Drummer Matt Kane returns to town for a set as a leader with pianist Brant Jester and bassist Bob Bowman on Monday, October 2. Kane’s new album Song Poems was released September 1.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*A writer for The Pitch insists a performance by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra was “one of the best jazz concerts this city will ever see.”
*Gary Walker interviewed Scotty Barnhart of the Count Basie Orchestra for WBGO.
Concert Review: Alan Voss Quartet at Swope Park Pavilion
Original image of Alan Voss’ quartet at Swope Park Pavillion by Plastic Sax.
A tricked out red sedan blaring Public Enemy’s “Don’t Believe the Hype” cruised past Swope Park Pavilion during a performance by a quartet led by Alan Voss on Sunday, September 18.
Chuck D’s reference to John Coltrane in the rap anthem caused the sonic intrusion to intensify my blissful state. Few things could be better than hearing vital improvisations on an idyllic day at a spectacular venue.
The faithful rendering of Voss’ Baobab affirmed the reference to Steve Cardenas in my review of the album. Furthermore, I realized that Voss shares Pat Metheny’s melodic sensibility.
As on the 2023 recording, Voss’ vision was expertly facilitated by the multi-generational lineup of saxophonist Benjamin Baker, bassist Forest Stewart and drummer Evan Verploegh.
Sadly, there wasn’t much hype to disbelieve. A stray hound, a few fans, several musicians who had performed earlier and a drug dealer and his clientele heard what Chuck D and I might characterize as def jams.
Now’s the Time: Amina Figarova
Amina Figarova fronts an auspicious band at the Blue Room on Saturday, September 23. The daring New York based pianist will be joined by saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, flutist Bart Platteau, bassist Martin Masakowski and drummer Donald Edwards.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Aaron Diehl’s adaptation of Mary Lou Williams’ orchestration of Zodiac Suite was released by Mack Avenue last week.
*Joe Dimino shared footage of the Jackie Myers Trio performing at KC Bier Co.
*From a press release: On May 15, 1953, five of jazz’s most influential musicians – Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, and Bud Powell – gathered at Toronto’s Massey Hall for what would result in their first and only known recording as a quintet. While only a small audience was able to experience it in person, this historic evening was captured on tape. The resulting album, The Quintet: Jazz at Massey Hall, would become one of the genre’s most essential and celebrated releases. Now, Craft Recordings commemorates the 70th anniversary of this singular concert (2023) with Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings, a definitive collection that presents the entirety of the evening’s recorded material by the members of this quintet. Arriving November 17 and available for pre-order today, the 3-LP, 2-CD and digital release features meticulous 24-bit audio restoration and remastering…
*From a press release: Longtime Kansas City jazz guitar hero Danny Embrey is releasing his first recording of new music under his name since 1988… Bassist Gerald Spaits and drummer Brian Steever join Danny on this freewheeling live recording. The compositions are mostly by Danny with a couple by Gerald Spaits and one each by Brian Steever and Kansas City piano legend Russ Long… The performances on this recording were captured live at Green Lady Lounge earlier this year. Danny leads a trio in the downstairs Orion Room every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30, and has done so for several years now. CD Release Event on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 7:30 pm in the downstairs Orion Room at Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand, Kansas City, Missouri. The show lasts till 10:30, but the first set will include many of the new tunes from the CD and stories about their origin… CDs will be available for $10 each at Green Lady Lounge on the day of the show… Digital copies will be available as of October 2 on all major streaming platforms.
Album Review: The Count Basie Orchestra- Swings the Blues
The bluesy form of swing popularized by The Count Basie Orchestra in the 1930s is still recognized as the sound of Kansas City around the world. The big band’s latest release Swings the Blues is an invigorating update of the celebratory form.
Led by Scotty Barnhart, the ensemble is joined by an all-star cast of blues musicians. Featured guests including Mr. Sipp, Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland and Robert Cray display their distinctive styles as the Basie band retains its signature swing.
Swings the Blues is nothing new for the Count Basie Orchestra. The band’s massive discography includes collaborations with stars including Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Remarkably, Swings the Blues is often every bit as good as those classic recordings.
Now’s the Time: Charles Perkins and Gerald Spaits
The 2023-24 season of noon jazz recitals at Johnson County Community College opens with a performance overseen by saxophonist Charles Perkins and bassist Gerald Spaits on Tuesday, September 19. Details are here.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Eboni Fondren sang in a choir at the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
*Recent episodes of Kansas Public Radio’s Live at Green Lady Lounge program include performances by Tim Whitmer’s Goodtime Quartet and the Reyes Brothers Organ Trio.
Concert Review: Dan Clucas at World Culture KC
Original image of Dan Clucas, Seth Davis and Shante Clair at World Culture KC by Plastic Sax.
Established jazz clubs occupy hallowed grounds for devotees of improvised music. The venues are more essential than ever. Due to ongoing attrition, however, many of the most rewarding performances are increasingly transpiring in unconventional settings.
A sextet played compelling new music on the porch of a home known as World Culture KC in Kansas City on Monday, September 4. The droning of cicadas, the buzz of aircraft and the lonesome whistles of trains accentuated the outing.
The event was a forum for the Los Angeles based Dan Clucas. The multi-instrumentalist has recording credits on albums by artists ranging from guitar hero Nels Cline to the rock band the BellRays. His most recent release is a harsh “hypothetical meeting between trumpeter Fats Navarro and drummer Peeter Uuskyla.”
Representatives of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society (EMAS)- guitarists Shanté Clair and Seth Davis, harpist Brooke Knoll, bassist and electronics manipulator Aaron Osborne and drummer Evan Verploegh- deferred to their guest. Poor sightlines for the handful of attendees made it unclear which of the musicians adeptly echoed Clucas’ trumpet and violin riffs.
Ideally suited to the informal setting, the gently anarchic and carefully considered chaos might not have fared as well in a conventional jazz club. Thanks in large part to the scrappy persistence of EMAS, Kansas City’s position on the cutting edge of the international jazz map is being reasserted.
Now’s the Time: Gregory Porter
Gregory Porter performs at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Sunday, September 10. KCUR's preview of the concert suggests Porter’s work evokes the late Kansas City vocalist Kevin Mahogany.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*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.
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.