Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*I've never attempted to disguise my infatuation with Esperanza Spalding. Ever since I wrote this essay about the significance of Spalding in 2009, I've taken to calling her "The One." That's why I suspect Tim Finn might be referring to me in his wrap-up of the Grammy Awards. "Her victory was particularly sweet for jazz and other music fans, who tend to dismiss the importance of the Grammys until they win one," he wrote. That's me, all right.

*Michael Shults wrote a fantastic profile of fellow former Kansas Citian Phil DeGreg for All About Jazz.

*Various incarnations of Diverse are praised by KCJazzLark.

*A Bonner Springs publication features Mimi Carbery.

*A February 17 auction in the Chicago area will include a box lot of vintage Kansas City jazz albums.

*Dave Stephens' biggest fan documents a gig.

*Howard Mandel is diligently reporting on the possible end of the Jazz Masters Program. Several recent events at Kansas City's American Jazz Museum have benefited from its connection to the publicly-funded initiative.

*Tweet o' the Week: StLJazzNotes: Bill Frisell to perform Thursday, May 12 at the Old Rock House.

*From Chris Burnett: Live at the Hollywood Theater will open its 2011 Season on March 19, 2011 with a double bill concert featuring the two ensembles led by Chris Burnett and Matt Otto. Both Kansas City-based saxophone artists and composers will present a 45 minute set of combining original works and select work by other composers. There will be an intermission between ensemble performances. The series also serves as a community fundraiser... Future concerts in the Leavenworth series include The Elders (Celtic rock) on May 14 and Angela Hagenbach on November 19.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)