Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Joe Dimino interviews Abel Ramirez for his Neon Jazz program.

*The Kansas City Star published a review and a report about the 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival.

*KC Jazz Lark ponders the public's perception of the Jazz District.

*Stanley Crouch promoted his new biography of Charlie Parker on PBS.  (Tip via Tony's Kansas City.)

*Lee Hartman reviewed a performance by the People's Liberation Big Band.

*A van owned by trumpeter George Robinson was stolen. 

*The Pitch recommends Parallax's performance at Take Five Coffee + Bar.

*The Black House Collective shares another round of photos documenting its new music festival.

*The $14 million National Blues Museum opens in St. Louis next year.

*Tweet o' the Week: ashley- At the 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival with my grandma..

*From Mike Metheny: It's always a pleasure (and a challenge!) to be on the same stage with such outstanding musicians as Stan Kessler (tpt), Hermon Mehari (tpt), TJ Martley (p), Gerald Spaits (b) and Brian Steever (dr). And how's this for a bona fide Kansas City Trumpet Summit: the equally outstanding Clint Ashlock (tpt) will be a special guest during each set at the Blue Room on Saturday, Oct. 26, 8:30-12:30. (That's Clint's photography on the cover of the new CD that will be available at the gig.) Hope to see you there!

*From a press release: Annual birthday bash celebrating & featuring Tim Whitmer with party revelers the Wild Women of Kansas City, guitarist Rod Fleeman & the Consort Band. Wednesday, November 6, 2013. 7:00 p.m.  Unity Temple on the Plaza.  $7.00. Children under 16 free.

*From 12th Street Jump: This week on 12th Street Jump we celebrate the birthday of Lee Konitz with our special guest Rob Scheps. The gang sees "Who's Got the Blues" in South Bend, IN and offers a little help to the President.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Restaurant Review: Smooth J Cafe

What's a restaurant review doing on a jazz blog?  Well, what's in a name?

The "J" in Smooth J Cafe stands for "Jazz."  The proprietors of the establishment in a Johnson County strip mall recently opened a restaurant that, in their words, "combines their love of cooking with their love of smooth jazz music."

And sure enough, songs dominated by treacly soprano sax and cloying acoustic guitars played softly in the background of the tidy room during my initial visit last week.  The ostensibly soothing sounds may have helped me keep my composure during a needlessly convoluted ordering process.  The embedded photo shows that the menu is posted on a wall several feet to the left of the order counter.  As with a couple subsequent customers, I had to shuffle back and forth to make my decision.

I ended up having a polite employee make my selection for me.  She recommended a "Rhythm Section" sandwich and cheesy corn casserole.  While a tad skimpy for the price ($8.50 including a side order and a cookie), the sandwich was tasty.  The casserole was delicious.

In spite of a full parking lot that happens to be the original site of the Corporate Woods Jazz Festival, only a few customers walked through the door during my 40-minute visit.  The nearby Garozzo's and Chipotle were packed.  That may change Friday, October 18, when Heat Index performs at Smooth J Cafe from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

While I may not make a special trip to Smooth J Cafe for a sandwich, the addition of a consistent live music lineup- along with the cheesy corn casserole- would keep me coming back for more.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Bobby Lyle and Peabo Bryson

A rewarding weekend is on tap for aficionados of commercial jazz and vintage slow jams in Kansas City.  Highlights include keyboardist Bobby Lyle, one of many artists slated to perform in a tribute to the late George Duke on the main stage of the 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival on Saturday, October 12.  Vocalists Peabo Bryson and Kansas City's Ron Gutierrez will entertain at the KC Live! stage in the Power & Light district on Sunday, October 13.  Lyle and Bryson appear together in the embedded video.

*Critics at The Pitch named Jeff Harshbarger, Plastic Sax's 2011 Person of the Year, as the Best Local Musician.  They awarded Take Five Coffee + Bar with the prize of Best Suburban Oasis.  Owners Doug and Lori Chandler were Plastic Sax's 2012 People of the Year.  The publication's readers- presumably fans of Tim Whitmer's Saturday afternoon gigs- voted The Phoenix as the Best Jazz Venue.

*Joe Klopus previews Saturday's 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival in his weekly column.

*KC Jazz Lark considers the unusual challenges faced by the organizers of 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival.

*A man has been charged with assault in connection to last month's shootings near 18th & Vine.

*Libby Hanssen reviewed Gretchen Parlato's concert at the Folly Theater.

*The Pitch recommends Brian Haas' performance Sunday, October 13, at the RecordBar.

*Howard Reich raves about Bobby Watson in The Chicago Tribune.

*Matt Otto and a cat issue a "30 day long tone challenge."

*"Kansas City Swing", a new play set in 1947 Kansas City, opens in New Jersey this week.

*Former Kansan Lisa Engelken's new album Little Warrior was reviewed by a California-based publication.

*Comment o' the Week: Gary- Went to Take Five Saturday night and heard James Isaac Group. Thanks for the tip, Plastic Sax.

*Tweet o' the Week: Follow dw6 and JAG- Spoken to some great musicians so far in KC! Spent some time at the American Jazz Museum and now we're about to interview Bobby Watkins!

*From a press release: The Jazz Program at Kansas City Kansas Community College will present their first concert of the season West Wyandotte Library on Wednesday, October 9th at 6:30pm. Directed by Jim Mair and John Stafford II, the concert will feature the KCKCC Jazz Band, Latin Band, Jazz Combos and Vocal Jazz Ensembles.  Open to the public, there is no charge although donations for student travel opportunities will be accepted.

*From Take Five Coffee + Bar: This weekend at Take Five Coffee + Bar we're offering the power and passion of high-flying ensembles featuring some of the best trumpet artistry you'll find anywhere… Friday, October 11, 8pm:  The Rob Scheps/Jim O'Connor Quintet.  Saxophonist Rob Scheps finds a way to ramble through Kansas City a couple of times a year... Trumpeter Jim O'Connor, his guest on this tour, has... a deep list of credits... The crew behind these two are some of KC's best: Roger Wilder on piano, Bob Bowman on bass and Brian Steever on drums. $5.  Saturday, October 12, 8pm:  The Hermon Mehari Trio with Anthony Saunders...  Featuring Ryan Lee on drums and Andrew Ouellette on keys, this show will also showcase Hermon's special guest, vocalist Anthony Saunders... $5 cover.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Event Review: Chuck Haddix at Unity on the Plaza

I would pay $7 just to hear Chuck Haddix talk about Charlie Parker for 90 minutes.  Throwing down that amount to hear Haddix's thoughts on Bird complemented with performances by several of Kansas City's most notable musicians represents a rare bargain.  An audience of over 300 took advantage of the deal at Unity on the Plaza on Wednesday, October 2.

Haddix was promoting his new biography Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker.  Plastic Sax reviewed the book last month.  The event was part of Tim Whitmer's monthly Spirituality and All That Jazz series.

The evening began with the house band of pianist Whitmer, saxophonist Jim Mair, bassist James Albright and drummer Jurgen Welge playing "Autumn Leaves" and "My Little Suede Shoes."  Mair floored me by making a bold statement with a Grafton saxophone on the latter selection.  Unfortunately, his nod to Parker's infamous plastic sax won't be repeated anytime soon. 

"I just sold it and I'm shipping it out tomorrow," Mair said.

Haddix read from his book and shared personal anecdotes about his relationship with Parker's music.  He recalled initially failing to appreciate Parker's approach after he bought "a $2.99 cutout" album at the UMKC bookstore.

"I didn't get it," Haddix confessed.

He explained that the tall tales of bar owner Milton Morris played an instrumental role in fostering his understanding of Parker's legacy.  Haddix reminded the audience of Parker's affection for "Cherokee" in his introduction to the standard.  The format- Haddix's analysis of the evolution of Parker's career followed by a related performance- would continue for the remainder of the evening. 

Accompanied by Albright and Welge, saxophone giant Bobby Watson, trumpeter Hermon Mehari and pianist Andrew Ouellette tore into "Cherokee."  Watson stormed through the changes as if he was momentarily possessed by Parker.  Watson's bluesy take on "Body and Soul" was brilliant.  Mair returned to the stage for a lively rendition of "Jumpin' the Blues." 

Watson and Mehari played impressive unison lines on "Yardbird Suite."  "Groovin' High" and "Just Friends" were followed by a version of "Now's the Time" that closed the unique and entertaining event on a rapturous note.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Krystle Warren

Earlier today I told a fan of experimental rock and female singer-songwriters that if he attends one jazz concert in 2013, its should be Gretchen Parlato's appearance Saturday at the Folly Theater. Here's why. That said, I'm choosing to shine Plastic Sax's dim spotlight on Krystle Warren's return to Kansas City. The modern day version of Nina Simone is better known in France than in her hometown.  Warren, Brad Cox, Jeff Harshbarger and Mike Stover play the KC Live stage in the Power & Light district on Sunday.  Solomon Dorsey, another native of Kansas City, accompanies Warren in the embedded clip.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Chuck Haddix discussed his new biography of Charlie Parker with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up to Date.

*NPR offers a review Stanley Crouch's biography of Charlie Parker.

*Megan Birdsall interviewed Andrew Ouellette for the Green Lady Lounge's Tumblr.

*Four people were shot last week near the Mutual Musicians Foundation.  A lengthy report in The Kansas City Star examines the consequences of the incident.

*Black House Collective is one of four Kansas City-based organizations to receive SEED grants from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. "(T)he grantees will receive $10,000 per year for three years."  The collective shares another round of photos from its new music festival.

*The day after I published Monday's editorial about the fractured jazz community, Kansas City Jazz A.L.I.V.E., "a new Jazz catalyst organization," came to my attention.

*Photos of Jon Faddis and Marilyn Maye are among the second set of images captured by KC Jazz Lark documenting the 2013 edition of the Prairie Village Jazz Festival.

*Nicolay of the Foreign Exchange recalls performing for a tough audience at the Blue Room.

*Krystle Warren will make a rare appearance in her hometown on Sunday, October 6, at the KC Live stage.

*Here's the latest episode of 12th Street Jump's "Blues In the News."

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- The first time I heard about the Blvd. charity project was a couple days before it ended. I had seen no advertising whatsoever until a last minute half-***** attempt at getting AJM audience members to vote. Of course they lost! The AJM marketing team needs some serious rethinking. Just trying to negotiate the website gives me headache. See for yourself by trying to find out who is playing at the Blue Room in October. Just being honest here. Does Myra Taylor's life story really warrant a musical production?  Mr. Butler has big ideas but unfortunately none of them are very good. The incentives were poor and the project was poorly outlined. "The majority of the over 1,000 people who attend every concert by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at Helzberg Hall probably aren't terribly concerned with the legacy of Charlie Parker."  Really? Did you ask them individually? They, unlike the younger musicians in town, actually grew up when Parker's music was being produced. I think they might surprise you. "Most of the supporters of the jam sessions at YJs don't feel a strong connection to the American Jazz Museum" Absolutely incorrect.

*Tweet o' the Week: Matthew Kassel- Traffic was thick as freckles on the face of a redheaded cracker." (One of many choice lines in Stanley Crouch's new Charlie Parker bio.)

**From Brad Cox: Wednesday, October 2--Jeff Harshbarger--The Music of True Grit, Plaza Library, Truman Forum at 7:00pm. Free (not jazz).  Thursday, October 3--Solo Keyboard, Computer and Social Media Performance, Paragraph Gallery from 7:30-9:30pm. Free. Sunday, October 6-Krystle Warren, Power and Light Live at 6:00pm. Free. Sunday, October 6--People's Liberation Big Band, RecordBar at 8:00pm, $5. Tuesday, October 8-People's Liberation Big Band-The Valdislav Starevich Project,
Kansas City Art Institute at 7:30pm. Free.

*From Take Five Coffee: The October music lineup at Take Five Coffee + Bar features a mix of artists from far-off lands and world class talent from right here in KC. We kick it off this week with Paul Zaborac, a saxophonist from Australia, and then Ben Van Gelder, a saxophonist from The Netherlands by way of New York City, comes in to spar with Hermon Mehari. Wrap it up with James Isaac's ensemble of versatile KC masters, and you'll have a weekend to remember.

Thursday, October 3, 7pm:  The Paul Zaborac Trio- On tour from Sydney, Australia, the Paul Zaborac Trio is sure to blow our little room away… $5 cover.  Friday, October 4, 8pm:  Hermon Mehari with special guest Ben Van Gelder-… Widely recognized among the best and most distinctive sax players under 30 in the world, Ben is a captivating performer. $5 cover… Saturday, October 5, 8pm:  James Isaac Group- With Jeff Harshbarger on bass, Mike Stover on guitar and/or pedal steel, and Scotty McBee on the drums, Isaac will take us places none of us can guess. $5 cover. This just ahead: Rob Scheps and Jim O'Connor Quintet; Hermon Mehari Trio; singer/songwriter Kate Cosentino; Parallax; the Mike Herrera Quintet; Ben Leifer Quartet; Bill McKemy. Thinking out to November? Here are some teasers: David Basse; Jeff Harshbarger; KC Sound Collective; Interstring; M-Bird; Project H; Peter Schlamb; Shay Estes.

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)