Album Review: The Brandon Draper Quintet- Live 7/1-2/2010

Brandon Draper did connoisseurs of Kansas City’s jazz scene a tremendous favor on July 16 when he made thrilling music culled from a pair of live 2010 dates available as a free download.

Live 7/1-2/2010 features tenor saxophonist Rich Wheeler, trombonist Kevin Cerovich, vibraphonist Peter Schlamb, bassist Craig Akin and drummer/percussionist Draper collaborating at the since-shuttered Jardine’s.

The 80 minutes of stellar improvisations range from jubilant Kansas City swing to experiments that recall Alaturka, the Turkish jazz band that includes Draper and Wheeler.  The interplay between Wheeler and Schlamb occasionally evokes Out To Lunch, the 1964 masterpiece that featured Eric Dolphy and Bobby Hutcherson.

The newly unearthed recordings may be six years old, but music this good is timeless.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Mike Hendricks reports on long-term plans for the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

*The Kansas City Star published a review of the "The Nutcracker" by the Owen/Cox Dance Company and the People's Liberation Big Band.

*The Magic Jazz Fairy returns to KC Jazz Lark's blog.

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

*Joe Dimino of Neon Jazz interviewed Suzanna Smith, a Bay Area-based vocalist.

*Tweet o' the Week: Michael Shults- Hobbyist musicians have totally distorted laypeople's views of my profession.

*From a press release: Drummer extraordinaire Matt Wilson kicks off the tour to celebrate his new CD Gathering Call with concerts in St. Louis and Columbia, MO.  Joined by special guest John Medeski on piano, Wilson performs with his quartet featuring Chris Lightcap on bass, Kirk Knuffke on cornet, and Jeff Lederer on tenor/soprano saxophones and clarinet.  Wednesday, January 22 - Saturday, January 25, at Jazz at the Bistro… St. Louis. One set each night beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission: $33 Wednesday and Thursday; $38 Friday and Saturday; $15 students...  Sunday, January 26 at Murry's… Columbia, MO.  Special fundraising concert for the We Always Swing Jazz Series. Sets at 3:30 and 7:00 p.m. Tickets: general admission $35 - $50; students $25 - $40.

*From Take Five Coffee: Friday, December 27, 8 pm:  Kevin Cerovich and the Ben Leifer Quartet- Kansas City native Kevin Cerovich is an award-winning trombonist and one of those players whose return gets the other musicians in town excited. We're thrilled to have him rock the house in the excellent company of Ben Leifer (bass), John Kizilarmut (drums) and Mike Herrera (sax). $5 cover.  Saturday, December 28, 8 pm:  Drew Williams Quintet- This is becoming an annual event - welcome Drew Williams back to Take Five to share his latest whimsical compositions.  Drew (sax) is the leader of the famed Drew Williams Nonet in NYC, and he has blown our minds every time he comes to play. This time he's accompanied by Bill McKemy (bass), Tim Aubuchon (tenor), Brendan Culp (drums) and Scott Bein (guitar).  Sunday, December 29, 7 pm:  Matt Chalk Trio- Our first try at this was cancelled due to the ice, so here's another chance to get close to the fire and hear one of the most intriguing young saxophonists to come out of KC in a long time. A hearty welcome home for the holidays to Matt Chalk, who is presently killing it in New York City. Tonight he's bringing Ben Leifer (bass) and Ryan Lee (drums) to round out an intimate trio with tremendous power. $5 cover.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Earl Robinson, a founding member of the Scamps, died May 19. He was 85. Robinson and his excellent band were probably my favorite roots-oriented act in the 1980s, although they'd already been entertaining Kansas Citians for decades. Here's how fun they were- I'd often opt for a night with the Scamps over local competitors BCR, the Blue Riddim Band, the City Light Orchestra, Little Hatch, Kevin Mahogany, the Morells, Ida McBeth, Horace Washington and Claude "Fiddler" Williams.

*Here's a bit of good news amidst the gloom. The Metheny Music Foundation awarded eleven students cash scholarships for summer band camp. Details are posted at the Foundation's site.

*Ed Fenner's obituary ran in Sunday's Star, What an remarkable life!

*My friend Jason remembers Ed Fenner.

*Discussions about funding the city's museums- the American Jazz Museum included- are quite taxing.

*My friend Richard profiles Shay Estes and Mark Lowrey.

*The Star published an elaborate feature on Brad Cox in its Sunday magazine.

*KCUR offers an insightful interview with Kevin Cerovich.

*Steve Penn follows up on an item Plastic Sax published April 9. His column provides background about D.J. Sweeney's quest to salvage jazz programming on KKFI. More disaffected grumbling is here.

*Anyone want to provide historic context for today's news report about the bandstand pavilion at Swope Park? It's "in danger of collapse."

*Hey! There's a "new" Charlie Parker recording!

*A Los Angeles man submitted an impassioned defense of the American Jazz Museum to the Star.

(Incredible image by this photographer. Plastic Sax tipsters BGO and Lee assisted with this post.)