We The People’s invocation of the United States Constitution and the Kansas City band’s emphasis on social justice makes “Misunderstood” particularly timely at this decisive moment in American history.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Lonnie McFadden’s longstanding Friday afternoon gig at The Phoenix will end October 30. He’s slated to begin performing at the former Reserve Restaurant & Lounge at The Ambassador Hotel in November. The Kansas City Business Journal reports the venue is now named The American Reserve Bar & Grille.
*Joe Dimino documented a performance by We the People. He also recorded his chat with saxophonist Rich Wheeler.
*Hermon Mehari created a lush music video for “Dreamscapes,” a track from his A Change For the Dreamlike EP.
*From a press release: The American Jazz Museum's newest gallery space honors Kansas City native Ida McBeth, a self-proclaimed "song stylist" and nationally recognized jazz legend. The Ida McBeth Gallery offers space for artists, particularly those devoted to music, who need a small gallery space to showcase their work. The inaugural collection Legendary Jazz Greats by Robert Blehert honors Ida along with 26 other jazz heroes like Count Basie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker… (T)he new exhibit... will be on display until December 31. The Ida McBeth Gallery is open to the public with paid admission to the American Jazz Museum.
Album Review: We the People- Misunderstood
Image by Jason Piggie.
Eddie Moore has acted as a change agent since his arrival in Kansas City several years ago. His willingness to go on the record about perceived disparities on the jazz scene and his eager embrace of popular music make Moore a civic and artistic leader.
Misunderstood, the new album by Moore’s group We The People, puts Kansas City’s jazz community on notice. Along with bassist Jason Emmond, drummer Zach Morrow and turntablist Keith Rodgers, the keyboardist created a blend of jazz fusion, soul-jazz and the synthesis of improvised music and hip-hop associated with California based musicians like Flying Lotus.
We The People’s disruptive intent is made explicit by spoken word samples and rapping. On “KFC”- it’s clearly not a song about fried chicken- We The People decry Kansas City’s fixation on jazz heritage and lament “you gotta f##king grow.” The ferocious outburst “50th Law” features unhinged musical aggression and a grungy sound field.
Not all 28 minutes of Misunderstood are dyspeptic. “Enough” is a gospel-infused self-empowerment anthem featuring rapturous vocals by Angel Gibson. “The Truth” is undulating neo-soul while the contemplative “Round Up” recalls the prettiest tracks on Moore’s solo albums.
We The People throw down the gauntlet with Misunderstood. History suggests the majority of Kansas City’s jazz community will respond with unknowing indifference. Yet whether the recording is embraced or ignored, Misunderstood will stand as an essential document of this tumultuous time.
Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Elmer Jackson, a prominent member of Kansas City’s jazz community, has died. I took a photo of Jackson at the Blue Room in 2009.
*We The People’s debut album Misunderstood is available for preorder. The street date is Friday, September 25.
*Tweet of the Week: Maggie- Every morning, I listen to classic jazz while I write some morning pages. John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk. It’s like... magic. Pure art. And I think of people who make fun of jazz (or ppl who like jazz) and feel super bad for them.