Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image of an artifact displayed at the Disney100: The Exhibition at Union Station by Plastic Sax.
Now’s the Time: Eboni Fondren
Eboni Fondren, one of Kansas City’s most prominent vocalists, returns to the Ship on Thursday, May 30. She’s accompanied by French musicians in the embedded video.
Now's the Time: KC Carnival Ball
The Ship hosts the 24th Annual KC Carnival Ball on Saturday, February 3. The Back Alley Brass Band is one of four party-oriented ensembles featured at the celebration. The Kansas Citians interpret a New Orleans standard in the embedded video.
Now’s the Time: Tatsuya Nakatani
Tatsuya Nakatani returns to the Ship on Thursday, November 30. The percussionist will be joined by Shawn Hansen, Jeff Harshbarger and Mike Stover following a solo set. Plastic Sax reviewed Nakatani’s 2019 performances at The Ship and the 1900 Building. The final four minutes of the embedded video are extremely amusing.
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.
Now’s the Time: Black Crack Revue
The current iteration of Black Crack Revue (also known as BCR), the longstanding Kansas City collective originally inspired by the Sun Ra Arkestra, performs an early show at The Ship on Saturday, May 13.
Now’s the Time: Logan Richardson
Prior to a four-night stand at The Blue Note in New York City later this month, Logan Richardson is booked for a three-night run at The Ship in Kansas City on Wednesday, February 1, Thursday, February 2, and Friday, February 3. The saxophonist’s show at The Ship in 2022 was Plastic Sax’s Favorite Performance of 2022. The embedded video is a portion of Steve Paul’s documentation of the February 1 set.
Plastic Sax's Favorite Performances of 2022
Original image of Bob Bowman and Peter Schlamb by Plastic Sax.
Top Performances by Kansas City Artists
1. Logan Richardson + Blues People at the Ship
2. Adam Larson, Clark Sommers and Dana Hall at Westport Coffee House
3. Black Crack Revue at Westport Coffee House
4. Steve Cardenas, Forest Stewart and Brian Steever at recordBar
5. Arnold Young and the RoughTet at the Ship
6. Bob Bowman and Peter Schlamb at Second Presbyterian Church
7. Evan Verplough and Ben Baker at World Culture KC
8. Rod Fleeman at Green Lady Lounge
9. Alter Destiny at Charlotte Street Foundation
10. Drew Williams, Ben Tervort and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House
Top Performances by Artists from Elsewhere
1. Nduduzo Makhathini at the Blue Room
2. Ohma at the Midland theater
3. Livia Nestrovski and Henrique Eisenmann at the 1900 Building
4. High Pulp at recordBar
5. Phillip Greenlief at Bushranger Records
6. Terence Blanchard at Atkins Auditorium
7. Keefe Jackson, Jakob Heinemann and Adam Shead at Black Dolphin
8. Esthesis Quartet at the Blue Room
9. Kind Folk at the Black Box
10. Bill Summers and Forward Back at Dunbar Park
Concert Review: Logan Richardson + Blues People at the Ship
Original image by Plastic Sax.
A perceptible anomaly prior to the homecoming concert of Logan Richardson + Blues People at the Ship on Thursday, May 19, indicated the evening would be memorable. The five musicians swaggered with confidence while socializing in a recently opened annex of the venue at which more than 100 revelers paid a $10 cover charge. Gloating is uncommon among Kansas City jazz musicians.
The men backed up their bold dispositions with a correspondingly towering 80-minute performance. Unapologetically loud and abrasive, the quintet exhibited a remarkable rapport strengthened during a tour that included a five-night stand at New York City’s jazz shrine the Village Vanguard. The potency of the outing was hardly a surprise.
Richardson, Plastic Sax’s 2019 Person of the Year, and vibraphonist/keyboardist Peter Schlamb, Plastic Sax’s 2018 Person of the Year, are arguably Kansas City’s most exciting musicians. They brought out the best in each other. The metal-edged guitarist Igor Osypov, the inventive bassist Dominique Sanders and the thrilling young drummer Nazir Ebo are also standout musicians.
The voice Richardson expresses through his saxophone attack, distinctive compositions and decisive bandleading skill has never been more eloquent. In a heartfelt soliloquy, he name-checked Kansas City jazz forebears including Ahmad Alaadeen, Jay McShann, Eddie Saunders and Claude Williams. Richardson’s bold innovations and rightful self-assurance honor their legacies.
Now's the Time: Logan Richardson
Four days after completing a five-day run on the hallowed stage of The Village Vanguard, Logan Richardson + Blues People play a homecoming concert at The Ship on Thursday, May 19. The band consists of saxophonist Richardson, guitarist Igor Osypov, vibraphonist Peter Schlamb, bassist Dominique Sanders and drummer Ryan J. Lee.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Jon McGraw promoted the Spotlight 2021: Charlie Parker initiative on Joe Dimino’s YouTube channel.
*The Kansas City Star made a belated acknowledgement of the passing of Everette DeVan.
* The American Jazz Museum marks the return of Charlie Parker’s plastic sax with a parade in the Jazz District on Sunday, August 29.
*Tweet of the Week: Mike Mahoney- The Ship, a Kansas City live music venue and bar, joins the list of places in KC requiring proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test to enter. May be others soon. @kmbc #MoVaccine