Kansas Public Radio uploaded a batch of Rod Fleeman solo performance videos to YouTube this week. The guitarist can be found at Green Lady Lounge every Saturday afternoon. Fleeman’s new episode of Kansas Public Radio’s Live at Green Lady Lounge program streams here.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Joe Dimino documented portions of a free concert by the Marcus Lewis Big Band.
*The Pitch’s Brock Wilbur described last week’s concert by The Smile as “jazz as interpreted from inside a space station.”
Album Review: Shawn E. Hansen, Mike Pride and Clayton Thomas- Dreamband
Plastic Sax has likely given faithful readers the impression that members of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society have a stranglehold on Kansas City’s new music and free improvisation scene. The superlative Dreamband, a new multi-continental album featuring the Kansas City keyboardist and composer Shawn E. Hansen, proves that the collective isn’t the only noisy game in town. The recording process of Dreamband subverts standard improvised music practices. Pandemic necessity and geographic practicality compelled Hansen, the Australian bassist Clayton Thomas and the New York based drummer Mike Pride to record separately in three layers. Thomas describes Dreamband’s six tracks as “a process of both listening as if the playing was live, and recording, knowing full well you're creating an artifact.” Equal parts premeditated and spontaneous, the trio’s gloriously expansive new music upends- and often upgrades- conventional improvisation.
Now’s the Time: Trombone Shorty
Leaning into throwback soul and retro-rock propelled Trombone Shorty to stardom. Even so, the New Orleans musician and his band Orleans Avenue are likely to offer the audience at Grinders enticing hints of jazz on Saturday, July 22.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Jeff Shirley was interviewed by The Pitch.
*A homespun history of Kansas City jam sessions of the past four decades was published by Kansas City guitarist Jay EuDaly.
*The Jazz District Renaissance Corporation sponsored a television segment about events in the Jazz District.
Concert Review: Rob Magill and Marshall Trammell at Farewell
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Farewell, a scrappy rock club near the Truman Sports Complex, hosted three differing sets of improvised music on Tuesday, July 11. More than fifty people passed in and out of the venue, but it’s unclear how many of them paid the $10 cover charge to hear the varied sounds.
The touring duo of saxophonist Rob Magill and drummer Marshall Trammell were the featured attraction. While the comparison is unfair to the tandem, I experienced their ferocious thirty minute set as an elegy to Peter Brötzmann. The German saxophonist who died last month specialized in the bracing form of free jazz rendered by the duo.
Joined by Alex Mallett on bass, keyboard and electronics, the trumpeter and electronic artist Alber opened the evening with a groovy update on acid jazz. The best moments evoked the ambience of a trendy cafe in Alber’s native Italy.
Three representatives of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society performed last. Flanked by bassist Krista Kopper and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Osborne, drummer Evan Verploegh annihilated eardrums one moment and whispered through his fingertips the next.
Now's the Time: Tom Skinner
London might be the current jazz capital of the world. Tom Skinner is a central component of the innovative scene. The drummer performs with the art-rock band the Smile at the Midland Theatre on Wednesday, July 19.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Matt Otto told Steve Kraske about his latest album on KCUR’s Up To Date program.
*The first two episodes of Kansas Public Radio’s new program Live at Green Lady Lounge are available for streaming.
Concert Review: Henrique Eisenmann and Eugene Friesen at the 1900 Building
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Henrique Eisenmann told members of the capacity audience of about 100 at the 1900 Building on Friday, July 7, that the recital was his fourth appearance in the Kansas City area. His collaboration with fellow Brazilian Lívia Nestrovski last year was stunning. (Plastic Sax review.) In 2018, the pianist and the Israeli bassist Ehud Ettun concentrated on jazz. (Plastic Sax review.)
Last week’s concert with the storied cellist Eugene Friesen allowed Eisenmann to demonstrate entirely different aspects of his talent in a 90-minute exhibition of Brazilian chamber music splashed by colorful flourishes of jazz.
The duo opened the concert with a vintage choro. Brazil was further represented with interpretations of compositions by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Milton Nascimento and Pixinguinha. The emotional resonance of both men’s vocals on a few of the Brazilian standards provided the evening’s biggest surprise.
Oscar Castro-Neves’ arrangement of a Johann Sebastian Bach piece was an ideal bridge to renditions of works by Béla Bartók, Felix Mendelssohn and Claudio Monteverdi.
Even as Friesen proved himself to be a rowdy alternative to Yo-Yo Ma, Eisenmann’s enthusiastic scholarship and boundless pianism stood out. My $36 ticket provided a priceless experience. Consequently, missing Eisenmann’s ostensible fourth appearance in Kansas City represents a cultural tragedy.
Now's the Time: Dave Koz
Smooth jazz standout Dave Koz performs at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Saturday, July 15. The saxophonist is backed by a band featuring guitarist Cory Wong in the embedded video. Koz will be joined by Candy Dulfer and Eric Darius in Kansas City.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*The Kansas City Star reports on plans for the renovation of the El Torreon Ballroom.
*The American Jazz Walk of Fame’s concert featuring two “grown-and-sexy” R&B artists is among KCUR's concert recommendations for July.
Album Review: Pat Metheny- Dream Box
A portion of Pat Metheny’s concert at Muriel Kauffman Theatre two weeks ago was dedicated to unaccompanied wistful meditations. Few musicians can match the breathtaking beauty of guitarist’s artistry when he works in a hushed contemplative mode. Dream Box, Metheny’s new album, consists of 56 minutes of transcendent serenity. He offers insights into the set in a brief video. Free from the cloying treacle that often spoils like-minded efforts by lesser artists, Dream Box is an ideal companion for tranquil introspection.
Now’s the Time: Brass & Boujee
Marcus Lewis’ Brass & Boujee ensemble performs at The Ship on Friday, June 30. The big band interprets Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” in the embedded video.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*The author of Plastic Sax included releases featuring Mike Dillon, Adam Larson and Hermon Mehari in his ranking of The Best Jazz Albums of 2023 (So Far).
Concert Review: Devin Gray, Maria Elena Silva and EMAS at Firehouse Gallery #8
Original image by Plastic Sax.
A downtown art gallery was transformed into an emporium for vital new music on Wednesday, June 21. Nine musicians represented compelling slices of the vanguard of sound in 2023.
The peripatetic drummer Devin Gray’s new release Most Definitely includes a 20-minute homage to free jazz legend Milford Graves. In keeping with that pursuit, his solo outing demonstrated even further possibilities in percussion.
Segments of his often unhuman attack seemed as if a Jolly Chimp had been infected by an evil strain of artificial intelligence. At other moments his electronically-enhanced performance sounded like an Antifa rally outside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The noirish music of vocalist and electric guitarist Maria Elena Silva and drummer Scott Dean Taylor evoked the disquieting moments preceding and following bouts of bloodcurdling violence. The unresolved tension was exquisitely excruciating.
Six affiliates of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society- Drew Williams (saxophone), Seth Davis (guitar), Brook Knoll (harp), Aaron Osborne (electronics and percussion), Krista Kopper (bass) and Evan Verploegh (drums)- built imposing walls of noise.
Davis summoned the pinging of sonar, an effect that prompted thoughts of the ill-fated submarine in the Atlantic Ocean currently dominating the news cycle. The size of the audience may have been negligible, but the import of the music was monumental.
Now’s the Time: Dave Scott
Trumpeter Dave Scott returns to his hometown for a show at Westport Coffee House on Thursday, June 29. The embedded video documents Scott’s appearance at Smalls Jazz Club in New York City two weeks ago. (The first set begins at the 36:20 mark).
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Matt Otto told The Pitch about his new album.
*Dunn Deal, a restaurant operated by Gerald Dunn of the American Jazz Museum, is slated to open in August.
*Reed Jackson reviewed Pat Metheny’s concert at Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
*Dave Scott chatted with Joe Dimino.
*Julie Denesha interviewed Donald Harrison and Stephon Alexander in advance of an event at the Folly Theater.
*Outings by Peter Schlamb’s Electric Tinks and the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra are included in a recap of the Boulevardia festival.
Concert Review: Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Pat Metheny’s first concert in Kansas City, Missouri, since 2012 was sublime. Joined by keyboardist Chris Fishman and drummer Joe Dyson, the Lee’s Summit native exhibited a satisfying sampling of his vast repertoire at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Thursday, June 16.
Acoustic contemplation and smooth jazz tranquility were balanced by wailing fusion and contributions from a downscaled version of Metheny’s futuristic Orchestrion. Greasy organ jazz and straight-ahead swing were countered by a stunning bout of cacophonous skronk.
While chatter amid the audience of more than 1,200 occasionally marred the pristine sound, the significance of Metheny’s overdue return to Kansas City overcame the minor nuisance. Metheny only spoke to introduce his bandmates, but words weren’t necessary to show Kansas City what it’s been missing.
Now’s the Time: Donald Harrison
The New Orleans born saxophonist Donald Harrison will “explore the theory of quantum improvisation” with theoretical physicist Stephon Alexander at the Folly Theater on Thursday, June 22. Science deniers needn’t fear: the evening’s agenda includes a sixty-minute concert.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*KCUR’s free music recommendations include jazz performances at the Blue Room and Nighthawk.
*Reed Jackson reviewed a new music concert at Farewell.
*Joe Dimino interviewed David Cunningham.