Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City musician Reggie Watkins has died.

*Logan Richardson released a new song titled “Frequency”.

*Matt Hopper and Adam Larson discussed the shutdown of Kansas City’s live jazz scene with Joe Dimino.

*Tweet o’ the Week: KC Kerrie- When you are stuck inside for the umpteenth day and need new ear joy so you open your suggested playlist. Spotify says "I got you" Jazz...who knew??? Thank you @Spotify for hitting a note I didn't know I was missing

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The creator of Plastic Sax appeared on Marcus Lewis’ Ask a Jazz Dude show.

*June’s Jazz Club opened at the location of the former Uptown Arts Bar.

*Matt Hopper was interviewed on the Trading Fours podcast.  This sketchy link is apparently the only way to listen.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Beth Tofurky- The constant use of "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas into commercials during @Chiefs broadcasts proves that 1. People still don't know Kansas City is in Missouri 2. The @NFL needs to research the history of jazz. #nfl #Chiefs #18thandvine

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: Lonnie McFadden's "Charlie Parker: Past, Present & Future" at the Gem Theater

Kansas City’s top entertainer oversaw a jubilant tribute to Kansas City’s most famous son at the Gem Theater on Sunday.  In many ways, Lonnie McFadden’s "Charlie Parker: Past, Present & Future" presentation was a McFadden Brothers concert with an extra helping of chatter and contributions from two auspicious guests.  Most members of the audience of more than 400 wouldn’t have had it any other way at the momentous event.

McFadden, the man known as “Mr. Kansas City,” is a jazz saxophonist, tap dancer and Las Vegas-style showman.  He was joined by his brother, trumpeter Ronnie McFadden, and a core band of pianist Andrew Ouellette, guitarist Matt Hopper, bassist DeAndre Manning and drummer Tyree Johnson.  The 100-minute show featured appearances by Kansas City’s grand master Bobby Watson and the New York based saxophonist Tivon Pennicott.

McFadden insisted that he’s a dedicated Parker scholar in a lengthy appreciation at the start of the culmination of the fifth annual Charlie Parker Celebration.  He may have felt the extended commentary was necessary because the show didn’t feature a single Parker composition or any attempts to recreate Parker’s sound.

If McFadden’s verbal acclamations represented the “past” portion of the show’s title, the vital music defined the “present.”  The McFaddens stepped aside to allow Pennicott to showcase his imposing technique on “Lush Life” and his original “Never Been.”  Watson sounded as magnificent as ever on his compositions “Sweet Dreams” and “Wheel Within a Wheel.”  McFadden’s duet with his daughter Chloe on “Unforgettable” and a tap dance routine with Ronnie were sure-fire audience pleasers.

McFadden insisted that the “future” component of the show’s title was represented by the comparatively young musicians Hopper, Johnson, Manning and Ouellette.  While they played flawlessly, none of them has yet revealed an intention to become a transgressive innovator in the tradition of Parker.  Area jazz fans will need to wait for Logan Richardson’s return to Kansas City on September 8 to hear a truer representation of Parker’s futuristic vision.

Setlist: Birdland, A Night in Tunisia, Never Been, Lush Life, Cherokee, Sweet Dreams, Wheel Within a Wheel, tap dancing, Unforgettable, Kansas City

(Original images by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Matt Hopper

Matt Hopper is a fixture on Kansas City’s jazz scene.  The guitarist has 12 gigs scheduled during the next 12 days.  He plays “Set Your Fears Aside,” an enchanting selection from his First Love album, in the embedded footage captured at Green Lady Lounge in 2015.  The comprehensive Kansas City Jazz Calendar lists hundreds of additional spring performances.

Concert Review: Agora at the Green Lady Lounge

The Green Lady Lounge might consider serving specialty cocktails replete with umbrellas during performances by Agora.  The new group led by guitarist Matt Hopper plays Brazilian-themed retro-lounge tunes.  While decidedly in the louche tradition of space-age bachelor pad music, the output of Hopper, organist Ken Lovern, percussionist Patrick Conway and drummer Todd Strait resembled the sound of Rosinha de Valença more than Walter Wanderley at the venue last week.  Agora returns to the Green Lady Lounge on Tuesday, April 18.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

 *Mike Warren reviewed A La Mode’s new album C’est Si Bon for KCUR.

*Jeff Harshbarger, Hermon Mehari and Dominique Sanders contributed year-end top music lists to The Kansas City Star.

*The Dino Massa Kansas City Quintet’s Echoes of Europe was released on January 2.

*Bob Bowman now has a proper website. 

*Dean Minderman compiled a thorough collection of ”Best Jazz of 2016” lists.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Matt Hopper- My trio has moved to Monday's at @GreenLadyLounge 6-10pm. New year & new tunes!

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Plastic Sax’s Favorite Albums of 2016

Favorite Kansas City Albums
1. Charlie Parker- Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes, (Plastic Sax review at KCUR)
2. Logan Richardson- Shift, (Plastic Sax review at KCUR)
3. Pat Metheny Unity Group- The Unity Sessions, (Plastic Sax review)
4. Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- Kings & Queens, (Plastic Sax review at KCUR)
5. Chris Hazelton's Boogaloo Seven- Soul Jazz Fridays, (Plastic Sax review at KCUR)
6. Matt Otto- Soliloquy, (Plastic Sax review at KCUR)
7. Mike Dillon- Functioning Broke
8. Paul Shinn Trio- Into That Good Night, (Plastic Sax review)
9. Jorge Arana Trio- Mammoth, (Plastic Sax review)
10. Matt Hopper- First Love, (Plastic Sax review)

Favorite Albums From Elsewhere
1. David Murray, Geri Allen, and Terri Lyne Carrington- Perfection
2. Nels Cline- Lovers
3. Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom- Otis Was a Polar Bear
4. Amina Claudine Myers- Sama Rou
5. Elliot Galvin Trio- Punch
6. Charlie Hunter- Everybody Has a Plan Until They Get Punched In the Mouth
7. Charles Lloyd & the Marvels- I Long To See You
8. Laura Jurd’s Dinosaur- Together, As One
9. John Scofield- Country For Old Men
10. Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life- Nihil Novi

Plastic Sax conducted similar exercises in 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra unveiled its 2016-17 concert season.

*KCUR aired a segment about Matt Hopper.

*The Pitch plugged Hermon Mehari’s regular appearances at The Majestic.

*The Kansas City Star reviewed Roy Ayers’ concerts at the Blue Room.

*Marc Myers extols John Park’s If Winter Comes, an out-of-print album that includes tracks recorded in Kansas City in 1975 with George Salisbury, Milt Abel and Leon Brady.

*The Wichita Eagle published an interesting profile about a smooth jazz crusader.

*The Kansas City Star provides an update on the funding initiative for the Jazz District.

*KCUR examines a potential makeover for a few structures in the Jazz District.

*An editorial published by a libertarian think tank cites the public’s disinterest in jazz- “(w)e’re just not that into it”- as one reason the proposed funding for the Jazz District is ill-advised.

*The editorial board of The Kansas City Star questions the wisdom of the $27 million funding proposal for the Jazz District.

*“Jazz Speaks for Life: Discovering the Civil Rights Journey Through Visual and Musical Expression,” a new exhibit at the American Jazz Museum, is examined by The Kansas City Star.

*KC Jazz Lark highlights articles from the new edition of Jam magazine.

*A television station reports that several shots were fired in the Jazz District on Sunday night in an apparent robbery attempt.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Greg Franklin- Watched an incredible Roy Ayers set tonight in Kansas City. Turned around and Tyler The Creator was singing every song right behind me.

*Comment o’ the Week: Gary- Call me late to the party but "Shift" is really great. As always thanks, BB.

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated for June.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*KC Jazz Lark lambasts the flippant rejection of jazz in the press release that announces the end of the Jazz in the Woods festival and the debut of SoJo Summerfest.

*Matt Otto’s new album Soliloquy is reviewed by a critic for KCUR.

*Joe Klopus previewed Ernie Krivda’s performance at the Blue Room for The Kansas City Star.  The Pitch also touts the gig.

*Bobby Watson surveys Kansas City’s music scene in a trailer for a new documentary.

*An Associated Press feature promotes the Blue Room.

*Matt Hopper is part of a crowdfunding campaign to finance a trip to Brazil.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Graveley Lab-  Favorite new jazz album…Logan Richardson’s “Shift”. wicked good!

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- I presume the eight musicians split the door to make a whopping fifty bucks each. "Pro Musicians" should stop working for less than $100 per performance. Musicians accepting this INSULT for the last twenty years has lowered the bar for every player to come from now on.

*From a press release: Congregation Beth Torah proudly announces a performance by Dan Thomas and some of KC’s finest jazz musicians featuring the music of Fiddler on the Roof. June 18th, 2016 at 7:30 pm… The performance will be held at Congregation Beth Torah, as a fundraiser for the Congregation… Tickets are available for patrons at $100/ticket, and general admission is $50/ticket.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Matt Hopper- First Love

Matt Hopper sounds like an old soul on his impressive debut album First Love.  The young Kansas City guitarist plays with the patience of a sage veteran who feels no need to prove himself.  Rather than peppering the project with flashy solos, Hopper emphasizes tasteful grooves.

Hopper is accompanied by two-thirds of OJT.  Organist Ken Lovern and drummer Kevin Frazee provide the same sort of prudent playing that’s heard at their frequent appearances as the unofficial house band of the Green Lady Lounge and on last year’s correspondingly conventional New Standards for the Green Lady album.

Hopper aligns himself with old-school guitarists like Kenny Burrell rather than modernists such as Bill Frisell on straight-ahead tracks like “Song For Wes” and “Darn That Dream.”

Even so, the album’s most distinctive song is one of the few selections that couldn’t be mistaken for something that was recorded fifty years ago.  Rather than paying tribute to past masters like Wes Montgomery, Hopper explores new terrain on the hauntingly beautiful “Set Your Fears Aside.” 

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Dominique Sanders- A True Story Based On...

A True Story Based On…, the bold, imaginative and vital new album by Dominique Sanders, opens with a skit that features an eclectic array of music including a few seconds of ”Invincible”, a song by the locally based pop-punk band the Beautiful Bodies.

Similarly astounding surprises are sprinkled throughout the 75-minute project.

While he may be best known for playing bass in Kansas City jazz clubs, Sanders includes elements of electronic music, funk, hip-hop, soul and rock on A True Story Based On….

Jazz fans needn’t feel left out.  Trumpeter Hermon Mehari, saxophonist Steve Lambert, pianist Andrew Ouellette and drummer Ryan Lee join Sanders on "Visible Galaxies."  The selection eventually transforms into a progressive fusion assault that climaxes with Danny Embrey’s metallic guitar solo.

"Inner Dimensions" boasts stellar contributions from saxophonist Andy McGhie and pianist Harold O'Neal.

Suggesting that the album is a who’s-who of young players on Kansas City’s jazz scene would be an exaggeration, but Matt Hopper, Mark Lowrey, Ernest Melton and Josh Williams are among the additional heavy hitters credited in the liner notes.

The R&B and funk tracks may be even more impressive than the jazz-oriented selections.  The sultry "Dreamin'" features smooth vocals by Anthony Saunders.    Reggie B raps and sings on the funky "Someone Else."  The wavy neo-soul of Awakening is a feature for Miles Bonny.

While the album would be improved by a twenty-minute trim, a bit of extravagance is to be expected from dynamic young musicians.  A True Story Based On… contains an excess of enthusiasm.

Many people objected when Flying Lotus' You're Dead was named the top album of 2014 at Plastic Sax.  Those same jazz purists won't be much happier when they find the similarly adventurous A True Story Based On… near the top of Plastic Sax's year-end album list in 2015.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*KC Jazz Lark appraises Kansas City's jazz scene.

*Musicians share their thoughts about the late Tommy Ruskin with Neon Jazz.

*Demencha magazine interviewed Dominique Sanders about his new album.

*A blogger takes note of a performance by guitarists Charles Gatschet and Matt Hopper. 

*The Pitch touts Horacescope's gig at the Blue Room.

*Joyce Smith reports that vocalist Darcus Gates will open a "supper club" named Dash in May.

*Rudresh Mahanthappa's Bird Calls, an album on which "each track is directly based on a Parker composition or solo," will be released next month.

*Tweet o' the Week: Hermon Mehari- Playing in NYC tonight with Matt Brewer (bass), Craig Weinrib (drums), and Tony Tixier (piano) at Somethin Jazz Club from 9-10:45!

*Comment o' the Week: - Brian Baggett- Maybe Marilyn would like to do some VH covers with DŌJŌ?

*After years of neglect, the dead and dormant links in the blogroll have been cleared out.  Please let me know if you have a proper (non-Facebook/ReverbNation) site that merits inclusion.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Everette DeVan- For the Love of You

It's easy to take Everette DeVan for granted.  The organist and bandleader gigs so regularly that his appearances tend not to get circled on calendars. 

Yet every time the veteran of Kansas City's jazz scene takes a seat at his organ in front of a receptive audience, all is suddenly right with the world.  Rather than reinventing the wheel, DeVan seems primarily interested in steering listeners in the direction of a good time. 

The selections on the new 71-minute album For the Love of You are typical of the repertoire DeVan performs in Kansas City clubs.  The recording includes readings of material by James Brown, the Isley Brothers, James Taylor and jazz standards. 
 
For the Love of You features contributions from vibraphonist Greg Carroll, saxophonist Ian Corbett, guitarists Pat Kelley and Matt Hopper, percussionist Jay Rogers and drummer Danny Rojas. 

People don't turn to DeVan for flashy playing or innovative concepts.  Instead, DeVan's longtime fans know that his life-affirming grooves possess a curative quality. 

The original lyric to the title track serves as an apt summation of DeVan's appeal: "Driftin on a memory, ain't no place I'd rather be than with you." 

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Review: Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- The Freedom of Expression

Of the many notable albums that have been released in the past few years by Kansas City-based jazz musicians, only a few have pleased me more than Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle's new release The Freedom of Expression.   In addition to documenting the formidable talent of several young musicians, the project serves as a reminder that everything is indeed up to date in Kansas City. 

With the exception of "Liberation," the mainstream closing track, The Freedom of Expression is a bracing collection of modal neo-soul grooves.  Imagine 1968-era Herbie Hancock filtered through 2009-era Robert Glasper.

Because I don't possess a physical copy of the album, I'm unsure of the specific credits.  The core of the band is keyboardist Eddie Moore, guitarist Matt Hopper, bassist Dominique Sanders and drummer Matt Leifer.  Saxophonists Erik Blume and Andy McGhie also make appearances.

Knowledge of such details isn't necessary to appreciate The Freedom of Expression.  No one- not even Moore- attempts to draw excessive attention to his contributions.  Even "Anger Management," the loudest track, maintains a pleasing low-key atmosphere.  A few selections are hampered by an annoying buzz that I presume is emitted by an amp, a reflection of the session's casual vibe. 

Yet listeners shouldn't confusing the relaxed ambience of The Freedom of Expression with nonchalance.  The beautiful album represents an important touchstone in the evolution of Kansas City jazz.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Logan Richardson tells The Revivalist about the role he plays in the forthcoming album by the Next Collective.

*KCJazzLark's provocative commentary on the size and scope of Kansas City's jazz audience is fascinating.

*Matt Hopper is singled out for praise in a review of the debut album by Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle.

*Diverse made a portion of a recent Michael Jackson tribute performance available as a free download.

*The Prairie Village Post reports that a professional fundraiser may be utilized by the Prairie Village Jazz Festival.  (Tip via Offstage.)

*Tim Finn checks in with Jeff Harshbarger about the bassist's forthcoming trip to Europe.

*The American Jazz Museum's Glenn North spoke to The Kansas City Star about the relationship between jazz and poetry.

*Phonologotronic shares a "teaser".

*The Pitch reveals that UMKC has a student-run internet radio station.  And yes, the schedule indicates that there's jazz programming.

*All About Jazz offers an extensive review of the audio portion of Pat Metheny's The Orchestrion Project.  (Via Pat Metheny News.)

*Jef Lee Johnson has died.  The guitarist performed with Esperanza Spalding at Helzberg Hall last October.

*Tweet o' the Week: JeneeinKC- Jazz and Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop and Jazz. I love KC.

*Comment of the Week: Stanton Kessler- Thank you Mr.Sax, I am thrilled that you liked our project so much! Hopefully, it will induce more people to enjoy us live. Mike, you are too kind.

*Via the Folly Theater: The lineup for Kenny Garrett's February 15 concert is Kenny Garrett - saxophone, Rudy Bird, percussion, Vernell Brown, Jr., piano, Corcoran Holt, bass, McClenty Hunter, Jr.,drums.

*From Jim Mair: Jazz by the Lake. Thursday February 7, 2013. Noon to 1:00pm. Diverse trio with Hermon Mehari, Ben Leifer, Brad Williams. KCKCC Conference Center by the Lake. Free and Free food. In a living room atmosphere, a very intimate space. The most Diverse audience in Kansas City. (unintentional pun).  All ages and all stages and beyond.

*From the Kansas City Symphony: KC's very own Bobby Watson continues the fine traditions of Charlie Parker and Count Basie, performing jazz standards with a special twist. For this show, Watson is joined by 20 of the best jazz musicians in the Midwest, including David Basse, Rod Fleeman, Dan Thomas, Steve Malloy, Horace Washington, Roger Wilder and others.  Get ready to jam! February 15-16, Helzberg Hall.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle

Keyboardist Eddie Moore doesn't attempt to conceal his admiration of Robert Glasper.  The Freedom of Expression, the new album by Moore and the Outer Circle, seems to split the difference between Glasper's 2007 album In My Element and last year's Black Radio.  Moore recently spoke to Joe Klopus about his nascent career. His band's album release show is Friday, February 1, at the Blue Room.

Now's the Time: Everette DeVan

I didn't give much thought to the man with a video camera at last week's Crosscurrents performance. It's not uncommon to see someone filming jazz musicians in area clubs. Very rarely, however, is the documentation uploaded to sites like Vimeo and YouTube. So this footage of Eboni Fondren, Matt Hopper and Everette DeVan at the Phoenix is most welcome. Watch the generous man's footage of Crosscurrent here and here. DeVan performs at The Phoenix every Tuesday in September.

Now's the Time: The James Ward Band

The James Ward Band is filling in for Ida McBeth at Jardine's this Saturday night. While the group's version of jazz isn't my favorite, they play precisely the kind of accessible, upbeat music that regularly fills area nightclubs with happy revelers. Matt Hopper and Gerald Dunn are among the band's members.