Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Pitch heralds the new version of Take Five Coffee + Bar.

*KC Jazz Lark reviewed albums by Diverse, the Project H and Shades of Jade.

*Pat Metheny won the Guitar category and the The Pat Metheny Unity Group took the honors in the Jazz Group and Jazz Album categories of the 2014 DownBeat Readers Poll.

*The Kansas City Star previewed a concert featuring Imani Winds and the Harlem Quartet.

*KCPT aired a nice feature on Brad Cox and Jennifer Owen.  (It starts at the 8:30 mark.)

*Joe Klopus previews Miguel Zenón's return to the Blue Room.

*Chris Burnett considers the concept of balance.

*Jack Wilkins is among Joe Dimino's latest interview subjects for Neon Jazz.

*Tweet o' the Week: Next On TCM- The jazz band's leader gets mixed up with gangster in '20s Kansas City. [Off topic: Go Royals!] #TCM

*From the KU School of Music: The University of Kansas Jazz Ensemble I will collaborate with the Kansas City-based group The Sons of Brasil for a special performance at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2014, at Lawrence Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students… For this extraordinary concert event, KU faculty, current and former student composers have written new arrangements of selections from The Sons of Brasil’s catalog to include a big band…

*From Take Five Coffee + Bar: Here it is, the weekend we've been working toward for months, when we all get to find out together just how much musical energy the new Take Five Coffee + Bar can generate. We have three high-energy jazz performances, a showcase of the kind of fun you'll find nowhere else on the planet. This weekend is our statement, our offering, and our best explanation of why we love Kansas City and its jazz community most of all… Friday, November 31, 8pm: Parallax Costume Party. $5 cover… Saturday, November 1, 8 pm: The People's Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City. No cover. Inaugural Jazz Brunch, Sunday, November 2, 10am - 2pm: Jazz Brunch with the Mark Lowrey Trio. No cover for brunches.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Joe Klopus crafted an invaluable summary of Nathan Davis' career.  The native of Kansas City, Kansas, performs at the Gem Theater on Saturday.

*A celebration of the life of Dionne Jeroue was documented by KCJazzLark.

*Bobby Watson discusses Horizon with a Pennsylvania-based journalist.  The publication gave the band's concert a rave review.

*Black House shares a blooper reel.

*The Pitch advises readers of the Sons' of Brasil's regular gigs at Broadway Jazz Club.

*The Jazz Journalists Association named Jon Poses of Columbia, Missouri, a "jazz hero".

*Tweet o' the Week: Brian Baggett- I like metronomes. Good times!

*From a press release: Kansas City based group Diverse is preparing to release their second album in early May. “Our Journey” is a project of all original jazz music that was recorded in Paris, France, and features the core members Hermon Mehari on trumpet, Ryan Lee on drums, and Ben Leifer on the bass. Parisian pianist Tony Tixier augments the ensemble throughout and special guest alto saxophonist Logan Richardson plays on a few numbers. Diverse will celebrate the release of this album at the Blue Room in Kansas City on May 9th… It will feature the core members and pianist Tony Tixier who will be flown in from Paris. Start time is 8:30 PM with a $10 admission.

*I've been surprised and delighted to receive a few complaints regarding my failure to update the Kansas City Jazz Calendar.  I apologize.  I hope to fulfill my obligations soon.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Sue Vicory's film Kansas City Jazz and Blues: Past, Present & Future will be televised by KCPT on June 30 at 8:30 p.m.

*Black House Improvisors' Collective shares new sounds in an all-around excellent post.

*Sons of Brasil is appreciated by KCJazzLark.

*ARC created its own YouTube channel.

*Heads up- Turntable.fm might be the best music-oriented social media site yet. Access is granted through Facebook.

*Tweet o' the Week: Clint Ashlock: New Jazz Order @ Harlings. Tonight. 9-12. If you don't come, @michaelshults will eat your canned beans. He's hungry. #realthreat #kcjazz

*Via Facebook: Original Flavor: July 9 at Crosstown Station: This show will encompass elements of Hip Hop, Jazz and R&B, but it will contain a setlist of original material from the band and its vocal acts... The band will also collaborate with DJ Ataxic for a unique musical cover section. During this portion of the show, the DJ will spin an a cappella from a well known artist. The band will recreate the original musical composition behind the vocals. Participants include Dominique Saunders, Les Izmore, Reach and Diverse.

(Original image of last weekend's Jazz In the Woods festival by Plastic Sax.)

The Sons of Brasil: An Appreciation

The skies were cloudy and the breeze was chilly as the Sons of Brasil performed Sunday at the Plaza Art Fair. Even so, I managed to acquire a sunburn as I enjoyed the band's ninety-minute set. Such is the power of suggestion. The ensemble momentarily convinced me that I had been transported to a resort in Rio.

I don't know nearly enough about commercial Brazilian jazz to compare the quality of the Sons of Brasil's music to the works of better-known acts like Azymuth. I can state with absolute certainty, however, that there was no other Kansas City-based band I would rather have heard yesterday morning.

The Sons of Brasil can be as pleasant as the breeziest smooth jazz act. But they're not lightweights. The band's members include several of Kansas City's most respected jazz musicians. It's not necessary to appreciate the band, but careful listening is rewarded. Theirs is music that works at every level.

I don't care if it's an indoor gig- the next time I catch the band I'm bringing suntan lotion.

(Original image of the Sons of Brasil by Plastic Sax.)

Daniel Andersen: The Plastic Sax Interview with the Director of The Prairie Village Jazz Festival

The Prairie Village Jazz Festival is just as promising as it is unlikely. Curious about how the ambitious September 11 event came about, I conducted the following email interview with festival director Daniel Andersen.

Plastic Sax: As a jazz enthusiast and jazz blogger, I'm thrilled by the Prairie Village Jazz Festival. The lineup is amazing. But I have to ask- why Prairie Village? And why jazz rather than bluegrass, blues or classical music?

Daniel Anderson: As a member of the Prairie Village Arts Council it was a natural fit to bring live performance to Prairie Village. Jazz seemed to be a natural fit given the area's history of this uniquely American art form.

PS: Eldar aside, are you aware of any special connections between Prairie Village and the jazz idiom?

DA: Prairie Village itself other than Eldar doesn't have a strict jazz connection, but as part of the KC area, we have selected artists with special ties to this region.

PS: How Is the festival being financed?

DA: The festival is presented by The Prairie Village Arts Council, The City of Prairie Village and the Prairie Village Municipal Foundation. Financing comes from our generous sponsors, grants and event partnerships.

PS: Do you have any experience in organizing festivals?

DA: This is my first full festival, but have planned many large events.

PS: The lineup is absolutely stellar. Were Karrin Allyson, The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, Eldar, David Basse, Sons of Brasil and Killer Strayhorn your first picks? Who else was on your list? What went into the selection process?

A: The selection process was a group effort with numerous other acts considered. The choices were made easier when we decided to concentrate on artists with a tie to this area. We look forward to next year and the opportunity to bring more great jazz performers to the festival.

PS: What's the goal of the festival? Is there anything you hope to accomplish in addition to presenting great music?

DA: The goal is to celebrate and promote jazz music with the residents of Prairie Village and surrounding areas. In the future we hope to raise enough money with the festival to develop an amphitheater in Harmon Park that showcases year round performance events.

PS: How many people do you expect to attract?

DA: We are being optimistic that this free event will attract 5,000 - 10,000 people.

PS: Why did you decide to make it a free event?

DA: As a free event we feel that we can stimulate a greater awareness and promote the appreciation of jazz to a broader audience.

PS: Do you hope to make it an annual event?

DA: Yes, we have already started planning next year's festival.

PS: What will the stage setup be like? Will the audience be looking down toward the Prairie Village Pool or up toward the pavilion at the west side of the park?

DA: The stage will be set up on top of the skate park facing uphill towards the pavilion at the west side of the park. We feel this arrangement creates a natural amphitheater.


(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.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*"Kansas City's Top Jazz Club Jardine's Goes Heavy Metal." That's the headline attached to Hearne Christopher's report on Jardine's attempt to make money on Monday nights. As reflected on the Kansas City Jazz Calendar, Jardine's no longer features jazz on Mondays. It's a hit to Kansas City's reputation as a jazz town, but if rock'n'roll can finance the remaining jazz schedule at Jardine's, the Plastic Sax staff enthusiastically supports the move. And thankfully, the Blue Room still offers a stellar Monday-night jazz lineup.

*The self-titled debut album by Diverse will be released by Origin Records on July 21. The group is composed of Hermon Mehari (trumpet), William Sanders (tenor), John Brewer (keyboards), Ben Leifer (bass) and Ryan Lee on drums. The recording was produced by Bobby Watson, who appears on one track.

*KCUR's Up To Date will broadcast "a conversation with area jazz group the Sons of Brasil with guest host Bill Anderson" Thursday at 11am. As always, the show will be available as a free downloadable podcast.

*A concert by Bobby Watson, Jaleel Shaw and the UMKC Concert Jazz Band is posted at Vimeo. (Tip via Michael Shults.)

*Steve Penn sticks up for the American Jazz Museum.

*A combination book signing and birthday party is being held for Alaadeen on July 28 at the Mutual Musicians Foundation. The 75-year-old is promoting The Rest of the Story: Jazz Improvisation and History.

*An NPR employee originally from Kansas City reminisces about bassist Ray Brown.

*Jason Harper laments the announcement that Shawnee's Needmore Discs will close in August.

*Mark Edelman talks to Joe Klopus about 12 O'Clock Jump.

*A blogger shares her appreciation of Jardine's.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*I suspect the future of jazz looks a lot like this- young, arty, government-subsidized and shared via Twitter.

*All About Jazz enthusiastically reviewed Sons of Brazil's While You Were Out.

*Steve Paul endorses Trio All.

*The sequel to the Metheny Music Foundation video "Pages From the Scrapbook" has been posted at YouTube. Additionally, Mike Metheny's hilarious essay on the noise level in area jazz clubs is once again available at his site.

*Kansas City-based writer Robert Folsom reviews reissues of albums by Freddie Hubbard, Art Tatum and other jazz greats at his new site.

*Drummer Al Foster, 65, plays Jardine's October 14-15.

*Carmell Jones is perhaps the most important "forgotten" Kansas City jazz musician. The trumpeter now has an entry at Jazz.com.

*The co-chair of KCRiverFest laments the absence of a 2009 Rhythm and Ribs event.

*Rick Hellman profiled artist Janet Kuemmerlein. He notes that she "has embarked upon a series of portraits of female jazz singers." The series includes the likenesses of Marilyn Maye, Karrin Allyson and Carol Comer.

*Joe Klopus previewed area appearances by drummer Allison Miller.

*John Brewer announces the release of a forthcoming recording project.

*I spotted this text at the Mutual Musicians Foundation's site: August 29: ...is the birthday of Charlie “Bird” Parker. That’s a Saturday and on that day at “The Foundation” there will be 5 special events: 1. MUSICIANS! At 10AM a photo will be taken of all Musicians on the front steps of the Foundation (you remember one was taken in 1999 so this will be a 10 year anniversary). 2. Friends of the Foundation! just after the Musicians photo another photo will be taken of any and all friends of the Foundation (all friends including musicians). 3. FLAGS OF FAME – On each light pole between 18th & 19th Streets on HIGHLAND, banners will be hung and each banner will depict one or two musicians who have been important to JaZZ in Kansas City 4. JAZZ on Stage (you know it will be good). 5. Historian Sonny Gibson bring displays and tell about the life of Charlie Parker. August 30 After the Sunday salute to “Bird” at the Cemetery, all are welcome to come to “The Foundation” for JAZZ and fried Chicken (no entry fee and free Chicken until it is gone).

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)