Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Clint Ashlock considers the 2023-24 season of The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra for The Kansas City Star.

*Vanessa Thomas’ album release show at the Lied Center is among KCUR’s May concert recommendations.

*Joe Dimino attended a concert by The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and interviewed Alber.

*KCUR’s Greg Echlin reports on The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s intention to move from its current location adjacent to the American Jazz Museum.

*Tweet of the Week: KCMO Public Library- April 30 is #InternationalJazzDay! Check out books, music, and resources about some of the greatest names in jazz, including many with Kansas City connections: (link)

Now’s the Time: Clint Ashlock

Clint Ashlock, one of Kansas City’s most prominent musicians, performs at Lonnie’s Reno Club on Friday, December 2, and Saturday, December 3. The multi-dimensional artist performs an ambitious solo rendition of a seasonal song in the embedded video.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Kansas City’s YouTube channel includes a new video feature about the Spotlight Charlie Parker initiative.  Related videos are here, here and here.

*Anita Dixon and Jakob Wagner lobby for additional arts spending in a television news feature.

*The author of Plastic Sax reviewed a performance by Bob Bowman and Peter Schlamb at his nondenominational music blog.

*A television station filed a report from the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in Harlem last weekend.

*Tweet of the Week: Pat Metheny- New Album 'SHIFT (Bad Hombre, Vol. II)' from the great @AntonioDrumsX Available Now! "Eh Hee 2.0" featuring Pat and Dave Matthews Buy CD/ Vinyl/ Stream here

*From  a press release: The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra… announced the inaugural concert for the 2022-2023 20th Anniversary season, The Horn, featuring guest artist Sean Jones, Friday, September 30 at 8 p.m. at… Helzberg Hall… Artistic Director Clint Ashlock stated “… the centerpiece of the concert will be the majestic, soulful artistry of Sean Jones - arguably the world’s greatest trumpet player."

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Clint Ashlock touted the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s fundraising concert on KCUR’s Up To Date program.

*While many of the artists I nominated for consideration are represented on the final ballot, I voted for only four of the ultimate victors of the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2021 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings.  Pat Metheny is the sole Kansas City artist listed.

*Tweet of the Week: Jeff Shirley- Tonight at Green Lady Lounge, Jeff Shirley Organ Trio with Ken Lovern on organ and Brian Steever on drums!! 11pm-2am

Now’s the Time: The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will perform Clint Ashlock’s arrangement of Mary Lou Williams’ “Zodiac Suite” in a virtual concert on Thursday, May 6. The embedded video is an appealing preview of the performance.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Entries about jazz musicians including Milt Abel, Charlie Parker and Mary Lou Williams are included in the free new 44-page book Kansas City Black History.

*Robert Castillo chatted with Joe Dimino.

*Tweet of the Week: Clint Ashlock- Listening to this album by @KCTrumpeter on vinyl is the kind of aural refresh I needed today. Just some of the most lyrical, creative improvisations I’ve heard recently, and the storytelling is deep. Thanks for your music, Hermon!