While the Phoenix has long served up jazz-ish brunches, Green Lady Lounge recently resumed offering performances of undiluted jazz on Saturday mornings. Saturday appearances by vibraphonist Dawson Jones currently run from 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
With no televisions, bright lights or rambunctious children to interfere with recovery from Friday night revelries, Green Lady Lounge is an ideal place to ease into Saturday. The heavenly sound of vibraphone provides a comforting soundtrack for indulging in the hair of the dog or merely sipping coffee.
Dawson’s conception differs from the approaches taken by the prominent Kansas City vibraphonists Mike Dillon, Isaiah Petrie and Peter Schlamb. Accompanied by bassist Andrew Voggesser on March 8 and saxophonist Pete Fucinaro on March 15, Dawson’s sublime sound is reminiscent of Gary Burton.
Voggessor’s aggressiveness waylaid any opportunity for tweeness on material including an imaginative contrafact of Charlie Parker’s “Confirmation.” A week later, Fucinaro tackled a contrafact of “How Deep is the Ocean” as if his life depended on it.
The performances merited rousing ovations. Yet only a pair of diehards showed up to the opening sets. Not only were the regulars present for an experience unique to Kansas City, they knew that the good times were just getting started. The room gradually fills up before the final notes are played at 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.