*Nina Cherry highlighted Matt Otto’s latest album for Kansas City magazine.
*Concerts by Gregory Porter and High Pulp are among KCUR’s recommendations for September.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
EP Review: Alyssa Murray- Scrollin’
Scrollin' arrived just in time for the new school year. The 20-minute release from Alyssa Murray is a shimmering form of Pocket Operator jazz. Murray’s colloquial approach is reflected in offhand track titles like “who woulda thunk”. Yet because she’s been on the Kansas City jazz scene for years, Murray’s work is several cuts above much of the music associated with the popular YouTube channel beats to relax/study to. With Scrollin’ on repeat, hitting the books has rarely seemed so enticing.
Now’s the Time: OJT
The Prairie Village Jazz Festival provides a rare opportunity to experience OJT outside the dark confines of Green Lady Lounge. The organ jazz trio is likely to thrive in broad daylight at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 9.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Lonnie McFadden considers Kansas City’s relationship with Charlie Parker’s legacy for In Kansas City magazine.
*Steve Paul documented an informal ceremony at the grave of Charlie Parker on August 29.
*The Columbia Daily Tribune reported on new ownership of the historic McKinney Building.
Concert Review: Randy Porter, Tom Wakeling and Todd Strait at The 1905
Original image by Plastic Sax.
An uncommon occurrence was almost as impressive as the elegant music rendered by pianist Randy Porter, bassist Tom Wakeling and drummer Todd Strait at The 1905 in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, August 22. Not a single member of the capacity audience of 40 uttered a peep during the first 65-minute set.
Three elements contributed to the blissful absence of chatter: a $15 cover charge, a stern advisory not to talk before the first note was played and a requirement to order all food and drinks on a phone app.
Thanks in no small part to Strait, the music was worthy of rapt attention. Even though he spends much of his time in Portland, Strait is still recognized as one of Kansas City’s most outstanding musicians.
The joy-infused, straight-ahead swing he guided at the 1905 sounded a lot like PBT, Strait’s storied trio with Paul Smith and Bob Bowman. Alarmingly, the pristine Portland experience seems to be endangered.
Now’s the Time: Arnold Young
The venerable provocateur Arnold Young returns to Westport Coffee House on Wednesday, August 30. The drummer’s RoughTet takes on Thelonious Monk in the embedded video.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*KCUR reported on the resignation of Rashida Phillips as the executive director of the American Jazz Museum.
*Reed Jackson investigated the Kansas origins of guitarist David Lord for The Pitch.
*Greg Carroll and Deborah Brown promoted the annual Spotlight: Charlie Parker initiative on KCUR.
*Joe Dimino interviewed Matt Otto.
*Marc Myers is on a Basie bender.
Album Review: Chris Hazelton- After Dark
The beloved Kansas City musician Everette DeVan died two years ago. Chris Hazelton, one of the organist’s most accomplished apprentices, revives the congenial style associated with DeVan on his new album After Dark.
Hazelton’s Hammond B-3 mastery is supplemented by baritone saxophonist Brett Jackson, guitarist Jamie Anderson, percussionist Patrick Conway and drummer John Kizilarmut.
After Dark is immediately familiar and luxuriously comfortable. Hazelton sounds terrific, but it’s Jackson’s rich playing that makes the recording stand out.
The album is a vibrant affirmation that Charlie Parker- born August 29, 1920- isn’t the only Kansas City jazz icon remembered this month. Everette DeVan lives!
Now’s the Time: The Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra
Jazz is underrepresented at the Crossroads Music Fest on Saturday, August 26. The presence of the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra at the annual one-day event helps compensate for the slight. The ensemble’s set was a highlight of the Boulevardia festival in June.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Pat Metheny explains the impetus of his Dream Box solo tour in a brief video. The concert nearest to Kansas City is in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 3.
*Joe Dimino interviewed Bryan Hicks and documented a set led by Dan Thomas at the Blue Room.
*From a press release: Spotlight: Charlie Parker 2023 celebrates the jazz icon’s 103rd birthday with jam sessions and musical tributes, jazz history tours, lectures, exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops and showcase performances… The event also provides educational opportunities and promotes the music of nearly 20 local Kansas City jazz artists who will perform at select events/venues during the week. Highlighting this year’s Spotlight: Charlie Parker, is Grammy TM nominated alto saxophonist, Tia Fuller, who will serve as the 2023 Spotlight: Charlie Parker Artist-In-Residence. Details are available here.
*From a press release: Candid Records is excited to announce the Sept. 15 release of Basie Swings the Blues, the latest recording by the legendary Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Scotty Barnhart. This extraordinary record fuses the Basie Orchestra’s signature style of sophisticated swing with the raw and soulful talents of a cross section of some of the greatest blues and jazz artists of our times. Featuring a stellar lineup of blues icons and contemporary stars including Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Keb’ Mo’, Robert Cray, George Benson, Shemekia Copeland, Ledisi, Mr. Sipp, Lauren Mitchell, Bettye LaVette, and Charlie Musselwhite.
Album Reviews: Steve Cardenas- Drop the Rock and New Year
Steve Cardenas, the New York based guitarist who developed his exquisite sound on Kansas City’s jazz scene, is featured on a pair of new albums released by Sunnyside Records.
The New York City drummer Greg Joseph makes his recording debut as a leader on Drop the Rock. Joseph, Cardenas, and Larry Goldings play an intellectually elevated and artistically ambitious form of organ jazz.
Cardenas’ playing is all substance and no flash. Goldings may be the most accomplished organist of his generation. Joseph oversees selections ranging from greasy grooves in the tradition of Jack McDuff to the sort of psychedelic jams associated with Medeski Martin & Wood.
The trio pauses from good-time juking for an exquisite ballad. The breathtaking “Nina’s Lullaby” resembles an appreciative elegy. Cardenas’ contribution is particularly thoughtful.
“Nina’s Lullaby” aside, Drop the Rock sounds like the soundtrack at a rowdy summer barbecue. New Year, Cardenas’ duo album with guitarist Jim Campilongo, might serve as a hushed meditation ideally suited to the following morning.
A campfire folk reading of “Home On the Range” is indicative of the contemplative and organic tone of New Year. Singular takes on “Cherokee” and “Caravan” will appeal to fans of innovators like Julian Lage and Marc Ribot.
Drop the Rock and New Year extend Cardenas’ winning streak. Healing Power: The Music of Carla Bley (2022) and Blue Has a Range (2020) are minor classics. He’s a guitar hero for listeners who appreciate subtle displays of brilliance.
Now’s the Time: Marquis Hill
The American Jazz Museum is observing the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Charlie Parker with a free concert featuring the Chicago trumpeter Marquis Hill and the Kansas City saxophonist Logan Richardson on Saturday, August 26. The R&B artist Dwele headlines the event. Details are here.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Chris Hazelton told Joe Dimino about his new album.
Album Review: Matt Otto- Kansas City Trio
The three trio albums Adam Larson released in a 14-month span are one of the most artistically rewarding achievements undertaken by a Kansas City musician in years. As if in response to Larson’s vital statement, Matt Otto issued the similarly daring Kansas City Trio on June 30.
Three Kansas City bassists- Bob Bowman, Jeff Harshbarger Ben Leifer- and three locally based drummers- John Kizilarmut, Marty Morrison and Brian Steever- construct interesting frameworks for Otto’s endlessly imaginative excursions.
The robust intellect, sly humor and gracious humanity displayed by Otto imbue the 12 tracks with magnificent grace. While his trios are always controlled and cool, their approaches emanate from the adventurous edge of mainstream jazz.
Relatively young artists, Larson and Otto are in their artistic primes. Any mid-size city would be lucky to claim one such elite saxophonist. Kansas City is exceptionally fortunate that both Larson and Otto call Kansas City home.
Now’s the Time: Queens of Soul Jazz
Queens of Soul Jazz interpret Maze’s 1983 song “We Are One” in the embedded video. The group performs at the 2023 Heart of America Hot Dog Festival on Saturday, August 5.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra headlines the 2023 edition of the Prairie Village Jazz Festival on September 9.
*Tia Fuller’s participation in the Spotlight: Charlie Parker initiative is among KCUR's concert recommendations for August.
*Bob Brookmeyer, Samantha Fish, Pat Metheny and Bobby Watson received votes in Downbeat magazine’s 71st Annual Critics Poll.
*St. Louis’ New Music Circle announced its 2023-24 season. Roscoe Mitchell, Elliott Sharp and William Parker are among the bookings.
Concert Review: Eli Wallace at Stray Cat Film Center
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Pity the piano that was delivered to Stray Cat Film Center for a performance by Eli Wallace on Monday, July 24. After enduring a move in extreme heat, the instrument was mercilessly poked and prodded by the Brooklyn based pianist.
Wallace’s 20-minute solo improvisation was as vehemently athletic. The prepared piano attack sounded as if ragtime piano rolls had grown sentient roots and branches after being stored in a dark, wet basement for more than a century. Several people paid $10 to experience the uncommon sounds.
The extraordinary exhibition illuminated only by an exit sign and a red light bulb on the floor was preceded by a brisk improvisation by saxophonist Benjamin Baker, guitarist Seth Davis, multi-instrumentalist Aaron Osborne and drummers Kevin Cheli and Evan Verploegh.
The most transfixing moments transpired when Davis and Cheli joined Wallace. The spell cast by the trio’s considered investigations was broken as the remainder of the ensemble gradually joined the improvisation. The beleaguered piano was buried under a dense heap of noise.
Now’s the Time: Rod Fleeman
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.