Now's the Time: Sylwester Ostrowski

The Polish saxophonist Sylwester Ostrowski is one of several notable musicians slated to perform at the Ship on Thursday, February 6, in a show titled Searching for Charlie Parker.  The embedded video captures two aspects of Ostrowski’s sound.  

Concert Review: Tatsuya Nakatani at the Ship

For a recital featuring a manic percussionist who blows into cymbals and mercilessly batters small instruments, Tatsuya Nakatani’s appearance at the 1900 Building in April was a remarkably formal affair.  (Plastic Sax review.)

Tucked into a corner of the West Bottoms speakeasy the Ship with keyboardist Shawn E. Hansen, steel guitarist Mike Stover and bassist Jeff Harshbarger, Nakatani gave a pleasingly casual performance with an entirely different sound on Wednesday, October 9.

Saxophonist Assif Tsahar accentuated Nakatani’s sharp edges at the 1900 Building six months ago, but the Kansas City based musicians situated the percussionist’s enormous bag of improvisational tricks in a luxurious bed of hypnotic grooves.  Hansen added surgical slashes of melody, Stover contributed spooky drones and Harbarger provided a vigorous rhythmic pulse. 

What could have been a self-indulgent mess was instead
an exercise in spellbinding minimalism.  I was obligated to leave 45 minutes into the opening jam but I’d like to think the otherworldly quartet didn’t let up for another two hours.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Let Your Backbone Slip

A mild commotion broke out at Capsule on Thursday, July 25, when a phone started playing music during a performance by a trio led by Peter Schlamb.  The panic during the 15 seconds it took a woman to silence her device resembled a tense scene from a horror film in which bloodthirsty monsters are attracted to noise.

The ostensible goal of the monthly Spine Showcase recitals is to provide a forum for forward-thinking jazz artists to perform for attentive audiences.  The brief interruption caused by the noisy phone allowed the 50 other people in the room to silently castigate the embarrassed offender.  The excellent performance by Schlamb (keyboards and vibraphone), DeAndre Manning (electric bass) and Ryan J. Lee (drums) helped judgy patrons quickly forget about the disruption.  The free beer and the absence of a cover charge also helped to allay any grievances.

Following a break featuring complimentary cake, Lee led a group featuring Andrew McGhie (saxophone), Andrew Ouellette (keyboards) and DeAndre Manning (electric bass).  The quartet evoked the most compelling fusion groups of the late 1970s.  Even though Lee’s emphatic drumming recoiled off the concrete floor like dangerous shrapnel, the sound field for both sets was remarkably clear.

Spine’s proposition is less translucent.  The initiative, intent and effort of the primary organizer are undeniably commendable, but I’m less convinced about the master plan.  I’m not among the 59 people who donated $4,655 to Spine’s successful Kickstarter campaign.  The organization’s assertion that it’s “showcasing local musicians playing the original material they don't get to perform anywhere else” seems disingenuous.

A free-jazz freakout at the Brick and a jubilant brass band excursion at the Ship transpired on the same night as the concert by Schlamb and Lee.  I’m fairly certain the featured musicians weren’t given any directives at either venerable nightclub.  The people who operate Kansas City’s music venues might rightfully insist that competing directly against a non-profit project that offers free beer and free admission is decidedly unhelpful.

Spine’s most valuable mandate is the creation of another proper listening room.  Boorish gabbing during musical performances of any stripe is my biggest pet peeve.  The grievance is particularly painful during acoustic jazz performances.  I’m grateful for any opportunity to hear innovative musicians work in respectful environments.  That’s why I’ve been a regular at the improvised music showcases hosted by Westport Coffee House, RecordBar and the 1900 Building for years.  Talking is strongly discouraged during the frequent jazz performances at the establishments.

I also expect to pay a cover charge and buy my own drinks.  I voluntarily dropped a few bills in the bucket on Thursday.  I’d like to see Spine make the transition into a self-sustaining entity for which substantial ticket and drink sales cover all expenses.  A robust jazz scene should be rooted in organic audience development rather than in sympathetic handouts.

(Original image of Peter Schlamb, DeAndre Manning and Ryan J. Lee by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Earl Harvin

It’s going to get loud at the Ship on Saturday, January 5.  Earl Harvin and Mike Dillon are likely to make a racket akin to the percussive workout in the embedded video.  Two dozen additional jazz gigs on Saturday are listed at The Kansas City Jazz Calendar.

Now's the Time: The Sextet

In his recommendation of the jazz-oriented band’s show at the Ship on Saturday, January 6, a writer for The Kansas City Star suggests that The Sextet tends to “split the difference between righteous jams and venerable swing.”  The Kansas City Jazz Calendar lists dozens of additional options for the weekend.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Details about the Mutual Musicians Foundation's “Jazz: No Language Required Bloggers Tour" are available here.  KC Jazz Lark opines on the event.

*The Kansas City Star notes the new legal status of The Ship.

*Doug Talley reports that The Chess Players: The Music of Wayne Shorter, his quartet's fifth album, will be released on June 21.   The band performs at Zona Rosa on Thursday, June 19, at Take Five Coffee + Bar on Saturday, June 21, and at the Blue Room on July 5.

*The Pitch recommends Brian Steever's gig at Westport Coffee House.

*Clint Ashlock posted another interesting entry to his blog.

*Earlier this week, Chris Burnett advised Plastic Sax that "(w)e are going into the studio this morning. We will begin recording my new CD."

*Todd Wilkinson uploaded a 53-minute video of a 1998 Boko Maru performance at Fedora's to YouTube.

*KCUR offers a timeline of the Black Archives of Mid-America.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Tampa-based vocalist for his Neon Jazz podcast.

*Tweet o' the Week: Ryan Heinlein- Wow! @PorchFestKC was wonderful. Highlight of the year for us. It was everything we love about our city. Thank you for having us!

*Comment o' the Week: Gary- it's a weekly hour but below it states the event is 7:30-9, the time must fly!

*From a press release: This summer nineteen University of Kansas students will share their extraordinary talents on the international stage when they embark on a whirlwind European tour.  In early July, KU Jazz Ensemble I will play eight shows in eleven days, with dates in France, Germany and Switzerland - including appearances by invitation at two of the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals - the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Jazz À Vienne Festival. The ensemble and its director, Dan Gailey, will be joined on all performances by two very special guests - celebrated Kansas City-based jazz vocalist Deborah Brown and Steve Leisring, world-renowned trumpeter and KU faculty.  Local audiences can preview selections from the repertoire for the European dates at a special kick-off concert at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 3 at the Lied Center of Kansas, sponsored by the KU School of Music and the Lied Center of Kansas. The event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required…

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Ship, long a shadowy refuge of fortunate insiders, has gone legit.  The jazz-friendly West Bottoms venue at 1217 Union Avenue is now "generally open for business Tuesday-Saturday 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with occasional closings on the weekends for private events."  Live music "Pleasure Cruises" begin at 10 p.m. on Thursdays.  The Project H is featured this week.

*The Pitch has posted the ballot for its 2014 Pitch Music Awards.  The nominees for best jazz ensemble are Chris Hazelton's Boogaloo 7, Eboni and the Ivories, Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle, the Peter Schlamb Quintet and Project H.  The nominees for best jazz solo artist are Brett Jackson, Hermon Mehari, Matt Otto, Megan Birdsall and Shay Estes.

*The Pitch calls radio program 12th Street Jump "a weekly hour of bad jokes and exceptional jazz."

*Tweet o' the Week: Coleman Hawkins Jazz- “@theprojecth: Project H is nominated for a @TheFastPitch music award again. Go vote!” Come out and see them Friday night downtown #stjomo

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- 'free' means we don't really have to give a sh*t about it.. i'm here for the booze and to schmooze with my boss and his cronies" and commenter 1021, you forgot to add "hordes of affluent mostly white people' f*cking hipsters and their irony..

*From Michael Pagán: The newly assembled Mike Pagán Big Band will perform Saturdays June 14th and July 12th, 2pm-5pm at Piropo’s Piano Bar. The 18-piece ensemble will feature some of the premier jazz musicians of the region playing new, never-before-heard music. Wait till you see and hear who's in this band! There is a jazz jam session at Piropo's every Saturday that has been going for over a year. Piropo’s is located in the Briarcliff Village Shopping Center, 4141 N. Mulberry Drive, KCMO.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)