Christopher Burnett is a paragon of taste. His new album Originals is characterized by sprightly melodies and amiable swing. The stately jazz is ideally suited for background music at an elegant dinner party or as the center of attention in a ritzy supper club. The saxophonist is joined by prominent Kansas City musicians including vibraphonist Greg Carroll, bassist Gerald Spaits, guitarist Will Matthews and pianist Roger Wilder. The funky guitar effect on the alternate take of “Yesteryears” closing the album is the only deviation from the immaculately polite tone. One last thing: Burnett is the one of the few Kansas City based jazz artists utilizing Spotify Canvas. It’s typical of the meticulous attention to detail Burnett displays throughout Originals.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*The Kansas City Star checked in with Will Matthews.
*A New Jersey publication interviewed Lucy Wijnands.
*From a press release: Kansas City Area Youth Jazz will conduct its annual auditions for fellowships on February 18 at BRC Audio Productions… The program is scheduled to present a “Next Generation Showcase” in July at The Folly Theater and the last Sunday in July is the capstone album recording session in Studio A at BRC Audio Productions.
Album Review: Matt Hopper’s Agora- Live at Green Lady Lounge
The formidable reputations of three locally based mainstream jazz guitarists position the distinguished men head-and-shoulders above their peers. Danny Embrey, Rod Fleeman and Will Matthews deserve the respect and acclaim they’ve garnered.
Matt Hopper is among the younger musicians who are actively demonstrating the future of jazz guitar in Kansas City is in good hands. Quietly released at the end of 2021, Live at Green Lady Lounge captures the sound of the band featuring Hopper and organist Ken Lovern, percussionist Pat Conway and drummer Todd Strait.
The recording exemplifies the distinctive sound that’s helped make Green Lady Lounge the most popular jazz venue in Kansas City. The music performed in the room at 1809 Grand Boulevard is invariably cheerful, sweetly harmonious and assertively propulsive.
While Live at Green Lady Lounge is no exception, the 2018 recording is no ordinary guitar-and-organ album. The quiet groove of “Marcelo’s Guitar” contains a slight intimation of psychedelic rock. Hopper’s trippy solo elevates a slinky reading of his “Green Lady Low Down.”
The dual tandems of Hopper and Lovern and Conway and Strait propel the ecstatic sensibility. Yet the guitarist merits the spotlight. Live at Green Lady Lounge indicates Hopper will eventually join the ranks of Embrey, Freeman and Matthews as a member of Kansas City jazz royalty.
Now’s the Time: Will Matthews
Guitarist Will Matthews performs a matinee show at Soiree Steak & Oyster House on Friday, February 4. Matthews is accompanied by keyboardist Matt Villinger and drummer Marty Morrison in the embedded video.