Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra created a social isolation rendition of the Clint Ashlock composition “Solitary Confinement.”

*2019 Fellows, an album recorded under the auspices of Kansas City Area Youth Jazz, is available on Bandcamp.

*The 2020-21 season at The Lied Center includes concerts by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Sherman Irby and Charenée Wade.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Ryan Anselmi, Brett Jackson and Eddie Moore.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Clint Ashlock- I play Black American Music. I wouldn’t have the career and life I have if it weren’t for great black Americans. To say I condemn racism doesn’t seem significant, but I do, and I’m trying to educate myself, figure out how best to make things better from my small part of the world

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Plastic Sax has learned that Leon Brady will step down from his role as Musical Director of Kansas City Youth Jazz. Clarence Smith will fill that position as Brady remains active in the organization. Additionally, the highly-respected institution is relocating from Kansas City, Kansas, to Penn Valley Community College across the state line. Here's a clip of Brady at work.

*Karrin Allyson's 'Round Midnight album was released May 3.

*What's with the wacky embedded photo? Hearne Christopher elaborates on a recent makeover at Jardine's Gentlemen's Club Restaurant and Jazz Club.

*Herbie Hancock will perform a solo piano recital at the Lied Center on October 30. The venue's new season also includes an appearance by the SFJazz Collective on March 14, 2012.

*Krystle Warren! Brad Cox is among the familiar faces in the video. (Video tip via Sam Wisman.)

*KCJazzLark documents a jazz education program at the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

*KCPT features 12th Street Jump on "The Local Show."

*The Bob James Festival is May 21 is Marshall, Missouri.

*The Abel Ramirez Big Band's weekly gigs are in a new location. The band now appears at Finnigan's Hall (the location that once housed the legendary Gold Buffet.)

*A television station covered a stamp-related event at the American Jazz Museum. The Star also offers a story.

*T.K. Blue discusses his "Latin Bird" project in a video feature.

*Les Izmore and Hermon Mehari collaborate in a compelling video.

*The Star reviewed Friday's performance of Gary Foster with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

“Bobby (Watson) made his band his family and friends. That’s what you have to do if you want to get on the bandstand and play some real music with these cats. I learned a lot about leading a band from Bobby,” Orrin Evans tells Jazz Times.

*The Los Angeles Times reports that the late actress Yvette Vickers "was born Yvette Vedder on Aug. 26, 1928, in Kansas City, Mo., to jazz musicians Charles and Iola Vedder."

*Sir Threadius Mongus posted another new video.

*Here's a solicitation from the Black House Improvisors' Collective.

*Tweet o' the Week: clintashlock: How are there 7 trombone players at Harlings but we can't find a tenor player anywhere? #tpcomn

*Before someone calls me out on it, I'll acknowledge now that a relevant announcement about a new addition to my bag of tricks will be disclosed in this space after the contracts are signed.

(Original image of the remodeled stairs at Jardine's by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Ruth Rhoden, co-host of KCUR's Just Jazz show for 23 years, has died. Here's her obituary. This video captures much of her sensibility.

*From Alaadeen's (public) Facebook account on July 11: Greetings to all of our friends and loved ones. Some of you may know that Alaadeen has been engaged in a major battle with cancer for the last few months. We are asking you to join in thru prayer and and by sending all of the positive energy and love you have to help honor his fight. Alaadeen has shared that he still has work to do! We will keep you posted. Peace.

*Hermon Mehari placed second in the jazz improvisation competition of the International Trumpet Guild. His misspelled name is on the list of winners here. Mehari is pictured with the other finalists on page 9 of a PDF. (Tip and text courtesy of KCJazzLark.)

*Greg Carroll of the American Jazz Museum was interviewed by KMBC.

*Here's the schedule for January's Jazz Winterlude.

*CrossCurrent is featured by KCJazzLark.

*Former Canadian Jim Mair will lead the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra in a performance of Benny Carter's "Kansas City Suite."

*Tim Finn composed an excellent review of Saturday's Hearts of Darkness concert. The Pitch posted pictures.

*The Pitch reviewed Mark Lowrey's tribute to Radiohead.

*Mike Malaker of Mixed Method is interviewed by Ink.

*An item in The Kansas City Business Journal suggests that jazz acts occasionally perform in a downtown clothing boutique.

*Here's a promotional video of sorts for an outfit called The Kansas City Jazz Machine.

*A set of Dave Stephens-related photos is provided by KC Dance. (Tip via Tony's Kansas City.)

*A lavish 16-page brochure for the 2010-11 season of Jazz St. Louis hit my mailbox today. Here's a partial list of artists appearing east of Kansas City: Kenny Barron with Mulgrew Miller, Regina Carter, Stanley Clarke, The Jazz Crusaders featuring Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder and jazz-artist-of-the-moment Chris Potter.

*While poking around at the American Jazz Museum's site I discovered that discounted tickets to the forthcoming Rhythm & Ribs Festival are on sale now.

*From Chris Ellman: The newly established Kansas City School of Indian Arts would like to invite you to our first event in August. Sandip Burman, an established Indian Classical Musician will be offering two Master Classes on Tabla, Sitar, and Voice. I've attended several of Mr. Burman's Master Classes; this is a wonderful opportunity to discover how Indian Classical Music can integrate with Western Music. All musicians are welcome. Space is limited; reserve your seat soon. Specific date/time to follow. For details regarding location, date/time, and cost, please contact Chris Ellman at chris@kcschoolofindianarts.org or (913) 568-8415.

*From a press release: Jardine’s Restaurant,Kansas City’s preeminent jazz venue, will be jumping to the sounds of The Wild Women of Jazz, along with special guests Chris Burnett (saxophone), Stan Kessler (trumpet), Jason Goudeau (trombone), Greg Richtor (keyboards) and others as they host a very special benefit concert in support of Kansas City Youth Jazz.

*From Chris Burnett: Just wanted to let you know that the KC Youth Jazz Program's Reno Band (Mr. Brady's top group) and the 12:30 Combo that I direct will be performing at the Kansas Bandmasters Convention in Wichita next Friday. I think this is pretty cool, particularly for the young kids that I teach there... Learning how to improvise is what the 12:30 Combo is about.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Clark Terry

I trust that the fine educators at the Kansas City Youth Jazz project have made certain that their students have witnessed this vintage Clark Terry video. Now a vigorous 87-years-old, the trumpeter is the very definition of an elder statesman. Still, the kids need to be reminded that the legend they'll perform with Sunday was once a prank-loving young man. Terry's solo begins at 2:20.