Now's the Time: The Project H

The Project H performs at The Ship on Thursday, July 18.  Links to Plastic Sax reviews of three of the Kansas City band’s albums are here.

Plastic Sax’s Favorite Albums and Performances of 2018

Favorite Albums By Kansas City Artists
1. Logan Richardson- Blues People (Plastic Sax review)
2. Peter Schlamb- Electric Tinks (Plastic Sax review)
3. The Project H- Everyday, Forever (Plastic Sax review)
4. Ernest Melton- The Time of the Slave Is Over (Plastic Sax review)
5. Stephen Martin- Vision (Plastic Sax review)
6. Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7- The Basement Beat (Plastic Sax review)
7. Lonnie McFadden- Live at Green Lady Lounge (Plastic Sax review)
8. Stan Kessler- Skywatcher (KCUR feature)
9. OJT- New Originals for the Green Lady (Plastic Sax review)
10. Marcus Lewis Big Band- Brass and Boujee(Plastic Sax review)


Favorite Albums By Artists From Elsewhere
1. Dave Holland- Uncharted Territory
2. Ambrose Akinmusire- Origami Harvest
3. Cécile McLorin Salvant- The Window
4. Vincent Peirani- Night Walker
5. Brad Mehldau- After Bach
6. Sons of Kemet- Your Queen Is a Reptile
7. Nicole Mitchell- Maroon Cloud
8. Andrew Cyrille- Lebroba
9. Matthew Shipp- Zero
10. Kamasi Washington- Heaven and Earth


Favorite Performances By Kansas City Artists
1. The Project H- Westport Coffee House
2. Hermon Mehari Quintet- Gem Theater
3. Lonnie McFadden- Black Dolphin
4. Mezzo String- Polsky Theatre (Plastic Sax review)
5. Will Matthews Quintet- Swope Park pavillion (Plastic Sax review)
6. Marcus Lewis Big Band- RecordBar
7. Vine Street Rumble- Californos
8. We the People- RecordBar
9. Charles Williams Trio- First Baptist Church (Plastic Sax review)
10. Ernest Melton, DeAndre Manning and Brad Williams- Blue Room


Favorite Performances By Artists From Elsewhere
1. Erykah Badu- Sprint Center (Plastic Sax review)
2. Vijay Iyer Sextet- Gem Theater (Plastic Sax review)
3. Ryan Keberle & Catharsis- Black Dolphin (Plastic Sax review)
4. Anat Cohen Tentet- Gem Theater (Plastic Sax review)
5. Uriel Herman Quartet- Black Dolphin (Plastic Sax review)
6. Ehud Ettun and Henrique Eisenmann- 1900 Building (Plastic Sax review)
7. Bill Frisell, Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston - 1900 Building (Plastic Sax review)
8. Cyrille Aimée- Folly Theater (Plastic Sax review)
9. L.A. Swing Barons- Californos (Plastic Sax review)
10. Kamasi Washington- The Truman (Plastic Sax review)

Plastic Sax conducted similar exercises in 2017, 2016 (albums and performances), 2015, 2014 (albums and performances), 2013 (albums and performances), 2012, 2011 and 2010.

(Original image of Eddie Moore, Chalis O’Neal and James Ward by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Logan Richardson’s Blues People is selected as the third best jazz album of 2018 by The New York Times’ Giovanni Russonello.

*Violinist Regina Carter is nominated for a Grammy Award for a solo on Karrin Allyson’s new album.  The Count Basie Orchestra’s All About That Basie is nominated for the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.  The complete list of nominations is here.

*Molly Hammer appeared on a television morning show.

*David Basse hails the Jazz Studies program at UMKC for the institution’s student newspaper.

*A press release touts Anita Dixon’s efforts as a cultural heritage strategist.

*The Marcus Lewis Big Band, the Project H and Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7 are among the best music of 2018 selections made by the staff of radio station 90.9 The Bridge.

*Chris Burnett lists his favorite albums of 2018.

*Marc Myers takes note of World Gardens, the latest album by the Italian pianist Roberto Magris that features Dominique Sanders, Brian Steever and Pablo Sanhueza.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Lee Rice Epstein- Yesterday, I was going to make an ironic joke about how outré a Count Basie album would be in 2018, and today I saw the Grammy noms, so that's a wrap, folks.

(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.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Joe Klopus previewed a forthcoming concert by the Anat Cohen Tentet for The Kansas City Star.

*High school trombonist Robert Traphagan was featured in a television news segment.

*The Project H’s new Star Sessions performance at the Blue Room streams here.

*Footage of a sixty-minute recital featuring Matt Otto leading a band in a performance of material from the 2017 album Ibérica has been uploaded to YouTube by Beau Bledsoe.

*A bit of history was uncovered in the Jazz District.

*Tweet o’ the Week: KCTV5- In true #KansasCity fashion, jazz music greets @Royals fans entering Kauffman Stadium gate B. #OpeningDay #RaisedRoyal (video)

*From Matt Chalk: I'm bringing my band out from New York next week to do some gigs across the midwest and we're stopping in KC for two nights. On Thursday, April 5th we'll be doing standards at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Plaza from 7pm-11pm. Then on Friday, April 6th we're at the Black Dolphin from 8:30pm-12:30am performing a ton of my brand new music for Quartet. This music fuses and expounds upon the traditions of 20th century French classical composers Ravel, Messiaen, and Dutilleux and American jazz ensembles led by Coltrane and Shorter... We have Marko Churnchetz (Slovenia) on piano, Myles Sloniker (US) on bass, and Francesco Ciniglio (Italy) on drums.

(Original image of the decor at Gates Bar-B-Q by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Project H was featured on KTGB’s Eight One Sixty program.

*KCUR reported on Kansas City’s promotional efforts related to UNESCO’s "Creative City of Music" designation.

*A party for the “official launch” of the low-power radio station KOJH will be held at the Mutual Musicians Foundation on Sunday, April 1.

*Bobby Watson will perform the National Anthem at Kauffman Stadium prior to the Kansas City Royals’ first home game.

*Tweet o’ the Week: wisonsinsane- Can't decide what is worse: A soft jazz band playing live in the Concourse of the Kansas City airport. Being inside the Kansas City airport.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Plastic Sax’s Favorite Albums and Performances of 2017

Favorite Albums by Kansas City Based Artists
1. Matt Otto and Ensemble Ibérica- Ibérica (Plastic Sax review)
2. Bobby Watson- Made in America (Plastic Sax review)
3. Hermon Mehari- Bleu (Plastic Sax review)
4. Dino Massa's Kansas City Quintet- Echoes of Europe (review at KCUR)
5. Julian Vaughn- Bona Fide
6. Matt Otto and Andy Ehling- Reunion (Plastic Sax review)
7. Deborah Brown- Kansas City, Here I Come
8. Steve Lambert- Seven Stories (Plastic Sax review)
9. The Matt Cook Collective- Along Those Lines (Plastic Sax review)
10. The Sextet- Blob Castle (Plastic Sax review)

Favorite Albums By Artists From Elsewhere
1. Miguel Zenón- Típico
2. Aruán Ortiz- Cub(an)ism
3. Yelena Eckemoff- Blooming Tall Phlox
4. Rob Luft- Riser
5. Rudresh Mahanthappa and the Indo-Pak Coalition- Agrima
6. Avishai Cohen- Cross My Palm With Silver
7. Tigran Hamasyan- An Ancient Observer
8. Kamasi Washington- Harmony of Difference
9. Ron Miles- I Am a Man
10. Various- The Passion of Charlie Parker (Plastic Sax review)

Favorite Performances by Kansas City Based Artists
1. Marilyn Maye- Quality Hill Playhouse (Plastic Sax review)
2. Matt Otto Trio with Anthony Wilson and Shay Estes- Blue Room
3. Alaturka- Polsky Theatre (Plastic Sax review)
4. Owen/Cox Dance Group and the People’s Liberation Big Band- Polsky Theatre (Plastic Sax review)
5. Gerald Spaits’ Sax & Violins- Westport Coffeehouse
6. The Project H- Black Dolphin
7. Eddie Moore, Dominique Sanders and Zach Morrow- Plaza Art Fair
8. Nate Nall Sextet- Homer’s Coffee House
9. Blair Bryant- The Kansas City Jazz & Heritage Festival
10. Stan Kessler Quartet- Black Dolphin

Favorite Performances by Artists From Elsewhere
1. Donny McCaslin- Folly Theater (Plastic Sax review)
2. Brian Blade Fellowship- Gem Theater
3. Danilo Pérez’s “Jazz 100”- Yardley Hall (Plastic Sax review)
4. Thundercat- Granada (Plastic Sax review)
5. Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison- Gem Theater (Plastic Sax review)
6. Ramsey Lewis- Gem Theater (review at The Kansas City Star)
7. Greg Tardy Trio- Blue Room (review at The Kansas City Star)
8. Flying Lotus- Midland (Plastic Sax review)
9. John Scofield- Kansas City Jazz & Heritage Festival (review at The Kansas City Star)
10. Victor Wooten Trio- Madrid Theatre (Plastic Sax review)

Plastic Sax conducted similar exercises in 2016 (albums and performances), 2015, 2014 (albums and performances), 2013 (albums and performances), 2012, 2011 and 2010.

(Original image of Thundercat at the Granada by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Molly Hammer discussed her life and new album with Monique Gabrielle Salazar.

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

*Tweet o’ the Week: SME Lancer Bands- The SME Blue Knights Jazz Ensemble kicks off the @PrairieVillage Jazz Festival today! 3:30pm, Harmon Park

*From a press release: Bassist/vocalist Katie Thiroux follows her debut CD with the masterful Off Beat (Aug. 18 Capri Records), a recording that showcases her crackerjack instrumental work, expressive and swinging vocals, and impressive artistic command. She’ll present a CD release concert on Wednesday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Californos… Tickets $20. Joining Thiroux will be pianist Steven Feifke and drummer Matt Witek… Thiroux was artist-in-residence from June through early September 2017 at Quincy Jones's new club Q's Bar and Lounge at the Palazzo Versace in Dubai.

*From a press release: Jazz luminaries Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, John Medeski and Larry Grenadier will kick off the 2017-18 Winterlude series at Johnson County Community College at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, in the Carlsen Center’s Yardley Hall. Touring under the name “Hudson,” reflecting the New York Hudson River Valley home for the musicians, DeJohnette (drums), Scofield (guitar), Medeski (keyboards) and Grenadier (bass) are individually winners of numerous awards, top-notch improvisers and leaders of their own groups.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

In the Tank for the Black Dolphin

I was an ersatz doorman last night.  Each time I exited the Black Dolphin represented an opportunity to shill for the new venue as I club-hopped in the Crossroads District.

When I opened the door during a set by the blues/soul/funk band the MGDs, the sudden burst of party music caught the attention of curious passerby on Grand Boulevard.  My spontaneous cry of “Come in! No cover! Live music!” succeeded in attracting a handful of well-heeled couples who were convinced to enter after I explained that the Black Dolphin is the sister venue of the Green Lady Lounge.

The Black Dolphin opened seven weeks ago, but my first-hand experiences and the commentary I continue to encounter on social media indicate that word hasn’t spread.  A few steps to the south of the Green Lady, the Black Dolphin is a minimalist space with bare walls, a high ceiling and a gold curtain framing the stage.  Patrons receive the superb service they associate with the Green Lady.

A handful of stumblebums on their way to the Green Lady were perplexed by the scene when the glorious jazz-based sound of the Project H hit them as I left Black Dolphin late in the evening.  “The Green Lady is over there, but the sound is coming from here” a befuddled guy slurred to his pals.  I declined to help them out.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: The Project H

The Project H is back.  One of the most vital ensembles in Kansas City recently returned from a hiatus.  The exemplary band performs at the Black Dolphin on Saturday, August 19, Saturday, September 2, Saturday, September 9, and Saturday, September 16.  The Project H is also on the lineup of the Prairie Village Jazz Festival on September 9.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Hermon Mehari’s solo debut album Bleu will be released on March 17.

*Joe Klopus examines the week’s jazz events for The Kansas City Star.

*Project H is on the lineup of NextBop’s “Jazz For the Masses” party in Austin.

*A blogger shared a wishlist of compatible artists capable of attracting the large audiences that would justify the $50-per-day entry fee of the American Jazz Museum’s forthcoming festival.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Roach Ellington- SHAME on KC JAZZ folks lying on Janelle Monae

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

*From a press release: The University of Kansas School of Music presents the 40th Annual KU Jazz Festival concerts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 in Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas Union. This year’s featured guest artist is guitarist Anthony Wilson… The March 3 concert features Wilson with the award-winning KU Jazz Ensemble I and the KU Jazz Festival All-Star Band… The March 4 concert will present Wilson in a small group setting, including leading a KU/Kansas City-based version of the acclaimed Anthony Wilson Nonet. KU faculty members Matt Otto, T.J. Martley, Danny Embrey, Jeff Harshbarger and Brandon Draper and graduate teaching assistant Chuck MacKinnon will perform with the nonet, along with Kansas City musicians Brett Jackson, Marcus Lewis and Zak Pischnotte. Opening the concert will be the Matt Otto Combo, the top small group within the KU Jazz Studies Program… Tickets for each concert are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $10 with a KU ID.

*From a press release: In their most recent project, Save Art has partnered with instrument builder Mike Corrigan and members of the New Orleans jazz community to produce a first-of-its-kind trumpet handcrafted with materials sourced from building affected by natural disasters, gentrification and housing redevelopment projects in New Orleans… The trumpet will begin a nationwide museum tour kicking off in Kansas City, the home of the American Jazz Museum.  Corrigan discussed the project with a television personality.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Gale Tallis, the executive director of the concert hall, recently announced that the next season of the Folly Theater's jazz series will include concerts by Cecile McLorin-Savant and the Donny McCaslin Quartet.

*The Pitch touts Saturday’s Patti Austin concert.

*Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle and the Project H are playing at a day party hosted by Nextbop in Austin this week.

*Chris Burnett filmed a conversation with Marcus Hampton.

*Brett Jackson was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*Chris Burnett reports that the Italian pianist Dino Massa will perform in the area next month.

*Tweet o’ the Week: John Levenstein- @realDonaldTrump You should also consider bringing up Kansas City jazz legend Count Basie. Something about jazz now being made in China?
 
*From Ron Carlson: After a hiatus from Live Jazz Fridays at the Lucky Brewgrille at 5401 Johnson Drive in Mission KS, we are now ready to schedule Live Jazz Thursdays there in April from 6 - 8 pm.  I am looking forward to this chance to play there with great players on a quieter night.  In the meantime, I am spending a good bit of time scheduling and periodically performing at The Art Factory near 135th and Nall Ave in Overland Park KS. This is the best new venue in that part of town since Take Five. Upcoming players schedule there include Bob Bowman, Stan Kessler, Matt Otto, Todd Strait, Laura Caviani and many others. We are even working on scheduling big bands for the room.

*From Michael Shults: Really happy to be bringing pianist Phil DeGreg back to KC next week. Phil was one of my teachers in graduate school at Cincinnati Conservatory and is really one of the best I've ever heard. He has an amazing story - studied psychology at Yale but caught the music bug while in college, moved to KC in the 80's and got it together in a hurry. Essentially went from a novice to touring with Woody Herman in a few short years. I wrote about him for allaboutjazz.com in 2011. We are playing two shows next week - Tuesday (March 22) at the Majestic, and Wednesday (March 23) at Green Lady with New Jazz Order.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Star reports that EBT restaurant will close at the end of the month.  The establishment's lounge has long featured performances by many of Kansas City's most prominent jazz musicians.

*KC Jazz Lark assesses the “voids” in Kansas City's jazz scene.

*Bryan Hicks was the subject of a 50-minute interview on KCUR’s Central Standard program.

*Joe Klopus highlights a handful of forthcoming concerts.

*Julian Vaughn promoted his concert at the Gem Theater on a morning television program.  The Pitch recommends the show.

*Karrin Allyson was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Jazz Vocal Album for Many A New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein.

(Original image of an autographed studio wall at 90.9 The Bridge by Plastic Sax.)

Plastic Sax's Favorite Albums and Performances of 2015

Favorite Albums by Locally Based Musicians
1. Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- Live In Kansas City (Plastic Sax review)
2. Matt Kane & the Kansas City Generations Sextet- Acknowledgement (Plastic Sax review)
3. Dominique Sanders- A True Story Based On… (Plastic Sax review)
4. Matt Villinger- All Night (Plastic Sax review)
5. Mike Metheny- Twelve For the Road (Plastic Sax review)
6. Julian Vaughn- Limitless (Plastic Sax review)
7. Paul Shinn Trio- Easy Now (Plastic Sax review)
8. Michael Pagan, Bob Bowman and Brian Steever- The Ottawa Sessions (Plastic Sax review)
9. Ron Carlson- Kind Folk (Plastic Sax review)
10. OJT- New Standards for the Green Lady (Plastic Sax review)

Favorite Albums by Musicians From Elsewhere
1. Rudresh Mahanthappa- Bird Calls (Plastic Sax review)
2. Marc Cary- Rhodes Ahead, Vol. 2
3. Matthew Shipp Trio- The Conduct of Jazz
4. Charles Gayle Trio- Christ Everlasting
5. Donny McCaslin- Fast Future
6. Charlie Hunter Trio- Let the Bells Ring On
7. Myra Melford- Snowy Egret
8. Kamasi Washington- The Epic
9. John Scofield- Past Present
10. Orrin Evans- The Evolution of Oneself

Favorite Performances by Locally Based Musicians
1. Bobby Watson Quartet- Folly Theater (Plastic Sax review)
2. Peter Schlamb’s Electric Tinks- RecordBar
3. Lauren Krum with the Project H- Westport CoffeeHouse (Plastic Sax review)
4. Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- Take Five Coffee + Bar (Plastic Sax review)
5. Jorge Arana Trio- Riot Room patio
6. James Isaac Quartet- Take Five Coffee + Bar (Plastic Sax review)
7. Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7- Green Lady Lounge
8. Jeff Harshbarger Quartet- RecordBar
9. Dojo- Green Lady Lounge (Plastic Sax review)
10. Shades of Jade- Coda (Plastic Sax review)

Favorite Performances by Musicians From Elsewhere
1. Mark Dresser, Myra Melford and Matt Wilson- Take Five Coffee + Bar (Plastic Sax review)
2. Avishai Cohen, Tal Mashiach and Nasheet Waits- Take Five Coffee + Bar (Plastic Sax review)
3. Diana Krall- Midland theater
4. Bill Frisell- White Theatre
5. Max Raabe & Palast Orchester- Helzberg Hall
6. Conrad Herwig’s Latin Jazz All-Stars- 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival (Plastic Sax review)
7. Hot Sardines- Folly Theater
8. John Blevins and Drew Williams- Westport Coffeehouse (Plastic Sax review)
9. Trio Red- Blue Room (Plastic Sax review)
10. Earl Klugh- Folly Theater

Similar year-end listings were published at Plastic Sax in 2014 (albums and performances), 2013 (albums and performances), 2012, 2011 and 2010.

(Original image of Shades of Jade by Plastic Sax.)

Plastic Sax’s Favorite Performances and Albums of 2015 (So Far)

I’m taking a break from blogging for two or three weeks. Here are lists of my favorite things on the jazz scene during the first half of 2015.

Favorite Performances by Locally Based Musicians
1. Lauren Krum with the Project H- Westport Coffeehouse (Plastic Sax review)
2. Peter Schlamb’s Electric Tinks- RecordBar
3. Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7- Green Lady Lounge
4. Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- Take Five Coffee + Bar (Plastic Sax review)
5. James Isaac Quintet- Take Five Coffee + Bar (Plastic Sax Review)

Favorite Performances by Musicians From Elsewhere
1. Trio M- Take Five Coffee + Bar (Plastic Sax review)
2. Avishai Cohen, Tal Mashiach and Nasheet Waits- Take Five Coffee + Bar (Plastic Sax review)
3. Max Raabe and Palast Orchester- Helzberg Hall
4. Bill Frisell- White Theatre
5. The Hot Sardines- Folly Theater

Favorite Albums by Locally Based Musicians
1. Dominique Sanders- A True Story Based On… (Plastic Sax review)
2. Matt Kane & the Kansas City Generations Sextet- Acknowledgement (Plastic Sax review)
3. Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle- Live In Kansas City
4. Paul Shinn Trio- Easy Now (Plastic Sax review)
5. Julian Vaughn- Limitless (Plastic Sax review)

Favorite Albums by Musicians From Elsewhere
1. Rudresh Mahanthappa- Bird Calls (Plastic Sax review)
2. Marc Cary- Rhodes Ahead, Vol. 2
3. Donny McCaslin- Fast Future
4. Terence Blanchard- Breathless
5. Kamasi Washington- The Epic

(Original image of Eddie Moore by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Project H recorded an Eight One Sixty session for radio station KTBG.

*KC Jazz Lark assesses the positive contributions of the American Jazz Museum.

*Chris Burnett highlights upcoming events at the American Jazz Museum.

*Jerry Bergonzi is among Joe Dimino’s recent interview subjects.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Ghosts of Venice- When the afterparty is a 6am jazz club. Kansas City, I love you @ The Foundation Room (photo)

*Comment o’ the Week: Gary- I hope Lowrey plays Rockfest with Tech N9ne. Still I'd most likely not attend.

*From Bob McWilliams: KPR is airing an in studio concert by Horacescope this Thursday at 9:06 pm and again Sat. at 2:06 p.m. KPR in KC area is KANU FM 91-5 in Lawrence.

*This week’s edition of Confirmation is two days early.  Now’s the Time will appear a day late.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Clint Ashlock is featured in a cover story by The Pitch.

*KC Jazz Lark reveals that his previous post about the Mutual Musicians Foundation’s plans for a radio station was poorly received in some quarters.

*Joe Klopus highlights a forthcoming concert by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*Missouri Western State University's student newspaper published a story about The Project H.

*Sunday brunch at Take Five Coffee + Bar is recommended by The Pitch.

*Trumpeter Clark Terry has died.  I’m almost certain that a 2010 tribute to Duke Ellington at the Gem Theater that also featured Ahmad Alaadeen was Terry's final performance in Kansas City.

*Steve Kraske interviewed the Hot Sardines on KCUR’s Up To Date.

*Eddie Moore and Charles McPherson are among Joe Dimino’s recent interview subjects.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Ryan Keberle- Blues, TIME, humor, honesty - quintessential Clark Terry summed up in 2 choruses with the Count Basie Band (video)

*Comment o’ the Week: Gary- So you're getting Bill Shapiro's gig, huh?

*From a press release: The University of Kansas School of Music proudly presents the 38th Annual KU Jazz Festival concerts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 in Woodruff Auditorium at the Kansas Union. This year’s concerts feature special guest artists Jerry Bergonzi, saxophone (March 6) and Marshall Gilkes, trombone (March 7). Both concert events are open to the public… For more information about the KU Jazz Festival visit KU Jazz Festival.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: Lauren Krum and the Project H at Westport Coffee House

Anticipating a rollicking set of hillbilly jazz, I eagerly paid the $10 cover to hear Lauren Krum sing with The Project H at the Westport Coffee House last Thursday.

I didn’t get what I paid for.

Instead, the collaboration between the vocalist from the alternative country band The Grisly Hand and the trombone-led jazz collective was a sophisticated exposition of adult pop. 

Rather than the Bob Wills-style Western swing I expected, Krum and the band played elegant renditions of material by the likes of Beck, Emily King, Michael Kiwanuka and Amy Winehouse.  The result resembled a promising rehearsal for a Shelby Lynne recording session.

Only the last selection, a tender reading of the standard “Why Try to Change Me Now?” that featured a sensitive contribution from saxophonist Brett Jackson, could be comfortably classified as jazz.  

While the show was nothing like what I’d anticipated, it was even better than I’d dared to hope.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle created a video for their cover of Erykah Badu’s “Time’s a Wastin’”.  The collective was also featured in a Local Listen segment on KCUR.

*KC Jazz Lark uploaded a vintage Pete Eye album featuring Bob Branstetter and Tommy Ruskin to YouTube.  Why does this seem eerily familiar to me?

*Hermon Mehari is featured in a 435 Magazine profile.

*Zack Albetta was the subject of a KCUR story about moving from Kansas City to Los Angeles.

*The Wrong Kata Trio was documented in a Live @ KJHK session.

*The Prism Quartet, an ensemble that includes Zach Sherman, Assistant Professor of Saxophone at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance, has released Heritage/Evolution, an album that includes contributions from today’s top jazz saxophonists and conceptualists including Rudresh Mahanthappa and Miguel Zenón.  (Tip via M.S.)

*The Jorge Arana Trio and the Project H will perform at the 2015 edition of the Middle of the Map festival.

*Randy Weston is among Joe Dimino’s latest interview subjects.

*Tweet o’ the Week: The Project H- We enjoy playing 4 people who might not normally seek us out. Between @folkalliance and @motmfest we should be good in that dept this Spring

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- The July 4 lineup for the Iowa City Jazz festival is killer! Why can't KC have that?

*From the American Jazz Museum: "Women have always played a significant role in developing the music through creative compositions, stellar performances and their work behind the scenes in presenting the music.  Unfortunately, these contributions have gone either unrecognized or were written out of the history books. The American Jazz Museum takes pride in shinning the light on their fabulous efforts", states Gregory A. Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of the American Jazz Museum… Highlights of this year’s programs include: 18 performances in the Award-Winning Blue Room jazz club, featuring local, regional and national women jazz artists.

*From Michael Pagán: Join us for a performance of the NU All-Star Jazz Quartet, a group of four distinguished jazz performers and educators with degrees from Northwestern University. This event will take place at the prestigious Blue Room… on Thursday, February 12th, 7-11pm.  The quartet features Tim Aubuchon, saxophone; Michael Pagán, piano; Hans Sturm, bass; Michael Brothers, drums… This event is free and open to the public.

*From Johnson County Community College: The spring 2015 season of the JCCC Jazz Series will kick off Tuesday, Feb. 24, with a group called the Clint Ashlock Trio. The series, which showcases the talents of local jazz musicians, is free and open to the public. Performances will take place at noon on Tuesdays for seven consecutive weeks. They will be held in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center unless otherwise noted. Feb. 24- The Music of Chet Baker, Clint Ashlock Trio. March 3- Pam Baskin-Watson Quartet. March 10- Bryan Hicks and Rod Fleeman. March 17- Rich Hill Organ Trio (Polsky Theatre). March 24- Chris Clarke Trio. March 31- 3 X 2. April 7- Passport.

*From Beau Bledsoe: Alaturka  announces their first performance of 2015 at the recordBar with special guest percussionist, John Kizilarmut.  Tuesday, Feb 10th 7pm.  Alaturka was formed in 2009 with the vision of creating an equal “auditory handshake” between two musical cultures, American jazz and Turkish classical music… Rich Wheeler tenor  - saxophone. Beau Bledsoe  - oud, guitar. Jeff Harshbarger -  bass. Brandon Draper  - percussion. Special guest: John Kizilarmut - percussion. $15 advance $18 door.

*From Take Five Coffee + Bar: … we'll be running dinner specials for each show.  Friday, February 6, 8pm: Music by the Rich Wheeler Quartet… a powerhouse jazz ensemble… Rich Wheeler on tenor saxophone, TJ Martley on piano, Bill McKemy on bass and Sam Wisman on drums.  $5 cover.  What's for dinner: Grilled Chicken Breast with Spinach and Mushrooms in a Dijon cream sauce with wild rice and vegetable medley, $11.95. Saturday, February 7, 8pm: Parallax- …Stan on trumpet and flugelhorn, Roger Wilder on Fender Rhodes piano, Bill McKemy on upright and electric basses and sousaphone, and BOTH Ryan Lee and Brian Steever on drums and cymbals and whatnot. It’s a project that… takes everyone along for the ride, like in some kind of twin-engined pan-galactic space yacht. $5 cover. What's for dinner: Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo, $12. 95. Sunday, February 8, 10am - 2pm: Sunday Jazz Brunch: Ben Leifer-  Ben Leifer is one of Kansas City’s most in-demand jazz bassists, an e. Come feast on Waffles Benedict, Mimosas… No cover.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Tim Finn reports on Mark Lowrey's new album, the keyboardist's collaboration with Tech N9ne and a jazz-based benefit show on Saturday.

*Here's an advance peak at Dominique Sanders' new album.  Chris Mills of Demencha is driving the bandwagon.

*The Kansas City Star reviewed Karrin Allyson's concert at the Folly Theater.

*Steve Kraske chatted with Karrin Allyson on KCUR's Up to Date.  Recordings by the Project H, Peter Schlamb and the Jorge Arana Trio were featured on the program's year-end survey of the best music of 2014.

*KC Jazz Lark begins a recap of 2014.

*The Pitch recommends a couple jazz gigs.

*Vanguard Jazz Orchestra's Over Time: The Music of Bob Brookmeyer (#16) and the Pat Metheny Unity Group's Kin (#43) made the cut in the 2014 NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Fred Hersch for his Neon Jazz podcast.

*Tweet o' the Week: Ryan Heinlein- It's festival submission season, followed by rejection letter season. Hopefully it's a shorter season than last year.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)