Milton's

One of the most crucial components of my jazz education was totally illegal. I discovered that Milton's Tap Room on Main Street would serve me alcohol when I was still a teenager. The fact that Milton's was a jazz-oriented tavern was initially a secondary consideration. But I quickly became fascinated by the impressive collection of jazz albums prominently displayed behind the bar. Hearing scratchy recordings by Grant Green and Jimmy Smith in the smoky, scotch-drenched joint demonstrated to me that jazz was anything but a stiff, academic exercise.

(Image nicked from the internet.)

Ben Webster Will Break Your Heart

Ben Webster was cooler than you. The Kansas City native's ballad work, as exemplified by his playing here on "Chelsea Bridge," could make you cry. It doesn't hurt that he's abetted by sterling musicians at this 1959 television session. Here's a bit of solace- pianist Hank Jones is still going strong at 79.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Joe Klopus has me excited about Dennis Winslett's new band.

*Food'n'Things congratulates Dean Hampton on his official status as an Elder Statesmen.

*The Croatian men in the Donna Lee Saxophone Quartet base their sound on Bobby Watson's 29th Street Saxophone Quartet. There's even a video. Go figure.

*Are you soaking up the Art Pepper documentary on YouTube? It's hip, man.

*If Michael Buble counts as "jazz," he's easily the genre's most popular artist. He'll be at the Sprint Center on March 7. (Tip via Back To Rockville.)

(Image appropriated from the internets.)

Gregory Hickman-Williams Tribute

The death of Gregory Hickman-Williams on August 26, 2006, was a devastating loss. The vocalist had just completed the amazing Passages. I wrote a glowing review of the album while Hickman-Williams was hospitalized. Per this handbill, a tribute to Hickman-Williams will be held January 20 at Jardine's.

Emily Remler Talks To Ruth Rhoden

The YouTube treasures just keep on comin'. Here's beloved Kansas City jazz personality Ruth Rhoden interviewing guitarist Emily Remler in 1989. Unlike Rhoden's infamous exchanges with Ginny Coleman on KCUR's Just Jazz, her conversation with Remler is merely mildly awkward. Here's some live footage from the Boulevard Beat, which I believe was located in the space now occupied by Lulu's Thai Noodle Shop at 333 Southwest Boulevard. Remler died the following year.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Hey, the jazz museum followed through on my idea about hosting a jazz film series! They even kicked it off with a Basie-themed night. What's that? Oh. Unfortunately, the series is happening at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, not at Kansas City's American Jazz Museum.

*The Rocky Mountain News gave Charles Gatschet a nice gig preview.

*Plastic Sax readers know I'm extremely fond of the Foundation's "Rush Hour" on Fridays. Harold O'Neal is on tap this week.

*It's only indirectly related to jazz, but this interesting feature story in the Los Angeles Times concerns a documentary film about Kansas City's downtown revival.

(Image of dessicated reptile from my internet friend Bruce Dene. The ex-Kansas Citian's outstanding Flickr collection is here.)

I Can't Get Started: Retail Blues

I often wonder if I'm the last person in Kansas City still spending money on jazz recordings.

After all, everything's free for savvy internet users. And sadly, the population of Stan Kenton fans is rapidly diminishing.

Back in the day, Kansas Citians could easily acquire jazz at Penny Lane, the Music Exchange, Classical Westport, Recycled Sounds, Exile and many other music purveyors. Today, the nearest Borders outlet probably stocks the new Keith Jarrett and Stacey Kent discs, but fans are forced to go online for Matthew Shipp and David Ware.

It hurts.

(Image of Love Garden in Lawrence, KS, captured by Plastic Sax.)