Bobby Watson: The Plastic Sax Person of the Decade

The Bobby Watson era in Kansas City is almost over.  The hometown hero transformed the area’s music scene soon after becoming the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2000.  He stepped down this year.

Watson shaped the sound of the city in his own sonic image through his persuasive personality and his astounding talent during his twenty-year tenure.  The dominant sound on Kansas City’s jazz scene will continue to be a variation of the style he characterizes as post-Motown bop for the foreseeable future.

Watson was named the Plastic Sax Person of the Decade in 2009.  He would have earned the same designation in 2019 even if he’d restricted his activities to teaching.

Yet he’s toured incessantly and made dozens of stellar local performances.  Recent additions to his discography include Check Cashing Day (2013), Made in America (2017) and Bird at 101 (2019).  One of his signature compositions is titled “In Case You Missed It,” but Watson’s profound impact on Kansas City is impossible to overlook.

(Original image of Watson by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: Bobby Watson Tribute Concert at White Recital Hall

Mitch Butler dulled the luster of the Bobby Watson Tribute Concert at White Recital Hall before the first note was played on Tuesday, November 19.  The Assistant Teaching Professor at UMKC and the director of one of the two student bands on the bill revealed that additional tributes to Watson would take place on February 28 at Grand Street Cafe and on April 14 at the Folly Theater. 

Most of the friends and family of the three dozen students performing at the concert didn’t flinch.  As one of the dedicated Bobby Watson enthusiasts among the audience of 400 who paid $8 to attend the event in honor of the man who transformed the Kansas City jazz scene during his recently concluded 20-year tenure as the William and Mary Grant/Missouri Distinguished Professor in Jazz Studies at UMKC during the past 20 years, I was startled by the unceremonious tone of Butler’s significant announcement. 

I was still processing the news when the UMKC Jazz Ensemble directed by Aryana Nemeti tore into Rob McConnell’s arrangement of “Just Friends.”  Watson and members of Horizon joined the big band on separate selections.  Witnessing the young men in the trumpet section smile appreciatively as Terell Stafford soloed and guitarist Zak Jonas react to pianist Benny Green’s deft comping with awe was delightful.

A performance by Horizon- this edition of the fabled group consisted of Watson, Stafford, Green, bassist Carroll Dashiell and drummer Victor Lewis- followed.  The good cheer and comradery among the five men was matched by their jubilant form of hard bop.  Knowing that nothing was likely to top Horizon’s 35-minute outing, I left at intermission.  (Horizon setlist: Country Corn Flakes, Heckle and Jeckyl, Falling In Love With Love, E.T.A., outro theme)

(Original image of Benny Green, Carroll Dashiell, Terell Stafford and Bobby Watson 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

*Kansas City was one of the 64 cities added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network on Oct. 31.  A report by KCUR provides additional context. 

*Tim Finn includes jazz acts in his survey of Kansas City’s music scene.

*Tweet o’ the Week: UMKC Conservatory- What a great night at the Black Dolphin! Catch our #jazz combos again next Wednesday, 6pm at Grand Street Cafe! #KCjazz #UMKCCons

*Comment o’ the Week: Chris Burnett- I had the opportunity to spend most of an entire day with Ms. Maye when she received the American Jazz Museum's "Lifetime Achievement Award" a few years ago… Her concert was first-rate then too.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Bobby Watson- Made in America

The release of a new Bobby Watson album should trigger a civic holiday in Kansas City.  Yet aside from the spring in the steps of the jazz master’s most fervent admirers, April 21 was like any other day in Watson’s hometown.  The three weeks-old  Made in America documents the jubilant swing that (the rapper Tech N9ne’s output aside) is the sound of the town.

Watson’s influence on Kansas City’s music scene is immense.  The acclaim he received following his induction into Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1977 signaled a restoration of Kansas City’s ability to produce top-tier talent.  His more recent work as the director of jazz studies at UMKC has further invigorated the region’s cultural landscape.  Watson is directly responsible for the presence of young luminaries including Hermon Mehari and Eddie Moore.

Made in America, Watson’s first conventional small-group album since 2009’s Everlasting, documents the sort of sprightly melodies, genial interplay and robust sax work that he’s showcased at many of his area performances the past few years.

Each piece is inspired by an iconic black American.  The power of the compositions is correspondingly vital.  Watson, bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Lewis Nash swing with panache.  The work of pianist Stephen Scott provides the project’s most rewarding surprises.  Off the radar for years, Scott adds a lustrous sheen to the wondrously vital Made in America.

(Original album by Plastic Sax.)

Teaching Moments

I joined about 20 students at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance for Helen Sung’s inspiring master class on Friday afternoon.

The session consisted of three components: a sublime demonstration by Sung and her touring band of saxophonist John Ellis, bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Darrell Green, a discussion of how each musician came to jazz followed by a question-and-answer session, and a student performance that was critiqued by the professionals.

Ellis’ emphatic playing on a lively interpretation of Percy Mayfield’s “Please Send Me Someone to Love” made me regret not bringing earplugs.  He later recalled his initial college experience: “I started to get really excited about jazz and really unexcited about oboe (his primary instrument at the time).”

Kozlov described the limited access he had to Western music growing up under the oppressive Soviet regime, and noted that “Bobby (Watson) gave me one of my first breaks” after he arrived in New York City.  Green remembered that “I was the little kid who got five, six whuppings a Sunday” before his energy was harnessed by the church band.

Sung humbly insisted that “I try to get better every day.”  Each musician spoke of his or her introduction to jazz in the awed tone of a child describing a memory of unwrapping a favorite present.

Their kind but frank analysis of the students’ playing greatly enhanced my appreciation of the music.  As a bonus, Watson commandeered the piano to ably demonstrate Ellis’ points about the flexibility of time and responding to the prompts of peers. 

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Moore

It’s been said that Kansas City is a one degree of separation town.  I’ve never been more startled by the interrelations of the populace than at the funeral of Dorsey Moore on Saturday. 

As the father of one of my since-deceased high school pals, I only knew Moore as the gracious man who patiently tolerated the foolhardy antics of reckless teenagers.  A series of speakers at Saturday’s service recounted Moore’s many interests and endeavors.  I didn’t know that he paid his way through college as a professional jazz musician or that his Dixieland band released three albums. 

I almost fell out of my pew when Gary Sivils was name-checked as one of his colleagues.  Sivils, a mentor of Mike and Pat Metheny, is my third cousin twice removed (or something like that).  Nor was I aware that Moore was a booster of Bobby Watson’s jazz program at UMKC and had once traveled to Europe with the student ensemble. 

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to the Dorsey and Mary Moore Scholarship for Jazz Studies at UMKC.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Joey Alexander, Bobby McFerrin and a supergroup that includes Avishai Cohen, Wycliffe Gordon, Danilo Perez, Chris Potter and Lizz Wright are part of the recently unveiled 2016-17 season of the Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College.

*The Kansas City Star and a television station reported on a press conference at which the latest public investment in the Jazz District was officially announced.  KC Jazz Lark scrutinizes the allocations.

*Emanuel Cleaver, II submitted a congressional resolution that "recognizes that New Orleans, Louisiana, should be officially proclaimed as ‘'The Birthplace of Jazz’' and recognizes the Kansas  City, Missouri, ‘'The Home of Jazz’."

*Chris Burnett thoroughly documented Dino Massa’s most recent visit to Kansas City.

*Joe Klopus’ latest column focuses on a forthcoming concert by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*An unusual gig by a pair of overlooked veterans is highlighted by The Pitch.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Chacko Finn- Took my first jazz solo as a college student tonight at the UMKC Jazz Bands at the Folly Theater! Cannot wait to see what is ahead!

*From a press release: Jazz music will fill Kansas City Kansas Community College at the end of April as the 2016 Kansas City Jazz Summit returns to campus.  The Jazz Summit is 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26 and 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 27, 28 and 29 in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center, 7250 State Ave. The event, which is produced by the Kansas City Jazz Alliance, is free and open to the public… The Jazz Summit caters to jazz groups at the middle school, high school and college level in both competitive and non-competitive sessions. It is a collaborative effort between the KCKCC Music Department, Audio Engineering department, Theater and the Intercultural Center. Awards are given for outstanding soloists, woodwinds, brass and rhythm section performers.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*KC Jazz Lark documents the debut of the People's Liberation Big Band at Take Five Coffee + Bar's new location.

*Anita Dixon made a television appearance to promote the centennial anniversary of the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

*Jazz students representing UMKC's Conservatory of Music and Dance perform at the 3:50 mark on a televised news program.

*"A Risk I Take" , another track from Chris Burnett's forthcoming album, is available at CDBaby.

*The Pitch cosigns Rob Scheps' latest barnstorming tour of the Kansas City area.

*Christ Community church hosts the Brookside Jazz Festival on Friday, November 7.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Bob Mintzer for his Neon Jazz podcast.

*Tweet o' the Week: Pete Weber- Bucky Pizzarelli and Ed Laub were excellent on our show, and incredibly great guys off stage. #jazz #guitar

*From Fanny Dunfee: Jazz musician, composer, educator Donivan Bailey has been selected as a Master educator in the Alaadeen Jazz Master/Apprentice Program for 2014/2015. Bailey has chosen and  begun work with his Apprentice Jarred Stangohr. The Master/Apprentice pair has established a learning agreement to guide their work together through the Apprenticeship Program with activities scheduled throughout the year, based on the Alaadeen Method Of Instruction™...  The 2013 Program sponsored Donivan Bailey and Dennis Winslett as Masters.

*From Johnson County Community College: Chris Botti, who won a Grammy in 2013 for best pop instrumental album, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at Johnson County Community College… Tickets… are $120, $60 and $50… Botti is a multiple gold and platinum performer who has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre. He has recorded and performed with artists who include Sting, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Bublé, Paul Smith, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Frank Sinatra.

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*KCPT's "The Local Show" aired a seven-minute feature about The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*Drew Williams of Wing Walker Music and Joe Dimino of Neon Jazz interviewed Hermon Mehari.

*The Kansas City Star published a review of John Scofield's concert at the Folly Theater.

*The Pitch recommends the Massey Hall 60th Anniversary tribute concert at the Gem Theater on Saturday.

*Obscure but fascinating details about Kansas City's jazz history are uncovered by KCJazzLark.

*Plans for moving UMKC's Conservatory of Music to the Crossroads District advanced.

*Charlie Hunter with Scott Amendola and the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will perform at The Brick on June 19.

*Tweet o' the Week: Ryan HeinleinWe're a 7 piece group. Sometimes 6, rarely a 5 piece group. We don't really hold back. We're not dinner music, not background music.

*Comment o' the Week: tjjazzpiano- Fred Hersch is take a night off from gig worthy. Can't wait to see him live.

*From Paul Shinn: We are pleased to inform you that the Paul Shinn Trio -- featuring Dominique Sanders on bass and Ryan Lee on drums -- will be in Kansas City performing May 15th-18th at the Green Lady Lounge downtown (18th & Grand beginning at 9pm each night). Our trio will be featured these nights in the newly opened Orion Room stage that is located in the lower level of the club. This should be a great opportunity to hear the band in a pristine listening environment…

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Eddie Moore interviews Dominique Sanders in a 16-minute video.

*The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance received a $500,000 donation from Sid and Carole McKnight.

*Pat Metheny was featured on the radio program Here and Now.

*Joe Klopus focuses on Saturday's Newport Jazz Festival: Now 60 concert at the Gem Theater in his The Kansas City Star column.  The Pitch also recommends the all-star bill.

*Joe Dimino posted three separate interviews with Chuck Haddix, Shirazette Tinnin and Russ Nolan.

*Chris Burnett's SoundCloud account remains active.

*Marc Myers reports on the death of Med Flory, one of the principal members of Supersax, the Charlie Parker-oriented band that also featured Ronnell Bright.

*Tweet o' the Week: Steven Lambert- #broadwayjazzclub March 26th, I'll be recording a LIVE album! Come be part of the magic, if you dare! Eight pm!

*From a press release: After taking a break from an extensive musical career of 43 years, renowned Kansas City performer Ida McBeth has decided to make the Broadway Jazz Club her new home. Mcbeth will be performing at the Broadway Jazz Club on March 29 (6:30-9pm), April 19 (6-9pm), and May 3 (6-9pm). She will perform exclusively at the club twice a month. Future dates will be announced as they approach.  "I'm hoping that they're ready for me because I'm ready for them. I want to hug every last one of them, I wish I could!" says Ida McBeth as she discusses her dedicated fan-base and the upcoming dates at the club. McBeth is ready to entertain fans at the Broadway Jazz Club with well-loved songs from her discography as well as various selections from traditional jazz musicians. McBeth will be accompanied by her band of several years…

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*An intriguing event titled Ben Webster: From Kansas City To Copenhagen is scheduled for Friday, September 15.

*Steve Kraske spoke with Karrin Allyson on KCUR's Up To Date.  And Chuck Berg reviewed Karrin Allyson's concert Sunday at the Topeka Jazz Workshop.

*KC Jazz Lark provides a behind-the-scenes wrap-up of the Prairie Village Jazz Festival.

*Pat Metheny announced a new addition to the Unity Band project this week.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Dallas' Laura Ainsworth for Neon Jazz.

*Tweet o' the Week: Paige Miller- The Green Lady Lounge downtown is literally the coolest place I've been. #jazz #fancy

*From UMKC: Buttonwood Art Space is pleased to be the host for the upcoming UMKC Friends of the Conservatory Happy Hour! Please be our guest to meet, greet, eat and learn about the Conservatory!  Featuring performances by UMKC Jazz Studies Students.  Dean Peter Witte: UMKC programs, the Friends of the Conservatory, Crescendo and the 2013-14 concert season at Buttonwood Art Space.  3013 Main St....  Tuesday, September 24, 6p – 8p.

*From Rob Scheps: Saxophonist Rob Scheps, Special Guest with The Mark Lowrey Trio at one of KC's hippest new venues.  Friday, September 27.  9 PM - 12 midnight.  Green Lady Lounge.

*From Calabro Music: Todd Clouser w/ Jeff Harshbarger Trio.  Art rock troubadour Todd Clouser is on a world tour, stopping in Kansas City to debut his new album, Man With No Country. The Minneapolis-bred, Berklee-schooled, Mexico City-resident Clouser comes with an engaging collection of original songs and daring guitar work, having performed with John Medeski, Cyro Baptista and Keb Mo, and toured through the Americas and much of western Europe. Echoes of the Beat generation and Hendrix color Clouser's bold vision of art in sound. The Record Bar, Thursday, October 3.  Tickets: $7.

*From Take Five Coffee: This week: Hold On To Your Hats.  Friday, September 20, 8pm to 10pm:  KC Trumpet Summit CD Release Party!  Come scale the heights with three of Kansas City's post powerful, admired and beloved trumpet players: Mike Metheny, Stan Kessler and Hermon Mehari. They've been everywhere, they've played everything, they're going further, and they're taking us with them. This is a tour de force ensemble with Gerald Spaits (bass), Brian Steever (drums) and TJ Martley (keys), enthusiastic sherpas to guide the expedition. Pick up their new CD for just $5. Get in early if you want a seat. No reservations accepted for this special engagement. $10 cover.  Saturday, September 21, 8pm to 10pm:  Rich Wheeler Quartet.  Fearless Rich Wheeler, one of Kansas City's most ferocious (yet whimsical) tenor saxophone artists is back at Take Five Saturday. Joining him in spinning up an evening of unchained postmodern madness will be TJ Martley on keys, Ben Leifer on bass and Brian Steever on drums, cymbals and brooms. $5 cover.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The 2013 edition of the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival includes Matt Otto, Stan Kessler with Kathleen Holeman, the Doug Talley Quartet and the Wild Men of Kansas City.  The free event takes place June 14-15 at Coleman Hawkins Park in St. Joseph, Missouri.

*The headliners of the fourth annual Jazz Winterlude are Terri Lyne Carrington and Arturo Sandoval.  The festival at Johnson County Community College is January 24-25.

*Deborah Brown was interviewed by Joe Dimino of Neon Jazz.

*Michael Pagán praises the Green Lady Lounge.

*Beau Bledsoe offers a fascinating peek behind the curtains at Fado Novato's successful fundraising campaign to finance an extended trip to Portugal.

*Jim Mair has been recognized for his work at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

*Hermon Mehari provides background about a young musician in legal trouble.  (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

*KC Jazz Lark commends the vitality of Kansas City's jazz scene while taking an apparent swipe at the author of this blog.  Noting the cancelation of Kanrocksas, my good friend implies that had the festival been a jazz-oriented event, I would be "wetting myself" in a rush to "morbidly declare jazz is dead."  The failure of the rock/hip hop/EDM-oriented Kanrocksas to sell 25,000 advance tickets at $200 a pop bears no relationship to the "lively but peaceful" status of a handful of small-capacity jazz venues.  I reject the notion that I "hold the mortality of jazz to a different standard."  Just last night, almost 2,000 fans paid $40 each to hear the XX- a band with rock, hip hop and EDM elements- perform at the Uptown Theater.  The harsh reality is that far less than 2,000 people will attend jazz live jazz performances in the Kansas City area during the first ten days of June.

*In response to the previous Plastic Sax post about Charlie Parker, T.J. Martley kindly reminded the excitable author of this blog of his video transcription of "Little Willie Leaps."

*UMKC's Jazz Camp is June 23-27.

*Dean Minderman of St. Louis Jazz Notes analyzes the outstanding 2013-14 season of Jazz St. Louis.  Highlights include Rudresh Mahanthappa, Joe Lovano's Us Five and the Bad Plus.

*Here's a promotional video for the Parkville River Jam, Jazz, Blues and Fine Arts Festival.

*Tweet o' the Week: Kyle Broussard- If @jpwayman post 1 more time about jazz in the woods I am un-following him.

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- I made it 90 seconds before I turned it off, but that's because I was distracted, shoving needles in to my gonads and extinguishing cigarettes on my forearm.  (A less acerbic discussion is taking place here.)

*Clint Ashlock reports that his gig at Take Five Coffee + Bar this Saturday, June 8, features "a new project called Forward."  The band includes Ashlock, Ryan Lee, Michael Shults, Andrew Ouellette and Karl McComas-Reichl "doing all original stuff."

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Pat Metheny's recording of John Zorn's Tap: The Book of Angels, Vol. 20 will be released May 21.

*KCJazzLark considers the ongoing evolution of Kansas City's jazz scene.

*A critic for The Guardian lauds a recent London performance by Bobby Watson.

*Hunter Long provides an update on the Black House Collective's ambitious new project.

*Eldar's recent activities are monitored by Pamela Espeland.

*"Kansas City's signature art form continues 'The Long Goodnight' as jazz becomes just another dead language they teach at UMKC, like Latin or American Literature," Tony Botello suggests in a Jardine's-related post.

*Joe Sample's conversation with Steve Kraske is archived here.

*Comment o' the Week: Thomas- We're not playing with musicians in mind. We're playing for the people that paid to get in and are spending their hard earned money. The guy who writes our check prefers it that way.

*Tweet o' the Week: Classic Las Vegas- Its 1965 in #Vegas and if you want to know how hot a ticket Sinatra with Count Basie at the Sands was, read this. (newspaper clipping).

*From a press release: Since her emergence onto the adult contemporary/urban jazz scene in the early 2000s, Carol Duboc has generously shared her wisdom and insight about love and romance in song-via both compelling original material and uniquely stylized covers of pop classics, as on her most recent recordings Songs For Lovers (2008) and Burt Bacharach Songbook (2009).  On her multi-faceted new album Smile, the sultry singer and songwriter-who penned songs for top pop/R&B artists like Patti Labelle, Chante Moore, Stephanie Mills and Jade before emerging as a solo artist-goes deeper emotionally than ever before…  Duboc co-produced Smile (and co-wrote all but one of its songs) with GRAMMY® nominated keyboardist, recording artist, composer and producer Jeff Lorber…  (Here's a music video for "Smile", a track from the forthcoming album.)

*From Jim Mair: One of Kansas City’s best known and most popular pianists, Tim Whitmer, will headline the last in the 2012-13 “Jazz by the Lake” series at Kansas City Kansas Community College Thursday, April 4.  The director of the “Spirituality and All That Jazz” programs at Unity on the Plaza, Whitmer will perform from noon-1 p.m. in Conference Center adjacent to the Campus Lake on the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.  Whitmer will be joined by Grammy-nominated guitarist Rod Fleeman and James Albright on bass with jazz saxophonist and KCKCC Jazz Band Director Jim Mair expected to make cameo appearances. “A toe-tapping great time,” promises Mair. The performance is open to the public without charge.   Light lunch is served.

*From Jim Mair #2: One of the most important trumpet players/composers in the world will present a master class at KCKCC in the band room.  (Dave Douglas) will also be joined by drummer Rudy Royston.  Monday April 8. 10am till noon.  $5.00 admission.

*The Kansas City Jazz Calendar has been updated.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Put It Where You Want It

I felt an incongruous sensation as I left White Recital Hall on Tuesday.  It's a feeling I associate with abbreviated sets at rock festivals, canned hip-hop performances and uninspired outings by country stars.  I'd been had.

I paid $16.50 at the door with the expectation that I'd experience a proper performance by Joe Sample.  I was wrong.  The influential musician was participating in a taping of 12th Street Jump. The previous 12th Street Jump events I'd attended were free.  I interpreted the $16.50 charge for Tuesday's program as an indication that Sample would give an additional performance apart from his role in the radio show.  Nope.

The five selections that featured Sample- "Put It Where You Want It," "Nica's Dream," "It Happens Every Day," "Street Life" and a blues vamp- lasted no more than 25 minutes.  Although the support provided by the house band of Joe Cartwright, Tyrone Clark and Mike Warren was solid and Sample's playing was engaging, I was counting on a separate set.  Besides, 12th Street Jump's comedic segments were something I had to endure rather than enjoy.  Comparable variety shows like NPR's A Prairie Home Companion, Whad'ya Know? and television's The Colbert Report don't appeal to me either.

The rare sour experience served to remind me that the quality-to-cost ratio on tap on Kansas City's jazz scene is exceptional.  First-rate free events- Jazz Winterlude, the Prairie Village Jazz Festival and twice-weekly gigs at the Blue Room among them- abound.  Cover charges for performances by the region's elite musicians rarely exceed ten dollars.  Even the most expensive tickets- $50 for the American Jazz Museum's Jammin' at the Gem series and $40/$50 for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra- give patrons a tremendous bang for their bucks.

Even though I won't get my $16.50 back, the imprudent investment I made in 12th Street Jump has provided me with a new appreciation of the ongoing bargains enjoyed by Kansas City's jazz fans.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*A contributor to UMKC's student newspaper reviewed a recital.   (Via Offstage.)

*A commentator admires the "seriously beautiful music" contained on Alaturka's new Yalniz album.

*A review of Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle's The Freedom of Expression at Nextbop notes that the album is "straight-ahead in the contemporary sense."  Another reviewer suggests that the project possesses a "combustible energy."

*The Kansas City Star offers a review of Randy Brecker's appearance with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.  Anthony Rodgers also reviewed the concert.

*Bill Blankenship provides background on Bob Bowman, Todd Strait and other participants in the latest Topeka Jazz Workshop concert.  Chuck Berg reviewed the show.  (Via Offstage.)

*The man behind Phonologotron enjoys a current project.

*A writer for a British newspaper opines that Kansas City's "jazz district today is sadly a shadow of its former self."

*Here's the trailer for a new documentary about former Count Basie sideman Pauly Cohen.

*Comment o' the Week: Anonymous- I'm afraid you're just showing your ignorance. Yes, jazz in Kansas City is on the rise....in Kansas City. When you and Jazzlark write about how local artists are world class it's just sad. The artistic distance between Matt Otto and Chris Potter, or Mark Lowry and Brad Mehldau, is vast. Yes the scene is drastically improving, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the music can compete on a national level. Go to New York for awhile and learn what good really is.

*Tweet o' the Week: Kevin Mahogany- Finished 5 nights at Birdland with 5 different bands!!

*From the Folly Theater: Eliane Elias will be backed by Marc Johnson and Mauricio Zottarelli at her concert on Saturday, April 13.

*From Ron Carlson: One update to the calendar. The Rob Scheps / Jerry Dodgion Quintet will now be playing the Blue Room on Friday, April 12th, so we have moved the Lucky Brewgrille date from Friday to Saturday, April 13th 7-10pm.  This will be a musical party event to close out Rob and Jerry's two week tour of the region.

*From Mike Metheny: The Metheny Music Foundation has awarded its first college scholarship. The news item can be found here. Since 2007 the Foundation has also been offering summer music camp scholarships to Lee's Summit students and will do so again in '13. Those winners will be announced in May.

*From the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra: The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra has an important concert coming up (Thursday, April 4th, 2013 – Muriel Kauffman Theatre/KCPA) which celebrates the 10th Anniversary Performing Arts Season by paying tribute to the “75th Anniversary” one of the most famous/important jazz events of all-time:  Benny Goodman’s historic 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert.

*From 12th Street Jump: This week we celebrate the music of Randy Brecker with our special guest, Randy Brecker himself!  The gang plays "So, What's Your Question" and reveals even more about this jazz great.

*From the American Jazz Museum #1: Jammin' at the Gem.  Saturday, March 23, 8 p.m.  The Gem Theater.  The Monterey Jazz Festival, the longest continuously-running jazz festival in the world, has presented nearly every major jazz star—from Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong to Esperanza Spalding and Trombone Shorty—since it was founded in 1958. World-renowned for its artistic excellence, sophisticated informality, and longstanding mission to create and support year-round jazz education and performance programs in local, regional, national, and international venues, Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour 55th Anniversary Celebration continues this commitment in 2013 with its third North American Tour. Featuring leading critically-acclaimed, GRAMMY®-winning jazz artists, the all-star band consists of bassist and musical director Christian McBride, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, saxophonist Chris Potter, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Benny Green, and drummer Lewis Nash. Embracing the past, present, and future of jazz, Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour 55th Anniversary Celebration will perform an assortment of classic jazz repertoire and original compositions by band members.

*From the American Jazz Museum #2: Thursday, April 4.  6:00pm until 7:00pm.  Free Conversation with Jazz Violinist, Regina Carter in The Atrium - a special Take Five event! During Carter's visit, a variety of topics may be addressed. They may include how our history can inform our personal creative works and an exploration of jazz music. Yacouba Sissoko, a master Kora player, will join Carter.  Attendees are invited to attend the Blue Room performance by Matt Kane's KC Generations Quintet at 7:00 p. m. following this special Take Five event.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*JJ's, a Plaza-area restaurant that regularly featured live jazz, was destroyed by a natural gas explosion yesterday.

*KCJazzLark praises the Green Lady Lounge.

*The Kansas City Star reviewed last weekend's concerts by Kenny Garrett, Kurt Elling and Bobby Watson with the Kansas City Symphony.  KC Metropolis also offers a review of Garrett's performance.

*Here's tantalizing footage of a rehearsal for Bobby Watson's collaboration with the Kansas City Symphony.

*Michael Shults performed the National Anthem at a University of Cincinnati game.

*Brandon Draper's February 16 set at Take Five Coffee + Bar is available as a free download at Bandcamp.

*The Jorge Arana Trio are captured in a session at KJHK.

*Phonologotron posted a portion of a recording from a recent rehearsal.

*Chris Burnett shares another draft of an arrangement of a new composition.

*Prior to Kenny Garrett's performance, Gale Tallis, Executive Director of the Folly Theater, announced that Stan Kessler and Matt Otto would perform with Matthew Rybicki at the bassist's concert on March 9.

*Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will return to Helzberg Hall on October 19.

*Joe Sample will be 12th Street Jump's featured guest artist in a taping of the show at White Recital Hall on March 26.

*UMKC will host the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference in 2014. The University News reports that "(t)he speakers and entertainment for the event will be focused on" the "Jazzin' It Up" theme.

*A new exhibit at the University of Kansas is titled “Rhythm and Meaning: Jazz at KU.” (Via Offstage.)

*You Tube gold: "UMKC Concert Jazz Band Rehearsal with Howard Johnson (2006)".

*Tweet o' the Week: brandondraper- Free Album!!! brandondraper.bandcamp.com. Ambient, drum 'n bass, hip hop, jazz, rock, 70's funk, Afro-Cuban,indie-rock.

*Comment of the Week: Nigel- That ladies and Gentlemen is how to hold the audience in the palm of your hand. It was a great clinic in "working the room".  Class, grace, style, polish and COMPETENCE!

*From Bill Lee: 95-year-old Clyde Bysom and his band Junkyard Jazz will be inducted into the Kansas Music Halll of Fame at Liberty Hall inn Lawrence on March 2. Junkyard jazz plays at the Lawrence American Legion Hall every Thursday evening.  Other 2013 inducteees are the Devestating Dinks (Salina), the Exceptions (Topeka), Ray Hildebrand (Paul of Paul & Paula, Prairie Village), Kerry Livgren (Berryton), Chuck Mead (Lawrence), Mystic Number National Bank (KC), the Playmate Blues Band (Hays), the Tempests (Hays), Steve Werner (KC), the Wizards From Kansas (Lawrence), Sherman Halsey (Independence, KS) and Larry Emmett & the Sliders (DeSoto).

*From Jason Bata: The Lincoln Prep Bands are hosting a benefit concert for their Wind Ensemble's trip to perform in Carnegie Hall this March.  The Lincoln Prep Jazz Ensemble & Combo will start the concert that will then feature The Kicks Big Band with Horace Washington.  The concert begins at 7:30pm on Thursday, February 21, in the LCPA Auditorium (2111Woodland). There will be food beforehand for $5 (burritos or nachos & a drink).

*From Kent Rausch: Roarin' Out Of KC! Kansas City's Vine Street Rumble Jazz Orchestra was formed to honor the legacy of the "golden era" of our city's world renowned jazz history. The band exclusively performs the same outrageously exciting music that made Kansas City THE place to be in the 30's and 40's, dedicated to taking the audience back to the wildly famous "jam sessions" and concert performances that literally changed the jazz world and influenced musicians from coast to coast and beyond… Saxophone: Mike Herrera, Steve Lambert, Brett Jackson, Carl Bender; Trumpet: Jay Sollenberger, Barry Springer, Al Pearson; Trombone: Jason Goudeau, Dan Strom; Piano: Walter Bryant; Guitar: Rod Fleeman; Bass: Zach Beeson; Drums: Jurgen Welge; Vocals: Lonnie McFadden. When:   Monday Feb. 25, 2013  8:00-9:30pm.  Where:  Californos.  Cost: Free!

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Review: Voyage

Opening an album with a ballad takes gumption.  The unconventional strategy works on Voyage, the self-titled album by a quartet of Kansas City musicians. 

The wistful "The New Moon" begins with a conversation between Forest Stewart's resonant bass, composer Mike Warren's wary drumming and Wayne Hawkins' delicate piano.  The rapturously beautiful tone is further enhanced when saxophonist Dan Thomas gently takes the melodic lead. 

The selection's superb musicianship, sensitive interplay and formidable compositional sensibility showcase the quartet's strengths. Their eminently listenable album is polite but not mild-mannered.

Voyage's mainstream post-bop tone will be familiar to listeners who appreciate classic Bobby Watson albums like Present Tense.  The similarity isn't an accident.  Anyone who's attended a jazz function at the University of Missouri-Kansas City during the past several years likely noticed a slender man standing alongside the famed Watson.  That's Thomas.  Like Watson, Thomas is both a respected UMKC instructor and a powerful saxophonist.  He's the yin to Watson's yang. 

Four of Voyage's nine tracks are Thomas' compositions.  The brash "Shock and Awe"- my favorite selection- is a chaotic maelstrom.  Thomas' virtuosity is also responsible for the album's weakest moment.  His primary solo on Hawkins' "Brazilian Haiku" is a technical triumph. Impressive?  No doubt.  Emotionally resonant?  Afraid not.  It's the only track on which the band resembles inhibited music professors. 

Thomas may be the dominant voice on the album but Voyage is a true band.  Warren is one of Kansas City's most distinctive drummers.  Voyage serves as an excellent document of his playing.  Stewart locks in with Warren throughout.  The soulful groove of his "I'll Miss All of Those Things" makes it one of the album's strongest tracks.  His solos on Hawkins' "Truth and Beauty" and Thomas' "Lamenting" also impress.  Hawkins' nuanced contributions reinforce Voyage's enticing ambiance.

Voyage was released to little fanfare last September.  It deserves to be heard. 

(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.)

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Steve Kraske chatted with Marc Myers and Hermon Mehari on KCUR's Up To Date last week.  The conversations are archived here and here.

*The Kansas City Star offers a review of the first night of the Jazz Winterlude festival.  KCJazzLarkk posted photos of the event.

*A new review of Mapache, the 2012 album by the Jorge Arana Trio, compares the band to John McLaughlin and Naked City.

*The second half of Demencha's interview with Eddie Moore is here.

*The Black House Improvisors' Collective provides an update on its current session.

*Mark Lowrey's music is utilized in "A Pairing of Cocktail & Song".

*The People's Cathedral of Wavelengths is a new EP by Kansas City's The Great Vehicle.  It's recommended to fans of Steve Morse, Guitar Hero and Joe Satriani.

*Tweet o' the Week: KillDevilClubKC- Hey Friends- who would you like to see on the Kill Devil stage this spring? Nothing is off limits! Except for the Barenaked Ladies.

*Comment of the Week: Anonymous- Did anyone go to see and hear Joe Lovano's Us5 when they were here? If not, do yourself a favor and YouTube the Lovano group. Is the KC scene this ignorant or stupid that we collectively think this type of on-going aping is original, innovative or new? Come on, we can do better. There are too many high quality artists here to cover the same players over and over and over. Jingoism. Self-congratulating. Leave your UMKC bubble please and grow!

*From a press release: Classic Hits & Jazz Standards by Bram Wijnands, Piano & Laura Glaeser, Vocals.  Hosted by Tim Whitmer & The Consort Band.  Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Bram Wijnands began playing piano at an early age in Eindhoven, the Netherlands…  In July 1991, Bram made his debut on the KC Jazz scene at the City Light Jazz Club with Kansas City’s own Richard Ross…  A lifelong resident of Kansas City, Laura Glaeser attended the UMKC Conservatory of Music where she studied Vocal Performance for 6 years… her heart belongs to Jazz and she jumps at every chance to perform it.  Spirituality & All That Jazz.  First Wednesday of every month – 7:00 p.m. Unity Temple on the Plaza… Tickets at the door only - $7.00.  Children under 16 free.

(Original image of Alaturka performing at last weekend's Jazz Winterlude by Plastic Sax.)