*The "civil and gentle" Green Lady Lounge is featured in a 90-second promotional video.
*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and Bobby Watson's 18th & Vine Big Band are praised by KCJazzLark.
*Roger Wilder reports that his new album will be available later this week. (Tip via Rick Hellman.)
*A 2012 conversation between Michael Shults and Sam Wisman is streaming in perpetuity.
*Tony Botello casts a cynical eye at development in the Jazz District.
*Here's another edition of 12th Street Jump's "Blues In the News".
*Tweet o' the Week: Brian Scarborough- Next month I will be recording a quintet album of new original music w/ Matt Otto, Danny Embrey, Jeff Harshbarger, & Brandon Draper #kcjazz
*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- I'm afraid you'll have to define offering "something to the discourse." I'm pretty sure I was pointing out that the previous post was just an irrelevant digression into someone's boring political views. I attack someone personally because this is the internet and that's what it's for. I bet you secretly like Jazz in the Woods. I bet you like to sit outside in the park and listen to music. I bet you don't care that it sucks because it's easy to ignore and you can distract yourself with the nice scenery, delicious snacks, and pleasant people. I bet you're like that. And it makes me sick.
*From Ryan Heinlein: Some of Kansas City's finest musicians will tackle the newest offering from recording artist, Beck. In lieu of an album, CD or digital download, Beck has released twenty new songs strictly in sheet music format. It is up to the performer to read, learn and interpret the music. Beck will not be recording or releasing these songs… The following musicians will be performing "Song Reader." Mark Lowrey, Shay Estes, Jeff Harshbarger, Matt Leifer, Jeff Stocks, Dominique Sanders, Ryan Heinlein, Clint Ashlock, Brett Jackson and Bill McKemy. Mark Lowrey & The Project H Present: Song Reader, 20 New Songs by Beck with special guests Shay Estes and Jeff Harshbarger. Friday, May 3rd. Record Bar. $10 cover, ages 18+. The Project H 10:30pm. Song Reader 11:30pm.
*From the Kansas City Public Library: Beginning with their regular gig in the Plantation Grill at Kansas City’s Muehlebach Hotel, the Coon-Sanders Nighthawk Orchestra in the 1920s took the Midwest, and then the entire nation, by storm. UMKC jazz expert Chuck Haddix follows the rise and fall of the band that had hit recordings like “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby,” “When You’re Smiling,” “The Flippity Flop,” “Kansas City Kitty,” “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” “Harlem Madness,” and “What A Girl! What A Night!” Sunday, April 21, 2013. 2:00pm @ Central Library. RSVP now!
*From the American Jazz Museum: The American Jazz Museum is pleased to announce the debut performance of internationally renowned jazz great, Bobby Watson’s new “I Have A Dream Band” project in residence at the Blue Room on the corner of historic 18th & Vine in Downtown Kansas City. Watson’s new band will be performing both, Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th in the Blue Room. Admission is $20 ($15 Students/Seniors) with an 8:30 pm show time each evening. Bobby Watson’s “I Have A Dream Band” features the artistry of Glenn North (spoken word); Hermon Mehari (trumpet/flugel horn); Curtis Lundy (bass); Richard Johnson (piano); Eric Kennedy (drums); and, alto saxophonist, Watson.
*From the American Jazz Museum #2: The American Jazz Museum and MCC Penn Valley are pleased to announce the 2013 18th & Vine/MCC Penn Valley Jazz Festival will be held April 18, 19 and 20 at the historic Gem Theater. The 2013 festival features performances by middle school, high school and college jazz ensembles ranging from combo groups to large big bands.
(Original image by Plastic Sax.)
Regarding Jazz in the Woods, formerly the Corporate Woods Jazz festival. I enjoyed it when Vince Bilardo was booking it and he used local artists. After they switched formats and started booking smooth jazz I stopped going. However they still raise around 100 grand almost every year since the format change.
ReplyDeleteOne of the head honchos with the Prairie Village Jazz festival used to be a big part of JITW. It will be interesting to see if PVJF continues acoustic/quasi local jazz or will they switch to smooth jazz. Time and sponsorships will tell.