Marcus Lewis will lead a quintet at Yardley Hall on Tuesday, October 25. The midday performance will strike a different tone from the music in the embedded video. The noon recital series aims to please the senior citizens who dominate the audiences. Yet the booking serves as an excuse to showcase “You’re Very Special,” the new single by Lewis’ vibrant big band.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Brian Baggett and Ken Lovern discuss Baggett’s forthcoming album in a promotional video.
*The Kansas City debut of the Los Angeles duo Ohma is reviewed at There Stands the Glass.
*Bobby Watson promoted a concert in Schenectady in a candid interview with a correspondent for Albany’s The Times-Union.
*Jazzwise considers the sound of Britain’s Big Band Metheny ensemble.
*Joe Dimino interviewed Morgan Faw and shared clips of performances by the Greg Meise Trio, Lisa Henry and the Hannover Big Band.
*Tweet of the Week: Midwest Music Foundation- JUST ANNOUNCED! Check out the official lineup for Apocalypse Meow, Nov 5th at the @recordBar, ft. Eddie Moore, MellowPhobia, The Electric Lungs, purextc, and Nathan Corsi and My Atomic Daydream! Grab tickets: (link) #apocalypsemeow #abbysfund
*From a press release: The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra Executive Director Lea Petrie today announced the next concert for the 2022-2023 20th Anniversary season, The Voice featuring guest artist Deborah Brown, Thursday, November 10 at 7 p.m. at … Helzberg Hall… Brown is one of many American jazz performers who found her greatest fame and recognition overseas rather than in the U.S.
Album Review: Bobby Watson- Back Home in Kansas City
The release of each Bobby Watson album is a significant event in the cultural history of Kansas City. The saxophonist has long been the dominant locally based practitioner of the art form associated with the town. When a new recording is not only specifically dedicated to the sound of Kansas City but is also one of the best works of Watson’s career, the entire city should rejoice.
Watson plays with quiet confidence on Back Home in Kansas City, the third Watson solo album released by Smoke Sessions Records in the past five years. The music is more of the same- and in Watson’s case, that’s more than enough. Immediately comfortable and immensely satisfying, the mainstream jazz of Back Home in Kansas City possesses a lived-in feel.
Recorded on April 5, 2022, with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Jones, Back Home in Kansas City is an instant classic. The title track exemplifies Watson’s feel-good, toe-tapping approach. The quintet pays homage to Count Basie on Lewis’ jumping “Red Bank Heist.”
Guest vocalist Carmen Lundy imbues “Our Love Remains,” a recently minted standard co-written by Watson and Pamela Baskin-Watson, with mature sophistication. And ballads don’t get much better than the reading of “I’m Glad There Is You.” The secret of life is embedded in Watson’s knee-buckling solo.
Two homages to John Coltrane are the only variations from straightforward Kansas City swing. Watson makes a profound spiritual statement on “Dear Lord” as Chestnut showcases his peerless gospel chops. “Side Steps” is a strutting modification of Coltrane’s titanic “Giant Steps.”
A ticker-tape parade as part of an official civic holiday is warranted, but there’s nothing stopping grateful fans from celebrating the release of Back Home in Kansas City on a more modest scale. Everyone in the Kansas City area should be glad to be live in a time and place in which Watson is producing art for the ages.
Now’s the Time: Esthesis Quartet
Esthesis Quartet, a touring group consisting of flutist Elsa Nilsson, pianist Dawn Clement, bassist Emma Dayhuff and drummer Tina Raymond, play two sets at the Blue Room on Monday, October 17. Esthesis Quartet performs the opening track of its new self-titled debut album in the embedded video.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*A Philadelphian wrote a guide to area jazz venues for The Kansas City Star.
*Tweet of the Week: Green Lady Lounge- Guitar Elation - Dues Blues (Composer: Danny Embrey) #Jazz #NowPlaying #KansasCityJazz (link)
*From a press release: The KU Jazz 50th Anniversary Celebration will commemorate 50 years of the “official” jazz program—and the “unofficial” bands that existed before this. The event will feature two concerts highlighting alumni of the KU Jazz Studies Program, both taking place at 7:30 PM at the Lied Center… On Friday, October 28, 2022, the current edition of KU Jazz Ensemble I will present a tribute to saxophonist and woodwind artist Gary Foster, with guest soloists Steve Houghton (drums), Matt Otto and Paul Haar (saxophones), Ron McCurdy (trumpet), Jeff Harshbarger (bass) and others. The following evening on Saturday, October 29, 2022, KU alumni from the past 50 years will perform in big bands and a vocal jazz ensemble and will be directed by the program’s 4 directors—Robert Foster (the founder of the program in 1972), James Barnes, Dr. Ron McCurdy and Dan Gailey. Tickets are available here.
Concert Review: Terence Blanchard at Atkins Auditorium
Original image of George Segal’s Rush Hour near the entrance of Atkins Auditorium by Plastic Sax.
Terence Blanchard told an audience of 450 at Atkins Auditorium on Sunday, October 2, that the concert was dedicated to Wayne Shorter. Echoes of Shorter’s work with the pioneering jazz fusion band Weather Report were apparent, but the music performed by Blanchard, E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet more clearly evoked a different jazz icon.
In a fascinating enactment of speculative history, the nine musicians refined and enhanced the style associated with 1980s-era Miles Davis. Where the late star was often dull and blurry during the Reagan era, the sounds overseen by Blanchard were sharp and focused. A rewarding reassessment, the concert was an exercise in what might have been.
Blanchard revived Davis’ distinctive attack by filtering his trumpet through effects. Guitarist Charles Altura assumed the role of Davis’ brash sideman Mike Stern. Modern day keyboard star Taylor Eigsti acted as Robert Irving III, ebullient bassist David Ginyard, Jr. replaced Marcus Miller and the groove-oriented drummer Oscar Seaton Jr. stood in for Al Foster.
As on Absence, the musicians’ 2021 album for Blue Note Records, the presence of the longstanding string quartet acted as a wild card. Much as Davis once turned to Gil Evans for string enhancements, Blanchard deployed Turtle Island director David Balakrishnan. Not only were Turtle Island’s embellishments ravishing, a turn in the spotlight earned the quartet a standing ovation.
Every detail was discernible in the pristine sound field during the opening concert of the Harriman-Jewell Series’ 2022-23 season. (I purchased the least expensive ticket for $33.50 for a spot in a back corner.) A notorious contrarian, Davis may not have appreciated the performance. Be that as it may, the realization of his vision was magnificent.
Now’s the Time: New York Voices
The man behind Plastic Sax would rather listen to “Baby Shark” on repeat all day rather than endure two hours of vocalese. Even so, he recognizes that plenty of people adore the music made by New York Voices. The quartet will perform with The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at the Folly Theater on Friday, October 14. Shoop-de-doo-bop!
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Smoke Sessions Records created a trailer for Bobby Watson’s forthcoming album Back Home in Kansas City.
*The Marcus Lewis Big Band shared a music video for its new song "You're Very Special".
*Nina Cherry lists a few unconventional venues in Kansas City magazine.
*Joe Dimino documented portions of performances by the Leslie Maclean Trio and the duo of Mark Lowrey and Arnold Young.
*Sean Jones chatted with Steve Kraske on KCUR’s Up To Date program.
*Melissa Aldana, Charles McPherson and Camille Thurman are among the artists praising Charlie Parker in a feature published by The New York Times.
*Tweet of the Week: Kadesh Flow- Bruh.... Sean fn Jones REALLY SAT IN WITH US LAST NIGHT and justcasually went tf off @jazzbonist @kemetcoleman
Album Review: Morgan Faw and the Flame- It Takes a Village
A pair of antithetical incidents involving Kansas City’s first family of jazz took place during Morgan Faw and the Flame’s album release show at the Blue Room on Monday, August 22. A guest appearance by Bobby Watson was- as is invariably the case- absolutely stupendous.
The lowlight of the evening was heartbreaking. An interpretation of Pamela Baskin-Watson’s composition “The Love We Had Yesterday” was spoiled by a buffoon who drowned out the tender ballad with oblivious yapping. Baskin-Watson was among the members of the audience of about 100 frustrated by the dullard.
The Watsons were among the many instructors, friends and family amid the festive audience of more than 100 that Faw thanked during an evening characterized by good cheer and reverence for tradition. (The performance was a central component of this year’s Spotlight: Charlie Parker initiative.)
Faw’s debut album It Takes a Village is filled with conventional hard bop tracks designed to please the saxophonist’s old-school mentors. Faw is joined by trumpeter Will Mallard, pianist Ebba Dankel, bassist Isaac Coyle and drummer Christian Napoleon on the project. It’s a brisk first step toward a promising destination.
Now’s the Time: Diana Krall
The crossover star Diana Krall surrounds herself with elite musicians. She’s recently been performing in a trio format with the impeccable tandem of bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Karriem Riggins. If that’s still the case at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Monday, October 3, Krall’s fans in Kansas City will relish a sublime performance.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Jazz at Lincoln Center created a 17-minute video portrait of Kansas City’s jazz scene.
*Adam Larson was interviewed by Nick Spacek for The Pitch.
*Jon Poses, the raconteur behind the We Always Swing concert series in Columbia, Missouri, is the subject of an All About Jazz feature.
*Joe Dimino captured footage of a Lynn Zimmer performance.
*Details about the Hannover Jazz Orchestra’s forthcoming visit to Kansas City are here.
*Tweet of the Week: MCC Kansas City- Jazz in the Valley, a free festival at MCC-Penn Valley, will be held rain/shine, 6-9 pm, Sept 30. Musicians include: Minus2, Jim Lower Big Band, Eddie Moore and a popup Jazz Academy performance at 5 pm. Free parking. Event will move inside if raining. (link)
Album Review: Seth Andrew Davis, Michael Eaton, Damon Smith and Kyle Quass- Ghost Tantras
The staggeringly productive year devised by the members of the Extemporaneous Music and Art Society continues unabated. The many performances and prolific recordings emanating from the collective can seem overwhelming to even the most ardent enthusiasts of new music.
Ghost Tantras is among the most recent EMAS-related missives. True to form, the album is full of surprises. The album and song titles are borrowed from the poetic “beast language” invented by native Kansan Michael McClure. The improvisations mirror McClure’s free verse freakouts.
Seth Andrew Davis, a cofounder of EMAS, plays electric guitar, laptop and electronics. He’s joined by saxophonist Michael Eaton, trumpeter Kyle Quass and bassist Damon Smith. The otherworldly entropy of “Aieooo” exemplifies the blissful chaos of Ghost Tantras.
The rapid-fire “Ooogreeshk” is free jazz for sufferers of attention deficit disorders. Laden with bursts of static, “Snahrr” could be a decaying satellite transmission sent from Saturn by Sun Ra. “Gritoomrm” sounds as if a bottle containing the essence of ESP-Disk heated to a low simmer.
Eaton converses with Quass on “Whahh” and jousts with Davis on “Raooor.” And while Smith implies a routine groove on “Rahhhrr-nohh,” the quartet is hardly conventional. McClure’s epiphany in his 1964 book Ghost Tantras applies to the recording: “so far inside is a whirlwind I ride.”
Now’s the Time: Sean Jones
The marketing material promoting Sean Jones’ concert with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra at Helzberg Hall on Friday, September 30, asserts that “there is no more essential practitioner of the brass arts” than the trumpeter. Advocates of Ambrose Akinmusire, Wynton Marsalis and Nicholas Payton might beg to differ. Nevertheless, Jones’ solo in the embedded video is extraordinary.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Dr. Dina Bennett promoted the “Sound and Story: 25 Years at the American Jazz Museum” exhibit on Steve Kraske’s Up To Date show on KCUR.
*Stan Bock and Carlos Ferreyra were interviewed by Joe Dimino.
*Tweet of the Week: Faytinga- Trumpeter Hermon Mehari just announced the release on 18-Nov of his new album ASMARA (@komosjazz) with a new version of my Kunama song MILOBE and new song TANAFAQIT. Click on link below to access samples of 3 songs from this album, including #tanafaqit (link)
Album Review: John Stein- Lifeline
The word “tasteful” sometimes acts as code for tame forms of jazz. The characterization is unmodified by aspersion in the case of the music of guitarist John Stein. The recently released Lifeline, a 145-minute compilation of “26 tracks spanning 23 years and 15 albums,” showcases Stein’s consummate tastefulness. A member of the faculty of the Berklee College of Music in Boston for years, Stein was raised in Kansas City. Much like the Kansas City guitarists Danny Embrey and Rod Fleeman, Stein emphasizes insightful swing rather than hollow flash. David “Fathead” Newman is the most prominent of Stein’s collaborators, but Stein’s career isn’t driven by cosigns from all-stars. Lifeline is a master class in egoless excellence.
Now’s the Time: Danny Kamins
Danny Kamins will join the notable Kansas City musicians Seth Davis, Jeff Harshbarger, Krista Kopper and Evan Verploegh at the Bunker Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, September 19. The daring Houston based saxophonist can be heard in a variety of contests at Bandcamp.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*KCUR’s Steve Kraske interviewed Terell Stafford ahead of the trumpeter’s scheduled appearance at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival.
*Libby Hanssen surveyed Kansas City’s experimental music scene for Classical KC.
*Brant Jester and Alex Frank chatted with Joe Dimino. Dimino also captured footage of the Prairie Village Jazz Festival.
*The Kansas City Star published a guide to the Jazz District.
*Tweet of the Week: MarmaDukeNuke'Em3D- I am the youngest person here by a wide margin
Book Review: Dangerous Rhythms: Jazz and the Underworld
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Kansas City figures prominently in T.J. English’s new book Dangerous Rhythms: Jazz and the Underworld. The author frequently cites the town’s clubs, mobsters and musicians to make a convincing case that the mafia and jazz were inextricably linked for much of the previous century.
An absorbing chapter is dedicated to Pendergast-era Kansas City. Most Plastic Sax readers will already be familiar with the details, but English brings a fresh perspective to his vivid descriptions of venues including the Clay County supper club Cuban Gardens.
Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams and Charlie Parker are among the musicians associated with Kansas City referenced throughout Dangerous Rhythms. Each became ensnared in one or more of the mafia’s revenue streams.
English asserts Basie had a gambling problem which compelled him to rely on mobsters. Parker was among the musicians addicted to mob-distributed heroin. Williams’ aversion to gangster-run venues altered the course of her career.
Yet the story told by English is nuanced. He doesn’t downplay gruesome violence, sickening racism and shameful exploitation, but English suggests that decades of artistic innovation may not have occurred without the unchecked vice overseen by mobsters.
Now’s the Time: Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé performs at the T-Mobile Center on Saturday, September 10. The crossover crooner duets with Diana Krall in the embedded video. Krall returns to Kansas City in October.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Flatland investigates the demise of the Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation.
*Tweet of the Week: American Jazz Museum- 25 years ago today, the American Jazz Museum opened its doors on September 5, 1997. Originally named the Kansas City Jazz Museum, KCMO Mayor @repcleaver, the museum’s Executive Director Dr. Rowena Stewart, and community members planned a noteworthy three-day celebration.