Now's the Time: Tony Bennett

Eighty-two-year-old Tony Bennett croons at The Midland Theater Saturday night. I don't want to hear any whispers that Bennett isn't a jazz cat. His most recent album was recorded with The Count Basie Big Band. One of his best efforts is a sublime recording with Bill Evans. And just this week, he donated a painting of Duke Ellington to The National Portrait Gallery. Oh, he's a jazzer alright. (Incidentally, I almost featured "Slimey To the Moon" instead of Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone.")

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The publishing catalog of Charlie Parker is changing hands according to this report.

*Barbecue, jazz and dance receive a Kansas City-style mashup.

*Hours after publishing a post in which I whined about the dearth of locally produced jazz videos, I uncovered this two-minute film featuring the music of The People's Liberation Big Band. It's not exactly what I had in mind, but it's quite amusing.

*A new treasure trove of performance videos captures Bram Wijnands at The Majestic.

*"The sshhing is more annoying." That's the handwritten message on a table tent at Jardine's documented in this photo. (Tip via Plastic Sax reader.)

*My friend and colleague Joel Francis traveled to Arkansas to catch a Sonny Rollins gig. Here's his review. What gives, Joel? I would have pitched in for gas money...

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Not So Festive

There's no getting around it. Losing the annual Rhythm & Ribs Festival- even if only for a year- is a major blow to Kansas City's jazz scene.

So what's a festival-loving Kansas City jazz fan to do this summer? Here are a few ideas.

Chicago's world-class jazz festival is held in September.

The Iowa City Jazz Festival is Fourth of July weekend.

For better or for worse, the Telluride Jazz Festival represents the future of "jazz." Jam-oriented bands serve as headliners at the June event but the likes of Bill Frisell, Donald Harrison and Christian Scott are also on the bill.

Don't look to St. Louis. Their annual jazz fest is also on "hiatus." Just down the road apiece is the Coleman Hawkins Legacy Jazz Festival in Topeka. Their lineup in 2008 was remarkable. (Edit: As noted in the comments, this event has also been canceled.)

Smooth jazz fans will get their mellow grooves on at Johnson County's Jazz In the Woods. It's in June.

And jazz fans shouldn't sleep on the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival. Last year's fun event included Leon Brady's outfit (pictured at the festival above) and Myra Taylor.

Finally, there's no rule against barhopping between the Blue Room, Jardine's and other jazz clubs. Improvise your own jazz festival.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Candace Evans At Jardine's

I'm guilty.

More than once I've yakked it up at Jardine's as jazz musicians performed. Watching this clip of Candace Evans working over a loud audience fills me with regret. To all musicians I've talked over- I'm sorry.

Evans is a fine talent. She was recently featured in The Sun. But how could she and her fellow musicians even hear themselves think at this recent gig?

At least these Chatty Cathys made the effort to attend Evans' show. That demonstration of support is wonderful.

I can't speak for Evans, but she'd probably rather play for a loud packed house than for just a handful of intent listeners. And the management of Jardine's, of course, is surely satisfied every time an artist like Evans fills their room with paying customers.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The big news this week is the unfortunate announcement that the 2009 edition of the annual Rhythm & Ribs festival has been canceled. Here's The Star's story. The Pitch's Wayward Blog published the official press release. It's followed by a testy debate.

*Kansas City's jazz musicians should know just how high rapper Mac Lethal has set the bar. His new swing era-inspired video is mandatory viewing. And it's not even as good as his previous effort. Tech N9ne's latest video is also very impressive. These are independent, locally-based and self-financed artists. The creation of such essential promotional tools requires imagination, motivation and (perhaps most importantly) art-school friends with video equipment. Are any Kansas City jazz musicians prepared to meet the challenge?

*A Plastic Sax commenter alerted me to this great review of a recent performance by The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*Did you miss The Mingus Big Band's concert at The Gem Theater last weekend? Me too. Thankfully, NPR is streaming a recent live performance.

*Kansas City-based Contemporary Jazz brought this exciting jazz documentary trailer to my attention. It's great. Seriously.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Kansas City Blues

Thirsty for both live music and a cold beverage Saturday afternoon, I intended to hit the jam session at Jardine's.

Alas, it's apparently been suspended.

I attended a blues gig at B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ instead. While I adore both the roadhouse and its owner, Lindsay Shannon, it served as yet another reminder that blues is far more popular than jazz in Kansas City.

Just look at the impressive list of daily events at The Kansas City Blues Society's blues calendar. My own admittedly anemic effort pales in comparison. (Worse still, Plastic Sax's listing is apparently the sole online directory dedicated to jazz.)

Two weeks ago I caught a 29-year-old blues guitarist at a local casino. Over 1,000 fans paid $25 each to see him. Can you imagine a similarly-aged jazz instrumentalist drawing such a large audience in Kansas City?

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Lonnie Smith

Organist Lonnie Smith will almost certainly make it funky at the Blue Room Monday.

Kansas City has a long and illustrious affiliation with jazz organists. Everette DeVan and Ken Lovern are among our town's current mainstays. The legendary Mary Lou Williams played some organ. Big John Patton was born in Kansas City. Charles Earland died at a local Holiday Inn in 1999.

Videos with higher production values exist, but I appreciate the nasty feel captured on this clip of Smith in action.