Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

The latest on Jardine's:

*Hearne Christopher confirms that Jardine's has reopened. He also wrote updates about the status of the jazz club here and here.

*Tony Botello continues to chronicle the saga here, here, here, here and here.

*A former Jardine's employee suggests that she was assaulted by her employer.

*Craig Glazer offers his two cents.

*A television news program covered a benefit for the "Jardine's 15." (Tip via Tony's Kansas City.)

*I'm unable to authoritatively verify troubling reports about the status of 1911 Main.

*From Doug Talley: This Friday, Dec. 16, 7:00-10:00pm, will be your last chance to hear Doug Talley and Rod Fleeman at Cafe Augusta which will be closing their doors at the end of the month. Join us for one final evening of good music and food!

*The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the new album by The People's Liberation Big Band, is available now. The ensemble appears with the Owen/Cox Dance Ensemble of the ballet's current run at the H&R Block City Stage Theater in Union Station.

*Myra Taylor is remembered by KCJazzLark.

*A residential renovation project in the Jazz District has commenced.

*The new blog of the American Jazz Museum features an interview with Danny Embrey.

*Danny Alexander reviews a post-Mavis Staples show by Snuff Jazz.

*Pat Metheny and Chick Corea share their appreciation of Gary Burton.

*Chuck Berg reviewed a concert in Topeka by Sara Gazarek and Josh Nelson.

*Tweet o' the Week- clintashlock: I think if someone asked me to explain joy, I'd play them a recording of a Stevie Wonder harmonica solo.

*From an American Jazz Museum press release about the MCC-Penn Valley 18th & Vine Jazz Festival: Presented in partnership with MCC-Penn Valley, this festival is a non-competitive event providing middle school, high school and collegiate level students with an opportunity for increased experience and understanding of American jazz. All participating students will have opportunities to interact with internationally acclaimed jazz artists, local professional jazz musicians and distinguished educators as well as perform in two of the American Jazz Museum’s world renowned venues – the historic Gem Theater and the Blue Room jazz club.

*From UMKC's Conservatory of Music: …In March 2012, Kansas City brings to Le Poisson Rouge in New York a concert entitled "Crossroads": an eclectic mix of people and cultures, including composers Paul Rudy, winner of a 2010 Rome Prize fellowship; Guggenheim fellow James Mobberley; Chen Yi, winner of the Charles Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; NYC’s own John Corigliano, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Barr Laureate Composer at UMKC in 2012-14; the music of Kevin Oldham and John Kander as sung by internationally acclaimed tenor and UMKC Professor Vinson Cole; and the New York City premiere of excerpts from Zhou Long's new opera "Madame White Snake," winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in Music. (Via Steve Paul.)

(Original image of Logan Richardson, Matt Otto and Steve Lambert performing at Micah Herman's album release show at the RecordBar on December 11 by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A reporter for KCUR marvels that "fake storefronts, including movie facades" from Robert Altman's 1996 film Kansas City "(h)ave been in place longer than many businesses" in the jazz district. The station also reports that a tax-increment financing plan for the jazz district has been terminated.

*Take Five Coffee + Bar and 1911 Restaurant & Lounge are praised by KCJazzLark.

*1911 Restaurant & Lounge finally has a web presence. The Pitch examines the venue's bathroom facilities.

*Hermon Mehari is the subject of an Ink magazine cover story. He's also featured in a promotional video for the Kansas City Chiefs.

*Michael Pagan makes a pitch for the American Jazz Museum.

*A Star staffer promotes 1911 Main and KC Youth Jazz.

*Joe Klopus previews a Westport Art Ensemble reunion show.

*Joe Athon pleads for inter-agency cooperation in Kansas City's jazz district. Here's fresh footage of Athon performing at Jardine's last month.

*Project H has initiated a Kickstarter campaign.

*Pat Metheny's 1999 duet album with Jim Hall was reissued this week.

*Stephen Holden reviews Marilyn Maye's new show in New York. (Via a tweet by Steve Paul.)

*Matt Penman of the SF Jazz Collective participates in a video interview to promote the band's appearance at the Lied Center.

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

*The Pitch catches up with Victor & Penny.

*Another musician who once played with Charlie Parker has died.

*Here's footage of a young Polish group covering Bobby Watson's "Wheel Within a Wheel" in Austria.

*Tweet o' the Week: LesIzmoreHOD: Big Band Jazz at Harlings till 12. No cover. Midtown sh_t.

*From Jim Mair: Great jazz will fill the Performing Art Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College Monday through Thursday, Nov. 14-17. Three Big Bands will kick off a series of four concerts in four days on Monday night. All four concerts are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and are free to the public although donations will be accepted. The schedule: MONDAY – Three big bands, the KCKCC Jazz Ensemble directed by Jim Mair; the Turner High School Jazz Ensemble directed by Mike Altenbernd; and the Ottawa University Jazz Ensemble directed by Todd Wilkinson. TUESDAY – KCKCC Jazz Combos directed by Mair and Latin Band directed by Jurge Welge. WEDNESDAY – Kansas City High School All-Star Jazz Ensemble directed by Hermon Mehari and Diverse. THURSDAY – KCKCC Vocal Jazz directed by John Stafford.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

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.)

Now's the Time: Ben Van Gelder

Do you like New York City? Are you partial to audacious concepts? How do you feel about Dutch saxophonists? This clever Ben Van Gelder video features all three elements. A band featuring Van Gelder, Peter Schlamb and Hermon Mehari performs Friday and Saturday at 1911 Main. I'm told there's no cover.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Pitch takes note of 1911 Main. Joe Klopus' comments on the addition to the jazz scene are here.

*Here's a new track by Sir Threadius Mongus. The band performs a free show Friday, October 7, at La Esquina.

*Here's a digital scrapbook from a recent tour of Spain by Beau Bledsoe and Flamenco Mio.

*Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey is the subject of an extensive profile by The Los Angeles Times.

*Here's a review of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra concert Saturday at Helzberg Hall.

*KCMetropolis offers reviews of concerts by the UMKC Conservatory and Wynton Marsalis.

*Bobby Watson is featured on the Renolds Jazz Orchestra's big band version of Three Penny Opera. The album was released last April.

*Victoria "Fanny" Dunfee blogs about Alaadeen's Dysfunctional autobiography.

*Photos of previous Rhythm & Ribs festivals are shared by KCJazzLark.

*"…Miles Davis never had to bill himself as a tribute to someone else," sighs Hunter Long in a review of Ambrose Akinmusire's performance last week.

*Tweet o' the Week: KCJazzLark: Brad Cox is playing & introducing this 1st PLBB set as if he's at the PV Jazz Fest on a beautiful Sept night. On the outside, I'm laughing.

*Today's Groupon is for The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's October 14 concert.

*From a press release: Popular and versatile pianist/vocalist Candace Evans will be the featured performer at the Spirituality and All That Jazz Concert Series at Unity Temple on The Plaza, Wednesday October 5, 7pm - 8:30pm. The concert is a homecoming celebration for Candace, since performing the last four years at the nationally known Lodge of Four Seasons Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks.

*From Joe Athon on his Thursday, October 13, gig at Jardine's: For the first time, long time KC musician and front man Joe Athon will present live selections from his debut CD- Portrait of the Man. Many of KCs finest will be on board including Bill McKemy, Stan Kessler, and many others!

*From Hermon Mehari: Ben Van Gelder and Peter Schlamb are leading a quintet that will play at 1911 Main this Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th from 9-Midnight. Ben Van Gelder is a young saxophonist from the Netherlands who has been making waves on the scene in NYC and Europe. Peter Schlamb, a vibraphonist who has spent some time in NYC, has been making repeated trips to KC (including a couple with Mike Moreno) from his hometown of St. Louis and is excited to be coming back again. The rest of the group consists of Sean Mullins on drums (NYC), Karl McComas-Reichl on bass (Iowa City), and myself on trumpet. There is no cover.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)