Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Marilyn Maye was featured in an eight-minute segment on CBS Sunday Morning.

*A travel writer for The New York Times noted Kansas City’s “City of Music” designation by UNESCO .

*Deborah Brown chatted with Steve Kraske on Up to Date.  Jessie Riggins reviewed Brown’s concert at Polsky Theatre.

*Jon Batiste, the musician caught up in the American Jazz Museum’s $18,000 flight scandal, will perform at the Madrid Theatre on March 9.

*Ben Allison, Jeremy Pelt, Steve Cardenas and Allan Mednard will perform at the 1900 Building on April 7.

*Lonnie McFadden was featured on KCUR’s Up to Date.

*A blogger ponders George Gershwin’s 1934 appearance in Kansas City.  (Via Tony’s Kansas City.)

*William Hughes, a longtime member of the Count Basie Orchestra, died earlier this month.

*Marc Myers saluted the Basie-ites.

*Tweet o’ the Week: UMKC Conservatory- We’re down at the historic #Gem, celebrating jazz, dance, and #JosephineBaker! #dance #UMKCDance @UMKansasCity @americanjazzkc (photo)

*From a press release: Logan Richardson returns to Kansas City for his fourth studio album… Blues People.  Recorded in Omaha and mixed in KC, the album features local musicians Ryan Lee on drums, DeAndre Manning on bass, Justus West on guitar, and the Berlin based, Ukrainian guitar player Igor Osypov.  Blues People begins with an assault on the senses – heavy guitar sets the tone... If you were hoping for a nice Jazz lounge evening sipping brandy, you are immediately informed that this will not be the case.  The album will be released March 2 on Ropeadope.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Ask Me If I Give a Schnitt

Curious about what happens when a stride pianist entertains day-drinkers, I dropped into KC Bier Co. to catch Bram Wijnands today.  The native of the Netherlands plays at the establishment every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.  I should have seen it coming, but I was nonetheless surprised to discover that Wijnands began his outing for more than three dozen revelers with 30 minutes of traditional German beer hall accordion music.  I found his efforts far more compelling than the action on the muted televisions displaying sports broadcasts.  When he turned his attention to a vintage upright piano to play the burly swing that made his reputation, Wijnands was joined by a man on spoons who evoked the artful percussion of an agile tap dancer. 

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Ryan Keberle & Catharsis

The increasingly adventurous bookings at Black Dolphin are a welcome addition to Kansas City’s live music scene.  The New York based ensemble Ryan Keberle & Catharsis perform at the gold-curtained venue on Wednesday, January 31.  Jazz fans will attend to hear the trombonist who’s worked with Maria Schneider and Miguel Zenón.  Curious pop aficionados will be on hand to see why Keberle is a hired gun for the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Justin Timberlake.  The Kansas City Jazz Calendar lists dozens of additional choices next week.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Diana Krall will perform at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on June 16.

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will entertain at the free A Night at the Savoy celebration at the main branch of the Kansas City Kansas Public Library.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Ryan Heinlein- Record number 4 comes out in exactly two months!

*From a press release: The Marcus Lewis Big Band will present “Brass & Boujee”, at The Record Bar, February 1, 2018 at 7:00 PM, $8 cover charge. The collaborative performance will combine hip hop and big band jazz sounds. Marcus Lewis, a trombonist who has performed with stars such as Aretha Franklin and Janelle Monae, will be presenting full jazz band arrangements of original songs from Kansas City emcees Kemet The Phantom and Kadesh Flow.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: Sons of Brasil at First Baptist Church

A pool of water had formed at my feet by the time the sermon began during the intermission of a Sons of Brasil concert at First Baptist Church on Sunday, January, 14.  The clinging ice and snow that I tracked in to the free Jazz Vespers event melted during a radiant set that included arrangements of classic compositions by the likes of Johnny Alf, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Gilberto Gil.  The sunny music of the pared-down quartet of trumpeter Stan Kessler, guitarist Danny Embrey, bassist Greg Whitfield and drummer Doug Auwarter neutralized the chill for about 75 hardy spectators on the frigid evening.  Having attended many performances by the Kansas City institution, I know that the spellbinding sound of Sons of Brasil is just as capable of transporting a sweltering audience at an outdoor concert in July to a temperate tropical beach.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Michael Manring

Todd Mosby will lead a band at Polsky Theatre on Saturday, January 20.  Yet Michael Manring, the bassist in the guitarist’s band, may be the most renowned musician on the stage at Johnson County Community College.  Manring was one of the most stimulating components of the distinctive 1980s sound of the new age powerhouse Windham Hill Records.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A promotional video for KC Jazz Alive suggests that “Kansas City is on its way to becoming the next major music city in America and retaking its title as jazz capital of the world.”

*Joe Klopus previewed Marcus Roberts’ concert at the Folly Theater.  Steve Kraske interviewed the pianist.

*Deborah Brown and Matt Otto were featured in an hour-long episode of KCUR’s Up to Date titled “From Kansas City And Beyond, The Best Music Of 2017”.

*Tweet o’ the Week: St. Louis Jazz Notes- St. Louis jazz pianist Nathan Jatcko has been missing since late Thursday night. Family is asking anyone with info on his whereabouts to contact St. Louis city PD: (link)

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Lonnie McFadden- Live at Green Lady Lounge

Lonnie McFadden’s Live at Green Lady Lounge will immediately become the most indispensable souvenir for visitors to Kansas City when it’s released later this year.  The recording- a winning blend of cornball shenanigans and refined artfulness- captures the festive atmosphere at a raucous Kansas City jazz club.

McFadden has long been admired as the trumpet playing component of the Las Vegas-style duo The McFadden Brothers.  He acknowledges his act’s association with Wayne Newton in the introduction to “What a Wonderful World,” but the album’s occasional bouts of acute sentimentality are balanced by fiery straight-ahead jazz. 

“In the Club” is a funky instrumental co-written by McFadden and bassist DeAndre Manning.  “Voyager” is a fiery showcase for pianist Andrew Ouellette.  Drummer Tyree Johnson rounds out the outstanding young band that motivates McFadden to apply his often underutilized jazz chops.

By the time he breaks into his signature tap dancing on the final selection of the 67-minute album, McFadden has convincingly demonstrated that he’s more than an outstanding entertainer.  Live at Green Lady proves that McFadden is a bona fide Kansas City jazz cat.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: The Marcus Roberts Trio

Marcus Roberts, a refined pianist who rose to fame as a member of Wynton Marsalis’ band, has been a foremost jazz formalist for more than 30 years.  He’ll lead a trio at the Folly Theater on Friday, January 19.  According to the concert program, Roberts will be joined by bassist Rodney Jordan and drummer Bryan Carter.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Chris Burnett’s monthly engagement at Black Dolphin was spotlighted on KCUR.

*Matt Kane and Charles Williams were interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*Bloggers document their visit to the American Jazz Museum.

*Tweet o’ the Week: KC Jazz Orchestra- Nice turnout at our #listeningparty at @WestportLibrary in @Westport_KC - Sam Wisman is guiding us through Thad Jones/Mel Lewis’ “Consummation.” We have one of these per month! #kcjazz #kcjazzorchestra

*The 11 jazz performances listed on the comprehensive Kansas City Jazz Calendar range from solo piano gigs to noisy barrage of percussion.

*From a press release: Kansas City Jazz Vespers features "The Sons of Brasil," led by Stan Kessler, on Sunday, January 14, 6:00 - 8:00 pm held at the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, MO at the corner of Wornall Road and Red Bridge Road in south Kansas City.  Its 100 minutes of professional jazz in a concert setting.   The Sons of Brasil are one of the region's best Latin jazz groups, performing all over the city.  KC Jazz  Vespers is free and open to the public.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Danny Embrey- Dues Blues

Bob Bowman’s solo on a ballad on Danny Embrey’s Dues Blues is as life-affirming as a poem by Maya Angelou.  The bassist’s concise statement on “November” is one of many standout moments on the welcome reissue of the guitarist’s 1988 recording with Bowman, keyboardists John Beasley and Dave Loeb and drummer Steve Houghton.

A former member of the bands of Sergio Mendes and Karrin Allyson, Embrey is one of a handful of unassuming veteran Kansas City musicians who nonchalantly improve the quality of a handful gigs every week.

Dues Blues acts as a reminder that Embrey shouldn’t be taken for granted.  Not only does his impeccable playing honor the legacy of guitar masters such as Jim Hall and Kenny Burrell, Embrey flashes strong melodic skills on impressive original compositions like “Caraveles” and “Leonard.”

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: The Sextet

In his recommendation of the jazz-oriented band’s show at the Ship on Saturday, January 6, a writer for The Kansas City Star suggests that The Sextet tends to “split the difference between righteous jams and venerable swing.”  The Kansas City Jazz Calendar lists dozens of additional options for the weekend.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Jessie Riggins highlights a few forthcoming concerts in a spring survey for KC Metropolis.

*A handful of jazz-related entries are among a compilation of
best of 2017 lists from 20 KC music influencers.

*Dean Minderman of St. Louis Jazz Notes compiled dozens of “Best Jazz of 2017” lists.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Green Lady Lounge- Green Lady @GreenLadyLounge  has launched http://GreenLadyRadio.com  streaming directly licensed, original jazz compositions by today's Kansas City jazz musicians. Special thanks to our sponsor - Ambassador Hotel 1111 Grand Blvd Kansas City MO. Listen now at http://GreenLadyRadio.com

*Comment o’ the Week: Christopher Burnett- ...1. We need several (5-10) truly professional artist management and booking agencies here to work with/career develop the 50 or so artists, who are objectively at a national level talent-wise. 2. We need several (5-10) truly publicists and public relations professionals here to work with/career develop the 50 or so artists, who are objectively at a national level talent-wise. 3. You, Joe and Larry (at least), should also be publishing items in DownBeat, Jazz Times, Jazziz, etc. along with your normal local beats. That would put us on the map big time.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)