Jazz On Film

Per my request, Google bombards me with web postings about Kansas City jazz. For the past couple months, a disproportionate number emanate from Kansas City Jazz and Blues. The site promotes Kansas City Jazz and Blues: Past, Present, and Future, "an important documentary as a keepsake for the heritage of the Kansas City jazz and blues music scene." Filmmaker Sue Vicory seems to be interviewing dozens of area jazz musicians for the project. Here's more footage.

Dimensions of Jay McShann

It's been almost two years since Jay McShann passed. I still mourn the loss.

McShann's music is eternal, of course, but the jazz giant's engaging presence can't be replicated. That's one reason the 1992 footage uploaded to YouTube by KMBC earlier this week is so wonderful.

Here's KMBZ's description of the video: "Jazz legend Jay McShann performs with keyboardist Everett Freeman on the April 14, 1992 edition of "Dimensions". "Dimensions" was a community affairs program that aired on KMBC-TV in the 1980s and 1990s and was hosted by Community Affairs Director Olivia Dorsey."

Freeman is currently a member of The Jazz Disciples.

YouTube offers the video in high definition.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*New construction has begun in the jazz district.

*Bobby Watson is quoted in an interesting story about the dearth of black jazz students.

*Present reviews Killer Strayhorn's debut.

*The Crossroads Music Fest 4 schedule lists several jazz-related performances. It takes place September 6 at assorted Kansas City venues.

*Here's a quick reminder- the annual Charlie Parker "grave site tribute" is August 24. Last year's event was very nice.

*I've updated the Plastic Sax Event Calendar. The focus is largely on appearances by touring artists. But listen up, musicians- I promise to include your gigs if you email me with venues and exact dates. (My head explodes with itineraries like "every third Tuesday at Club X and sometimes odd-numbered Fridays at Club Y"...)

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Grading the Folly's New Season

Put yourself in Doug Tatum's shoes.

Among the considerations of the Folly Theater's executive director when scheduling the annual jazz series are pleasing his moneyed patrons, retaining the allegiance of aging core supporters, developing a younger audience and securing artists who can fill seats.

It's an exceedingly challenging proposition. While the end result means that Cecil Taylor isn't coming to Kansas City, Tatum largely succeeded in booking a varied, interesting set of shows for the forthcoming season.

Here's Plastic Sax's initial verdict on each of the seven concerts. I realize it's an insolent and presumptive act, but I assign a grade to each booking.

Dave Brubeck- October 2
The Folly should continue to book the 87-year-old pianist as long as he continues to tour.
Grade: A-

Stefon Harris- November 22
The young vibraphonist is precisely the sort of forward-looking, innovative artist favored by Plastic Sax. Even so, he's not exactly a household name.
Grade: B+

Roberta Gambarini- December 13
This is the Folly's most suspect booking. The vocalist has little name recognition. While her mainstream cabaret style will please the swing era set, her approach is probably too conservative to interest a young audience.
Grade: B-

John Scofield- January 31, 2009
Plastic Sax isn't personally excited about the guitarist's increasingly close relationship with the jam band sound and corresponding audience, but Scofield should attract the next generation of jazz fans.
Grade: A-

Kevin Mahogany's Kansas City Review- February 28, 2009
A slam dunk. Mahogany's homecoming should be triumphant.
Grade: A

Terence Blanchard- April 4, 2009
The two best jazz concerts I've witnessed at the Folly were Tito Puente in the '90s and Roy Hargrove last year. Even though Blanchard is today's equivalent of Quincy Jones, I don't anticipate his measured approach to elicit the same level of excitement.
Grade: B

Esperanza Spalding- May 16, 2009
She's the "it" musician of the moment in the jazz world. If the current buzz behind the young and beautiful artist continues to build, Spalding could be a huge hit by the time May rolls around. On the other hand, her momentum could fizzle out just as easily. The risky booking delights me.
Grade: A+

Overall grade (based soley on who's appearing, instead of on what might have been): A-

All shows are listed at the Plastic Sax Jazz Calendar.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Greg Patillo

Step back, haters! I love this; I don't care if you think the beatbox flautist is more hip hop than jazz. Greg Patillo is performing in Kansas City this weekend in conjunction with the National Flute Convention. Joe Klopus has the story. I'm going to dust off my Rahsaan Roland Kirk albums.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*There's hope for the shuttered El Torreon. The legendary venue (above), once the regular host of Benny Moten and Jimmie Lunceford, is reportedly being refurbished.

*An essay titled "Is Bird Dead?" merits further discussion.

*Oleta Adams is profiled.

*I'm not sure why, but Karrin Allyson's national New Year's Eve 2006 broadcast was reposted on July 24 here.

*One of Kansas City's best bloggers, the Midtown Miscreant, muses on the significance of the Hotel Rochester at 18th and Vine. It's a mandatory read for anyone interested in the jazz district.

*Lasers!

*Joe Klopus raves about the forthcoming concert series at the Gem and the Folly. Plastic Sax will weigh in on the bookings in a future post.

*381 Days: The Montgomery Bus Boycott Story has opened at the American Jazz Museum.

*Chris Burnett analyzes the numbers of jazz.

*A new release by pianist George Dulin receives a rave review. The writer asserts he's from Kansas City.

*Steve Penn applauds the renovation of the Midland Theater.

(Original image of El Torreon by Plastic Sax.)

KC Jazz In SD CA

Do you miss Dick Wright's show on KANU? How about KCUR's beloved Just Jazz? Similar mainstream jazz programming still exists- in San Diego! While vacationing in Southern California last week, I heard Jay McShann, Count Basie, Lester Young and other practitioners of the Kansas City sound on KSDS. According to today's playlist, Illinois Jacquet, Cal Tjader, Mark Murphy and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis have aired in the past hour. The "full-time mainstream/traditional jazz" station streams online. To add insult to injury, San Diego is also home to a smooth jazz station.

(Original image of UCSD's library by Plastic Sax.)