Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Lisa Henry's involvement in a youth program titled “Ella, Scat & Math” is lauded by a Bonner Springs publication.

*The Leavenworth Times offers a nice preview of the Live at the Hollywood concert series.

*KCJazzLark documents the successful Rhythm & Ribs Jazz and Blues festival.

*The Star and KC Metropolis reviewed Friday's concert at the Gem Theater by Joe Lovano and Us 5.

*The Kansas City Symphony's tribute to Frank Sinatra featured a jazz orchestra. Here's a review.

*The headline tells the story: Plastic saxophone definitely not a toy.

*A blogger comments on the An Evening with Virgil T. concert at Helzberg Hall

*Bobby Watson is characterized as "an old friend of Cork" in a preview of an Irish jazz festival.

*Kristin Shafel previews Herbie Hancock's concert at Lied Center.

*Consumer tip: 1911 Main is featured at Groupon today.

*Drummer Freddie Gruber has died.

*Tweet o' the Week: JazzWinterlude: Did you know: JCCC has a new Jazz Combo that will be playing at this year's #jazzwinterlude. #markyourcalendars

*From Take Five Coffee: Thursday, 10/27 - The Leifer Bros- Join actual brothers Matt (drums) and Ben Leifer (bass) and their ensemble for their inaugural performance at Take Five. Matt and Ben are joined by Clint Ashlock (trumpet), Andrew Ouellette (keys) and Nick Rowland (sax); a literal tour de force of KC's young jazz scene.

*From the American Jazz Museum: PEER Ambassador Celebration Tuesday, November 15th from 6:00-7:00 PM… This is an event to energize and inform all of our new Ambassadors spreading the word about the Museum... Do you know someone who enjoys the AJM, who would like to know more or is interested in becoming involved? Invite them to join us for a great evening at the Museum. Enjoy appetizers, meet other Ambassador and donors and learn how you can spread the word about the amazing work the Museum is doing. Please RSVP….

*(Extremely rare post-publishing edit)- From Peter Lawless/The Fishtank: For those of you familiar with Sir Threadius Mongus, Jeff Davis' jazz-tinged group, The Night's Bright Lights is another of his progressive musical groups which are providing the soundtrack to The Unwind, a large-scale work Davis has been creating for the last fifteen years. The NBL provides a new musical sound, with the use of mantra-like phrases, big beats & wall's of guitar, by way of an analog loop station, reminiscent of classic album-rock guitar indulgence, with an otherworldly-world music vibe. Featuring: Jeff Davis, Mike Stover, Matt Leifer. Tickets are $10.

(Original image of James Weidman, Otis Brown III, Esperanza Spalding, Francisco Mela and Joe Lovano by Plastic Sax.)