Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

















*No smoking! Is the result of yesterday's vote good or bad for Kansas City's jazz clubs? Loren Pickford calls it "white yuppie nonsense" in a KCUR report.

*The MCC-Penn Valley 18th & Vine Festival April 19-20 promises to be a memorable event for aspiring jazz musicians.

*Jason Harper of the Pitch was reminded of the inherent fun of Kansas City jazz club-hopping. Don't miss his evocative video of the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

*More than once I've used this space to suggest a local jazz film series at the Gem or the screening room at the American Jazz Museum. Well, a guy in Minneapolis made it happen in his city. Tellingly, the story makes several references to Kansas City.

*A New York City blogger composed a fine review of Karrin Allyson's new release.

*Here's a new discovery for Plastic Sax: "The Freedom Band, Kansas City's gay and lesbian community band," played a concert of "big band and jazz favorites" April 5. I've added them to the performers' links to the right.

*Chris Burnett was the subject of a KCUR interview.

*Bobby Watson's new release gets a mixed review in a Buffalo newspaper.

*Chris Botti will perform a pops concert with the Kansas City Symphony on September 12, 2008.

*I'm delighted that my post pleading for more interaction seems to have stimulated dialogue. A handful of the items in today's post were even forwarded to me by artists, writers and publicity people. What a concept! I even like it when I'm called out. To that end, local retailer Vinyl Renaissance asked me to let local musicians know that "we are going to be accepting local artist cd's on consignment. The best part (is) we aren't going to charge any fee for the sale."

*The Kansas State School For the Blind now has a recording studio.

*Who knew that jazz vocalist D.J. Sweeney was a community agitator? She hopes to "save our jazz on KKFI 90.1."

(Original image of "Jazz Day" at KCKCC by Plastic Sax.)

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