Now's the Time: The Project H

The Project H, the ensemble responsible for my favorite jazz-oriented performance by Kansas City musicians of the first few months of 2015, returns to the Westport Coffee House on Thursday, May 7.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Steve Paul considers Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s latest proposals for the Jazz District.

*The Columbia Daily Tribune published a feature about the quartet of Bobby Watson, Keith Brown, Ray Drummond and Marvin “Smitty” Smith.

*The Pitch endorses the new album by OJT.

*KC Jazz Lark considers the relationship between his blog and his new role at a jazz publication.

*Chris Burnett promotes ARC Label Week in a Tumblr post.

*David Basse was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Kevin Collison- Blue flame, blue Room #KC! Bobby Watson. (photo)

*Comment o’ the Week: Dean Minderman- Thanks for the link to StLJN, though it would seem that anyone who doesn't already have tickets for Robert Glasper is out of luck, as all four shows are sold to capacity and then some. With two local guys (Mark Colenburg and Keyon Harrold) on the gig, I guess that's not a big surprise, though.

*From a press release: The University of Kansas will celebrate the beginning of an era with an eight-concert series celebrating the renovation of Swarthout Recital Hall, the primary performance venue for the KU School of Music… Visiting Artist Series: Deborah Brown, vocalist with KU Jazz Combo I, under the direction of Matt Otto, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1 – free and open to the public… “Celebrating the reopening of Swarthout Recital Hall is one of the most exciting events in our history,” said Robert Walzel, KU School of Music dean. “The series of concerts celebrating our beautiful state-of-the-art facility allows us to show off exceptional musical talent in the most extraordinary small concert venue in America’s Heartland.”

*From a press release: Kansas City Jazz Legend Stan Kessler is not only a gifted performer but also wears the many hats of trumpet/flugelhorn instructor, bandleader, clinician, writer/arranger and educator. He performs, and leads, in numerous ensembles including the long-running Sons of Brasil, The Stan Kessler Quartet, Stan Kessler’s TV, HoraceScope, The Uncertainty Principle, Parallax, Mistra Fina and Passport…. with Tim Whitmer & The Consort Band, Wednesday, May 6, 2015, Unity Temple on the Plaza, $7.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Julian Vaughn- Limitless

As I browsed the day’s new releases at Amazon last Tuesday, I was pleasantly surprised to spot Limitless, the latest effort by Julian Vaughn, listed among the site’s top 100 sellers. 

I can’t remember the last time I saw a Kansas City based jazz musician place so prominently on Amazon’s sales chart.

It’s not difficult to understand the appeal.  Vaughn plays insinuating contemporary jazz.  Limitless includes quiet storm R&B, upbeat tracks with hip-hop elements and a tribute to one of the bassist’s primary influences, the late musician and basketball star Wayman Tisdale. 

The album release concert for Limitless is Friday, May 8, at the Gem Theater.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Danilo Pérez

A dazzling survey of centuries of Panamanian music, Panama 500 was one of the most exciting releases of 2014.  The bandleader and pianist Danilo Pérez is likely to reinterpret some of that memorable material at the Folly Theater on Saturday, April 25.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Eldar Djangirov promotes World Tour Vol. 1 album in a video. The new release that is “exclusively available” at his site.

*KC Jazz Lark foresees a bright future for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*Steve Lambert’s full calendar is noted by The Pitch.

*Danielo Perez’s forthcoming concert is highlighted in Joe Klopus’ latest column.

*Matt Kane’s album was featured on KCUR’s weekly Local Listen segment.

*Chris Burnett lists “6 Things You Can Do to Appreciate Jazz.”

*Joe Locke and Marc Cary chatted with Joe Dimino.

*St. Louis Jazz Notes reminds readers that Robert Glasper performs at Jazz at the Bistro tonight and tomorrow.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Adrienne B. Haynes- I had an impromptu history lesson about Kansas City's Historic Jazz District in the 30's tonight over senior coffee & strawberry creme pies

*Comment o’ the Week: Anonymous- Once you get past the tiresome and curmudgeonly reference to hard bop as an "inauspicious format," that wasn't a half bad review. Consider yourself chastised.

*From Mike Metheny: Exactly 100 years after the arrival of patriarch Harrison Metheny (1887-1980) in Lee's Summit MO, the story of the Metheny family is being told in an exhibit at the new Lee's Summit History Museum. What an honor it is for us to be included! The museum's grand opening is on Wednesday, April 22 at 5 p.m. And normal museum hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, please visit the Museum's Facebook event page or the website.

*From Take Five Coffee + Bar: Thursday, April 23, 7pm: Marcus Lewis Big Band- …Ferocious swing the way only a high-caliber big band can deliver it… $5 cover.  Friday, April 24, 8pm: Schlambert- Vibraphonist Peter Schlamb and saxophonist Steve Lambert join forces… With Karl McComas-Reichl on bass and John Kizilarmut on drums… $5 cover.  Saturday, April 25- … closed this night for a private event. (A wedding!)  Sunday, April 26, 10am - 2pm: Sunday Jazz Brunch: Paul Roberts and Peter Schlamb… and bassist Forest Stewart for a tribute to the great Chick Corea/Gary Burton group… No cover.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Matt Kane & the Kansas City Generations Sextet- Acknowledgement

Creating a compelling straight-ahead album in the style of the Jazz Messengers is difficult in 2015.  Yet Acknowledgement, the new release by Matt Kane and the Kansas City Generations Sextet, manages to infuse the inauspicious format with fresh energy.

The New York-based drummer has devised an essential document of Kansas City’s jazz scene.  Kane, saxophonists Steve Lambert and Michael Shults, trumpeter Hermon Mehari, pianist Andrew Ouellette and bassist Ben Leifer apply their formidable talents to the compositions of Ahmad Alaadeen, Pat Metheny and Bobby Watson.

The pairing of excellent musicians with the melodies that have come to define the Kansas City sound is consistently persuasive.

Kane deserves credit for allowing Shults and Lambert to shine.  Their contributions consistently elevate Acknowledgement.  The pair tear it up on Alaadeen’s “ASR."

The programming of Alaadeen’s “And the Beauty of It All” and Watson’s “Wheel Within a Wheel”- the familiar selections are album’s fifth and sixth tracks- is capable of acting as an emotional one-two punch on Kansas City's jazz advocates.

For anyone who has logged significant time at clubs including the Blue Room and the Green Lady Lounge in recent years, Acknowledgement sounds like home.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: The Joe Locke Quartet featuring Kenny Washington

While Saturday’s concert at the Gem Theater is billed as an appearance by the Joe Locke Quartet, the vocalist Kenny Washington will almost certainly be the star of the show.  Pianist Ryan Cohan, bassist Lorin Cohen and drummer Jaimeo Brown round out the vibraphonist's band.