A Brief Appreciation: The Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Combo

Suggesting that it's not easy to replicate this is a gross understatement. Yet under the direction of Jim Mair these Kansas City Kansas Community College students get it done. Impressive.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Pitch reports that Ray Reed, a prominent figure on Kansas City's jazz scene for decades, has died.

*Harold O'Neal is the subject of an expansive NPR feature.

*Hearne Christopher's coverage of the situation at Jardine's continued here, here and here. Tony's Kansas City provides a related update here.

*The December 9 concert by the Black House Improvisors' Collective is available as a free download.

*The staff of the Blue Room aids a crime victim.

*Jazz figures prominently in Steve Paul's recap of 2011. Tim Finn notes the trend of jazz musicians collaborating with artists rooted in other genres.

*KC Metropolis previews a few upcoming jazz concerts.

*A New Orleans Style Jazz Funeral March will take place under the auspices of Occupy KC at noon on December 30 at 12th and Oak.

*The Magic Jazz Fairy returns to KCJazzLark.

*Melissa Treolo wrote a remembrance of Myra Taylor.

*John Bishop has died.

*Tweet o' the Week: GrunauerKC: Last minute NYE plans: Snuff Jazz, light appetizers & champagne toast in Vienna Zimmer only $20. 10p-1a. Tix available at Birdies or here.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Size Does Matter: Kansas City's Bounty of Big Bands

"Don't look any further," Louis Neal said as he introduced an interpretation of the Dennis Edwards hit during a November gig at the Blue Room. "You're listening to the best big band in Kansas City."

Although I'm affiliated with another of Kansas City's big bands, I didn't even consider raising an objection. I loved hearing what many of the region's best musicians- Clint Ashlock, Gerald Dunn, Charles Perkins and Charles Williams among them- did under Neal's direction during a sleek arrangement of the dusty R&B song.

At least ten big bands regularly perform in the Kansas City area. Four different big bands recently appeared in four different venues on four consecutive nights. Area jazz fans are incredibly fortunate.

Each of these aggregations has a different sensibility. I can't claim that everything the ensembles perform is entirely fresh, but the recent work of the late Bob Brookmeyer and the influence of acts like Radiohead are welcome reminders that the big band repertoire continues to evolve. Besides, nothing else provides the visceral thrill that can only be produced by a big band.

(Original image of the Louis Neal Big Band at the Blue Room by Plastic Sax.)

Movin' On Up with Myra Taylor

It doesn't rank among her most notable artistic achievements, but the late Myra Taylor made a couple appearances as a character named Pearl on The Jeffersons. She sings with a gospel quartet at the beginning of this 1982 clip. (That's her in the blue dress.) She makes another extended appearance at the 6:37 mark.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

The situation at Jardine's continues to dominate Kansas City's jazz scene.

*Tim Finn filed a report.

*Tony's Kansas City covers the story here, here and here.

*Hearne Christopher provides bulletins here, here and here.

*Mark Edelman lobbies for a truce.

*Charles Ferruzza has a fresh perspective.

*Yael Abouhalkah editorializes about the turmoil among "the small world of KC jazz enthusiasts."

*The Kansas City Business Journal took notice.

*Kansas City native Bob Brookmeyer died December 15. He was 82. The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Guardian offer obituaries. Doug Ramsey is hosting a dialogue about Brookmeyer's contributions.

*Tony Botello suggests that a notable trend was overlooked in Plastic Sax's year-end survey. He has a point.

*Libby Hanssen reviewed Mark O'Connor's concert at the Folly Theater.

*Seven jazz albums are recommended by KCJazzLark.

*A six-minute video lists January's events at The American Jazz Museum. (I believe this is the same video that will run during breaks at the Blue Room.)

*Wayward Blog reports that Kansas Public Radio will broadcast a recent holiday concert by The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.

*An appearance by Bobby Watson is mentioned in an recap of the year in jazz in Ireland.

*Berklee boasts an ensemble titled The Pat Metheny Ensemble. (Via Pat Metheny News.)

*Tweet o' the Week: mattwilsonjazz: Bob Brookmeyer was truly a hipster!

(Original image of high school jazz students at Kansas City Kansas Community College by Plastic Sax.)

The Top Ten Jazz-Related Stories and Trends of 2011

1. The well has been poisoned. In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake. -Sayre's law. It breaks my heart that the Kansas City jazz scene has been poisoned by the ongoing difficulties of a single jazz venue. Hidden agendas, ulterior motives and open threats have become the order of the day. No matter how the situation at Jardine's plays out, it's going to take a long time to heal the wounds generated by this unfortunate saga.

2. Open and shut. It's been another tough year for the area's jazz venues. Questions continue to swirl around Jardine's and 1911 Main. Closed or in the process of closing: Benton's, Cafe Augusta, GiGi's Jazz Inn, Intentions and Skies. It's not all doom and gloom. The commitment to serious jazz at Take Five Coffee + Bar in Leawood has been an exceptionally bright exception in 2011.

3. The rising tide lifting all boats The first thing this correspondent heard in Helzberg Hall during the grand opening celebration of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in September was Bobby Watson leading an all-star big band. Absolutely perfect! The People's Liberation Big Band and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra are among the jazz acts I've since witnessed in the beautiful room. Here's hoping jazz giants like Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, Brad Mehldau and Matthew Shipp will soon find their way to the celebrated new venue.

4. The underground bubbles up. Conservative programming still draws the largest audiences in Kansas City, but forward-thinking jazz continued its climb towards mainstream respectability in 2011. The People's Liberation Big Band and Alaturka are among the adventurous jazz acts that have already appeared at the Kauffman Center. Daring acts including Sir Threadius Mongus, Black House Improvisors' Collective and Flamenco Mio received institutional support from foundations in 2011. Diverse, Kansas City's best-known young jazz ensemble, sounds increasingly progressive. Collaborations with hip hop artists have become the norm rather than a novelty.

5. So much music. Kansas City's current jazz scene almost certainly ranks among the top 15 most compelling environments in North America. Hometown talent including Deborah Brown, Jerry Hahn, Jeff Harshbarger, Will Matthews, Hermon Mehari, Matt Otto, Gerald Spaits, Bobby Watson and Bram Wijnands makes the quality of life pretty sweet for the city's jazz fans. And check out a partial list of international talent that played in the area in 2011: Ambrose Akinmusire, Karrin Allyson (twice), Norman Brown, Gary Foster (twice), Benny Golson, Herbie Hancock, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Diana Krall, Julian Lage, Joe Lovano (twice), Ellis Marsalis, Marilyn Maye, Christian McBride, Pat Metheny, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dianne Reeves, Return to Forever, Arturo Sandoval, Steely Dan, Jack Walrath and Anthony Wilson.

6. Festival winners. This year's Rhythm & Ribs Jazz & Blues Fest was an unqualified success. The 2011 edition of the Jazz Winterlude festival at Johnson County Community College did a nice job of showcasing local talent in a concert setting.

7. Festival loser. The unlikely triumph of the inaugural Prairie Village Jazz Festival in 2010 astounded everyone. The staggeringly brilliant bill booked for this year's event promised even greater rewards. Alas, it was washed away by a violent storm.

8. Jazz heaven. Kansas City jazz icons Bob Brookmeyer, Pearl Huston-Brown Tony DiPardo, Frank Foster, Myra Taylor, Nancy Van Fleet and Snooky Young died in 2011.

9. Alaadeen's absence. The residual effects of the death of Kansas City jazz great Ahmad Alaadeen in 2010 are still being felt. The lack of his involvement resulted in pitiful attendance at the annual Charlie Parker graveside service. Yet the posthumous publication of Alaadeen's oral memoirs helped keep his memory alive.

10. Passing the baton. From all outward appearances the recent transitions at Kansas City Youth Jazz bodes well for the vital organization. It moved its base to Penn Valley Community College and appointed Clarence Smith as its new musical director. Thanks to the ongoing influence of Leon and Linda Brady, I frequently see kids associated with Kansas City Youth Jazz voluntarily attending jazz events.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Hearts of Darkness

I can't remember my excuse for not attending Farm Aid at Livestrong Sporting Park on August 13. At least I don't have to wonder how Hearts of Darkness fared in its opening slot. It's weird seeing the band on such a massive stage. Lest jazz purists protest Plastic Sax's ongoing endorsement of the band, I'll remind skeptics that in 2009 I suggested that "Hearts of Darkness convey the spirit, if not the sound, of Kansas City's (jazz) heyday." The band performs Saturday, December 17, at the RecordBar.