Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Star reports that Skies and Benton's, two hotel restaurants that featured jazz musicians but didn't actively promote the music, are closing.

*Stan Kessler via Facebook: The Kansas City Youth Jazz Reno Combo that I instruct is appearing on GOOD MORNING AMERICA from The Kauffman Performing Arts Center, Thursday Morning at 7am.

*A very fine 45-minute documentary about Kansas City's place in jazz history was just posted to YouTube. Talking heads include Jay McShann, Lisa Henry, Herbie Hancock, T.S. Monk, James Moody, Wayne Shorter, Stanley Jordan and Bobby Watson. Most of the footage seems to be circa 2004.

*The latest blog post by Hunter Long is loaded with good news for fans of Black House Improvisors' Collective.

*Just how off-putting is the word "jazz"? This 30-second promotional video for Herbie Hancock's upcoming appearance at the Lied Center avoids using the word.

*Chris Burnett ponders the "what is jazz" question in a thoughtful blog post.

*David Hudnall wrote a lengthy feature about the Eddie Baker School of Music.

*New albums by Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Laura Chalk, Sir Threadius Mongus and River Cow Orchestra are considered by KCJazzLark.

*Ben Ratliff reviews a new solo piano album by Harold O'Neal.

*The headline of a Kansas City Business Journal article tells a sad story: "Jazz District TIF nears final note after generating little cash or change".

*Chuck Berg reviews a Topeka Jazz Workshop performance led by Ted Howe.

*Watch Joe Athon's October 13 performance at Jardine's here.

*Candace Evans is featured in 435 South magazine.

*A niece shares childhood memories of her uncle Ahmad Alaadeen.

*Tony's Kansas City plugs a Dave Stephens gig.

*St. Louis Jazz Notes points to a site that provides access to an out-of-print 1965 album featuring Bob Brookmeyer and Clark Terry.

*A critic for Jazz Times reviewed a concert by Pat Metheny and Larry Grendadier concert.

*Drummer George Reed died in New York. He was 89.

*Tweet o' the Week: paynic: @KCTrumpeter I love trio too, except I'll just hire anywhere from 3-21 people and have most of 'em to lay out. What's your instrumentation?

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)