Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Laura Spencer of KCUR and Bill Turque of The Kansas City Star report on developments concerning the reorganization of the American Jazz Museum.  The editorial board of The Kansas City Star expresses displeasure with the latest news.

*A La Mode is featured in The Pitch.

*Jeff Shirley was interviewed by a representative of Johnson County Library.

*Deborah Brown, Bobby Watson, Sylswester Ostrowski and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will perform at a concert titled Building Cultural Bridges Through Jazz at the Gem Theater on May 31.

*Teddy Dibble recalls Sun Ra’s 1982 residency in Kansas City at the 12:50 mark of his vinyl-oriented video.

*An engaging interview with Jay McShann was recently made available.  (Tip via Marc Myers.)

*Dean Minderman examines Jazz St. Louis’ 2018-19 bookings.  Highlights include the Bad Plus, Lonnie Smith and Chucho Valdes.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Holly Forsman- Donated a rare Charlie Parker album of 78s to the Kansas City Jazz Museum. Didn't want them to wind up in a garage sale when I died. They kindly made me CDS as a thank you.

*Comment o’ the Week: BGO- Cheptoo is now history with The American Jazz Museum. Perhaps she'll come crawling back here to the library.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Star and KCUR report on a critical analysis of the American Jazz Museum that suggests the institution should be temporarily shuttered and that its leadership structure must be dramatically revamped.  Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner spoke to The Star about the study.  The Star’s editorial board assesses the situation.

*Hermon Mehari is the subject of an extensive profile by Natalie Gallagher for The Pitch.  He also led a quartet in a 25-minute Star Session set for The Kansas City Star.

*Clint Ashlock and Jeff Shirley were interviewed by Joe Dimino.  Shirley was also featured by Debbie Burke.

*Anat Cohen’s appearance with the KU Jazz Ensemble 1 was reviewed by Jessie Riggins.

*The Kansas City Star examined a couple key players in a battle for the future of the Jazz District and reported on a controversial piece of legal wrangling.

*Stephen Martin was featured in UMKC’s student newspaper.

*The Project H was named KCUR’s Band of the Week.

*Nate Chinen suggests that Logan Richardson’s Blues People possesses “a feeling of urgent communion.” 

*Tweet o’ the Week: Mike Mahoney- City Councilman Jermaine Reed (and Jazz Museum Board member) says a shutdown of the American Jazz Museum for a reset would be a “nuclear option” that he opposes. #JazzMuseum

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Jeff Shirley- Point of the Story

Point of the Story, the new album by Jeff Shirley, is impeccably tasteful.  It’s a shock, consequently, when a bit of grit is introduced on the eleventh track.  “Gerkin’s Sister Temple” adds six-minutes of left-of-center edginess to a 75-minute document that otherwise glides right down the center of jazz’s mainstream lane.

Shirley is a young Kansas City guitarist in the tradition of past masters like Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell.  He’s joined by the correspondingly elegant band of pianist Roger Wilder, bassist Bob Bowman and drummer Matt Leifer.  Ryan Thielman contributes flugelhorn flourishes to three tracks.

Conservative but never cautious, Shirley plays with a graceful confidence that makes Point of the Story a straight-ahead jazz fan’s delight.  The sole frustrating aspect of the project is that a couple tracks fade out just as they’re heating up, a dilemma that will likely be rectified during the release party for the album at Black Dolphin on Saturday, April 14.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Trevor Turla, a senior in UMKC’s Jazz Studies program, shares interesting insights into his prospects as a jazz musician in Kansas City with the student newspaper.

*Peter Schlamb created an amusing music video for the new track “Skylar’s View.”

*The Anat Cohen Tentet will perform at the Gem Theater on Saturday, April 7.  Tickets are available here.

*Lonnie McFadden chatted with KCUR’s Chuck Haddix.

*Footage of a Tiny Desk concert featuring Logan Richardson and his band is slated to be uploaded by NPR on April 23.

*Ryan Heinlein was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*Steve Kraske interviewed two members of the Hot Sardines for KCUR.  Jessie Riggins reviewed the band’s concert at the Folly Theater.

*Clint Ashlock and Jo Ann Daugherty made a television appearance to promote last weekend’s concert by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Jeff Shirley- March 30th - Album release!! April 13th - Release party/concert at Black Dolphin, 9PM, with Bob Bowman, Roger Wilder and Matt Leifer!!

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- Interesting, Otto and Cardenas are the only musicians known internationally......

*From a press release: CinemaKC, a non-profit film organization which spotlights films and filmmakers in the Kansas City area, will partner with sponsor KC Film Office at VisitKC, to present a series of classic feature films that were filmed in the region, with Kansas City locations, cast and crew.  The screening series will be a reunion of personnel who worked on the projects, as well as an opportunity to introduce new audiences to the big-screen experience… The first film in the series, Kansas City... will screen on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at 3:30 PM at the beautiful Screenland Medallion Theater...  Prior to the screening, at 2:15pm, VIP ticket holders will enjoy live jazz music at a VIP jazz reception, co-sponsored by KC Jazz ALIVE and GreenLadyRadio.com. General Admission $10 – Open Forum, Screening and Q&A afterwards.  VIP $25 – VIP Jazz Reception, Open Forum, Screening and Q&A.

*From a press release: Artists Recording Collective (ARC) recording artist, Christopher Burnett has announced that his working Christopher Burnett Quintet (CbQ) comprised of Kansas City-based professional musicians will be going into the studio to record in the fall of 2018. He said this new recording project initiative corresponds with the ensemble’s monthly first Saturday residency at Black Dolphin… (Burnett) will manufacture a limited edition run of heavy-vinyl LP records for audiophiles who'd like to have a physical product.”

(Original image of Magnavox manual by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Eddie Saunders, a longtime fixture of Kansas City's jazz scene, has died.  Here's footage of Saunders performing at the Blue Room in 2004.

*KCJazzLark continues his amusing rebuttal to what he perceives as the unwarranted negativity of the author of this blog.

*Kristin Shafel Omiccioli compiled a spring jazz preview.

*Tony Botello raves about Mark Lowrey's new album.

*A writer for The Kansas City Star recounts a remarkable moment he experienced at the Kill Devil Club.

*Chris Burnett posted a "MIDI Mock Up" of a new composition.  He shares his new resolutions here.

*3 Degrees Above Absolute Zero, a jazz fusion album by Jeff Shirley, was released a few months ago.

*Marc Myers posted an appreciation of Frank Wess.

*Here's a special request of the management of the brand new downtown venue that refers to itself as a "Kansas City Jazz Lounge"- please watch this site's Jazz Clubbing video.

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated.

*Tweet o' the Week: Je Sais Que- Hate when people say "ima put KC on the map". It's already on the map been there for a while because of Jazz and BBQ

*Comment o' the Week: Dean Minderman- Though they now live in Michigan, where Reggie teaches at MSU, the Thomases are from St. Louis, and they're both really good.  Unfortunately, as you probably found out while searching, they don't have a lot of video or audio material available online. The clip of "Unchain My Heart" is fine - I've run it on my own site - but it only barely hints at what they can do.  Marty Morrison and Nick Jost are St. Louis guys, too, both very solid & versatile players. Those four could carry a show on their own, but add in Bobby Watson and Will Matthews, too, and you've really got some potential there. Here's hoping a lot of folks turn up to hear them at the Blue Room…

*From JCCC: Jazz Winterlude will make its annual return this month at Johnson County Community College, again showcasing some of the best jazz musicians around Kansas City and beyond. The two-day festival, which will take place in the Carlsen Center on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18-19, features Julian Lage, a Grammy-nominated guitarist; Deborah Brown, a world-renowned vocalist and Eldar, a New York-based pianist. More than half a dozen area jazz artists and ensembles also will perform, including the David Basse Orchestra and the Megan Birdsall Quartet. "For us, Jazz Winterlude is all about the music," organizer Doreen Maronde said. "We want students to have the opportunity to work with professionals; we want the audience to sample new things as well as hear their favorites.  And we think the strength of the Kansas City musical community gives us a unique opportunity to do this." The 2013 Jazz Winterlude will be free to audience members, thanks to contributions from community supporters. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

*From Stan Kessler: Parallax- January 10, 2013. Westport Coffee House. 8-10:30. $5… Stan Kessler-Trp. Roger Wilder-keys. Bill McKemy-Bs., sousaphone. Ryan Lee-Drm.
Brian Steever-Drm. Special Guests Matt Otto & Clint Ashlock.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)