Now's the Time: Joseph Vincelli

Texas-based smooth jazz saxophonist Joseph Vincelli begins a five-night tour of the Kansas City area today. According to his calendar, he's at La Zona Roza on Thursday, Jardine's on Friday, The Legends on Saturday, the Plaza on Sunday afternoon and Town Center Plaza on Monday. While his style isn't my favorite, Vincelli's energetic showmanship at Jazz In the Woods last summer thoroughly impressed me.

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Joe Klopus composed a terrific feature on Fred Anderson. As noted in previous Plastic Sax posts, the saxophonist appears at the Blue Room on Saturday.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Dennis Winslett of the American Jazz Museum participates in a roundtable discussion about jazz organized by NPR.

*A blogger muses about faltering support for jazz in Kansas City.

*Here's a rave review of a recent Fred Anderson performance. As noted in this space last week, Anderson visits the Blue Room on Saturday.

*A Colorado newspaper profiles Kevin Mahogany. Meanwhile, a Minnesota paper reviews a Mahogany show.

*This year's Fringe Festival features a few jazz events.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Fred Anderson

Chicago free jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson performs at the Blue Room on Saturday, July 26. An anonymous Plastic Sax commenter suggests that Anderson is "the most forward thinking, big-time act they have ever presented there." It's an interesting assertion; very few "outside" jazz artists visit Kansas City. Anderson owns the Velvet Lounge, a Chicago club. Additional background information and sound samples from the 79-year-old are available at the link.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Ida McBeth will be performing at a benefit for Danny Cox this Friday, July 18, in Kansas City, Kansas. Read about it here.

*Present magazine provides what amounts to the definitive profile of Mark Southerland.

*KCUR interviews Megan Birdsall.

*The new parking lot in the Jazz District sounds swank.

*Change the word "Chicago" to "Kansas City" and substitute the word "blues" with "jazz" and this sad story about the decline in the quality and popularity of blues in Chicago will strike home.

*The Star offered an update on Clark Terry's condition.

*381 Days, an exhibit about the Montgomery bus boycott, begins a two month run at the American Jazz Museum on August 2.

*Rember Vinx? Here's an update on the former Kansas Citian.

(Plastic Sax has been traveling. Original image captured last week in Niwot, Colorado.)

Now's the Time: Marilyn Maye

Finally!

Not only did Marilyn Maye recently launch her own web site, her fans posted the first footage of the crooner at YouTube in recent weeks. In addition to "Misty," highlights include a fun album cover video, audio of a duet with Ed Ames and a clip of a recent live appearance.

Maye defines "old school"; I mean that as a compliment.

She perform eight sets at Jardine's next week. Here are Joe Klopus' notes.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Kansas City's blues community honored jazz great Myra Taylor at the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival. Words and images are here and here.

*Could something be happening here? The Pitch reviewed an installment of the new jazz series at the Record Bar. The Pitch also offers a free download by Brad Cox and the People's Liberation Orchestra.

*Aargh! Plastic Sax only became aware of Clarinet Fest's Kansas City convention after the fact. This enthusiast blogged the event.

*Newsweek profiled Eldar.

*Bararck Obama told Rolling Stone that his iPod includes Charlie Parker.

*Steve Penn celebrates the American Jazz Museum's budget.

*It's always interesting to gauge visitors' reactions to Kansas City. This fun tourist failed to make it to the jazz district on foot.

*Bobby Watson is big in Scotland.

*A letter writer in Topeka notes the success of the city's recent jazz festival.

(Original image of Big Joe Turner looking on at the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival by Plastic Sax.)

Prez

Cheesy introduction aside, this clip serves as an ideal introduction to jazz for the unitiated and the unconvinced. Lester Young is the greatest, but the entire ensemble shines. Lord, this is just so good.