Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*KCUR published a detailed examination of a new collection of 58 previously unreleased Charlie Parker recordings. 

*The Kansas City Business Journal and The Kansas City Star report on the $7 million compromise on additional funding for the Jazz District.

*The late Bob Brookmeyer, Pat Metheny, the Count Basie Orchestra, Logan Richardson, Bobby Watson, the late Kerry Strayer, Kevin Mahogany, Karrin Allyson and blues artist Danielle Nicole are among the Kansas City musicians nominated in the current Reader's Poll conducted by Downbeat magazine.

*Brandon Draper has released a live session from 2010 that features saxophonist Rich Wheeler, trombonist Kevin Cerovich, vibraphonist Peter Schlamb and basist Craig Akin.

*The Pitch recommends Kyle Turner’s appearance at the Blue Room.

*Marc Myers of JazzWax uncovers compelling Charlie Parker ephemera.

*Kansas City area resident and jazz enthusiast Teddy Dibble maintains the excellent music appreciation video channel eat.sleep.vinyl.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Legacy Recordings- MILES AHEAD, directed by & starring @DonCheadle, is out today on Blu-Ray, DVD, & digital!

*From a press release: David Basse and a seven piece band headed by pianist Joe Cartwright will perform at the one and only Blue Room in the Jazz District. Celebrate Kansas City’s legendary jazz and blues heritage and the release of Live at Pilgrim Chapel, the group's latest release. The band includes saxophonist Stephen Martin, trumpeter Nate Nall, trombonist Jason Goudeau, Seth Lee on bass, and drummer Taylor Babb. 8:30 p.m. Friday, August 5.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The late Kerry Strayer took 19th place in the category of best baritone saxophonist in the 2015 Downbeat Critic’s Poll.  Also of note: Pat Metheny came in fifth in the guitarist category.  Kevin Mahogany was voted the 15th best male vocalist.  Karrin Allyson was named the 13th best female vocalist.  Other musicians with Kansas City connections appeared in the Rising Star subsection: the People’s Liberation Big Band (big band, 21st place) Eldar Djangirov (piano, 20th place), Chris Hazelton (organist, 19th place), Mike Dillon (vibraphone, 20th place).  Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Charlie Parker-inspired Bird Calls took Album of the Year.

*Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle’s Live In Kansas City album is available now.

*The AM Trio’s As of Now album has an official release date of June 30.

*KCUR published a detailed review of Dominique Sanders’ A True Story Based On…

*Joe Klopus runs down the week’s top jazz events in his latest column.

*Chris Burnett interviewed Marcus Hampton.

*”Kansas City’s oldest, most successful and least respected jazz festival" is examined by KC Jazz Lark.  He documented a portion of Saturday’s concerts at Jazz in the Woods.

*A television station produced a report on the Mutual Musicians Foundation’s plans for a radio station.  The station also aired a feature about KC Jazz Tours.

*KCUR reports on the 2nd Annual American Jazz Walk of Fame induction ceremony.

*ARC Label Week at the Blue Room will feature “two 90-minute concerts” on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday next week. 

*Richie Pratt is memorialized by Chris Burnett.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Wendy Peffercorn- so basically I plan on spending my Saturday afternoon hunting down @MickJagger in Kansas City. First stop, American Jazz Museum.

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous - I hope your lukewarm review of the OJT CD doesn't discourage people from going to the Green Lady to support this great trio. Their live sets are much more adventurous than the CD. It's always a blast. I liked the line in Roger Atkinson's review of this CD (in a recent JAM magazine) where he mentions that hearing the OJT theme at the GL makes him want to grab another drink and stay for the next set. I can relate to that!

*From a press release: Bram Wijnands with Tim Whitmer & The Consort Band at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1.  $7. Bram Wijnands began playing piano at an early age in Eindhoven, the Netherlands... In July 1991, Bram made his debut on the KC Jazz scene at the City Light Jazz Club with Kansas City’s own Richard Ross.

*From Lisa Engelken: This Saturday is the celebration: the CD Release with a live debut of Little Warrior at Take Five Coffee + Bar: Saturday, June 27th… The Band: Kansas City's finest:  Roger Wilder on piano and Gerald Spaits on bass will be joining SF (by way of UK) drummer Matthew Swindells and myself.

(Original image of the salsa band 5ta Eskina busking in Santiago, Chile, last week by Plastic Sax.)

The Top Jazz-Related Stories and Trends of 2013

1.
Bird Lives. 
Two new biographies of Charlie Parker- Chuck Haddix's Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker and Stanley Crouch's Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker- offered new insights into Kansas City's most famous son.

2.
On Broadway.
The recent opening of Broadway Jazz Club- a venue dedicated to mainstream Kansas City jazz- is enormously encouraging.

3,
Clubbed.
The maturation of the Green Lady Lounge into a popular establishment for jazz fans and upscale drinkers alike has been very satisfying.  And Take Five Coffee + Bar is now firmly established as one of the area's elite listening rooms.  The Kill Devil Club, however, shifted away from a jazz format.  Jazz has become a niche offering at the Phoenix.  The West Chase Grille closed this year while JJ's literally blew up.

4.
Mentor.
Kansas City became a lesser place when Kerry Strayer died on August 1.  He was an extraordinary baritone saxophonist, bandleader, teacher, and all-around great guy.

5.
Mired in minor festivals.
In a June editorial, KC Jazz Lark suggested that Kansas City is "mired in minor festivals."  He's right.  The Prairie Village Jazz Festival, the 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival, the Corporate Woods Jazz Festival and Jazz Winterlude are terrific, but none is a "major" jazz-oriented festival. 

6.
Art jazz.
Commercially problematic but artistically fruitful aspects of jazz were explored at this year's Black Lab: A New Music Festival and monthly at the RecordBar and Grunauer.

7.
Struggling.
Atypical flareups of violence and a challenging business environment bedeviled the Jazz District in 2013.

8.
Series sustenance.
Every time I go to a poorly attended concert by a renowned artist in the Jammin' at the Gem and the Folly Jazz series, I consider it a small miracle that the programs continue in spite of the lack of support.  I'm very grateful for the organizers' perseverance. 

9.
Kids.
When Aryana Nemati served as a last-minute sub in Harry Connick's band at a concert at the Midland theater, she floored the star with a sterling solo.  Anyone familiar with the high quality of the artists who've honed their skills at the UMKC Conservatory in recent years wasn't surprised.  Nemati is just one of dozens of remarkable young players in Kansas City.

10.
Secret Story.
It seems silly to suggest that a man who won his twentieth Grammy Award this year is under-appreciated, but Pat Metheny still doesn't receive the respect he deserves from "serious" jazz listeners.  His 2013 releases Tap: The Book of Angels, Vol. 20 and The Orchestrion Project are extraordinary.

I conducted similar exercises in 2012 and 2011.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*George Duke, the headliner of the forthcoming 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival, died Monday.  From the American Jazz Museum: The American Jazz Museum Staff and Board of Directors send deepest sympathies to the family and friends during this time of enormous loss. Mr. Duke was slated to be our headliner for Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival on October 12. With the advent of this news, our festival management team is in the process of adjusting our 2013 talent lineup accordingly. A festival talent line up update will be announced as soon as possible. Thank you for your kind consideration.

*The Topeka Jazz Workshop has announced its 2013-14 schedule.  The Topeka Capitol-Journal has the story.

*Joe Klopus' acknowledgement of the scorn heaped upon Charlie Parker by many area residents has gained a lot of traction.

*Kerry Strayer is remembered by KC Jazz Lark.

*Sarah Gish of The Kansas City Star wrote a feature about Take Five Coffee + Bar.

*Chris Burnett reconnects with a friend and mentor.

*T.J. Martley demonstrates a practice exercise based on Charlie Parker's "Chi-Chi."

*12th Street Jump offers another episode of "Blues In the News."

*Harry Connick, Jr. will perform at the Midland on November 17.

*Tweet o' the Week: MBIRDMUSIC: Im sad but grateful for life...appreciating the legacy and inspiration left by a friend and fellow musician #kerrystrayer

*Comment o' the Week: Peter Lawless: There is also an assumption in this piece that the rock musicians are not in "for the music. Period." It's a common form of jazz snobbery, saying, "if they really cared about music, they'd be playing jazz."  Jake played in several rock bands in KC and Lawrence while he was here. My guess would be that, at that time, he probably made more money playing jazz gigs than rock shows.  You're comparing playing local restaurants and jazz clubs to touring internationally with one of the most famous rock bands in the world. You're sort of saying, "I'm so glad people commit themselves to playing week nights at the Blue Room, instead of touring with Herbie Hancock."  Jake is in a special position. There are plenty of locally-based rock musicians who play for small crowds and make little money, and they are just as committed as the jazz musicians playing for crowd and making little money.

*From Paul Shinn: It pleases us to announce the release of the trio's first studio album entitled "Reason Pure." This album contains solely original music music and arrangements that the trio has been working on for the past few months. We will be playing music from the album throughout the night and CDs will be available for purchase ($15) that we can sign copies of during set breaks.  This will be the final performance of the Paul Shinn Trio in the Kansas City area for a while as Paul will be re-locating to Colorado to continue his studies; however, the group plans to stay together for tours and festivals throughout the KC area and elsewhere. Unlike the video performance recording, this will be a public event, so feel free to stop by anytime between 7 and 10pm and invite anyone you think would enjoy this music!

*From a press release: Piropo’s Piano Bar in Briarcliff Village will be the site of the second annual Dueling Piano Summit to be held Sunday, September 8th 2012 at 3:00 PM. The two-piano concert will last two hours. Participating in the event will be the same musicians as last year – pianists Roger Wilder, Joe Cartwright, Michael Pagán, and Bram Wijnands. The performers will match up in different combinations and play two-piano jazz for approximately two hours. Proceeds will benefit Alzheimer’s Association Heart of America Chapter…  Tickets can be reserved in advance for $50.00 by calling 816.589.9384 or by emailing michaelpagan6@gmail.com and for $60.00 at the door the day of the show. Seating is limited and cannot be guaranteed for those buying tickets at the door.  Advance purchase is strongly recommended...

*From Take Five Coffee: Friday evening, we have a trio of KC jazz masters delivering the truth in sound. Bassist Gerald Spaits continues to be one of the standard-setters in a town packed with outrageous talent on the instrument. His trio with Charles Perkins on saxophone and Arnold Young on drums and cymbals shows what happens when artists of that caliber work together over many years - intuitive interplay seasoned with complete command of the material.  Saturday evening, singer Shay Estes brings the Latin spice. Fresh back from her travels in Portugal with Fado Novato, Shay will lead us deep into the bewitching melodies of Brazilian jazz. With Mark Lowrey and Doug Auwater as guides, we're likely to find the flavors only the locals know.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Kerry Strayer, 1956-2013

Kerry Strayer, one of the leading figures of Kansas City's jazz scene for decades, died last night.  He'd been battling prostate cancer for two years. 

From his devoted wife, Gailyn: A memorial service/celebration of life will be next Tuesday, August 6th, 1pm, at the John Knox Presbyterian Kirk, 11430 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO with a visitation/reception immediately following the service.

Kerry Strayer was a great man.  He was passionate, committed, generous and funny.  His wholehearted dedication to jazz continually inspired me.

Robert Trussell of the The Kansas City Star wrote a fine piece about Kerry's contributions.

As reflected by his superlative baritone sax work, he loved the music of Gerry Mulligan.  None of the content available at YouTube does Kerry's talents justice, so I've embedded a Mulligan track. 

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*"Kansas City, this home to jazz with institutions and a tradition other cities can envy, is mired in minor festivals," KC Jazz Lark suggests in a powerful new post.

*The Kansas City Star reports that the Smooth J Cafe in Overland Park will have a smooth jazz theme.

*Here's footage of Winard Harper jamming at the Mutual Musicians Foundation earlier this month.

*Logan Richardson's talent as an actor is displayed in a clip from a new film.

*Tweet o' the Week: kellyurich- Jazz in the Woods cancelled. If you're a hipster you will have to find another place to pretend to like jazz music.

*Comment o' the Week: Tony DeSare- Lol, I would have expected exactly this reaction from the Journey cover from the jazzerati. You would have been slightly better off posting this one probably.

*From a press release: Alaadeen Enterprises (AEI), the non-profit education organization founded in 1998 by the late Ahmad Alaadeen – jazz musician and educator – plans to re-launch its jazz educational initiative on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 (his 79th birthday) at 11 AM at the Mutual Musicians Foundation, where he started his career as a Kansas City jazz musician.  The purpose of this event is to highlight AEI, its vision, and plans; to introduce its new Executive Director, Dennis J. Winslett, and to announce its major educational initiatives, including its Bird House Fellowship Program, which will develop a select group of music students through a comprehensive arts and humanities curriculum in workshops scheduled throughout the year, based on the Alaadeen Method of Instruction™…  The event is free to the public and is intended to attract local media coverage, to engage the broader jazz and arts community, and to launch a comprehensive strategic plan to revive jazz education in Kansas City.  The event will feature tributes from some of Kansas City’s most prominent jazz musicians and educators, who were taught and/or influenced by Ahmad Alaadeen, including Kevin Mahogany, Dennis Winslett, Logan Richardson, Bobby Watson, and more.  Several of their students, representing three generations of Kansas City jazz musicians, will perform Alaadeen's original compositions….

*From Michael Shults: (W)anted to tell you about a new project I'm working on, playing duets with Peter Schlamb.  Our first gig is Sunday (June 23) at Take Five at 7 PM. We'll do some originals by Peter and I, probably cover "Vaal" from Logan Richardson's album "Ethos", and some standards. It's definitely at the experiment stage right now, but it's a lot of fun and I think alto+vibes is a really unique sonority.

*From Kerry Strayer: Because of health concerns related to my cancer treatments I will not be able to appear with Barissentials this Friday, June 21, 2013 at Take 5 from 8-10pm.  However the band will appear with tenor saxophonist Steve Lambert subbing for me. I may stop by and sit in on a few tunes if I feel up to it but I will not be able to play the entire gig.  Please support the band and the venue. I hope I feel well enough to stop by and hope to reschedule this date at another time.

*From Mike Metheny: A KC Trumpet Summit at The Blue Room with: Stan Kessler, Hermon Mehari & Mike Metheny, featuring: TJ Martley, piano, Gerald Spaits, bass, Brian Steever, drums,  Saturday, June 29, 2013, 8:30pm - 12:30am.

*From Jazz Winterlude: Here's news: Jazz Winterlude and the JCCC Performing Arts Series invite you to two jazz performances in June: The Tyrone Clark Trio will perform on Monday, June 24 at noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Regnier Center Atrium on campus. On Wednesday, June 26, Gerald Spaits and Charles Perkins will perform from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in that space. The concerts are free, and Cafe Tempo will offer a free drink to those who purchase an entree (delicious!) between noon and 1:00 p.m. on those days. Join us for some fun!

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Kristin Shafel Omiccioli interviewed Kerry Strayer of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*Robert Trussell reviewed Saturday's performance by the Owen/Cox Dance Group.

*The Black House Improvisors' Collective unveiled the roster for its forthcoming season.

*Bob McWilliams of KANU lists his top twelve albums of 2012.

*A blogger surveys the life of Charlie Parker.

*Clint Ashlock updated his SoundCloud account.

*12th Street Jump presents a new episode of "Blues In the News."

*A deranged man ranted about Eddie Moore and Logan Richardson after presenting tracks by Mark Lowrey and Michael Pagan on KCUR's Up To Date last Friday.

*Tweet o' the Week: paulgerni- Last night I listened to, and danced to, the New Vintage Big Band, an excellent 18-pc band in the true Kansas City jazz tradition.

*Comment o' the Week: Gary- Had the privilege to hear Harshberger playing Snuff Jazz Saturday night at Take Five. I'm going to be spending a lot more Saturday nights there for sure.

*From a press release: A Musical Night of TV Theme Songs & Movie Classics.  Take a trip down memory lane with those old familiar songs of hit movies and television series. Hosted by Jim Mair, and the incredible songbook and talent of Dan Deluca on piano, the Consort Band will take you on a journey of memories through music... Wednesday, January 2, 2013. 7:00 p.m. Unity Temple on the Plaza, Tickets at the door only - $7.00

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Listen

One of my favorite viral videos documents an experiment conducted by The Washington Post. They cajoled classical violinist Joshua Bell into posing as a busker at a subway station. Would anyone stop to listen? Here's the story.

That intriguing study came immediately to mind when I saw that four excellent Kansas City jazz musicians were scheduled to perform July 1 at Penguin Courtyard on The Plaza.

I was eager to see if unknowing passerby would linger at the courtyard to appreciate the work of four of the city's finest jazz musicians. Saxophonist Strayer led brilliant guitarist Rod Fleeman, acclaimed bassist Bob Bowman and relatively young drummer Sam Wisman through tasteful but vibrant mainstream jazz repertoire.

I caught about 45 minutes of one set and 15 minutes of another. About a dozen fans of one or more of the musicians were obviously on hand specifically for the event. I'd like to think that they saw the date listed on my Kansas City Jazz Calendar. It's more likely that they received an email reminder from bandleader Kerry Strayer. Or maybe they were friends and family of the band members.

The results of my completely unscientific study were discouraging. I didn't witness a single person in the popular shopping district stop to enjoy the music. Only about one in every five people noticeably slowed their stride. Women bearing shopping bags never looked up but a handful of men acknowledged the band's work with a nod or a smile.

Is this indifference a reflection on the popularity of jazz? No- Joshua Bell didn't fare any better.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

In My Solitude At Jazz Winterlude

An irrational fear of spending two hours in a room full of geriatric fans of Stan Kenton prevented me from seeing The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra until Saturday. The orchestra's rewarding headlining performance at the Jazz Winterlude festival showed that I've been missing out on a good time.

Yeah, it was square. But it was rarely dull. And there were a handful of bold moments of defiance. Lurking underneath artistic director Jim Mair's obsequious demeanor is a subversive hipster. He slipped in the Charles Mingus version of "Moanin'" heard here, a radical act given the sensibilities of many of the organization's financial supporters. The audience of about 700 tolerated it largely because Kerry Strayer's baritone saxophone work on the piece was undeniably thrilling. He did justice to Mingus' legacy.

The members of the orchestra certainly rank among (in Mair's words) "Kansas City's finest musicians." I'd watched Doug Talley and trumpeter Joe Parisi work through a set of Wayne Shorter material earlier in the day. All the notes were right but much of the fiery spirit of Shorter's originals was absent. The pair's concise solos with the orchestra, however, were excellent. The big band context showcases their strengths. Other highlights were Mair's rapturous solo on "Stardust" and a riotous reading of Kenton's "The Peanut Vendor." (Shows what I know.)

I was already familiar with most members of the ensemble but guest vocalist Brienn Perry was a revelation. He looks like a linebacker but sings like a combination of Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Joe Williams. Accompanied only by pianist Charles Wiliams, Perry absolutely nailed "One For My Baby."

Original? Don't be silly. Incredibly enjoyable? Absolutely. The same can be said for the orchestra as a whole. It may be an exercise in nostalgia but it's far from anemic. Even the goofy dance routines at the end of the performance served as an appropriate reminder of the roots of the big band sound.

I hope to attend the orchestra's next concert on April 30. Why should I let old folks have all the fun?


















Here are five additional things I appreciated Saturday:

1. Sons of Brasil (above) were very fine. Stan Kessler original "If It Feels Good" was particularly funky.

2. Bassist James Albright played with three groups Saturday. He raised the level of play in each one.

3. Young pianist Sean Giddings did some nice things in Doug Talley's group. I don't believe I'd seen him play before.






















4. Ryan Lee (above) just dominated James Ward's trio. The drummer overplayed. I liked it anyway.

















5. I'd only seen most of these locally-based players in bars. Hearing the musicians in a formal concert setting was a rare treat. All three rooms at the festival offered excellent acoustics and comfortable seating. The ultra-conservative lineup certainly wasn't booked with me in mind, but I'd happily buy into the concept next January.

(Original images by Plastic Sax.)

Kerry Strayer On the Plaza

A companion told me that Kerry Strayer seemed annoyed when I raised my camera to photograph him Sunday during his performance at the Plaza Art Fair. (EDIT: Strayer has since informed me that "nothing could be further from the truth.") Even if true, that won't prevent me from praising the saxophonist's impeccable sound and exquisite taste. His versatility affords him many of Kansas City's most coveted jazz gigs, including a show with his "orchestra" tonight at the Blue Room.






















Vocalist and trombonist Earlie Braggs, who was slated to host a CD release party later that day at Jardine's, sat in with Strayer's outstanding band.

(Unpopular original images by Plastic Sax.)

Jazz At the Plaza Art Fair

There are a few unwritten laws for residents of the Kansas City area. Rooting for the Chiefs isn't optional. A firm preference for Gates or Bryant's must be established. And attendance at the Plaza Art Fair is mandatory.

Not everyone realizes that the annual ritual is more than ceramics, couch paintings and people-watching. Many jazz-oriented artists are included among the over two dozen musical acts featured at the event. Here's a partial listing:

Friday, September 21
Dan Bliss, 6:45 p.m., near Starbucks

Saturday, September 22
D.J. Sweeney, 1:00 p.m., near Plaza III
BCR, 5:00 p.m., Wornall Bridge

Sunday, September 23
Kerry Strayer with Earlie Braggs, 11:00 a.m., Wornall Bridge
Grand Marquis, 1:00 p.m., Grand Marquis, Wornall Bridge
Beau Bledsoe, 2:00 p.m., near Starbucks
Ken Lovern's OJT, 3:00 p.m., Wornall Bridge

(Dandy R. Crumb image used without permission.)