Concert Review: True Dig at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival

“You couldn't ask for a more blessed day,” Tyrone Clark said during True Dig’s set at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival on Saturday afternoon.

He was right.  The warm sunshine and cool breeze seemed heaven-sent.  The music performed by True Dig- bandleader and bassist Clark, vocalist Lisa Henry, pianist Charles Williams, guitarist Charles Gatschet and drummer Michael Warren- suited the mild setting. 

The ensemble’s R&B-inflected jazz resembled the genial 1970s sound of the Crusaders and Bobbi Humphrey.  Sold by the charismatic Henry, the party songs “Fly Boy” and “Midwest Girls” provided the highlights of True Dig’s enjoyable outing.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Bob Bowman was interviewed by Joe Dimino for the Neon Jazz podcast.

*KC Jazz Lark reviews new albums by Bob Bowman and Tyrone Clark.

*Book of Gaia appeared on a local television program.

*The Pitch recommends Tyrone Clark's gig at the Blue Room.

*The blog of Mills Record Company touts a concert featuring the Jorge Arana Trio.

*Hermon Mehari shared a sample of last Saturday's performance at the Blue Room.

*The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra's OverTime: Music Of Bob Brookmeyer was nominated for a Grammy award in the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.

*Tweet o' the Week: Green Lady Lounge- Jazz doesn't suck. Taking 25min set breaks and 10mins deciding what the next Jobim standard you're going to play sucks.

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- Nice to see Flying Lotus at the top of your list. Not my favorite of the year, but hats off to you and him for putting a needle in the arm of the current day jazz scene. (And aren't you an old dude? - ha!)

*From the American Jazz Museum: On Thursday, December 18, we will host the 7th Annual Musicians' Appreciation Day, in partnership with Truman Medical Centers, the Coda Jazz Fund, and Elder Statesmen of Jazz. Jazz musicians can take advantage of free health screenings and a mobile marketplace of fresh produce provided by Truman Medical Centers and enjoy a performance by Elder Statesmen of Jazz in the Blue Room.

*From the University of Kansas: The University of Kansas Jazz Ensemble I and the University of Missouri Concert Jazz Band will meet for two shows on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014 at The Blue Room in the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, MO… These unique concerts feature KU Jazz Ensemble I led by Dan Gailey, KU director of Jazz Studies, and MU Concert Jazz Band led by Dr. Arthur White, MU director of Jazz Studies.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: The 2014 Prairie Village Jazz Festival

Even with the addition of a nominal $5 cover charge, an artistically engaging edition of the annual Prairie Village Jazz Festival attracted an impressive crowd of several thousand people to Harmon Park on Saturday, September 6.  A few observations follow.

*The Project H's opening set showcased the band's exceptionally compelling compositions.  It was disquieting, however, to see almost no one bobbing their heads or tapping their feet to the band's soulful sound.

*Shay Estes began her outing with "September In the Rain," a possible allusion to Plastic Sax's infamous 2011 "I blame Shay Estes" post.  Rather than conjuring a tempest, Estes and a stellar band played under ideal conditions.  Residents of San Diego would have envied Saturday's weather.

*I took a two-and-a-half hour break from the festival in the late afternoon, but the echoes of Stephanie Moore's voice sounded splendid from a few blocks away.

*I no longer perceive the enormous vocal range and power I once associated with Kevin Mahogany but his exquisite taste and hometown pride haven't faltered.  Mahogany incorporated Ben Kynard's "Red Top" into a rendition of "Route 66" and performed a lovely version of Russ Long's "Save That Time." 

*Backed by saxophonist Joe Lovano, trumpeter Terell Stafford, pianist Richard Johnson, bassist Tyrone Clark and drummer Leon Anderson, headliner Deborah Brown said "this is my dream band right now."  Mine too.  After Lovano's stunning solo on his startling innovative arrangement of "Yardbird Suite," I turned from my spot a few feet from the stage to share my delight with others.  I was horrified to discover that three-quarters of the audience had abandoned the festival during the radiant performance by the jazz masters.  Steve Paul captured footage of the ostensibly repellent set.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Lester "Duck" Warner

Lester "Duck" Warner will perform at Tim Whitmer's Spirituality & All That Jazz program at Unity on the Plaza on Wednesday, August 6.  The embedded footage of a 2006 event also features (in order of solos) Horace Washington on flute, Everett Freeman on keyboards, Karita Carter on trombone and Leon Brady on drums.  Tyrone Clark is on bass.

Concert Review: The Lisa Henry Quartet at Jazz by the Lake

An extraordinarily gratifying performance took place in a sun-soaked cottage on a college campus last week.  The Lisa Henry Quartet delighted a capacity audience of about 100 at the Conference Center near the south entrance of Kansas City Kansas Community College.  The structure adjacent to a small body of water resembles a rustic hunting lodge.

The charming setting is transformed into a comfortable jazz venue during the institution's free Jazz By the Lake series. 

Backed by keyboardist Everett Freeman, bassist Tyrone Clarke and drummer Mike Warren, Lisa Henry sang standards with impeccable grace for an hour.  A duet with Clarke on "Mood Indigo" showcased her lustrous voice.  With a vocal tone that evokes Nancy Wilson and an ability to swing like Ella Fitzgerald, Henry is an incredible mainstream jazz vocalist.  Her performance was so riveting that it was impossible not wonder why she's not better known. 

Henry was introduced to the international jazz community when she took second place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition in 1994.  Internet trolls are aware of Henry because of this oddity.

"Professor Bobby Watson says they come for the hug," Henry said at the conclusion of her performance.  "I thank you for coming and I hope you've enjoyed the hug."

Henry's musical embrace is one of my favorite performances of 2013.

(The remainder of this season's Jazz by the Lake schedule is published here.  Henry was last featured at Plastic Sax in April of 2012.)

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)