Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Star offers a review of the Kansas City's Jazz Orchestra's debut performance at Helzberg Hall.

*Steve Kraske interviewed Kevin Mahogany on KCUR's Up to Date.

*Outside Inside Out critiques Become Light by the Project H.

*A new recording by Brian Baggett's trio is available as a free download at Bandcamp.

*The Kansas City Business Journal provides details about the Kill Devil Club, including the venue's hours and cover policy.

*KCJazzLark provides a recap of the Prairie Village Jazz Festival.

*David Hudnall's review of Hearts of Darkness' Shelf Life suggests that the band is " a meaningful, modern link to KC's jazz heritage."

*Chris Burnett offers a tease of a new composition titled "Analog Networking."

*UMKC's student newspaper attempts to inform students about Kansas City's jazz district.

*I got in over my head while messing around at the domain settings of this site's host, inadvertently making Plastic Sax difficult to locate for some readers.   I apologize.   I'm working on a fix.

*Tweet o' the Week: KCJazzConnxn- Sigh... Brian McKnight is the headliner at the KC Rhythm and Ribs Festival? That's messed up. #kcjazz

*Comment o' the Week: Cb- I totally agree with your assessment of Bill McKemy's forward-thinking approach to music and this release as leader, HIB. This recording was among those that struck me as deserving of wider recognition when I first returned home to the KC metro to live.

*From Jim Mair on behalf of Kansas City Kansas Community College: The Everette DeVan Quartet featuring vocalist Eboni Fondren will kick off a new monthly “Jazz by the Lake” noon-time concert series at Kansas City Kansas Community College Thursday, Oct. 4.  A series of six concerts featuring some of Kansas City’s most famous jazz artists, the performances will be held from noon-1 p.m. in the Conference Center adjacent to the Campus Lake on the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue…  The remainder of the schedule:
Thursday November 1- Bram Wijnands Trio
Thursday December 6- Joe Cartwright Trio
Thursday February 7- Diverse
Thursday March 7- Chris Hazelton and Friends
Thursday April 4- Tim Whitmer

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Review: Hearts of Darkness- Shelf Life

The cover of Hearts of Darkness' new album Shelf Life depicts a delectable stack of vinyl that includes titles by James Brown, Trouble Funk, Sonny Sharrock, Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament, Herbie Hancock, the Neville Brothers and Joe Williams with the Count Basie Orchestra.  The influence of each of those acts is easily discernible on the Kansas City-based band's second release. 

Shelf Life represents a significant progression for the large collective.  Although it's an imperfect document of the rapidly evolving band, Shelf Life is a first-rate party-starter by one of Kansas City's premier live acts.

"Chippin' Away," the best of the album's nine tracks, highlights the band's strengths- rapper Les Izmore's boasting, brash horn charts, an aggressive sax solo, swinging female vocalists and a vital groove.

The Bobby Watson jingle associated with Steve Kraske's Up To Date program on KCUR is really hip.  As soon as a savvy programmer claims Hearts of Darkness' brief instrumental "Come Forward" as his or her theme song, however, Up To Date's soundtrack will become the second-best in town.  Longtime fan favorite "Numeration," the deeply funky "Suspicious People" and the unruly "Standing On the Corner" provide additional highlights.  All three songs are superior to the material on the band's 2010 debut album. 

Occasional blemishes- a momentum-killing sax solo on the opening track and a couple of unmemorable songs among them- prevent Shelf Life from being the best locally-released album of 2012.  Should Hearts of Darkness continue to progress at its current rate, however, it will soon join the elite ranks of contemporary Afrobeat-related acts like Antibalas.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Pitch provides a recap of last weekend's awards blowout.  Winners include the People's Liberation Big Band ("Best Jazz Ensemble"), Mark Lowrey ("Best Jazz Solo") and Hearts of Darkness ("Best Live Act").

*Darcus Gates, New Jazz Order, Will Matthews, Bobby Waston, Kerry Strayer, JWB and Ron Gutierrez are among the musicians scheduled to appear at the 14th Street Jazz Festival.  The free event is the same day as the Prairie Village Jazz Festival.

*Jeff Harshbarger, Plastic Sax's 2011 Person of the Year, pitches Kansas City in a spot for the Kansas City Area Development Council.

*Gerald Spaits and Charles Perkins are admired by KCJazzLark.

*Kristin Shafel Omiccioli previews several upcoming jazz events.

*A reviewer doesn't mention jazz in his endorsement of Take Five Coffee.

*People who choose to live that lifestyle should know that Guardian Alien performs Wednesday, August 15, at the RecordBar.

*Jazz Times provides additional details about this weekend's Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- Are you saying Stan sounds most inspired when muffled?

*Tweet o' the Week: theprojecth- The Pitch didn't even mention us with the rest of the nominees in our category. Thanks Pitch! #pitchmusicawards

*From UMKC Theatre: “Kansas City Swing”- It’s Kansas City in the autumn of 1947 and Jackie Robinson has just integrated major league baseball. The Satchel Paige All-Stars from the Negro Leagues are gearing up to play the Bob Feller All-Stars from the Majors in a thrilling off-season match-up. But there’s a storm brewing. Baseball is about to change, and so is America. Directed by Ricardo Khan, this play is about some of the greatest stars of the Negro Leagues baseball era. It’s about jazz, and about the historic district at 18th and Vine. It’s a snapshot of America in extraordinary times and at the verge of extraordinary change. The show previews April 19 - 23 and runs April 24 – 28 at the Helen F. Spencer Theatre, Olson PAC. (Tip via R.H.)

*From Jim Mair: Auditions for  Kansas City High School All Stars Jazz Ensemble will take place on Wednesday August 29 between 6-9pm in the band room at KCKCC.  Audition material: Play Billies Bounce by Charlie Parker, Improvise in concert F Blues, Play a major scale of your choice full range of your instrument, Sight Reading.  The cost to perform in this group is $90. Payable at the first rehearsal on Wednesday September 5. The ensemble rehearses for ten weeks and will perform one or two concerts.  The director will be Origin recording Artist and ITG Competition winner Hermon Mehari.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The outstanding lineup for the Prairie Village Jazz Festival- the Karrin Allyson Quintet, the Bobby Watson Quartet, the Megan Birdsall Quartet, the Mike Metheny Quartet, the Rich Wheeler Quartet and Diverse- is revealed by KCJazzLark.

*A collection of Ahmad Alaadeen's "arrangements, manuscripts and recordings" has been donated to UMKC. A related press release is posted below.

*The Financial Times calls Logan Richardson a "cerebral improviser with a tough-toned veneer" in a review of a gig in London.  Richardson appears understandably displeased at the 1:59 mark in a brief appearance with Tony Tixier on French television.

*KCTV5 "investigates" an alleged lack of progress in the Jazz District.  Mike Hendrick's piece on Ephren Taylor Jr. offers insights into stalled plans for one high-profile development.

*Hermon Mehari promoted last Friday's concert at Crossroads KC on a television station's morning show.  Over 1,000 people attended the event that featured Diverse, Making Movies and Hearts of Darkness.

*Jeneé Osterheldt suggests that Hearts of Darkness offers a "true taste of Kansas City."

*A story about preparations for the All-Star Game includes references to the American Jazz Museum.

*The New Music Summer Festival takes place July 23-28 in Columbia.  Stephanie Berg, a graduate of Park Hill South High School, is among this year's resident composers.

*Bobby Watson will perform in Europe later this month.  The Star offers a photo of Watson playing with his big band Monday at the Blue Room.

*The saga of the namesake of this site is revisited at the American Jazz Museum's Tumblr account.

*Marc Myers' interview with Ed Shaughnessy contains several Charlie Parker-related insights.

*A couple years ago I proposed an initiative to have locally-based artists perform on the national broadcast of last night's MLB All-Star game.  I failed.  The broadcast featured performances by Tennessee-based bluesman Arthur Adams, current American Idol winner Phillip Phillips (the Georgian played a rootsy pop song), country's "platinum-selling superstar" Luke Bryan (another Georgia native) and country vocalist and Georgia native Kellie Pickler.  Alas- no Bobby Watson, Pat Metheny or Tech N9ne.

*Tweet o' the Week: Clint Ashlock- You could be hearing Bobby Watson for $5 right now. #KCJAZZ

*Comment o' the Week: Matt Leifer- Voyager!!!  This show would make the season worthwhile even if every other act was terrible. 2:00 of a quiet buildup on youtube doesn't do it justice. Buy the album: Voyager, Live by Night and get excited. Walter Smith III makes me giddy.

*From Michael Pagan: The Jazz in the Weeds Festival.  A $10 donation gets you 4 hours of live jazz, food, beverages and ice cream. An indoor facility provided in case of rain.  7607 E. 65th St., Kansas City, MO 64133.  July 21: Monte Musa Duo, Bill Crain Quartet, James Ward Band, Sons of Brazil.  July 28: Ken Loverns Organ Jazz Trio, Moon City Big Band, Killer Strayhorn, Michael Pagan Quartet.

*From UMKC: The collection of saxophonist, composer, and educator Ahmad Alaadeen has been donated to the LaBudde Special Collections and Marr Sound Archives in the Miller Nichols Library at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Fanny Dunfee, widow of the acclaimed Kansas City jazz icon, donated the collection, which includes arrangements, music manuscripts, photos, memorabilia, performance videos and audio tapes along with other material related to Alaadeen's life and career.

Renowned musician and producer Najee applauded the gift. "This is a wonderful effort to preserve the legacy of one of our jazz legends," Najee said. "I am pleased that the Marr Sound Archives will safeguard this legacy of one of the profound influences on the history of Kansas City jazz."

A 2010 recipient of the American Jazz Museum's Lifetime Achievement Award, Alaadeen was born and came of age musically in Kansas City. He first picked up the saxophone when he was in sixth grade, and later studied with Leo H. Davis, a revered music teacher at R.T. Coles High School.

Alaadeen's professional debut was with Davis' concert band when he was 14, playing E-flat horn. His first major job was playing baritone sax with the great pianist-bandleader Jay McShann.

Alaadeen attended the Kansas City Conservatory of Music, now the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, and continued his education at St. Mary's College and DePaul University. He served in the military during 1957-59, taking on the job of jazz saxophonist and principal oboist with the 4th Army Band.

Over the course of his performing career, he worked with such jazz luminaries as Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Della Reese, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, T-Bone Walker, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, and also alongside noted R&B stars, including Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Four Tops and Sam Cooke.

After returning to Kansas City, Alaadeen became a well-respected educator, teaching jazz in both the school system and privately. In 2009, Alaadeen authored The Rest of the Story: Jazz Improvisation and History, a method manual in which he shares the secrets of how he learned music, passed down to him by the masters.

Alaadeen was the recipient of the Jazz Heritage Award, the Missouri Humanities Council's Community Heritage Award, and the Missouri Arts Award. In 2004 he was presented Kansas City's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alaadeen passed away from cancer on August 15, 2010 at the age of 76.

(Original All-Star image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*From a flyer provided by a friend: Welcome to the Gold Star Lounge, the "New Home for Metro K.C. Jazz". Our opening night will be May 5, 2012 at 7pm with Sons of Brasil opening our new Jazz Venue.  Please come and join us for our Happy Hour from 5:00pm to 6:30pm and our outstanding food selections on our newly created menu which will be offered from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  Suggested donation for show is $5.00. We will also be selling ticket at $35.00 per person for our Dinner Shows featuring such performances from the McFadden Brothers, Angela Hagenbach and so many more.  I've added the the shows listed on the flyer- including a Bob James gig on May 20- to The Kansas City Jazz Calendar.  Alas, the venue lacks a web site and Facebook account.  Here we go again.

*Hearts of Darkness has a Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds for its second album.

*Ashley Hirt is the subject of an excellent Black House Improvisors' Collective interview.

*The People's Liberation Big Band is admired by KCJazzLark.

*Here's more from the recent I Rock Jazz interview with Bobby Watson.

*Michael Shults is pictured and interviewed in the June edition of Downbeat magazine.

*A California-based publication interviews Deborah Brown.

*T.J. Martley and Bill McKemy go hard at a Barnes & Noble in Leawood.

*Pop star Kenny Loggins and songwriter Arthur Hamilton sat in with David Basse and Mark Pender at a recent gig in California.  Sue Vicory  
filmed the encounter.

*Hearne Christopher reports on activity in the space once occupied by Jardine's.

*Lisa Henry is quoted in a preview of Aretha Franklin's appearance at Helzberg Hall.

*Carmen Bradford discusses her initial encounter with Count Basie.

*Here's a track from the forthcoming Pat Metheny album.

*The Bob James Jazz Festival is Saturday, May 19, in Marshall, Missouri.

*Tweet o' the Week: Django McTunes- It is a little known fact that Chris Getz of the Kansas City Royals is the son of jazz legend Stan Getz. #FakeRoyalsFacts

*Comment o' the Week: Matt Leifer- Uhhh...I'm not one to defend politicians, but I believe that the bridge leads somewhere, specifically, the other side of Brush Creek. Since when is infrastructure a waste of money? Get a grip.

*From Stan Kessler: We are having a joyous celebration of the life of Bill Caldwell, May 20, 2pm at The Blue Room. This is for those of us who knew & loved Bill, but could not make it to the funeral… Here's the format: Short set of tunes recorded by Bill by host band-Me, Kerry Strayer, Everett Devan, Bob Bowman, Mike Warren, (Jerry Hahn?). Remarks & stories by friends & family. Jam session  Tunes from Bill's CD projects played intermittently throughout.  The idea is for this to be fun and light, as Bill would have wanted it. This will last about 2 hours. There will be his CDs for sale, and part of the proceeds go to his wife, Kim, to help defray funeral costs.

*From Michael Pagan: Kansas City Youth Jazz organizers have re-set their annual MASTERS OF JAZZ fundraiser for 6:30 PM on Sunday, June 10, 2012 in Room 19 of the Education Center on the Metropolitan Community College Penn Valley campus… The event will include dinner and music provided by the Abel Ramirez big band and KCYJ groups for listening and dancing. Tickets cost $75 per person. A Patrons’ Party/reception will take place at 6:00 PM for donations of $150 or more. Dance only tickets will be available for $20. All proceeds will benefit Kansas City Youth Jazz.

(Original image of the new Troost Avenue bridge by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

Hearts of Darkness began receiving lavish praise at Plastic Sax in 2009. Even though a portion of my enthusiasm for the ensemble undoubtedly stems from the scarcity of Afrobeat bands in the Midwest, I stand by every word of my purple prose. I might be more critical if I regularly travelled to Lagos. That's why the opportunity to hear Hearts of Darkness open for Seun Kuti at the Granada on Friday, March 30, could be revelatory. How do the local heroes stack up against an act that includes members of Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 band? No pressure, guys.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The January 24 edition of KCUR's weekly KC Currents program features a segment titled "Where To Next For KC Jazz?". (Full disclosure: the halting, stilted voice is mine.)

*KCJazzLark challenges the premise of a January 15 Plastic Sax post. While he makes several well-reasoned points, I still think the music would be best served by a gradual shift away from increasingly irrelevant terminology.

*The KC Sound Collective are the subject of a nice introductory video.

*KCUR's Jabulani Leffal spoke to Mark Lowrey and Hermon Mehari about Kansas City's jazz scene. The conversation streams here.

*Hearne Christopher checks in with Jardine's Beena. He also provides another update on the ongoing ownership saga. And Christopher assesses the health of Kansas City's jazz scene.

*The apparent absence of progress at Jardine's is noted by Tony's Kansas City.

*Here's a review of last weekend's three-day Jazz Winterlude festival. Libby Hanssen reviewed the performance by Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Band.

*Footage of an excellent band led by Brandon Draper is featured in a video showcasing the new venue at the Kansas City Academy. (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

*Steve Kraske interviewed Chris Brubeck.

*Bobby Watson will be featured in a concert during the 2012-13 season of the Kansas City Symphony.

*Hermon Mehari is interviewed here.

*Will Combs of the American Jazz Museum talks about his job.

*A soprano sax mouthpiece once owned by the late Alaadeen is for sale at eBay.

*West Coast drummer Bill Goodwin will be part of David Basse's band on February 3 at BB's Lawnside BBQ.

*Black House Improvisors' Collective is soliciting a new round of participants. And Hunter Long throws down a challenge.

*Here's the new 45 from Hearts of Darkness.

*The second annual Bob James Jazz Festival will take place in Marshall, Missouri, on May 19.

*Jon Poses reports on the recent JEN convention.

*Anyone remember Dry Jack? Here's a '70s-tastic slide show.

*Two notable Kansas City musicians contribute to the mayhem in an appearance at an Apple Retail Store.

*Tweet o' the Week: KCJazzConnxn- I never get sick of bragging about KC jazz. So many good players from here or cleaning up abroad! Despite club downfall, music keeps coming.

*The Plastic Sax comment of the week: Be-Bop- What's the matter? Swing too much? Not enough multimedia for you? Don't play sloppy and work with little tin drums? Don't have a dancer or little hats to wear? You're slippin' Bill. Been reading too much Nick Payton's crap. Hate to tell you, most of the shit being played in this poor town has got boring written all over it. Watched and listened to some of your "J" word picks of the year... let's talk boring. Garage band bullshit. My opinion, that's all. As for Anonymous asking if it was PBT? Let's chalk that comment up to musical ignorance. Instead of asking for a "Disney on Ice" experience of self gratifying "jazz" that you find playing at your weekly gigs in KC to keep you visually entertained, how about remembering the music comes first. I admire the cats in this town that DO remember that. Oh, and I've seen you close your eyes at gigs and concentrate on the music.

*From the American Jazz Museum: Benny Golson Quartet- 2 Shows: 8:00 & 9:30. $25 One Show- $40 Both Shows. (Student Pricing - $20 One Show. $30 Both Shows). Buster Williams- Bass, Carl Allen- Drums, Mike LeDonne- Piano. (Saturday, February 25.)

*From Jim Mair: Information about the 11th Annual Kansas City Jazz Camp is here.

*From Mike Ning: Michael Feinstein performed a concert with the Kansas City Symphony on February 11th, 2011. He came with a film crew for a documentary for PBS. Among the numerous stops, he paid the Mutual Musicians Foundation at 18th and Vine a visit during its early morning Jazz Jam (Saturday morning on the 12th of February from 1-5 am, to be specific). The place was jam packed with fans from the concert and regular patrons. Michael was urged to sit in with the house band: Denyse Walcott - Host / Vocalist, Mike Ning - Pianist, Joe Straws - Bass, Victor Perelmuter - drums. He did a few numbers and brought the house down. Proceedings were taped for the documentary to be aired on Friday, February 3rd, on PBS, Channel 19, Kansas City.

(Original image of the Matt Otto Quintet with Shay Estes performing January 201 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.)

Now's the Time: Hearts of Darkness

I can't remember my excuse for not attending Farm Aid at Livestrong Sporting Park on August 13. At least I don't have to wonder how Hearts of Darkness fared in its opening slot. It's weird seeing the band on such a massive stage. Lest jazz purists protest Plastic Sax's ongoing endorsement of the band, I'll remind skeptics that in 2009 I suggested that "Hearts of Darkness convey the spirit, if not the sound, of Kansas City's (jazz) heyday." The band performs Saturday, December 17, at the RecordBar.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Tim Finn praises Kansas City's homegrown talent in an excellent essay. Karrin Allyson, Mike Dillon, Jeff Harshbarger, Hearts of Darkness and Krystle Warren are mentioned in Finn's piece, but that's obviously just a small fraction of the area's jazz and jazz-related talent. In the spirit of Finn's piece, I'll suggest that infrequent Plastic Sax readers shouldn't hesitate to catch international stars like Joe Lovano and Christian McBride when they come to town, but they should also know that the Kansas City Jazz Calendar is loaded with listings for performances by some of the world's best jazz musicians.

*Recipients of The Pitch's 2011 music awards included Heart of Darkness, "Best Jazz Ensemble," and Mark Lowrey, "Best Jazz Solo Artist."

*The largely forgotten career of Blind Boone is revisited by KCUR's KC Currents.

*Megan Birdsall's ongoing medical problems are summarized by KCJazzLark.

*This year's Charlie Parker Jazz Festival includes appearances by Toots Thielmans, James Carter, the Archie Shepp Quartet and Anat Cohen. As thousands of New Yorkers celebrate jazz royalty in Tompkins Square Park, a few dozen Kansas Citians will congregate for a graveside service at Lincoln Cemetery.

*Chris Burnett is the interim Marketing/Communications Manager at the American Jazz Musuem.

*A Logan Richardson gig in London is reviewed by The Financial Times.

*Shay Estes (pictured above) is in and the Ukrainians are out at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival. The Prairie Village Post has the story. (Tip via PF.)

*The forthcoming We Always Swing season in Columbia, Missouri, is very impressive.

*The new owner of Overland Park's Intentions promises that her venue will feature live jazz two nights a week.

*Mary Lou Williams: The Next 100 Years, a new album by the New York-based Virginia Mayhew Quartet, was released yesterday.

*Here's a set of video uploads from last weekend's gig at Davey's featuring Alaturka and Malachy Papers.

*Additional video from the recent Black On Both Sides event at the Blue Room was recently uploaded to YouTube.

*St. Louis Jazz Notes reports that Joe McPhee, Matthew Shipp and John Hollenbeck's Claudia Quartet are among the acts scheduled to perform in the 2011-12 season of St. Louis' New Music Circle.

*Chicago-based critic Howard Reich reviews a Charlie Parker-inspired performance by Donald Harrison, Jr.

*Tweet o' the Week: thesoundkc: Hosting a late night, multi-genre PARTY!!!!!!! on Saturday, August 27th at the Firehouse on Troost! Great DJs and bands lined up. No cover!!!

*From Jim Mair: WHAT: The Kansas City High School All Star Jazz Ensemble. WHO: The best of the best from both sides of the state line. WHEN: For ten weeks beginning Wednesday August 7 from 6:30 to 9:30pm WHERE: ...Kansas City Kansas Community College. COST: $90. Director: Hermon Mehari... Please have any interested students contact Jim Mair 913-288-7149.

*From Jim Mair: The 2012 edition of "The Kansas City Jazz Summit" will be held April 25-27. In short, The Kansas City Jazz Summit will cater to Middle School and High School Jazz Bands, Jazz Combos and Jazz Choirs. We will have three categories and three performance sites all at KCKCC. More information is available here.

(Original image of Gerald Dunn, Shay Estes and Matt Otto performing August 11 at the Blue Room by Plastic Sax.)

Plastic Sax's Top Ten Concerts and Albums of 2010

A couple years ago a Plastic Sax reader suggested that I reveal my personal musical preferences. I demurred. Keeping my tastes to myself seemed appropriate at the time. As this site has become more prominent, however, whatever veil of anonymity once existed has been shredded. Here are my favorite jazz albums and jazz performances of 2010.

Albums
1. Bobby Watson- The Gates BBQ Suite
2. Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green- Apex
3. Esperanza Spalding- Chamber Music Society
4. Alaturka- Tamam Abi
5. Mulatu Astatke- Mulatu Steps Ahead
6. Brad Mehldau- Highway Rider
7. Hearts of Darkness (self-titled)
8. The People's Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City (self-titled)
9. The Bad Plus- Never Stop
10. Mark Lowrey- Live at Jardine's

Performances
1. Marilyn Maye- Jardine's
2. Bobby Watson- Blue Room
3. Matt Otto Quartet- Jardine's
4. Pat Metheny- Uptown Theater
5. Stefon Harris and Blackout- White Recital Hall
6. Deborah Brown- Blue Room
7. Alaturka- Jardine's
8. The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra- Yardley Hall
9. The People's Liberation Big Band- Record Bar
10. Bobby Watson with students- GiGi's Jazz Inn

(Original image of Sachal Vasandani at the Folly Theater by Plastic Sax.)

Review: Hearts of Darkness

The highest praise that can be heaped on the stellar new self-titled recording by Hearts of Darkness is that the document successfully captures much of the excitement of the eighteen-piece band's live performances. The album crackles with energy.

By the time I was born the heyday of Kansas City jazz was already decades past. As I noted in 2009, however, using roughly the same instrumentation as the legendary jazz bands of the '20s and '30s Hearts of Darkness evoke the vitality of that era. While a few local musicians specialize in a throwback style, their work is inevitably imbued with a sense of nostalgia. Loosely rooted in the afrobeat sound of Fela, Hearts of Darkness recall the lively sensibility of Benny Moten while crafting a completely contemporary approach.

A free download of "Step First Look Last" is available here. The entire album will be available for purchase at the band's July 10 gig at Crosstown Station .

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

The Ten Best Jazz Shows of 2009

Here's a list of my ten favorite live jazz performances of the year. If you think you think you saw ten better jazz gigs in Kansas City, well, you may be right. I encourage you to post your picks as comments.

1. Esperanza Spalding- The Folly Theater
She's an intriguing jazz bassist today. She'll be a household name by 2019.

2. The People's Liberation Big Band- The Pistol Social Club
I'm down for almost everything this collective does, but their scoring of The Battleship Potemkin blew my mind.

3. Steve Coleman- The Blue Room
So out it was in.

4. Karrin Allyson- Jardine's
She's become a master.

5. Afinidad- The Folly Theater
A fresh approach.

6. The Blue Note 7- The Gem Theater
The all-stars were astounding.

7. Tony Bennett- The Midland Theater
The legend was backed by a jazz band.

8. Logan Richardson- Jardine's
Fire.

9. The Hearts of Darkness- Crosstown Station
I wrote that the ensemble conveys "the spirit, if not the sound, of Kansas City's heyday."

10.Black House Improvisors' Collective- City Center Plaza
Fun, exciting and unrestrained.

(Original image of drummers Jeff Hamilton and Tommy Ruskin by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Here's a bit of welcome news. According to an article in the Star, the Majestic is reopening under new ownership. Jazz, apparently, is still in the mix. "The Sebrees put a 1910 piano in the dining room for live jazz during happy hour. The basement jazz club will be open on Friday and Saturday nights."

*Kim Park has returned. "It is great to be back in Kansas City after spending two years in Nashville," Park writes. "There is a thriving jazz community here, and it is a pleasure to be back." He performs this Saturday afternoon at Jardine's.

*I learned of a major schedule change at the Blue Room through the KCJazzLark blog. The November 5 appearance by Pat Martino has been canceled. It's been replaced by an all-star bill of T.S. Monk, John Faddis and Bobby Watson.

*The Star's Tim Finn profiles The Hearts of Darkness.

*KCUR program KC Currents featured pianist Bram Wijnands.

*A song from Angela Hagenbach's new album is available for free download here.

*Here's the Star's review of Saturday's stunning Afinidad concert at The Folly Theater.

*Guitarist Will Matthews is recognized in Steve Penn's column.

*Mark Edelman's weekly jazz column runs here and here.

*From a CampKC guide to Kansas City nightlife: "My lover and I were urged to leave the Mutual Musicians Foundation for holding hands. Not fun. How we miss bar Natasha, where we could always pay the servers to camp it up and sing 'Defying Gravity' before closing."

*From Gary of AfterGroove: "This has been another good week for us receiving national airplay. For the 2nd week, we made to top 10 for "new adds" and "spincrease", according to Smoothjazz.com. We are also on www.citysoundsradio.com . We have a web radio interview scheduled in December with KCLIVE.com."

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Discovering the Heart(s) of Darkness

Members of the horn section engage in fiery battles. Controlled substances are openly consumed as dozens of dancers- most of them in their twenties- gyrate wildly to the 17-piece big band. A charismatic front man leads the charge like a modern day Cab Calloway. It's a raucous scene straight out of Pendergast-era Kansas City.

Yet the most exciting big band in Kansas City isn't exactly a jazz act. The Hearts of Darkness play Afrobeat. Rather than attempting to recreate jazz charts, the loose grooves associated with Fela serve as the ensemble's point of departure. This rather antiseptic video barely begins to reflect the celebratory atmosphere of a typical show.

Far from a musty academic exercise, the Hearts of Darkness convey the spirit, if not the sound, of Kansas City's heyday. The Hearts of Darkness deserve recognition from the jazz audience because their visceral big band power is the soundtrack to the same exuberant scenes that undoubtedly accompanied the bands of Benny Moten, Harlan Leonard and Count Basie.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)