of a 2016 Brandon Draper album, Alaturka hasn’t been cited at this site in a couple years.  About 100 people purchased $20 tickets to attend Sunday's reunion. 

Wheeler’s playing evoked Pharoah Sanders by way of Joe Henderson.  Beau Bledsoe wielded a Turkish oud with his customary fastidiousness.  Bassist Jeff Harshbarger contributed a smoky pulse that contrasted with Brandon Draper’s peripatetic percussion.  The addition of violinist Zsolt Eder on a few intriguing selections transformed Alaturka into a chamber music group. 

Bledsoe joked that he and his colleagues no longer resemble the men in the dated publicity photo on the cover of the program.  Their visages may have changed since the formation of the band in 2007, but the men in Alaturka sound as magnificent as ever.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

 *Mike Warren reviewed A La Mode’s new album C’est Si Bon for KCUR.

*Jeff Harshbarger, Hermon Mehari and Dominique Sanders contributed year-end top music lists to The Kansas City Star.

*The Dino Massa Kansas City Quintet’s Echoes of Europe was released on January 2.

*Bob Bowman now has a proper website. 

*Dean Minderman compiled a thorough collection of ”Best Jazz of 2016” lists.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Matt Hopper- My trio has moved to Monday's at @GreenLadyLounge 6-10pm. New year & new tunes!

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Plastic Sax's Favorite Performances of 2016

Favorite Performances by Kansas City Artists
1. Marilyn Maye- Quality Hill Playhouse
2. Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- Tank Room
3. Logan Richardson- Blue Room (Plastic Sax review)
4. Matt Otto Septet- Blue Room (Plastic Sax review)
5. Matt Villinger- Orion Room at the Green Lady Lounge
6. Karrin Allyson- Folly Theater
7. Gerald Spaits’ Sax & Violins- Westport CoffeeHouse (Plastic Sax review)
8. Jorge Arana Trio- Mills Record Company
9. Hermon Mehari Quartet- Polsky Theatre (Plastic Sax review)
10. Mark Southerland, Annie Ellicott, Jeff Harshbarger and John Kizilarmut- Californos

Favorite Performances by Artists From Elsewhere
1. Tortoise- Granada
2. Christian McBride Trio- Folly Theater
3. Pablo Ziegler’s Quartet for New Tango- Polsky Theatre (Plastic Sax review)
4. Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom- Blue Room
5. Roy Ayers- Blue Room
6. Candido- American Jazz Museum (Plastic Sax review)
7. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra- Midland theater
8. The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman- Gem Theater
9. Bill Frisell- Atkins Auditorium
10. Béla Fleck & the Flecktones- Muriel Kauffman Theatre

Plastic Sax conducted similar surveys in 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A broadcast-quality ten-minute video documents Mike “The Horn Doctor” Corrigan adding flashy design elements to Delfeayo Marsalis’ trombone.

*Joe Klopus perused the week’s jazz calendar for The Kansas City Star.

*The Brookside Jazz Festival will be held at ChristCommunity on Saturday, October 15th, from 5 p.m to 8:30pm.  Four sets of artists- Ryan Lee's Mezzo Strings (5 p.m.), Lisa Henry (6 p.m.), the Jazz Disciples (7 p.m.) and John Brewer's new New Orleans-style brass band the Common Good Brass Band (8 p.m. and between sets)- will perform at the free event.

*Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle’s album release show was previewed on KCUR last week.

*Jeff Harshbarger’s Alternative Jazz Series will resume at the new location of RecordBar with Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle on Sunday, Oct. 16.

*Krin Gabbard will discuss his book Better Git It in Your Soul: An Interpretive Biography of Charles Mingus at the American Jazz Museum on Thursday, Oct. 6.

*The online auction/estate sale of a local jazz collector contains many items of interest to Plastic Sax readers.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Eldar- I wrote a piece in October 2016 issue of @DownBeatMag (the woodshed section). The article covers some song tutorials as well as exercises. (image)

*Comment o’ the Week: John Scott- I sincerely and unreservedly apologize for my comments in the recent article about Kansas City music. I regret making the comments that have led to insult, hurt feelings and division especially between musicians. May you be artistically fulfilled, gainfully employed and have the opportunity for your art to be heard in your careers as musicians. Thank you all for the opportunities I've had to hear your work and again I regret and apologize for my comments.  Thank you, John Scott

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The man behind Plastic Sax reviewed Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle’s Kings & Queens for KCUR.

*C.J. Janovy of KCUR took the Charlie Parker Historical Tour on Saturday.  Here’s her report.

*The annual Charlie Parker tribute at Lincoln Cemetery was documented by The Kansas City Star.

*Soul Jazz Fridays, the new live album by Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7, will be released in November.

*Jeff Harshbarger, Matt Otto and Brian Steever participated in a Ghost Notes session for KCUR.

*Marilyn Maye, the cabaret star who will headline the Prairie Village Jazz Festival next week,  received a rave review for a recent performance in New York City.

*The Pitch recommends Steve Lambert’s gig at the Blue Room.

*The Pitch reports that brewers of the Green Room have crafted a new Charlie Parker-themed beer.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Steve Paul- Charlie Parker's daughter, Kim, speaks at 21-sax salute by his grave at Lincoln Cemetery, #kc #jazz (photo)

*Comment o’ the Week: Ed- I was in KC this weekend and caught "parts" of the first set by Peter Schlamb at the Blue Room. I say "parts" because I was surrounded by the noisiest, most inattentive audience to which I've ever been subjected. Outside of the half dozen tables closest to the stage and some of the people along the railing, no one could shut up long enough to hear anything. Most of my jazz listening in the past decades have occurred in St. Louis and Columbia and I can assure you this kind of noise would earn you an invitation to quiet down or leave. I should add that this talk was not of the "participatory" variety of response and encouragement but standard bar babble. What a shame. I wonder if a high cover would make the experience more valuable to these smucks.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: Matt Otto Septet at the Blue Room

A friend suggested that Kansas City’s jazz scene is in the midst of the summer doldrums during the set break of Matt Otto’s album release show for Soliloquy at the Blue Room last Thursday.  While I didn’t disagree with him, I should have countered that the magnificent performance by Otto’s septet should satiate the members of the audience of about 50 for a few weeks.

My detailed review and audio commentary about Soliloquy are posted here.  Rather than repeat my lavish praise, I’ll share a few additional insights gleaned during the gig that featured the contributions of Gerald Dunn, Shay Estes, Jeff Stocks, T.J. Martley, Jeff Harshbarger and Mike Warren.

*The performance affirmed the strength of Soliloquy’s compositions and arrangements.

*Estes’ wordless vocals and Dunn’s alto sax tone were occasionally indistinguishable from each other.  It’s a nifty trick.

*Relegated to a supporting role on the album, guitarist Stocks’ more prominent playing on Thursday was welcome.

*Otto brings out the best in Dunn.

*The undervalued pianist Martley and drummer Warren make a formidable tandem.

*One of my kids sampled this festival in Vienna last week, but the superlative quality of Thursday’s free show partly validates my decision to remain in Kansas City.

(Original images by Plastic Sax.)

Fabricating a Festival

The transmutation of Jazz in the Woods into SoJo Summerfest is a disheartening blow to the jazz community.  Details about the 2016 editions of the one-day events The Prairie Village Jazz Festival and The 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival are still under wraps.

Neglected jazz aficionados in Kansas City have been provided with plenty of reasons to eye the ambitious lineups of  large-scale, multi-day festivals in Chicago, Detroit and Iowa City.

Kansas Citians needn’t succumb to wanderlust.  With careful planning and a willingness to bar-hop, it’s possible to fashion makeshift jazz festivals.  That’s what I did on the opening night of Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest.   The four-day music portion of the festival has an indie-rock orientation, but I managed to catch three engaging left-of-center jazz sets on Wednesday.

The Jorge Arana Trio evoked the abrasive electric jazz associated with the late Sonny Sharrock at Mills Record Company.  The quartet of vocalist Annie Ellicott, the modified instrument master Mark Southerland, bassist Jeff Harshbarger and drummer John Kizilarmut veered between conventional jazz standards and wild flights of fancy at Californos.  Backed by elite musicians including keyboardist Brad Cox and guitarist Beau Bledsoe, the former Kansas City resident Krystle Warren performed a compelling blend of folk, gospel and jazz at the same venue. 

Devotees of small jazz ensembles could make a full night of sampling the offerings at the cocktail lounges of restaurants including The American, Cafe Trio, Chaz and Sullivan’s.  People who prefer not to drive could partake of the miniature festival that transpires at Green Lady Lounge every weekend.

Still not satisfied?  The three-day festival in the jazz capital of Iowa City features performances by bands led by heavy hitters including Edmar Castaneda, Vijay Iyer, Allison Miller, Poncho Sanchez and Miguel Zenón.  I may see you there.

(Original image of Krystle Warren and Brad Cox by Plastic Sax.)

Now’s the Time: The Brian Scarborough Quintet

I raved about the Brian Scarborough Quintet’s outing at Westport CoffeeHouse last month.  A band led by the young trombonist returns to the listening room on Wednesday, January 20.  The ensemble will include Matt Otto and Jeff Harshbarger, elite musicians who are featured alongside Scarborough in the embedded video.