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.)

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.)

Now's the Time: Nanny Assis

As its name suggests, the popular Kansas City band Sons of Brasil specializes in the music of the South American country.  Fans of the longstanding group of jazz musicians have an opportunity to hear similar sounds performed by the native Brazilian Nanny Assis at the Art Factory on Saturday, June 18.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Jazz in the Woods is no more.  The annual event founded by the jazz musician Vince Bilardo in the 1980s has been rebranded as the SoJo Summerfest.  The headliners at the two-day event in June are a country-rock band and a celtic-rock band.  A press release includes a spokesman's explanation of one of the factors behind the name change: “It also gives us the flexibility to adjust talent booking and event amenities over time to ensure the festival remains relevant for a wide variety of audiences in years to come.”

*Monique Gabrielle Salazar reviewed the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s Rhapsody for KCUR.

*Nonesuch Records will release two Pat Metheny albums on May 6.

*The Pitch touts Stan Kessler’s Force Five.

*Charlie Parker will be inducted into the Apollo Walk of Fame on March 30.

*Robert Trussell interviewed the American Jazz Museum's Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner.

*Patti Austin’s concert at the Gem Theater was reviewed by The Kansas City Star.

*The documentary "Vince Giordano- There's a Future in the Past" will be shown at 7:25 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Cinemark Palace at the Country Club Plaza as part of the Kansas City FilmFest.  The New York based bandleader and the film’s co-director Amber Edwards will participate in a question-and-answer session after the screening.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Jack- @SoJo_Summerfest Not sure why you felt the need to mess with something that worked. Always looked forward to the national jazz acts.

*From Brandon Draper: Brandon Draper returns to the Blue Room in Kansas City with an all-star lineup featuring his father a renowned Hammond B3 blues artist.  April 9, 2016  7pm doors / sets 8:30pm – 12:30am. Brandon Draper: drums, percussion, guitar; Paul Draper: Hammond B3, vocals; Hermon Mehari: trumpet; Brian Scarborough: trombone; Rich Wheeler: tenor saxophone; John Kizilarmut: vibraphone, drums, percussion; Ben Leifer: bass. Set 1- Brandon Draper original jazz, Set 2- Paul Draper original blues/funk/jazz, Set 3- Jazz/Funk/Blues/Boogaloo Traditions.

*From Stan Kessler: The Sons of Brasil 25 Year Anniversary Celebration!  It's our silver anniversary. We've been playing regularly For a quarter of a century. Unbelievable. The celebration begins the following dates and will continue throughout the summer until we're sick of it. April 2, The Art Factory, 7-9:30. April 15, The Blue Room, 8:30-12:30. There will be SOB trivia contests with prizes for the winners. Personnel: Stanton Kessler-Trp./Flugel, Danny Embrey-Gtr., Roger Wilder-Piano, Greg Whitfield-Bass, Doug Auwarter-Drums, Gary Helm-Perc.

*From Blue Note Records: Following the February 26 release of Shift, Logan Richardson’s assured Blue Note debut, the alto saxophonist has announced May U.S. tour dates in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and his hometown of Kansas City  (May 23 at the Blue Room)… Richardson’s touring band will feature Mike Moreno on guitar and Sam Harris on piano.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)