Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*KCUR shares a notification from The Kansas City Business Journal that Ralph Caro has been named as the new interim director of the American Jazz Museum.  Elizabeth Orosco interviewed Caro for Northeast News.

*KC Studio reports that a play about the late Myra Taylor will have “a possible late fall premiere” in Kansas City.

*Tweet o’ the Week: AstroGirlBunny- At Blue Room jazz night club in Kansas City Missouri listening to a jazz band they flew in from Berlin Germany. Fantastic! #jazz #music #KansasCity #berlin #Germany

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The smooth jazz artist Richard Elliot and the Celtic rock band the Elders are the headliners of the 2017 edition of Jazz in the Woods.

*Joe Klopus previewed Robert Glasper’s concert at the Folly Theater.  Also, the venue initially indicated that Glasper would be accompanied by saxophonist Casey Benjamin, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Mark Colenburg.  Instead, he’ll be joined by bassist Brandon Owens and drummer Damion Reid on Saturday.

*The Kansas City Star posted a photo gallery of jazz-related images.

*Tweet o’ the Week: American Jazz Museum- Spent the afternoon at Roasterie cupping a new coffee blend for the Museum ☕️

*From the American Jazz Museum: Celebrate birthdays of local and national jazz musicians with the American Jazz Museum on Friday, February 17, 2017 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. This month celebrates the contributions of local musicians Myra Taylor and Ben Kynard through musical performance and unveils a mini-poster exhibition about our honorees. Join us for cake, music, dancing, and a celebration of Kansas City's unique jazz sound! The program is free and open to the public, and will take place in the Gem Theater…

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Catherine Russell

Jazz shows are infrequent at Knuckleheads.  The last jazz-oriented vocalist I heard at the venue was Myra Taylor.  Like the late Kansas City legend, the New York-based Catherine Russell possesses a bluesy style that should win over the audience at the East Bottoms roadhouse on Wednesday, April 16.  Joe Klopus previewed Russell's performance in his column for The Kansas City Star.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*From Chris Burnett of the American Jazz Museum: I have wonderful news to share regarding “Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival”. The headliner talent has been finalized and with center around our new theme “Salute To George Duke” – featuring headliners: Pieces of a Dream, Bobby Lyle & Maysa, Con Funk Shun, The Messenger Legacy, Bettye LaVette, Kelley Hunt with local and regional talent! A great way to honor the legacy of the late a great master artist!  We are pleased to announce that plans for the Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival are generating excitement throughout the metropolitan area. To ensure success, we will be presenting a one-day event again this year. It is important to the Kansas City region to keep the momentum of this great event moving forward with an eye to offering a multiple-day festival format in the coming years.

*The Mutual Musicians Foundation published a schedule of events related to Charlie Parker's birthday. 

*Libby Hanssen and KC Jazz Lark reviewed Vine Street Rumble's recent performance at the Blue Room.

*The Kansas City Star published a fall jazz preview.

*Larry Appelbaum published a blindfold test he conducted with Bobby Watson in 2010 at his blog.

*An editorial in The Kansas City Star notes the role the late Marian McPartland played in the history of Kansas City's jazz scene.

*Russell Thorpe provides an update on Phonologotronic.

*London's Royal Albert Hall hosts a tribute to Charlie Parker on August 28. 

*Tweet o' the Week: Frank Basile- Tune into @WKCRjazz now through Thursday for 72 straight hours of Lester Young and Charlie Parker!!

*Comment o' the Week: Russell- Because we are not plumbers or electricians. I think most people who are not musicians would argue that our skill-sets and services occupy the tippy tippy top of Mazlow's heirarchy. One can live a secure and comfortable life without going out to see musicians every night. I mean face it, It's not like our skill-sets and services and the fancy thoughts we get to think as musicians are on par with "gotta eat, need a roof, jeez its cold i need clothes, gotta eat, the rent is too damn high, and etc"  We also have the detrimental benefit of recording. Music has been a noun for quite some time now. You have a tangible artifact that will be exactly the same each time you listen to it (which is whole other psychoaucoustic issue). Music a long time ago used to be a VERB that EVERYONE in the community participated in. Stomping and clapping and dancing and yelling and trancing and all the rest of the ecstatic behaviors the humans display. This is not to say that this doesn't happen today, but what I'm really saying is most people have absolutely zero awareness of the visceral reaction their bodies have when listening to musics. The whole mind/body thing and the cognitive and physiological magic that is music. (which is why we, musicians, do it)  As many a pundit would decry "we are losing our culture!" or "America is being poisoned" and etc, in some sense is correct. Communities are not what they once were, and music has shifted to a much more private experience, so the importance of the musician, that person or family who you sought out when you and your friends wanted to get together and dance around and drink fermented honey and etc, has become as a throwaway person or thing, filling a temporary hedonic want because you find them soothing or agitating until your attention flits to another place then another then another, and your musical experiences are nothing but an interrupted series of snippets.  Lack of attention span, lack of physiological and social awareness, and the relentless crush of capitalism for cheap. And I don't even want to touch the "anyone who doesn't fulfill Jazz Quests 1-10 is going to burn forever in hellish environs and we shall forever scorn them" debate that people like to rage about.  Bottom line, capitalism. Musicians have/want/need to spend so much time honing their technique that, unless they have inexhaustible amounts of energy to keep up with the entrepenurial demands of succeeding, something is gonna slack. blah blah blah blah -----> sad trombone

*From a press release: Hollywood composer Conrad Pope and writer Alessandro de Gaetano, with assistance from Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols, launched a $14,000 Kickstarter goal to produce the musical stage play All for a Song based on the life and career of Kansas City Jazz Legend Myra Taylor.  The Kickstarter end date is Sept. 5. To date, only $577 has been raised. To assist their former Wild Woman and dear friend Myra, the Wild Women of Kansas City are holding a fundraiser. All monies raised will go to this project.  Date / Time:  September 1, 2-5 p.m.  Where:  Hotel Phillips, 12th and Baltimore, KCMO, in the 12 Baltimore Restaurant.  Entrance Fee:  None, but generous donations are appreciated.  The Wild Women will perform. There will be splendid raffles, menu items and cocktails.

*From a press release: The fall lineup for the JCCC Jazz Series has been set. The series, which showcases the talents of local jazz musicians, takes place at noon on Tuesdays for six consecutive weeks from Sept. 24 to Oct. 29. All performances, which are free and open to the public, are held in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted. Here's the lineup: Sept. 24- Roger Wilder Quintet; Oct. 1- Tim Whitmer Trio; Oct. 8- Dan Bliss and Rod Fleeman, guitars; Oct. 15- Everett Freeman Quartet; Oct. 22- James Ward Band featuring Ron Gutierrez, Polsky Theatre; Oct. 29- John Brewer presents Mosaic Jazz.

*From a press release: Black Lab, a new music festival sponsored by Black House Collective and Charlotte Street Foundation, will celebrate innovative new work being produced by artists and composers in the Midwest. The festival will take place in September and October 2013 in downtown Kansas City at Charlotte Street Foundation’s Paragraph Gallery, with performances each Thursday and Saturday night, featuring a wide range of talented musicians, dancers and artists.  Black Lab kicks off on Thursday, September 5 with a free opening night featuring a series of collaborative performances by Kansas City-based composers, performers, and artists. Russell Thorpe will premiere a new duet for alto saxophone and euphonium, and composer Teri Quinn will collaborate with costume designer Lynn Thonet and writer Sarah Mundy for a chaotic fashion show. Hunter Long will premiere two pieces, one choreographed and performed by Chadi El-Khoury, and the other a series of portraits for soprano titled "Now That I'm Dead I Know Everything."… Please visit blackhouse.typepad.com/black-lab.html for current info and tickets. Here's a related blog post.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Getting a Kick Out of Myra Taylor

A Kickstarter campaign for a musical based on the life of Myra Taylor has raised less than five percent of its goal of $14,000.  While I can't vouch for the project, I know that's it's impossible to recall Taylor's frequent performances during the last two decades of her life without smiling.  Her 2001 album My Time to Dream is one of the most enjoyable traditional Kansas City jazz recordings of the past 25 years.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*KCPT offers an eight-minute feature focused on the American Jazz Museum.

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's 2013-14 season has been announced.

*The Pitch reports that the Broadway Jazz Club will open this fall.

*KC Jazz Lark explains how the lineup for the forthcoming Prairie Village Jazz Festival was assembled.

*The goal of a Kickstarter campaign for a musical about Myra Taylor is $14,000.

*Steve Lambert is the latest musician to be interviewed by Joe Dimino for Neon Jazz.

*The Green Lady Lounge has a Tumblr account.

*Here's an early review of Chuck Haddix's Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker.

*The Pitch reminds readers that Lonnie McFadden appears every Friday at the Phoenix.

*The gist of a press release issued by the American Jazz Museum: "A portion of the proceeds" of the 2014 Jazz Cruise "will support The American Jazz Museum."

*Tweet o' the Week: kcjazzlark- No empty seats at Take Five for Andy McGhie, sax, Hermon Mehari, trumpet, Peter Schlamb, vibes, Karl McComas-Reichl, bass, Ryan Lee, drums

*Comment o' the Week: tjjazzpiano- Awesome line up at the PV festival. It's nice to see a great mix of local and national talent.

*From a press release: Few artists could record two albums over the course of one week in different musical genres, with disparate personnel, and at separate studios. Yet New York City-based pianist Eldar Djangirov has done just that, and proven himself musically ambidextrous as evidenced by two remarkable, self-produced recordings for his debut on the maverick, multi-Grammy nominated Motéma Music this April and May.  Eldar's Breakthrough, recorded at Avatar Studios in New York City, releases April 9. Like the 26-year-old's 2009 disc Virtue, it features his long-standing touring trio with bassist Armando Gola and drummer Ludwig Afonso. Breakthrough breaks through to reinforce just how powerful and poignant a road tested jazz trio of young lions can be…  Bach/Brahms/Prokofiev, recorded solo at Manhattan Center Studios and available May 14, marks the pianist's second solo release, and his debut album in the classical genre.

*From a press release: Alaadeen Enterprises Inc. (AEI) Jazz Education Re-Launch, 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, (the late and world renowned Alaadeen’s 79th birthday), under a tent next to the Charlie Parker Memorial at 18th and Vine.  This FREE event will have performances + a jam session (7 p.m.) + Najee, Kevin Mahogany & Matt Kane Skyping.  Others: Luqman Hamza, Bobby Watson, Dennis Winslett, Harold O’Neal, youth & many more esteemed musicians + Mayor Sly James + a Who’s Who of the cultural arts community.  Hot tunes & cool tents for shade!  Announcing major educational initiatives for music students.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Bob Barry, the man with the disruptively loud camera at events hosted by the American Jazz Museum, is  featured in The Kansas City Star.

*Boulevard Brewing will donate a portion of sales of its KC Pils brand to the American Jazz Museum.

*KC Jazz Lark takes another fascinating then-and-now look at the Jazz District.

*"All For a Song" is a musical about the late Myra Taylor.

*A jazz novice reports on the scene at Harling's during a performance by New Jazz Order.

*A writer for The Pitch highlights a forthcoming gig by the Rich Wheeler Quartet.

*Clint Ashlock is blogging.

*Tweet o' the Week: HappyInBag- Mark Lowrey, Bob Bowman and Sam Wisman are paying tribute to Mulgrew Miller at @TheMajesticKC . #kcjazz

*Comment o' the Week: KC Jazz Lark- Actually, I had several commentators and media sources in mind when writing the Kansrocksas comments. I was even thinking back to the 1980s, when a movie on jazz played for one night at The Bijou Theater, then in Westport Square. A then-music columnist for the KC Star wrote that few people showed up, proving nobody attends jazz events in Kansas City anymore (I'm paraphrasing). I wrote a letter to the editor, which The Star published, responding that maybe the sparse crowd proved nothing more than jazz fans don't see a lot of movies at The Bijou. Equating failed events to jazz is dead dates back a long time.

*From Jim Mair: The 12th annual week long Kansas City Jazz Camp held on the beautiful campus of Kansas City Kansas Community College wrapped up on Friday June 7 with a stellar final concert.  55 students, ages 11 to 71 from as far away as St. Louis along with a star studded faculty which included NPR Radio Host, Ludwig clinician and North Dakota Governor's Award winner percussionist Scott Prebys, Missouri Governor's Award winner and Kansas City Jazz icon Everette Devan, Kansas Governor's Award winner and Selmer saxophone clinician Doug Talley, three time Grammy nominee guitarist Rod Fleeman, and Kansas City's most versatile bassist, a master of all styles James Albright.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*This weekend's Jazz Winterlude festival is touted by KCJazzLark.

*Here's the skinny on the new performing arts space at 7933 Main.

*Mary Sanchez encourages community support of the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

*Tony's Kansas City notes that Jardine's remains dark. (I've noticed that the venue's name has been removed from the awning above the front door.)

*Jazz Video Guy gives Bobby Watson and his UMKC program a shout-out at the 2:55 mark in his wrap-up of the JEN convention. (Tip via Dominique Sanders.)

*Here's a video "teaser" from the forthcoming Project H album.

*A version of a new song from Diverse streams here.

*Mouth posted 32 minutes of live footage. Hermon Mehari makes an appearance at the 3:00-minute mark.

*Kevin Mahogany serves as the headliner of the Great Bend Jazz Festival.

*Tweet o' the Week: HitShohin- アマゾンヒット商品 MP3 アルバム 2位 The Frank Wess Quartet |形式:MP3ダウンロード

*From Mark Lowrey: Tuesday, January 31st, 2012. Price: $3. Mark kicks off a new series at downtown Kansas City's Czar Bar. Each Tuesday, Mark hosts a rotating lineup of some of Kansas City's finest jazz, improv, electronic, and classical musicians for a special, unpredictable night of music and fun.

*From Mille Nottingham: January 20th, Tribute to Myra Taylor and Pearl Thuston Brown, Wild Women the Blue Room, 8:30-12:30 (Via Connie Humiston.)

*From Knuckleheads' site: Sun 2/19. Today's jam will be a In harmony jam mixing Blues and Jazz jams on 2 stages and A Celebration of Life (would have been Myra's 95th birthday) as on 12/9/12 we lost our Kansas City Legend… 2pm til 7pm No Cover Charge.

*From Hearts of Darkness: Hearts of Darkness and The Good Foot announce the release of their first collaborative project, a split single 7” record titled “Numeration / Bad Way”. 7" vinyl records with digital download cards will release to the public and be available for sale on Saturday, February 18 at the Carnivàle du Soul show at The Uptown Theater...

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Pitch reports that Ray Reed, a prominent figure on Kansas City's jazz scene for decades, has died.

*Harold O'Neal is the subject of an expansive NPR feature.

*Hearne Christopher's coverage of the situation at Jardine's continued here, here and here. Tony's Kansas City provides a related update here.

*The December 9 concert by the Black House Improvisors' Collective is available as a free download.

*The staff of the Blue Room aids a crime victim.

*Jazz figures prominently in Steve Paul's recap of 2011. Tim Finn notes the trend of jazz musicians collaborating with artists rooted in other genres.

*KC Metropolis previews a few upcoming jazz concerts.

*A New Orleans Style Jazz Funeral March will take place under the auspices of Occupy KC at noon on December 30 at 12th and Oak.

*The Magic Jazz Fairy returns to KCJazzLark.

*Melissa Treolo wrote a remembrance of Myra Taylor.

*John Bishop has died.

*Tweet o' the Week: GrunauerKC: Last minute NYE plans: Snuff Jazz, light appetizers & champagne toast in Vienna Zimmer only $20. 10p-1a. Tix available at Birdies or here.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Movin' On Up with Myra Taylor

It doesn't rank among her most notable artistic achievements, but the late Myra Taylor made a couple appearances as a character named Pearl on The Jeffersons. She sings with a gospel quartet at the beginning of this 1982 clip. (That's her in the blue dress.) She makes another extended appearance at the 6:37 mark.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

The latest on Jardine's:

*Hearne Christopher confirms that Jardine's has reopened. He also wrote updates about the status of the jazz club here and here.

*Tony Botello continues to chronicle the saga here, here, here, here and here.

*A former Jardine's employee suggests that she was assaulted by her employer.

*Craig Glazer offers his two cents.

*A television news program covered a benefit for the "Jardine's 15." (Tip via Tony's Kansas City.)

*I'm unable to authoritatively verify troubling reports about the status of 1911 Main.

*From Doug Talley: This Friday, Dec. 16, 7:00-10:00pm, will be your last chance to hear Doug Talley and Rod Fleeman at Cafe Augusta which will be closing their doors at the end of the month. Join us for one final evening of good music and food!

*The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the new album by The People's Liberation Big Band, is available now. The ensemble appears with the Owen/Cox Dance Ensemble of the ballet's current run at the H&R Block City Stage Theater in Union Station.

*Myra Taylor is remembered by KCJazzLark.

*A residential renovation project in the Jazz District has commenced.

*The new blog of the American Jazz Museum features an interview with Danny Embrey.

*Danny Alexander reviews a post-Mavis Staples show by Snuff Jazz.

*Pat Metheny and Chick Corea share their appreciation of Gary Burton.

*Chuck Berg reviewed a concert in Topeka by Sara Gazarek and Josh Nelson.

*Tweet o' the Week- clintashlock: I think if someone asked me to explain joy, I'd play them a recording of a Stevie Wonder harmonica solo.

*From an American Jazz Museum press release about the MCC-Penn Valley 18th & Vine Jazz Festival: Presented in partnership with MCC-Penn Valley, this festival is a non-competitive event providing middle school, high school and collegiate level students with an opportunity for increased experience and understanding of American jazz. All participating students will have opportunities to interact with internationally acclaimed jazz artists, local professional jazz musicians and distinguished educators as well as perform in two of the American Jazz Museum’s world renowned venues – the historic Gem Theater and the Blue Room jazz club.

*From UMKC's Conservatory of Music: …In March 2012, Kansas City brings to Le Poisson Rouge in New York a concert entitled "Crossroads": an eclectic mix of people and cultures, including composers Paul Rudy, winner of a 2010 Rome Prize fellowship; Guggenheim fellow James Mobberley; Chen Yi, winner of the Charles Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; NYC’s own John Corigliano, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Barr Laureate Composer at UMKC in 2012-14; the music of Kevin Oldham and John Kander as sung by internationally acclaimed tenor and UMKC Professor Vinson Cole; and the New York City premiere of excerpts from Zhou Long's new opera "Madame White Snake," winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in Music. (Via Steve Paul.)

(Original image of Logan Richardson, Matt Otto and Steve Lambert performing at Micah Herman's album release show at the RecordBar on December 11 by Plastic Sax.)

Myra Taylor, 1917-2011

When Plastic Sax was founded in 2007, Myra Taylor was one of this site's initial subjects. How could it be otherwise? With her outsized personality, active performance schedule and ties to Kansas City's illustrious past, Taylor was among the region's most prominent acts.

Taylor died Friday. Tim Finn wrote a thorough obituary. KCUR offers an invaluable report. A television bulletin suggests that "Taylor was considered the last living legend of the great age of Kansas City jazz." A press release from the American Jazz Museum noted that Taylor was a recipient of the institution's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Although it lacks the vigor of old tracks like "Take It Easy, Greasy", I stand by my assertion that Taylor's late-career album My Night To Dream ranks among the Top Ten Kansas City Jazz Recordings.

Taylor's status may have been appreciated by music historians and nerdy jazz bloggers, but she never achieved true celebrity status. This video encapsulates the public's indifference to Taylor's legend. And I'll confess that even I eventually tired of Taylor's schtick.

What I wouldn't give to experience it just one more time.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Jenee Osterheldt reports that Myra Taylor is in poor health.

*Angela Hagenbach is interviewed by the Leavenworth Times in advance of her concert Saturday at the Hollywood Theater.

*"While Memphis bemoans the Folk Alliance International's announced move to Kansas City, St. Louis appears to be gaining ground on another music-related front: creating a blues museum to celebrate the Delta-born art form and pull in visitors," suggests the author of a story about St. Louis' National Blues Museum.

*Intentions, the restaurant and nightclub in Overland Park that sporadically served as a venue for live jazz, has been shuttered.

*KCJazzLark elaborates on a previous post concerning the proper location for jazz festivals in the Kansas City area.

*Roger Wilder now has a proper web presence.

*The American Jazz Museum is involved in a Kickstarter campaign for a documentary about Cecil Taylor.

*Chuck Berg applauds a Topeka Jazz Workshop concert featuring Ken Peplowski and John Fedchock.

*A Hutchinson, Kansas, newspaper previews a Marilyn Maye concert.

*Pat Metheny has a Vimeo channel.

*Lucas Homer provides notes on the next couple weeks in live jazz.

*Tweet o' the Week: CRJazzCritic: Heard Gary Foster last night as featured alto soloist on John Williams Gershwin Suite. Died and went to heaven. #jazz #garyfoster #gershwin

*From Peter Lawless: The Ad Hoc Music Series Presents: Game Night (Sunday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m.) This special event will feature series curator Peter Lawless and his closest musical friends performing a number of original “game pieces.” These playful pieces combine performance art, spoken word and musical improvisation; promising fun, excitement and uncertainty as each note is determined by the roll of the dice and the luck of the draw. Among the games to be played are the meditative Curling, an exciting Board Game for Improvisors, and the return of the infamous PBR Performance Art Olympics.

*From Kemet D. Coleman: I work for MAC Property Management. We are having a Jazz Night in the lobby of our Clyde Manor building (350 East Armour Blvd.) next Tuesday, November 22nd from 7-9PM. The band will be lead by Hermon Mehari and we will be giving away a free Kindle Fire! Chances of winning are pretty high. Free food and booze will be available.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A friend of Plastic Sax contacted both myself and Tony's Kansas City with information indicating that the celebrated jazz program at Lincoln Prep was in jeopardy. Here's Tony's take. A television station seemed to verify the news. This afternoon, Tony suggested that "the jazz director who was cut was reinstated today." Tony takes credit for the good news. And why not?

*Walter Coppage, one of my favorite actors, will portray Charlie Parker in a presentation at the Kansas City Library Tuesday, August 28. Here are the details.

*Hunter Long, a self-described "saxophone/laptop musician" is getting the word out about Black House Improvisors' Collective. Here's a portion of a note he sent me this week: "The Charlotte Street Foundation has recently awarded me the year long use of a large rehearsal space in downtown KC. My proposal was to use the space to hold weekly workshops/rehearsals for area improvisors in an effort to nurture the local jazz/improvised music scene... I want to provide a place for local artists to experiment and take risks without having to please a club owner."

*I'm delighted to have stumbled upon a new Kansas City jazz blog. KCJazzLark features only three entries but I hope she (?) keeps at it. One essay takes Terry Teachout to task. Another celebrates young Kansas City talent. (EDIT- the KCJazzLark is a guy.)

*Megan Birsdsall and the Wild Women of Kansas City were the jazz winners at the Pitch Music Awards. Here's Myra Taylor in action at the event.

*Lee Ingalls was kind enough to alert me to an interview with Rudder. The jazz cats talk about their affiliation with the jam band community. One member of the group suggests that there's a "disregard that some jazz musicians have for their audience."

*Miles Bonny is on tour in Europe again.

*Here's Mark Edelman's weekly jazz column.

*Was Les Paul indirectly responsible for Claude "Fiddler" Williams losing his spot in Basie band? Andrew Zender could probably answer that speculative question. He pays tribute to the late innovator here.

*Jazz fans in Michigan received some bad news. It's another reminder of the need to support Kansas City's three remaining jazz-oriented clubs. (Tip via AZ.)

*Look at the incredible lineup for the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival! Frank Wess, Gary Bartz, Aaron Parks and Cedar Walton are among the luminaries booked at this year's festival. I can't wait! What? Oh- that's right. The annual event is in New York.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*I won't even pretend to play it cool. I am positively ecstatic that Mojo, the self-proclaimed "world's best music magazine," gave Plastic Sax a modest write-up in its June issue. Prior to the advent of the internet, I practically memorized every word printed in the prestigious British publication. Thanks go out to the anonymous reader of this site for the initial tip, BigSteveNO's comment in the previous post and my friend Steve for sending me the text:

Kansas City Here I Come: The website Plastic Sax is named from Charlie Parker's plastic Grafton alto that sold for $144,500 in 1995. The site is devoted to Kansas City jazz, a genre that spawned Count Basie, Ben Webster, Joe Turner, Lester Young, Jimmy Rushing, Coleman Hawkins, Julia Lee and, in more recent times, boasted such names as Pat Metheny, Bobby Watson, Oleta Adams and Marva Whitney. The news and views span past and present, sparked by videos featuring Kevin Mahogany, a vocalist much admired by Clint Eastwood, and the remarkable Krystle Warren, another singer, whose individual way with unlikely material could endear her to a MOJO audience."

*Free outdoor concerts every Friday at 18th & Vine? Maybe- according to this Pitch report.

*The Bonner Springs Chieftan catches up with Myra Taylor, a Bonner Springs native.

*The Star chats with the organizers of this weekend's Jazz in the Woods festival.

*Noted without comment: Not one of the five acts booked for the Kansas City Zoo's annual fundraiser, Jazzoo, was a jazz artist.

*The American Jazz Museum is hosting the "The Next Generation Jazz Summit" July 6-7. From a press release: With a lineup featuring the KCMO All-District Jazz Ensemble, the KCMO National Teen Poetry Slam Team, the American Jazz Museum Jazz Future ensemble, the Kansas City Youth Jazz Ensemble, the Houston All-City Jazz Ensemble and the Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Summit at 18th & Vine will be buzzing with the sounds of the talented youth who will advance jazz music and spoken word into new territories, injecting it with fresh ideas and concepts, matched with youthful energy and enthusiasm.

*St. Joseph's jazz festival is previewed in an editorial in the St. Joe News.

*The late Jay McShann will be honored at a Juneteenth celebration in Muskogee, Oklahoma, this weekend. Here's a report in the Muskogee Phoenix.

*Young trumpeter Hermon Mehari now has a MySpace account.

*National publication JazzTimes "has temporarily suspended publication of the magazine." I'm convinced that the future of jazz publishing lies with online fans sites like Plastic Sax and with a handful of government-subsidized advocates.

*Cafe Trio has opened at its new location at 4558 Main (near Jardine's).

*Don't forget about the new, improved and exportable Kansas CIty Jazz Calendar.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The always entertaining Myra Taylor was featured in The Star.

*I've been informed that Candace Evans' gig at Jardine's on Wednesday, April 1, will be her sole 2009 appearance in Kansas City.

*Plastic Sax is one of the innumerable topics discussed on a new episode of The Miles Bonny Show. Jason Harper characterizes me as "kind of a weird guy." Fair enough.

*Harper analyzes the New York TImes' piece on the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

*He also has the scoop on a Medeski Martin & Wood tribute taking place in Lawrence later this month.

*Joe Klopus turns in a particularly newsworthy column.

*Kurt Kloeblen profiles Miles Bonny.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Kansas City's blues community honored jazz great Myra Taylor at the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival. Words and images are here and here.

*Could something be happening here? The Pitch reviewed an installment of the new jazz series at the Record Bar. The Pitch also offers a free download by Brad Cox and the People's Liberation Orchestra.

*Aargh! Plastic Sax only became aware of Clarinet Fest's Kansas City convention after the fact. This enthusiast blogged the event.

*Newsweek profiled Eldar.

*Bararck Obama told Rolling Stone that his iPod includes Charlie Parker.

*Steve Penn celebrates the American Jazz Museum's budget.

*It's always interesting to gauge visitors' reactions to Kansas City. This fun tourist failed to make it to the jazz district on foot.

*Bobby Watson is big in Scotland.

*A letter writer in Topeka notes the success of the city's recent jazz festival.

(Original image of Big Joe Turner looking on at the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Although the Star's wonderful magazine feature Sunday focused on the gospel legacy of Western University, it's essential reading for anyone who hopes to fully understand the breadth of Kansas City's musical contributions. Inspired by the piece, I visited Quindaro earlier this week. I tell the story in words and pictures here.

*KCUR pleasantly surprised me with two local jazz-related features this week. A downloadable profile on drummer Brandon Draper is here. And a lengthy piece by Sylvia Maria Gross on Luz D'Sol can be accessed here.

*The Pitch profiled Myra Taylor.

*Jazz producer Teo Macero died last week. Count Basie was among the many jazz giants with whom he collaborated.

*Acclaimed trumpeter Terell Stafford plays the Folly on Friday,

(Image by Plastic Sax.)

The Wet and Wild Women of Kansas City

Music is just one element of any public appearance by The Wild Women of Kansas City. Bickering, story-telling and off-color jokes always threaten to make music an afterthought. Their free show last Sunday at Ironwoods Park in Leawood was no different.

All four women in the group- Lori Tucker, Geneva Price, Millie Edwards and Myra Taylor (left to right in the photo)- have strong personalities. Each is eager to take the lead.

Unfortunately, a sudden summer storm shortened Sunday's show. It was disappointing but not a disaster- the women have steady gigs separately and together.

The series continues August 26 with Ken Lovern's OJT.

(Original image by Plastic Sax, 8/19/07)

Myra Taylor: Our Greatest Treasure

Myra Taylor is perhaps our greatest living musical treasure. Few performers have the 90-year-old fireball's charisma and spontaneous sense of fun. She tells a cute story about her time with Harlan Leonard in this charming video. It's downright hysterical. Unfortunately, the uncouth audience captured here is not an anomaly in Kansas City.