Friday, January 16, 2015
Now's the Time: Peter Schlamb
Peter Schlamb is the featured artist at two very different shows this weekend. On Saturday, January 17, the vibraphonist will perform in his "Electric Tinks" format at MiniBar. On Sunday, January 18, Schlamb will play all original material in a quartet setting at the RecordBar.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes
*KC Jazz Lark appraises Kansas City's jazz scene.
*Musicians share their thoughts about the late Tommy Ruskin with Neon Jazz.
*Demencha magazine interviewed Dominique Sanders about his new album.
*A blogger takes note of a performance by guitarists Charles Gatschet and Matt Hopper.
*The Pitch touts Horacescope's gig at the Blue Room.
*Joyce Smith reports that vocalist Darcus Gates will open a "supper club" named Dash in May.
*Rudresh Mahanthappa's Bird Calls, an album on which "each track is directly based on a Parker composition or solo," will be released next month.
*Tweet o' the Week: Hermon Mehari- Playing in NYC tonight with Matt Brewer (bass), Craig Weinrib (drums), and Tony Tixier (piano) at Somethin Jazz Club from 9-10:45!
*Comment o' the Week: - Brian Baggett- Maybe Marilyn would like to do some VH covers with DŌJŌ?
*After years of neglect, the dead and dormant links in the blogroll have been cleared out. Please let me know if you have a proper (non-Facebook/ReverbNation) site that merits inclusion.
(Original image by Plastic Sax.)
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Concert Review: Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle at Take Five Coffee + Bar
A man in the full house at Take Five Coffee + Bar on Saturday wore makeshift earplugs. The music performed by Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle merited the high volume.
I've been impressed every time I've watched Eddie Moore and the Outer Circle perform at the Blue Room and the Green Lady Lounge in the past couple years. The ensemble continues to expand on the sound documented on the 2013 album The Freedom of Expression. (Plastic Sax review).
During Saturday's gig the band played with even more focus and assurance. Moore alternated between piano and a Yamaha MO8 as he and the current lineup- guitarist Adam Schlozman, bassist D'Andre Manning and drummer Pat Adams- evoked the classic work of the Crusaders and Head Hunters-era Herbie Hancock.
Schlozman's subtle playing was particularly impressive. He may become the most significant jazz guitarist to emerge from Kansas City since Steve Cardenas.
Material from a forthcoming album titled Kings and Queens struck the right balance between artful ambition and jubilant grooves. The Outer Circle may be stylistically rooted in the 1970s, but its exceptional musicianship and astonishing rapport imbues the band with unwavering relevance.
(Original image by Plastic Sax.)
Friday, January 9, 2015
Now's the Time: Dojo
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes
*The Pitch recommends a gig at The Ship.
*A new one-man show in Seattle depicts a fictional Kansas City-based jazz disc jockey.
*The Kansas City Jazz Summit will be held April 22-24 at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
*Tweet o' the Week: Brian Scarborough- I am excited to share that I am a finalist for the ATW National Jazz Solo Competition in DC this year! Live finals round in DC in March!
*Comment o' the Week: Dean Minderman- Thanks for the link to StLJN's annual list round-up, Bill. Hope your holidays have been relatively stress-free and your New Year is happy!
*From Paul Shinn: It is with great excitement that I would like to announce our trio's return to the Green Lady Lounge as well as the release of our second album entitled Easy Now: Live at the Green Lady Lounge. This album contains eight new selections recorded live on August 11th at the Green Lady… Here are our showtimes for this week: Thursday, January 8th 9pm-12am. Friday, January 9th 9pm-1am. Saturday, January 10th 9:30pm-1:30am. Sunday, January 11th 7:30pm-11:30pm CD Release!!
(Original image of the Charlie Parker residence at 109 W. 34th Street by Plastic Sax.)
Monday, January 5, 2015
Tommy Ruskin, 1942-2015
A weekly jam session at Fedora's on the Plaza helped ease me into Kansas City's jazz scene in the 1990s. Tommy Ruskin, a handsome drummer with a prodigious sense of swing, graciously oversaw those delightful forums.
It was clear that Ruskin had won the respect and friendship of Kansas City's most enthusiastic jazz fans and its core musicians.
Ruskin died last week.
The Kansas City Star's remembrance includes details about a memorial service. A television station and KC Jazz Lark also paid tribute to Ruskin.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Now's the Time: The Matt Otto Quartet
Matt Otto's quartet performs Friday, January 2, at the Blue Room. The ensemble's cool and erudite methodology is displayed in the embedded video.
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