Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Hearne Christopher reports that jazz will soon be featured in a revamped space at the downtown AMC movie theater.

*Dave Brubeck's October 14 concert at The Folly Theater has been cancelled. An appearance by Ellis Marsalis on February 11 replaces Brubeck's date in the venue's jazz series.

*The Star offers a review of Saturday's concert by The Bad Plus at The Folly Theater. And There Stands the Glass took notes at Sunday's performance by The Gang Font at The Record Bar.

*Here's an extremely nice segment on Marilyn Maye from Sue Vicory's Kansas City Jazz & Blues: Past, Present & Future. And here's a new trailer for the film. The documentary will be screened tonight, September 29, at B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ.

*UMKC's archival work on the memorabilia of Claude "Fiddler" Williams is noted by Steve Penn.

*Dude Langford is recalled by KCJazzLark.

*The NFL apparently produced a television spot that features a 1947 song by Kansas City's Julia Lee and Her Boyfriends. NPR's A Blog Supreme made the catch.

*Here's an upsetting jazz-related crime report.

*Kansas City bassist Jeff Harshbarger seems to fit right in with The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey in this gorgeous footage of JFJO collaborating with the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. The Oklahoma-based band performs October 9 at Jardine's.

*12th Street Jump resumes Friday at the downtown Marriott with a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughn.

*The Power & Light District hosts an event titled "The 14th Street Jazz Festival" on October 2. The McFadden Brothers are the only act listed at the "festival."

*Is Geneva Price is the daughter of Priscilla Bowman? A comment "GPrice" made here suggests that it's true. I have an expert investigating the matter, but please leave a comment if you can verify or dismiss this amazing assertion. UPDATE: The expert reports that Geneva is not related to Priscilla. I apologize for the false alarm.

(Original image 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.)

Now's the Time: The Gang Font

Because jazz-punk is one of the least-loved of all musical subgenres, I suppose it's no surprise that I didn't know that The Gang Font existed until I read Joe Klopus' latest column. The noisy core of the band consists of Dave King (The Bad Plus), Greg Norton (Hüsker Dü) and Erik Fratzke (Happy Apple). Long before my jazz problem became a serious condition, I grew up listening to Midwestern punk bands like Hüsker Dü. The Gang Font perform Sunday at The Record Bar.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Steve Paul's insightful review of Bobby Watson's The Gates BBQ Suite includes valuable context omitted from my September 20 critique of the new album. The Philadelphia Inquirer checks in with a quick review while Music and More offers a more detailed analysis.

*Steve Kraske and Bobby Watson talked about jazz, UMKC, the quality of life in Kansas City and Watson's new album on KCUR's Up To Date. Download the podcast here.

*The remainder of the artist lineup for the American Jazz Museum's Rhythm & Ribs festival has been announced.

*Mike Metheny pays tribute to Doc Severinson in a beautiful essay. The accompanying photo is a must-see. In a separate note to Plastic Sax, Metheny wrote: "It should also be noted that there were several other KC-connected musicians onstage in Clay Center including Jay Sollenberger, Kerry Strayer, Paul Smith, Bob Bowman, Todd Strait and Danny Embrey.

*KCJazzLark slanders the "magic jazz fairy". Hilarious! I recently addressed the same issue with significantly less tact.

*Steve Penn reports on the delayed opening of the Napoleon Bakery in the Jazz District.

*Lee Ingalls presents a podcast interview with Stan Kessler of Sons of Brasil.

*According to my calculations, only eight percent of the three dozen acts featured at this weekend's Plaza Art Fair are jazz artists.

*Dr. Wayne E. Goins, Director of Jazz at Kansas State, participates in a roundtable discussion at JazzTimes. (Link via A Blog Supreme.)

*Saxophonist Walt Weiskopf was in town last Saturday as part of the Dukes of September band. Here's a review.

*Sue Vicory reports that a newly edited version of her film will be screened at BB's Lawnside BBQ on September 29. A question-and-answer session will follow the film.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Review: Bobby Watson- The Gates BBQ Suite

Original Classic. That's the name of the sauce most people reach for while dining at a Gates Bar-B-Q restaurant. It also serves as an apt description of Bobby Watson. The Plastic Sax Person of the Decade has done more than anyone to insure that Kansas City's jazz legacy remains vibrant in the new millennium.

In spite of my profound respect for Watson, I approached the new release The Gates BBQ Suite with trepidation. The concept of a traditional big band album in 2010 didn't appeal to me. I needn't have worried.

All of Watson's compositional gifts, directorial skills and prodigious improvisational talent are brought to bear on the project. While the context is a throwback to The New Testament version of the Count Basie Orchestra and Benny Carter's Further Definitions, it's hardly quaint or old-fashioned. Even if the charts don't betray the influence, the joyous, groove-based sensibility of the album hints that the compositions were designed by a man familiar with the music of Donald Byrd and Ramsey Lewis. The Gates BBQ Suite is as immediately engaging as a good pop album.

Watson's solos are, needless to say, excellent, but he never goes for the jugular. The album is about feel rather than chops. It's also gratifying to hear several members of Diverse on the album. Diverse's rhythm section of Ben Leifer and Ryan Lee shine throughout and trumpeter Herman Mehari solos on the first track.

"Sweet and Mild" is one of two less popular sauces offered at Gates. After a weekend spent enjoying The Gates BBQ Suite, that's precisely how I've come to think of the new album by Kansas City's "Original Classic."

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: The Grand Marquis

The Grand Marquis host an album release party Friday, September 17, at The Mission Theater. An amazingly insightful review of Hold On To Me in the print edition of this week's Ink suggests that the band's "faithful recreation of Prohibition-era jazz has never sounded more invigorating." Polish your dancing shoes.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A very nice interview with Bobby Watson was conducted by NPR's A Blog Supreme. (Initial tip via KCJazzLark.) Watson is also the subject of a fine video interview here. Watson's new album, The Gates BBQ Suite, is available at his Facebook account.

*The Prairie Village Jazz Festival is admired by KCJazzLark. The Prairie Village Post offers a recap.

*Jazz Times reviewed the new album by Dan Gailey, a professor at The University of Kansas.

*The unfortunately-named The Sound offers archived footage of its live video stream from the Mutual Musicians Foundation. The group also held a meeting.

*The Star offers a review of a concert by The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*I've bashed the guys repeatedly for not having their own site, so it's only fair that I note that the excellent all-star band Crosscurrent recently remedied that situation. They're also on Facebook.

*A member of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy participated in a video interview to promote his band's forthcoming concert at the Lied Center. (Tip via KC Stage Blog.)

(Original image of Breezy Peyton by Plastic Sax.)