Now's the Time: Ken Lovern

Ken Lovern doesn’t live at the Green Lady Lounge, but it often seems that way.  The organist will perform with guitarist Danny Embrey and drummer Todd Strait in the Orion Room at Kansas City’s most popular jazz venue on Friday, August 31.  Lovern’s additional dates are listed at The Kansas City Jazz Calendar.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s performance of Mary Lou Williams’ “Zodiac Suite” was previewed by Libby Hanssen for KCUR.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Dan Thomas and two of his UMKC students.

*The Kansas City Star reports that the Grille at Park Place, a Johnson County restaurant that hosted jazz performances every weekend, is closing.

*Julie Denesha examined a Charlie Parker-inspired art installation for KCUR.

*”Jazz is ear poison.”

*Tweet o’ the Week: SummerStage- @Thebadplus are sounding extra good here this afternoon at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival!  – at Tompkins Square Park (video)

(Original image of Nevin Aladağ's "Resonator" by Plastic Sax.)

Concert Review: Lonnie McFadden's "Charlie Parker: Past, Present & Future" at the Gem Theater

Kansas City’s top entertainer oversaw a jubilant tribute to Kansas City’s most famous son at the Gem Theater on Sunday.  In many ways, Lonnie McFadden’s "Charlie Parker: Past, Present & Future" presentation was a McFadden Brothers concert with an extra helping of chatter and contributions from two auspicious guests.  Most members of the audience of more than 400 wouldn’t have had it any other way at the momentous event.

McFadden, the man known as “Mr. Kansas City,” is a jazz saxophonist, tap dancer and Las Vegas-style showman.  He was joined by his brother, trumpeter Ronnie McFadden, and a core band of pianist Andrew Ouellette, guitarist Matt Hopper, bassist DeAndre Manning and drummer Tyree Johnson.  The 100-minute show featured appearances by Kansas City’s grand master Bobby Watson and the New York based saxophonist Tivon Pennicott.

McFadden insisted that he’s a dedicated Parker scholar in a lengthy appreciation at the start of the culmination of the fifth annual Charlie Parker Celebration.  He may have felt the extended commentary was necessary because the show didn’t feature a single Parker composition or any attempts to recreate Parker’s sound.

If McFadden’s verbal acclamations represented the “past” portion of the show’s title, the vital music defined the “present.”  The McFaddens stepped aside to allow Pennicott to showcase his imposing technique on “Lush Life” and his original “Never Been.”  Watson sounded as magnificent as ever on his compositions “Sweet Dreams” and “Wheel Within a Wheel.”  McFadden’s duet with his daughter Chloe on “Unforgettable” and a tap dance routine with Ronnie were sure-fire audience pleasers.

McFadden insisted that the “future” component of the show’s title was represented by the comparatively young musicians Hopper, Johnson, Manning and Ouellette.  While they played flawlessly, none of them has yet revealed an intention to become a transgressive innovator in the tradition of Parker.  Area jazz fans will need to wait for Logan Richardson’s return to Kansas City on September 8 to hear a truer representation of Parker’s futuristic vision.

Setlist: Birdland, A Night in Tunisia, Never Been, Lush Life, Cherokee, Sweet Dreams, Wheel Within a Wheel, tap dancing, Unforgettable, Kansas City

(Original images by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: Nolatet

Mike Dillon, the percussion maniac who has entertained (and terrorized) Kansas City audiences for decades, returns to the Brick on Wednesday, August 29, with Nolatet.  Joined by pianist Brian Haas, bassist James Singleton and drummer Johnny Vidacovich, Dillon will perform material from the band’s bracing new album No Revenge Necessary.  The show is one of scores listed at The Kansas City Jazz Calendar.

Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes

*Larry Kopitnik examines the Charlie Parker Celebration for The Pitch.

*Ron Carlson’s For You was recently released.

*David Basse touts the Charlie Parker Celebration in University News.

*Jacob Wagner and Chris Burnett  discussed Charlie Parker with Steve Kraske on KCUR’s Up to Date.

*Chris Burnett was interviewed by Joe Dimino.

*Lonnie McFadden’s “Charlie Parker: Past, Present & Future” concert at the Gem Theater was previewed by The Kansas City Star.

*Mark Lewis, a saxophonist and flutist based in Seattle, will perform with Bram Wijnands at the Majestic on Friday, August 24, and Saturday, August 25.

*Tweet o’ the Week: Brad Scott- Finally got a chance to see A La Mode Friday night. Great band and I have to say that Jesica is one of the best jazz singers I've ever heard. #kansascityjazz #alamodejazz #jazz

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Album Review: Nate Nall Quintet- Places to Go

Nate Nall travels directly to the hard bop territory currently occupied by the likes of his fellow trumpeters Sean Jones and Terell Stafford on the opening track of Places to Go, his debut album as a leader.  For the next 50 minutes, Nall, a product of Bobby Watson’s jazz program at UMKC, confidently plants a flag in a destination that almost certainly meets with Watson’s approval.  Even though they only venture beyond the familiar terrain to take in the rugged vistas of “Destination Unknown” and the craggy canyons of “Starry Night,” Nall and saxophonist Matt Baldwin, guitarist Adam Schlozman, bassist Sam Copeland and drummer Zach Morrow capture plenty of dazzling auditory snapshots.

(Original image by Plastic Sax.)

Now's the Time: The Charlie Hunter Trio

A trio led by Charlie Hunter will perform at the Bottleneck on Tuesday, August 21.  The guitarist isn’t as esteemed in the jazz community as the so-called “big three” of Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny and John Scofield, but his playing may be no less influential.  Hunter’s appearance is one of countless gigs listed at The Kansas City Jazz Calendar.