OCTOBER/NOVEMBER2014 ® KCJ A R R OGE RR OSE NB E R G R E VI E WS,VI NE ,F OL L Y ,NE WSANDMOR E ! Blue Room Hours Monday & Thursday: 5pm – 11pm (music starts at 7pm) Friday: 5pm – 1am (music starts at 8:30pm) Indigo Hour (music starts at 5:30pm) Saturday: 7pm – 1am (music starts at 8:30pm) The B lu e Room Thursday 2 Friday 3 Lester “Duck” Warner Bad Plus, $15, $10 students Saturday 4 Ida McBeth, $15 Monday 6 Thursday 9 Friday 10 Saturday 11 Monday 13 Thursday 16 Schedule subject to change Friday 17 Indigo Hour – Gray Matter Jazz Disciples Curtis Lundy Quartet featuring Bobby Watson, $15, $10 students Doug Talley Quartet with Kathleen Holman Indigo Hour – BMW Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz & Blues Festival see website for full schedule Jessica Care Moore, 8pm to 10pm KC Jam hosted by Tivon Pennicott and Dominique Sanders,10:30pm to 12:30am Bob Bowman Happy Birthday Sonie Ruffin & Arzelia Gates! Charlotte Embrey & Soinge’ Book of Gaia Indigo Hour – Just A Taste a Jazz Saturday 18 In Celebration of Pete O’Neal, Harold O’Neal Trio Monday 20 Thursday 23 Friday 24 Eddie Moore Ryan Howard Organ Trio Lee Langston Saturday 25 Jazz Disciples with Paula Saunders & Jason Goudeau Indigo Hour – James Fuzzy West Monday 27 TJ Martley Thursday 30 Mambo DeLeon & Carte Blanc Friday 31 Ottawa University Jazz Combo directed by Todd Wilkinson Todd Wilkinson Quintet November 2014 October 2014 $10 Admission Fridays & Saturdays (unless otherwise noted) Saturday 1 Monday 3 Thursday 6 Friday 7 Saturday 8 Monday 10 Thursday 13 Friday 14 Saturday 15 Rob Scheps/ Roger Wilder Quintet featuring Baritone Saxman from Steely Dan, Roger Rosenberg! $15, $10 students Multiple Grammy Nominee/ Guggenheim and McArthur Fellow Miguel Zenon Quartet, $15, $10 students and AJM Members Lester “Duck” Warner Lisa Henry Indigo Hour – Gray Matter New York Standards Quartet, $15, $10 students and AJM Members Jazz Disciples OJT BMW Indigo Hour – Lee Langston Dan Hearle Quartet Monday 17 Thursday 20 Friday 21 Matt Hopper Happy Birthday Horace Washington Quartet Charles Williams Quartet Saturday 22 Jazz Disciples with Clint Ashlock Indigo Hour – Just A Taste A Jazz Monday Thursday Friday 24 27 28 Dave Riser Happy Thanksgiving! Blue Room is closed. Happy Birthday Ida McBeth! $15 Saturday 29 James Ward Band Indigo Hour – Lady D A percentage of every purchase of Blue Room Pale Ale is donated by North Coast Brewing to support programming at the American Jazz Museum. Indigo Hour – Lady D Indigo Hour In the Blue Room! No Cover Charge! Blue Room Martinis • Drink Specials: Beer, Wine & Wells • Live Music • Appetizer Buffet The Blue Room received tOP Jazz CluB RECOgNItION —DownBeat and Ingram’s magazines EduCatION PROgRams Jazz Poetry Jams Jazz storytelling stories from the Vine Visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org for a complete listing of the Education Programs happening in October and November. Join us for one hour and see how we are keeping Jazz alive on the Vine… BluE ROOm Upcoming Tours: Oct. 2 & 21, and Nov. 6 & 18, 6 pm, Atrium, American Jazz Museum RSVP to [email protected] or 816-474-8463 Ext. 238 1600 E. 18th Street • In Kansas City’s Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District • americanjazzmuseum.org PRESIDENT'S CORNER GARY BECKER GARY A BECKER © 2014 We created this issue of Jazz Ambassador Magazine (JAM) to look back, assess who we are, review our accomplishments in addition to the impact on the community, and appreciate that history. The Ambassadors legacy stretches back over three decades as a group whose sole intent back to its creation, and is to this day, to “promote jazz in Kansas City.” In the context of those decades of serving jazz, we did everything we could think of to assist “the cause”, even when there were only a handful of clubs in the entire city, and being strictly a musician was virtually unheard of except for a few of the best storied jazz players in history of the art form. Some, like pop stars, were so well known that they were known by a single name like “Hootie” or “Bird”. In the early 1980’s, The 2014 21 Sax Salute to Charlie Parker GARY A BECKER © 2014 Mayor Dick Berkley had the foresight to create ways in which art could get into the wider public domain. The Jazz Ambassadors were created as a stand-alone entity to fill the void with activism for jazz, and do it with volunteers as a not for profit, a 501(c)3. The way it was funded was as the current mayor Sly James web site states: “Inspired by citizen interest, Kansas City was the first city in Missouri (and one of the first in the nation) to pass An old shot of the Parker celebration in Lincoln Cemetery a resolution supporting public art in 1970. The program established a set-aside funding stream of one percent of each city building construction project’s budget for the creation of original art, which is usually tied to the building itself.” 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 17 OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE CONTENTS OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2014 VOLUME 28, NO. 5 JAM is published bi-monthly by the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the development and promotion of Kansas City jazz. All rights are reserved. Reproduction of any material is prohibited without consent of the publisher. To contact the KC Jazz Ambassadors, call (913) 967-6767. For advertising information, call (816) 591-3378 or email [email protected]. Letters should be addressed to: JAM, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171-6181. To contact the editor: Email jameditor@kcjazzambassadors. com “JAM” and “Jazz Lover’s Pub Crawl” are Registered Trademarks of The Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Inc. JAM/Jazz Ambassador Magazine (Online) ISSN: 1533-0745 E D I T O R Roger Atkinson President's Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 News & Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Off the Vine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Folly Jazz News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 P R O O F R E A D E R S Dee Cerningeiss C O N T R I B U T I N G Carolyn Glenn Brewer Chris Burnett Carol Comer Greg Carroll W R I T E R S Wayne Goins Connie Humiston Hermon Mehari Charlton Price Kevin Rabas Michael Ragan Michael Shults Sharon Valleau A D V E R T I S I N G Connie ‘Crash’ Humiston (816) 591-3378 T Y P O G R A P H Y & G R A P H I C D E S I G N Rodric McBride C O V E R L A Y O U T & P R I N T I N G Single Source Printing ( P R I N T ) K.C. Jazz Ambassadors D I S T R I B U T I O N Roger Rosenberg Coming 14 W E B M A S T E R For the Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Club Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 On the Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 President's Corner . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Rod McBride 2 0 1 4 B O A R D E X E C U T I V E O F 10 to Kansas City with Rob Schep . . ( E L E C T R O N I C ) w w w.kcjazzambassadors.com I N T E R N E T Ambassadors at 33-1/3 . . . . . . D E S I G N Keith Kavanaugh, BauWau Design D I S T R I B U T I O N Kansas City Jazz D I R E C T O R S C O M M I T T E E P R E S I D E N T Gary Becker T R E A S U R E R Penny Oathout P R I VAT E P U B C R AW L S Jen Enderson | 816-668-0603 | [email protected] D I R E C TO R S AT L A R G E Bev Mann | Bob Clark | Gary Becker | Dr. Tyler Craig Jen Anderson | Dr. Brian Williams The Board of Directors gratefully thanks Darrell Hoffman for his untiring contributions to the KCJA. ©2014 Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Inc. JOIN TODAY! KCJA Membership Application . . . . . . JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 17 3 NEWS+NOTES Topeka Jazz Worshop Concert Series The Topeka Jazz Worshop has announced its nine event schedule for 2014-15. All events are held from 3 [email protected]. The TJW Web site is www.topekajazz.org. “We Always Swing” ® 2014-15 Concert Series Upcoming events at presented by the “We Always Swing”® Jazz Series in Columbia: In the Sundays at Murry’s series, on November 9, 3:30 and 7 p.m., the New New York Standards Quartet will play. This will be followed by a Jazz in the District concert on November 19, 7 p.m. called The Art of the Duo: Dedicated to Bradley’s, with Joanne Bracken and Cecil McBee. Also, on December 7 at 7 p.m., the Chrismakahkwanza Holiday Extravaganza with Joey D’Francesco Trio & Matt Wilson Tree-O. Future concerts include Branford Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Anat Cohen, Steve Wilson and others. For more information, see their Web site, www.wealwaysswing.org. Roger Wilder to 5 p.m. at the Topeka Ramada Hotel and Convention Center. This is a subscription series only; no individual concerts are available. The first three concerts have been held. Remaining concerts include: 11/16: Chuck Redd and Nikki Parrott, with Kevin Cerovich and Roger Wilder 12/7: The Roger Wilder Quintet 1/18: PBT Plus Megan Birdsall and Danny Embrey 2/22: The New Vintage Big Band 3/8: Diego Figueiredo with the Sons of Brasil 4/12: Harry Allen, John Allred and Rossano Sportiello For more information including subscription prices for the remainder of the series, contact Marcene Grimes, Executive Director, at 785-379-5169 or email at 4 Kauffman Center: KCJO and Maye and More! The Kauffman Center is a wonderful place to hear the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, and their next concert will be One O’Clock Jump: The Evolution of the Big Band. It will take place on October 3 at 8 p.m. in Helzberg Hall. A day earlier, on October 2 at 7 p.m., will be An Evening With Marilyn Maye, again in Helzberg Hall, a rare opportunity to hear her in a world-class concert hall. On October 19 at 7 p.m., Kauffman Center presents Art Spiegelman and Phillip Johnston in WORDLESS! Spiegelman, noted as a historian and theorist of comics as well as an artist, collaborates with Phillip Johnston, the critically acclaimed jazz composer who wrote all-new scores will be performing live with his sextet. You may also like Burt Bacharach, who will be in concert in Muriel Kauffman Theater on November 21. For more information and tickets, you can go the Kauffman Center Web site, www.kauffmancenter.org. JUNE + JULY 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE You read correctly. The August 16 issue of The Economist has an ar ar-ticle called “Pat Metheny: Guitar Hero.” The article talks about his continued innovations and his current Unity Group, as well as his “ceaseless search for newness in his music.” We like the concluding quote from Pat: “Someone who knew me when I was 14 said I was the oldest 14-year-old on the planet. Now I’m a 14-year-old who is 60.” (Thanks to Charlton Price for sending this in.) Kansas City Ragtime Revelry Presents Dowling and Hodges Kansas City Ragtime Revelry will present pianists Richard Dowling and Frederick Hodges in concert together at Schmitt Music located in Rosanna Square at 119th and Metcalf in Overland Park, on Monday, Octo- PHOTO BY JIMMY KATZ Pat Metheny Profiled in The Economist Old Blue Note recordings playing daily & Jazz Greats adorning the walls! NEW spacious location 135th & Metcalf in Corbin Park NEW Sunday Jazz Brunch 10am - 2pm (no cover) NEW expanded menu + beer, wine & cocktails OCTOBER 24 Rob Scheps w/Roger Rosenberg 25 Gerald Spaits Quartet 31 Halloween Costume Party w/Parallax 1 2 14 15 16 Richard Dowling and Frederick Hodges ber 20 at 7 p.m. For more information please visit www. kcragtimerevelry.org or call 913-491-6923. Richard Dowling appears regularly throughout the United States in solo recitals, at chamber and jazz/ragtime festivals, and as guest soloist with orchestras. Mr. Dowling is also a versatile recording artist with over a dozen CDs of classical, chamber, ragtime, jazz, and popular music. His Web site is www.parkerartists.com/Richard-Dowling. html. Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike as one of the foremost ragtime pianists in the world, Frederick Hodges is highly sought after by orchestras, festivals, conductors, CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 21 22 29 NOVEMBER House Warming Party with People’s Liberation Big Band Jazz Brunch w/Mark Lowrey Sons of Brasil Clint Ashlock's Jazz Messengers Tribute Jazz Brunch w/the Peter Schlamb Quartet James Isaac Group Jeff Harshbarger w/Ellio Levin Millie Edwards All times 8pm unless otherwise stated, cover charge $5 for all shows. WE’VE MOVED! Opening in October—check Facebook or our website for details 6601 W. 135th #A21, Overland Park, KS 66223 (behind Von Maur) 913.948.5550 www.takefivecoffeebar.com NEW Hours: Open 6am Mon. – Fri.; 7am Sat/Sun Close-10pm Sun.-Thurs.; 11pm Fri.-Sat. JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • JUNE + JULY 2 014 5 OFF THE VINE CHRIS BURNETT It’s Festival Time! Saturday, October 11 - Gates Open at 11 AM PHOTOGRAPH BY KCJAZZLARK October 11 brings the 2014 edition of Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival. This year’s Official Festival Poster was designed by David Terrill. This year Curtis Lundy & Bobby Watson we feature Lucky Peterson (Blues), Meshell Ndegeocello (Neo-Soul), Roy Hargrove (Jazz) and Midnight Star (R&B Party Band). The festival also features a host of outstanding regional and local talent on a variety of stages. There will be Youth Performances and Educational Activities with clinicians Tivon Pennicott (instrumental music) and Jessica Care Moore (spoken word), making the Festival an exceptional choice as a Saturday outing for all ages. There are also VIP accommodations and amenities, food and merchandise vendors, and more. Free parking and a trolley will be available to shuttle guests to the festival grounds again this year. Here’s the full Entertainment Schedule: Pre-Jazz & Blues Festival Lineup (Blue Room) Sunday, October 5, 6-9 p.m. - Poetic Notes Monday, October 6, 7-11 p.m. - Jazz Disciples Thursday, October 9, 7-11 p.m. - Curtis Lundy Quartet with Bobby Watson ($15) 6 Friday, October 10, 5:50-6:30 p.m. - BMW Friday, October 10, 8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. - Doug Talley Quartet with Kathleen Holeman ($10) Friday, October 10, 7-8 p.m. - Jessica Care Moore Master Class (in the Changing Gallery) Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival Lineup Saturday, October 11, 2014 Blue Room 11-11:30 a.m. - The Young Jazz Masters Combo * 12-1 p.m. - KC Elder Statesmen of Jazz 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Groove Axis * 3-4 p.m. - Tyrone Clark & True Dig 4:30-5:30 p.m. - Linda Shell & Blues Thang * 6-7 p.m. - Charlotte Embrey & Soigné 8-10- p.m. - Jessica Care Moore 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. - KC Jam Session hosted by Dominique Sanders w/ Tivon Pennicott Gem Theater 9:30-10:30 a.m. - Tivon Pennicott Clinic 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Tivon Pennicott w/ Missouri State University Jazz Band * 1-2 p.m. - Marcus Hampton & Friends 2:30-3:30 p.m. - Book of Gaia 4-5 p.m. - Grupo Aztlan 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Paula Saunders 7-8 p.m. - OJT 8:30-9:30 p.m.- KC Blues Express Main Stage 1-11:20 a.m. - Metro Jazz Workshop Honors Combo * 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. - Groove 101 * 1-2 p.m. - Hearts of Darkness OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE JAZZ @ the BJC! “The best sounding club for Live Music in Kansas City” — Angela Hagenbach “BJC is the Jam!” — Mark Lowrey “Seriously, The Broadway Jazz Club is my favorite place in KC to perform” — Kelley Gant S O M E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S Halloween Party — October 31 ‘Skins & Bones & Things with Strings’ – A special holiday performance by Victor & Penny and the Loose Change Orchestra, with special guest Kyle Reid and the Low Swingin' Chariots. See www.broadwayjazzclub.com/calendar/ for more information on this and all other shows. Internationally Renowned Saxophonist Bobby Watson A BJC Signature Series Event One night only! 2 Shows! — 6pm & 10pm, November 21st, 2014. Go to www.broadwayjazzclub.com/reservations/specialevents for more information or to purchase tickets. Late Night Happy Hour Food & Drink Specials! Wed/Thurs.10:30p-12:00a Fri/Sat 11:30p-1:30a — featuring ‘Late Night Music Experience’ Try our Sunday Brunch! After church or before the Chief's game - 10:30a-3:00p. Live music begins at 11:00a Jazz Ambassadors Holiday Brunch & Fundraiser Broadway Jazz Club - December 26th, 2014 — 11:30am until 3:00pm $35 per person — $50/pp VIP seating — Proceeds benefit the KCJA It's that time again...The annual holiday brunch for members of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, prospective members, and their guests. GA Ticket price includes brunch buffet, soft drinks or coffee, 1 Mimosa or Bloody Mary, 1 raffle ticket, and live entertainment. VIPs also receive VIP seating and additional drink and raffle tickets. The Young Jazz Masters, a non-profit group that mentors talented young musicians, will provide the entertainment. On-site donations to the KCJA and this youth music program are also welcome. GA Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event for $45.00 each. Seating is first come, first served. Go to www.broadwayjazzclub.com/reservations/specialevents/ for more information or to purchase tickets. 3601 Broadway • Kansas City, MO 64111 • 816-298-6316 For Reservations, Menu, or Performance Calendar: www.broadwayjazzclub.com Simply present this ad to your server when you order 2 entrees and receive a FREE dessert. No cash value. Not valid with other offers, expires 11/30/2014 FOLLY JAZZ NEWS CONNIE 'CRASH' HUMISTON Fred Hersch Trio Saturday, October 4 — 8 p.m. “… a largely unsung innovator of this borderless, individualistic jazz—a jazz for the 21st century” — The New York Times Bob McWilliams, Jazz & Folk Director at Kansas Public Radio, will interview Fred Hersch at our preconcert Jazz Talk feature at 7 p.m. More than 70 of his jazz compositions have been recorded by Hersch and by numerous other artists. He has collaborated with an astonishing range of instrumentalists and vocalists throughout worlds of jazz (Joe Henderson, Charlie Haden, Art Farmer, Stan Getz, Kurt Elling and Bill Frisell, Nancy King and Norma Winstone), classical and Broadway. A committed educator, Hersch has taught at the Juilliard School, The New School and Manhattan School of Music. He is currently on the Jazz Studies faculty of the New England Conservatory and at Rutgers University. Karrin Allyson Quintet Friday, December 19 — 8 p.m. “If there’s a choir in heaven, someday the exquisite vocalist Karrin Allyson will lead it. She’s such an otherworldly talent that the creator probably already has her on heavy rotation.” — The Houston Press PHOTO BY VINCENT SOYEZ Crosby Kemper III, executive director of the KC Public Library and chairman of the Show-Me Institute, will interview Karrin Allyson at our pre-concert Jazz Talk feature at 7 p.m. As detailed in the August/September JAM, six-time Grammy® nominee Fred Hersch leads the 20142015 Folly Jazz Series at 8 p.m. on October 4. An internationally-recognized, innovative pianist with more than three dozen recordings as a leader/ co-leader, he’s also achieved success as an educator and composer. 8 OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE Four-time Grammy® nominee Karrin Allyson brings the magic of the season to the Folly as she puts us in the holiday spirit with some old favorites, as well as some new recordings from her 2013 release Yuletide Hideaway. And she brings familiar sidemen: Rod Fleeman on guitar, Chris Caswell on Hammond, Todd Strait on percussion, Gerald Spaits and Bob Bowman trading sets on bass—primarily the same sidemen as on Yuletide, which JAM Editor Roger Atkinson selected amongst his favorites: “I want to buy a box and give one to everyone I know.” The self-produced album, with originals that might have already become your personal classics, earned a 4-star review from DownBeat and praise in the New York Times and USA Today. With 14 recordings under her belt, Karrin has show showcased her extraordinary breadth of repertoire—standards by Gershwin and Porter, French popular music, Brazilian bossa nova and samba, and the music of John Coltrane, Duke, Miles, Dizzy and Thelonius Monk, not to mention blues, chanson and soft rock. The question is not what she does; rather, what doesn’t she do? CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 2014-2015 FOLLY JAZZ SERIES! Fred Hersch Trio Saturday October 4 PHOTO: VINCENT SOYEZ “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade or so” — Vanity Fair Jazz Talk by Bob McWilliams 7:00 p.m. Karrin Allyson Quintet 501(c)3 nonprofit organization • Board Positions • Advisory Committee Members • Media & Social Media Savvy Experts • JAM Distribution (possible tax deduction!) Friday December 19 Earl Klugh Quartet Friday, January 16 Hot Sardines Saturday, February 21 Christian Howes & Southern Exposure Saturday, March 14 Danilo Perez: Panama 500 Saturday, April 25 12th & Central • Kansas City, MO FOR TICKETS 816-474-4444 www.follytheater.org Contact President Gary Becker [email protected] JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • The Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts – Commerce Bank Trustee Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund City of Kansas City, Missouri OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 9 M /3 RP 33-1 EO STER HIGH Y LIT FIDE It seemed that the organization was everywhere. 10 When we moved to the Kansas City area in 1997, I was a reasonably astute jazz fan who was very aware of the Kansas City jazz history of Moten, Basie, Young, Parker, McShann et al. I knew Bob Brookmeyer was from KC, I knew Pat Metheny was from the area and knew of his trumpet-playing brother. I knew Bobby Watson was from KC, because Art Blakey told you that when he made introductions. I knew the names Karrin Allyson and Kevin Mahogany from glowing record reviews in Cadence. We were coming from Charlotte, which was as close to being a jazz desert as any major city in the country (and still is). I was hungry for a jazz scene, any jazz scene. OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2 014 • My first day in the office, one of my new colleagues gave me a copy of JAM. I must have smiled as I paged through, because I knew that we found some kind of a jazz oasis. As we jumped into the scene, we became aware of one organization that seemed to always be involved: the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. They did the pub crawls. (I note that I was more prepared for my second pub crawl: I took a vacation day the following day to recover!) They did the Kansas City Jazz Workshop concerts. They were selling beer at the Blues and Jazz Festival. They did these fun events like the Battle of the Saxes. They had not only a Jazz Line but also a Jazz Brunch Line with complete calendars when you needed it. And they did JAM. JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE GARY A BECKER © 2014 The Jazz Ambassador Jazz Cruise GARY A BECKER © 2014 GARY A BECKER © 2014 4 GARY A BECKER © 201 That is Bobby Watson at the Tuba Festival The KC Blues and Jazz Claude "Fiddler" Williams with Bob Bowman at City Ligh ts The Jazz Ambassadors at 33-1/3 (Years, That Is!) by Roger Atkinson The Beginnings Kathy Feist moved to Kansas City a bit earlier. She also knew of the Kansas City jazz tradition, but it was hard to find it. There weren’t many clubs, and it was hard to find out what was going on in the places that were around. This was pre-internet, and prepre-JAM, pre-jazz museum. “Without Dick Berkley (former Mayor Richard L. Berkley) there would be no Jazz Ambassadors,” current Jazz Ambassador Gary Becker told us. “He and the City Council established the Kansas City Jazz Commission.” “There were still a lot of musicians who were around from when jazz had its heyday here,” Kathy told us. “Jay McShann, Step Buddy Anderson, Claude Williams, Speedy Huggins, many others. But jazz just was not in the forefront.” The Jazz Commission sought to change that. They needed volunteers to usher in a new era of jazz in Kansas City. One of the first events was the first Jazz Pub Crawl in 1981. The event would turn out to be an annual affair until it faded out a decade ago. The Jazz Ambassadors were then the volunteer arm of the Jazz Commission, the team who made the pub crawls happen. Did I say they were popular? In 1991, it was estimated that 7,000 were on the crawl, which included 23 clubs! The pub crawls were a catalyst. Soon the Jazz Ambassadors were doing their own mini crawls for conventions and parties. Mary Ellen Farney, an active Jazz Ambassador JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 11 KANSAS CITY JAZZ AMBASSADORS AT 33-1/3 CONTINUED for 14 years and the President in 1992, led this popular service. “We would start out at the Mutual Musicians Foundation,” says Mary Ellen. “Duck Warner would talk about jazz and play. We had Gates cater the barbecue dinners, and then we’d take a bus to a couple of clubs. It was a thrill to share the heritage and local musicians. They were very well received; the only complaint I ever had was from a vegetarian!” The Organization Grows At some point there was concern with where the money from the annual Pub “My nine-year tenure as Crawl was going. “It was always the big discussion at our meetings,” Kathy told us. Ultimately, the Jazz Commission disbanded, and the Jazz Ambassadors the editor of JAM (1994 took over the crawls in 1996. They made money for the organization. “We - 2003) was a productive had money to give away,” Kathy added. period for both the magazine It was then that the Jazz Ambassadors started being a broader support organization. They were able to provide scholarships to music students and the Kansas City Jazz and support other events. And they still provided volunteers for local Ambassadors. KC was alive with events. They even sponsored Highway Cleanups, organized by Jazz Ambassador Akers Aitch. A list from 1996 shows the following recipients festivals, pub crawls and clubs, of proceeds from the Pub Crawl: the Kansas City Jazz Workshop, and the Jazz Ambassadors were Folly Theater, Unity Temple on the Plaza, Gem Theater, Mutual Musicians Foundation, 18th and Vine Heritage Festival, UMKC involved in nearly every facet of School of Jazz Studies, 18th &Vine Authority, and the Musicians a vibrant scene. Personally, I will Emergency Assistance Fund. Over the years, MEAF has helped always be grateful to the KCJA for many musicians with medical bills, rent and miscellaneous living expenses, even help with instruments. This started around 1991. the opportunity to document that During this time the Jazz Ambassadors also sponsored events, chapter of Kansas City jazz history in such as Riverboat Cruises, Battle of the Saxes and similar special shows like Ladies Sing the Blues, Trumpet Summit, Burnin’ Up 57 issues of JAM. It was because of the Ivories, Big Band Bash, Organ Grinder Fish Fry, Guitar Showthis outstanding magazine that I was case. There were frequent presentations by the likes of Step Buddy able to interview many of my heroes, Anderson, Kevin Mahogany, former President Todd Wilkinson and Carol Comer. Mary Ellen recalls the first Riverboat Cruise: “This help promote an important art form, was all Kathy. I think she borrowed money from her dad to get it and work with the talented JAM going. We really had no idea what the response would be. What if only 10 people showed up? Well, I was driving over the bridge and staff. And maybe best of all, I was saw the crowd. It was sold out. We did this for five years, and then able to put Stan Kessler on one of the boat stopped running and so the event stopped.” our covers buried up to his chest in whipped cream. Congrats to “A Publicity Machine” And then, there is also JAM. We started in 1986. At the time the the KC Jazz Ambassadors on magazine was called the Kansas City Jazz Ambassador, and was a five by their anniversary! Here’s to eight inch, sixteen page monthly publication. Inside was a listing of clubs and 30 more.” jazz organizations, a listing of upcoming concerts, club profiles, jazz “on the air,” and some short articles. They also published a Newsletter. —Mike Metheny “The purpose really evolved,” Kathy Feist told us. “The Jazz Ambassadors was running like a well-oiled machine to put jazz on the forefront. It really did its job. And I really saw us as a publicity machine.” JAM evolved as a result, from its origins as a guide to a jazz magazine like we have today. Bill Brownlee and Kathy both had journal- ism degrees. The magazine was expanded and there was more emphasis on advertising. Kathy had several stints as Editor, before and after Dean Hampton, and also after Mike Metheny’s run of nine years. Mike also had a journalism background. It was Mike who brought me in as a contributor. JAM still has the “publicity machine” mission that Bill, Kathy, Dean, Mike and others developed, and there are still many dedicated Ambassadors who give their time to make it happen, from articles to distribution. Kathy ended our conversation by saying, “I guess we really wanted to relive the heyday. Looking back, the 1980s and 1990s were another heyday.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 3-4:15 p.m. - Lucky Peterson 5-6:30 p.m. - Roy Hargrove Quintet 7:30-9 p.m. - Meshell Ndegeocello 10-11:30 p.m. - Midnight Star * Indicates ensembles containing young adults See: Festival. AmericanJazzMuseum.org Jammin’ At The Gem 2015 programming that includes master classes and clinics conducted by world class talent. 2014 is no different as we bring an amazing young artist educator to Kansas City for this purpose (see festival schedule). Tivon Pennicott was born in Marietta, Georgia in December of 1985. He began studying tenor saxophone in high school, garnering recognition early on as an outstanding soloist in the Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition, as well as the Georgia AllState Jazz Band. In 2004, he relocated to Miami to study at the Frost School PHOTOGRAPH BY JIM LUBRANO OFF THE VINE Two decades later, the scene remains strong, with great musicians and clubs where one can hear some of the finest jazz anywhere any night of the week. There are thriving organizations including a great Jazz Museum and renowned jazz education programs. It’s a much different picture than what Mayor Berkley saw in 1981. Mission complete? Hardly. There are still needs. There are musicians who occasionally need assistance, there are students who need scholarships, and there are institutions that need funding and volunteers. There are events that need volunteers, too. The Jazz Ambassadors will be there. Lucky Peterson 2015 “Jammin’ at the Gem” performance series season starts on January 15 with Brian Culbertson, and is another great of Music. line up of talent. After Culbertson, there will be Gerald While still in college, guitar legend Kenny Burrell Albright on February 14, The Mosaic Project with Terri invited Tivon to join his quintet. He would then go on to Lyne Carrington on March 21, Joe Locke Quartet on April appear on Burrell’s 2008 live release, Be Yourself. Tivon’s 18, and “Marilyn Maye’s In May” on May 23. Season continuing association with Burrell has led to numerous tickets are on sale at the AJM Box Office in person or by CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 telephone at 816-474-6262. Each year Kansas City’s 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival presents education PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MIDNIGHTSTAR.COM Festival Education - 2014 Artist in Residence, Tivon Pennicott Midnight Star JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 13 Roger Rosenberg Coming to KC with Rob Scheps by Roger Atkinson Saxophonist and flutist Rob Scheps has developed a devoted following in the Kansas City area with his twice-a-year residencies. In recent years, Shunzo Ohno, Greg Gisbert, Jerry Dodgion, Frank Basile and Eliot Zigmund have joined Rob on these tours. This fall, reed master Roger Rosenberg will be joining Rob. “This trip is a rare opportunity for me, and really for most musicians, to be able to play consecutive nights of jazz over a couple of weeks, “Roger told us recently. I really have not done this much since I played with Chet Baker and Lee Konitz.” This is also a unique opportunity for Kansas City jazz fans to be able to hear and get to know a world-renowned musician as he plays in several different clubs with Rob and the local musicians he enjoys playing with like Roger Wilder, Bob Bowman, Brian Steever, Ron Carlson and others. Roger plays all the reed instruments (including bassoon), but is best known as a baritone saxophonist. In addition to Baker and Konitz, he has also played with Buddy Rich, Mongo Santamaria, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Sarah Vaughan, and the New York Philharmonic. He was in the Quincy Jones-led Gil Evans band in Montreux where Miles Davis performed one of his last concerts. He was on the posthumous recording of Charles Mingus’ Epitaph. He has also played in three decades of Bob Mintzer’s Big Band recordings (there is a new one coming soon). This is all in addition to being a first-call NYC session player. My first recollection of Roger was when he was in vocalist Janet Lawson’s Quintet in the early 1980s. Roger is currently completing a three month tour with Steely Dan, which he has done since 2006. “I had been on their recordings previously,” says Roger. “Then, when tenor saxophonist Cornelius Bumpus died, they decided to add the baritone sax, and that’s when I started to tour with them. Touring with Steely Dan is a bit different than with Buddy Rich and Mongo Santamaria, he told us. “When I was with Buddy, we toured on a bus. The buses aren’t like the ones we use now. You’d really have to contort 14 your body to be able to sleep. We paid for our own hotels, too. Some of the hotels we stayed in when I was with Mongo were terrible, even when I was 26. We stay in very nice places now. The best was the Ritz Carlton in Japan. The hotel started on the 45th floor. The view was amazing.” “Rob and I met about twenty years ago, when we were in a Gil Evans band that was assembled by his son Miles Evans to perform at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston. Rob and I roomed together. Our paths have crossed a few times since. He even hired me for a New Years Eve gig.” Roger has two recordings under his own name, Hang Time from 2000 and the 2009 Baritonality. He’ll be playing soprano sax in addition to his baritone when he is in KC. The current schedule for the Rob Scheps/Roger Rosenberg Quintet tour; with Roger Wilder, Bob Bowman and Brian Steever except as noted: 10/23 Washburn University, Topeka 10/24 Take Five Coffee Bar, Leawood, 7-10 p.m. 10/26 Clinic at Take Five Coffee Bar, 3 p.m. 10/29 University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 11:30 a.m. 10/29 Vega, Lincoln, 7 p.m. 10/31 Lucky Brewgrille, Mission, 6-9 p.m. with Ron Carlson Trio 11/1 Blue Room, Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. 11/4 University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, time TBA 11/6 Broadway Jazz Club, Kansas City, 7 - 11 p.m. with Angela Hagenbach 11/7 Lucky Brewgrille; Mission, 6-9 p.m. with Ron Carlson Trio 11/8 Murray’s Tables & Tap, South Kansas City, 9-11 p.m. with Hard at Play —Roger Atkinson OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE OFF THE VINE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 CABARET Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. CONCERT Sunday, November 16 at 2 p.m. BROWNVILLE CONCERT SERIES brownvilleconcertseries.com 402/825-3331 PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY MANAGEMENT performance opportunities at many of America’s greatest jazz venues alongside special guests like Stevie Wonder, Wynton Marsalis and Roy Hargrove. Tivon moved to New York in 2009 and has since established himself as a talented young leader. Tivon is a 2-time Grammy winner as well as a 2nd place winner in the prestigious Thelonius Monk Competition. He enjoys collaborating with a variety of bandleaders on their own tours and recording projects, from Grammy winners Gregory Porter and Esperanza Spalding, Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor and the Roy Hargrove Big Band, Nellie McKay and R&B crooner Joe Thomas, to central figures in t he contemporary jazz scene like Ari Hoenig, E .J. Strickland and Meshell Ndegeocello Marko Djordevic. Tivon’s own endeavors as a leader showcase his tenacity as a player, while also providing a forum for his audacious compositions. His unique style incorporates his masterful attention to rhythm, tasteful melodic lines, and his deep understanding of the importance of the groove. His maturity as a player extends far beyond his years, facilitating music that is refreshing, insightful, and deliciously exciting. Look for his debut album as a leader in late 2014. ERIC COMSTOCK & BARBARA FASANO AmericanJazzMuseum .org Highlights Available for Bookings, Clinics, Music Theory and Guitar Lessons 913.515.0316 [email protected] www.roncarlson.info Upcoming performance highlights at the Blue Room include The Bad Plus on October 3 and Miguel Zenon Quartet on November 3. See our ad for the full lineup. Take Five Tours are free and are the first Thursday and third Tuesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. Please RSVP to [email protected]. Jazz Storytelling features Lisa Henry, Brother John, Tyrone Clark and Michael Warren and is at 10 a.m. on the first Friday of each month. Take us with you: Visit our website and social media pages at Facebook, LinkedIN and Twitter. Download our FREE American Jazz Museum Mobile App for both, iOS and Android. JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 15 NEWS + NOTES CONTINUED and collaborative musicians. His extensive repertoire includes ragtime, stride and novelty piano solo pieces. He has appeared on national television, radio, and in several Hollywood films. He is also frequently heard as a silent film accompanist in both live performances and on DVD. Visit his website at www. frederickhodges.com. Join Kansas City, Kansas Public Library for a Free Concert by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra As part of the second annual Bop in the Dotte, Kansas City, Kansas Public Library is hosting a free concert by the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra on Thursday, November 20. The concert will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center. No tickets necessary; seating is first come, first served. The library invites all jazz lovers to attend this exciting event! For more information, visit www.kckpl.org or call 913-279-2106. KCKCC Jazz Band Continues to Raise Funds for Cuba Trip With a little less than three months to go before the Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Band hits the road to Cuba, fundraising has stepped into overdrive.“Travelling to Cuba is a first for many,” said Jim Mair, professor of music and director of instrumental studies at KCKCC. “Many of our CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Sponsors Tommy and Julie Turner Ruskin - Patron Nelson and Mary Ellen Farney Edward Morris Gary Foster Jamie and Alan Myers 12th Street Jump - Corporate Sponsor Mike Gerken and Debra Schmidt William Paprota Robert Mccollom, Cast Stone Consultants - Corporate Sponsor Dennis Gredell and Lori Wohlschlaeger Charlton Price Steven and Patty Hargrave Jim and Norma Jean Ramel Jo Lowry J Richard and Hannah Smith Beverly and Ed Mann Paul and Sara Smith Gale Tallis, Folly Theater - Corporate Sponsor Barbara Mathewson Merle Stalder Charles and Marada McClintock Rich Turpin Carol Blum and Steven Wilson Sid and Carole McKnight Gregg and Melinda Wenger Jon and Wendy McGraw, Buttonwood Financial Group LLC - Corporate Sponsor 16 OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE PRESIDENT'S CORNER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 KCJA volunteer host, and after a few hours head home having had what we have available every day of the week here—the experience of jazz with a legacy of nearly a hundred years in Kansas City. This issue is as much about the future as it is of the past. Yes we’ve done much, but the future of Kansas City Jazz and so to the “Ambassadors” gets brighter with each passing day. In the coming years there will of course be our annual “21 Sax Salute” for Charlie Parker; however, the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors will become a much more visible entity with more members, events and most importantly- more of our volunteers working to make KC a better place to see, hear, and play jazz. GARY A BECKER © 2014 So the “Ambassadors” were created. We began to have meetings in the basement of the Plaza library (eventually, they allowed us upstairs, mostly attributable to our quickly growing numbers). In time, we did real “hands on” promotion our own events. Some of the names of the shows have contin- Angela Hagenbach at a Saturday afternoon jam at the Levee ued on their own since the events we started in the mid-’80s such as “Trumpet Summit” and “Battle of the Saxes.” We went on to have large booths at festivals like the “Blues & Jazz Festival” and the “Spirit Festival” where we explained to potential members what we were about or sell them a shirt or a CD from a local musician. When groups of visitors came to Kansas City who wanted to see “real” Kansas City jazz we started doing Jazz Pub Crawls. Over the years, we have shown people from all over the world what that “real” Kansas City jazz is by getting them first onto a bus seat, then into a club seat. They hop on, go eat some KC BBQ, then head to a half dozen venues, listen to world-class (Kansas City) jazz, pick up a few interesting facts about the scene from our JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 17 NEWS + NOTES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 students have never left the Midwest. Going to Cuba is a bonafide ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ for most. Plus it’s a great honor to be invited to the 30th annual Havana Jazz Festival. We may be the only college band performing in the festival.” The KCKCC Jazz Band was invited to perform at the 2014 Havana International Jazz Festival in Havana, Cuba last fall. The festival is December 17 to 22. In addition to attending the festival, the jazz band will have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Havana Historical Centre; tour Cuba’s National Museum of Fine Arts; visit the Institute Superior de Arte, the country’s top art academy; explore Finca Vigia, where Ernest Hemingway lived for more than 20 years; enjoy tap dancing and live jazz music at Pena de Santa Amalia and learn about the Cuban culture. Any U.S. citizen is allowed to travel to the small country with the appropriate license. Individuals interested in helping the KCKCC Jazz Band raise the approximately $60,000 in travel expenses can donate through Kansas City Jazz Alliance at www. kansascityjazz.org. Donations are tax deductible and 100 percent of the donation will go toward helping students travelling to Cuba. The trip is also open to those within the Wyandotte and Kansas City area community. Currently, 25 community members have committed to the trip. Those who are interested in traveling with the jazz band are responsible for their own expenses and travel costs. For more information on the KCKCC Jazz Band’s invitation to the 2014 Havana International Jazz Festival and on the group’s fundraising efforts, contact Jim Mair at jmair@ kckcc.edu or call 913-288-7149. Community members interested in traveling with the band should contact Bill Yeazel at [email protected]. More information: www.unitytemple.com/culture/allthatjazz.asp Spirituality & All That Jazz Owen/Cox Dance Group Presents A Body of Work The Spirituality &All That Jazz concerts are held at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 West 47th Street in Kansas City. Tickets are $7 at the door, and children under 16 are free. Upcoming concerts: 10/1: Joe Cartwright with Tim Whitmer and the Consort Jazz Band 11/5: Tim Whitmer, Birthday Piano Man! Annual birthday celebration featuring Tim, the Consort Band and special guests. 18 JCCC Fall Concert Season The fall season of the JCCC Jazz Series has returned with great schedu le .T he s er ie s , which showcases the talents of local jazz musicians, is free and open to the public. Performances will take place at noon on Tuesdays. They will be held in the Recital Hall of the Ca rlsen Center Bob Bowman unless otherwise noted. Here’s the lineup: 9/30: Bob Bowman with Laura Caviani and Todd Strait 10/7: Ron Carlson and Michael Pagán 10/14: Elder Statesmen featuring Horace Washington 10/21: Joe Cartwright Trio featuring Molly Hammer (Polsky Theater) 10/28: Todd Wilkinson and Friends 11/4: Chris Burnett Quartet The series is sponsored by the JCCC Music and Theatre departments. Seating is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Next up in the eighth season of new music and dance works by the Owen/Cox Dance Group is the world premiere of A Body of Work, on October 3, 4, and 5, at La Esquina, 1000 West 25th Street in Kansas City. The piece will feature original choreography by Jennifer Owen, music by Brad Cox featuring soprano Victoria Botero, and visual design by NEA Fellow Nate Fors. The eveninglength work will be performed by six dancers and two musicians, against a backdrop of video projections triggered by Fors. The piece centers on creations of the human body. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE FOR THE RECORD Bob Bowman Songs for Sandra Personnel: Bob Bowman, bass; Laura Caviani (tracks 1, 7 and 10) and Roger Wilder (tracks 2 -6, 8 and 9), piano; Todd Strait (tracks 2 - 4, 6 and 9 ) and Eliot Zigmund (tracks 5 and 8), drums; Danny Embrey (tracks 2 and 4) and Rod Fleeman (track 7), guitar; Karrin Allyson, vocals (track 7) Tracks: The Very Thought of You, Another Time, Beautiful Love, Sandra’s Gait, Lament, Street Cartwheels, What’ll I Do?, While We’re Young, Be My Love, Sandra in the Foothills Recorded (except track 10), mixed and mastererd (all tracks) by Craig Rettmer, C R Sound, Kansas City. Tracks 1 to 9 recorded March 25, April 15 and 22, 2014. Track 10 recorded in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In his interview with Michael Shults in the last JAM, Bob Bowman told of a “burst of energy” after his wife Sandra died. He said that “he didn’t want to be impressed, he wanted to be moved.” His creativity can be heard in the ten tracks in Songs for Sandra. And this listener was moved. Bob is a wonderful musical conversationalist. The duets with pianist Laura Caviani that open and close Songs for Sandra are the best of examples. “The Very Thought of You” features one of Bob’s grand intros before Laura comes in to state the melody. She has a remarkable soft keyboard touch. I like Bob’s conterpoint to the piano lines. The rhythm is just implied, always there. Laura and Bob have a special affinity. On “What’ll I Do?” they are joined by Rod Fleeman and Karrin Allyson. This is as moving as music can get. Karrin’s read of the lyric JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 19 FOR THE RECORD CONTINUED brought tears to our eyes. Her wordless scat duet with Bob an octave or so below is done well, too. The rapport with Laura, Rod and Karrin is deep, and it is no less so with the musicians on the other tracks. Danny Embrey wrote “Another Time,” where Todd Strait gives a clinic, with his cymbal magic as Danny plays the theme, then the fire on Roger Wilder’s piano solo, and some rumbles in addition to his snare and cymbal with Danny. Danny is also on “Sandra’s Gait,” with its Poinciana-like rhythm from Todd’s cymbals and tom-tom. Todd builds tremendous momentum and energy here, especially on Roger’s climatic solo. The remaining tracks are by two trios. Bob, Roger and Todd shine on Roger’s “Street Cartwheels.” Late one night Sandra did cartwheels on Kansas City’s Broadway, and this tune features a rising and falling single note run that sounds like a cartwheel. Bob again has one of his intros on this, and Todd is not only amazing on Roger’s solo, he also builds tremendous momentum on his own solo. Todd introduces “While We’re Young” before Bob and Roger take the melody. This is a straight-ahead swinger. Late in the tune, they slow it down a bit, and then there is a slow acceleration to a frantic pace before they slowly apply the brakes. This is another tune where my notes simply say “Todd!” The trio is absolutely together during the whole affair, totally in synch with the time. “Beautiful Love” has a neat passage where the time is suspended a bit. Roger shines throughout on this one. The rapport between these musicians has been developed over decades. When Eliot Zigmund was in town this past spring, he joined Roger and Bob on their Green Lady Monday night duos. The rapport between the three was immediate. I thought at the time that it’d be great if this trio could get to the studio, and they had the same thought. Eliot is a master with the brushes, and they are perfect on “Lament.” I love it when Bob plays the melody, especially on the ballads. Eliot is also on “While We’re Young.” This CD was thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end. Did I say I was moved? Just to be sure: I was moved. This is a wonderful tribute to Sandra Bowman. —Roger Atkinson Doug Talley Quintet Chess Players: Music of Wayne Shorter Serpentine CD-121305 Personnel: Doug Talley, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Joe Perisi, trumpet and flugelhorn; Wayne Hawkins, piano and keyboard; Tim Brewer, acoustic and electric bass; Keith Kavanaugh, drums and cymbals; Ray DeMarchi, percussion (track 1) Tracks: Children of the Night, Footprints, Chess Players, Miles Medley (E.S.P., Nefertiti, Sanctuary, Orbits), Miyako (saxophone/bass), El Toro, Ana Maria, Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, Infant Eyes, Black Nile, Rio, Witch Hunt, Miyako (clarinet/bass) Recorded by Peter Brewer, Easy Brew Studio, December 19-21, 2013. Mixed and mastered by James Albright. 20 The Doug Talley Quartet is completing its twentieth year together, and this is their fifth recording. Like the previous DTQ recordings there is a theme, this time around the music of Wayne Shorter. Unlike the previous records, the Q is for Quintet, with trumpeter Joe Perisi added to the original Quartet. Shorter’s compositions were among the finest and most memorable contributions to the jazz repertoire from the 1960s. The tunes included here are from the great Blue OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE Note recordings by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Lee Morgan and Wayne’s own Blue Note classics, plus his writing for Miles Davis when he was part of that classic quintet, and finally a tune from his 1974 Native Dancer record. That a band with a long history of collaboration communicates so well should not surprise. The evidence exists on every track here. “Ana Maria” (one of my favorite tracks) is a good example, with Keith Kavanaugh’s rhythm supporting Talley’s clarinet at the beginning, and some fine simultaneous work by pianist Wayne Hawkins, Perisi and Talley before the ending. You’ll hear it in the trumpet/ tenor blends on many tracks. And the way they navigate through the Miles Medley, using all of the voices of the quintet, ending with exciting tenor/trumpet interplay and killin’ Kavanaugh, is gorgeous. I enjoyed hearing the growth in Shorter’s writing from the more straight ahead hard bop from the Blakey years (“Children of the Night,” “Chess Players” and “El Toro”) to the increasing openness and advanced harmonies on his own records and with Miles. This evolution adds to the variety on this recording, as do the approaches by the band. “Children of the Night” has what sounds like a Fender Rhodes and electric bass plus added percussion by Ray DeMarchi, giving this an updated sound. “Chess Players” opens with a fine Tim Brewer bass solo, and concludes with several rounds of eight bar solos from Talley and Perisi. And then there are the duets: piano and tenor on the gorgeous “Infant Eyes” and two Talley/Brewer duets on “Miyako,” first with Doug on tenor, the second on clarinet, both wonderful. Both horns were fluent, controlled, and enjoyable. They blended beautifully, and I liked their solos throughout, my favorites being the trumpet on “Black Nile” and the tenor on “Witch Hunt.” Oh, I have to mention “Footprints,” another favorite track, with the little “stops” injected into the theme, the Brewer bass, fabulous Kavanaugh cymbal work, and great solos from Hawkins and Perisi. With Wayne Hawkins moving to New York, it will be a bit tougher for the DTQ to collaborate in the future, but I think they’ll find a way. Such rapport is a special thing. The music of Wayne Shorter was a great addition to their body of work. —Roger Atkinson Tracks: Not a Person, A Bear’s Cage, Devolver, Do It Up & Do It Right, Skyfinger, Uncool Kids, Dozer, The Fall and Rise of..., Vandelay, Until the End Is Near. Mixed and mastered at Weights and Measures Soundlab I had not heard this band until their appearance at the Prairie Village Jazz Festival in September, and they made quite an impression with their original horn-and-rhythm driven jazz-rock-funk sound. This CD confirms the impression. The Project H sound should appeal to music fans who enjoy all of these genres. I really enjoy Ryan Heinlein’s writing throughout, and the first few tracks are great examples. Pianist Andrew Ouellette opens “Not a Person” with a simple piano figure reminiscent of Brookmeyer’s “Ding Dong Ding” before moving to a theme reminiscent to a Maria Schneider anthem. “A Bear’s Cage” has some great horn lines, and they are used well between several round of solos from Ouellette and guitarist Jeff Stocks. A simple bass line from Sanders sets up the driving “Devolver.” “Do It Up & Do It Right” is solid funk, like when the Crusaders really nailed a groove, but the Project H horns make it sound CDs WEB Package Design Replication Duplication Postcards Posters Printing Website Design Hosting PayPal CDbaby YouTube iTunes The Project H We Live Among the Lines Personnel: Clint Ashlock, trumpet; Ryan Heinlein, trombone; Brett Jackson, tenor saxophone and bass clarinet; Matt Leifer, drums; Andrew Ouellette, keyboards; Dominique Sanders, bass; Jeff Stocks, guitars. Keith Kavanaugh 816.506.3397 • 888.8BAUWAU [email protected] • www.bauwau.com JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 21 JAZZ + BLUES + SWING = KANSAS CITY! Since the 1920s and home to Bennie Moten, Count Basie, Jay McShann, Big Joe Turner, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams, Pat Metheny, Bobby Watson, Karrin Allyson, Kevin Mahogany . . . KANSAS CITY JAZZ AMBASSADORS • • • • • • Preserves and promotes KC’s heritage and jazz education Supports KC’s musicians, organizations, and venues Membership & Info: Provides Musicians Emergency Assistance Fund www.kcjazzambassadors.com Publishes JAM magazine Maintains an online calendar of advertiser events, Facebook, Twitter Offers customized “Private Jazz Crawls” or “An Evening of Jazz” • • • • Groups of 30 or more, starting at $65/person Coach Transportation Live jazz in historic settings + tantalizing KC BBQ Informative, fun hosts with a stash of stories to tell GET OUT AND CRAWL WITH US!! Reservations: Contact Jen Enderson 816-668-0603 [email protected] JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE Advertising: • In its 28th year, Jam is THE go-to source for regional Connie “Crash” Humiston entertainment, dining, theater, events, and other fun (816) 591-3378 happenings indoors and out. www.kcjazzambassadors.com • Rates starting at $100—also web banner ads available • Added exposure to our online readers at no additional charge • Your events listed on our website—and often on Facebook • Estimated readership: 40,000 per issue Closing date for the December/January issue is November 14, 2014. “Everybody I know reads it . . .” — Karrin Allyson, Recording Artist “. . . The ad was really effective. We appreciate the quality coverage of the arts that you bring to Kansas City. JAM has a tremendous national reputation and continues to be a voice in the jazz community.” — Patrice and Jay Sollenberger FOR THE RECORD CONTINUED more like a big band. Trumpeter Clint Ashlock has a nice solo here. The Project H repertoire includes some nice features for the band, too.“Skyfinger” is a mellower side of The Project H, with Brett Jackson moving to bass clarinet for the head, before a melodic Heinlein solo. The Leifer drums and Stocks’ guitar accents add interest as the band build behind Ryan. The rhythm changes for a Fender Rhodes solo from Ouellette. “Uncool Kids” features some fine writing for the horns, with Jackson’s tenor sax featured. “Dozer” is a ballad feature for Ashlock, with some great high-note work as he heats it up in his solo. Stocks is the logical missing word in “The Fall and Rise of...” and of course this features his fluent guitar. “Vandelay” has nice work from Jackson (tenor, again), Ashlock (wah-wah’ed a bit), and Sanders, with Leifer driving it the whole way. (I could say this about every tune, as Matt’s drive and time are key to the success of We Live Among the Lines.) Heinlein is featured on the burning closer (I love the little guitar riffs from Stocks on this), and reminds me that his trombone in the ensembles as well as his writing gives this band much of it’s great sound. If you have not heard The Project H, this is a good place to start. It’s not just the music that is enjoyable, either. The CD cover has a great photo by Timothy Finn, and it would make a framable LP cover. You can get it from their Web site, www.theprojecthkc.com, and at the same time view their schedule so you can catch them live. —Roger Atkinson The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra Over Time: The Music of Bob Brookmeyer Planet Arts 101413 Personnel: Nick Marchione, Tanya Darby, Terell Stafford and Scott Wendholt, trumpet and flugelhorn; John Mosca and Luis Bonilla, trombone; Jason Jackson, trombone and bass trombone; Douglas Purviance, bass trombone; Dick Oatts and Billy Drewes, alto and soprano saxophone and flute; Rich Perry, tenor saxophone and flute; Ralph LaLama, tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet; Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophone; Jim McNeely, piano; John Riley, drums; David Wong, bass; Frank Basile, bass clarinet (tracks 3, 5 and 8); David Peel, french horn (tracks 1, 5, 6 and 8); Mike Truesdell, percussion (tracks 1, 5 and 8) Tracks: The Big Time; Suite for Three: Oatts, Scott, Rich; XYZ; Skylark; At the Corner of Ralph and Gary; Sad Song Westport Coffeehouse Theater Jazz Underground Weekly schedule: WestportCoffeeHouse.com Every Thursday @ 8pm Upcoming: 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30 11/6 11/13 11/20 alcohol available in theater Ryan Heinlen Project H Featuring Kelly Gant Rich Wheeler Quartet Brian Roessler Group KU Jazz Combo 1 Matt Otto Trio Ryan Heinlen Project H Mark Southerland and Matt Otto Marcus Lewis Group 4010 Pennsylvania • Kansas City, MO • 816.756.3222 CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 23 CLUB SCENE LOCAL LIVE MUSIC 18TH & VINE Yj’s Snack Bar 128 W. 18th Street.............. 816-472-5533 NORTH Mon. — Blue Monday Jam Thur. - Sat. — Live Jazz M IDTOWN/WESTPORT Sat. — Live Jazz Danny’s Big Easy 1601 E. 18th St.................. 816.421.1200 Broadway Jazz Club 3601 Broadway.................. 816-298-6316 The Blue Room 18th & Vine......................... 816-474-2929 Sun. - Live Jazz Tues. — El Barrio Band, 7 to 11 Thurs. — Millage Gilbert’s Big Blues Band Fri. - Sat. — Bands Live Jazz Wed – Sat; Sunday Jazz Brunch Kansas City Blues & Jazz Juke House 1700 E. 18th Street............. 816-472-0013 Live Jazz Thurs. - Open Jam session 7:30-11:30 p.m. Fri. - Live band 6-10 p.m. Sat.- Live Band 5-9 p.m. Mutual Musicians Foundation 1823 Highland.................... 816-471-5212 Fri.-Sat. — Late Night Jazz D OWNTOWN Californos 4124 Pennsylvania.............. 816-531-1097 Harlings Upstairs 3941 Main Street................ 816-531-0303 Tues 9-12 New Jazz Order Big Band Jazz - A Louisiana Kitchen 39th & State Line................. 816-531-5556 Tues. - Sun. — Live Music Sosa’s 39th Street Diner 3906 Waddell Avenue......... 816-531-7672 Wednesdays Live Jazz 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. American Restaurant 25th & Grand...................... 816-426-1133 Westport Coffeehouse Theater 4010 Pennsylvania............. .816-756-3222 The Brick 1727 McGee...................... 816-421-1634 PL A Z A Fri. - Music Live Jazz & Eclectic The Chesterfield 14th & Main....................... 816-474-4545 Wed. — Western Swing Fri. — Swing Sat. — Salsa Green Lady Lounge 1809 Grand....................... 816-215-2954 Tues.-Sun. — Live Jazz Hotel Phillips Mezzanine 106 W. 12th St................... 816-221-7000 Fri.-Sat. 5-8 The Kill Devil Club 14th & Main....................... 816-588-1132 Wed.-Sat. — Live Music Majestic Restaurant 931 Broadway.................... 816-221-1888 Live Jazz Nightly The Phoenix 302 W. 8th Street..................816-221-jazz Live Jazz Mon. - Sat., plus 2nd Sun. The Ship 1217 Union Avenue ............ 816-471-7447 Thursdays Live Jazz 8 p.m. Accurso’s Restaurant 4980 Main Street................ 816-753-0810 Tues. 6-9 — Tim Whitmer Café Trio 4558 Main Street................ 816-756-3227 Cascone’s North 3737 North Oak Trfy........... 816-454-7977 Piropos Restaurant/Briarcliff 4141 N. Mulberry St........... 816-741-3600 Mike Ning and Sherry Brummett Fridays from 5 to 7; 7 to 11 Dan Sturdevant and Shay Estes; Tiffany Miller Saturday 6:30 to 10:30 SOUTH & WEST B.B’s Lawnside BBQ 1205 E. 85th Street............. 816-822-7427 Tues. - Sun. — Live Blues Sat. 2-5:30 — Jazz & Blues Jam w/ Mama Ray Bristol Seafood Grill 5400 W. 119th St............... 913-663-5777 Sun. 5-8 — Live Music Cascone’s 6863 W.91st. Street............ 913-381-6837 Fri.-Sat. — Jim Mair EBT Restaurant I-435 & State Line Road........ 816-942-8870 Live Jazz Thurs-Sat Garozzo's Restaurant 9950 College Blvd............... 913-491-8300 Sundays Live Jazz 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Gaslight Grill and Back Room 5020 W. 137th Street.......... 913-897-3540 Wed. - Sun. - 6:30 Lynn Zimmer Jazz Band Tues. 6-9 p.m. — Michael Pagan Wed. 6-9 p.m. — Mark Lowrey Thurs. 6:30-9:30 p.m. — Tim Whitmer Fri. & Sat. 6:30-9:30 p.m. — Alice Jenkins La Bodega Tapas & Lounge 4311 West 119th St............ 913-428-8272 Capital Grille 4740 Jefferson.................... 816-531-8345 Louie’s Wine Dive 7100 Wornall Rd................. 816-569-5097 Sundays 5-9 p.m. – Dan Doran Trio InterContinental Oak Bar & Lounge 121 Ward Parkway............. 816-756-1500 Live Jazz Thurs. - Sun. Sets start at 8 p.m. Plaza III 4749 Pennsylvania.............. 816-753-0000 Sat. 7-11 p.m. Lonnie McFadden Raphael Hotel, Chaz Restaurant 325 Ward Parkway............ .816-756-3800 Mon. - Sat. — Live Jazz Sun. — Jazz Brunch 10-1 Thursdays Live Jazz 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Sun. 6-8 p.m. Jazz w/Mistura Fina, Flamenco w/Al Andaluz (alt. weeks) Live Jazz Fri. – Sat. Lucky Brewgrille 5401 Johnson Drive............. 913-403-8571 Fri 6-9 Ron Carlson and friends The Piano Room 8410 Wornall Rd................. 816-363-8722 Mon. 7-10 — Waldo Jazz Collective Fri. - Sat. 8-12 — Dave McCubbin Take Five Coffee + Bar Corbin Park at 135th & Metcalf............................... 913-948-5550 Live Jazz Thurs-Sun Sullivan’s Steakhouse 4501 W. 119th St............... 913-345-0800 Every Night — Live Jazz 24 JUNE + JULY 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE ON THE AIR KPR- FM 91.5 (1-888-577-5268) KCUR- FM 89.3 (816 -235-5775) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday Friday “Jazz In The Night” with Bob McWilliams....... 9:00 pm - Midnight “Friday Night Fish Fry” w/Chuck Haddix....... 8:00 pm - Midnight Wednesday Saturday “Piano Jazz” with Marian McPartland................9:00 - 10:00 pm “Jazz In The Night” with Bob McWilliams.............9:00 - 1:00 am “Saturday Night Fish Fry” w/Chuck Haddix.... 8:00 pm - Midnight Saturday 12th Street Jump...........................................midnight - 1:00 am “Music from the Hearts of Space”........................7:00 - 8:00 pm “Night Tides” with Renee Blanche.................. 8:00 pm - Midnight National Public Radio-University of Kansas “The Jazz Scene” with David Basse......................1:00 - 4:00 pm Sunday “Music From the Hearts of Space”....................10:00 - 11:00 pm Seven Nights a Week “Jazz Overnight” National Public Radio-University of Missouri/Kansas City Sunday KJHK- FM 90.7 (785-864- 4747) Daily KCFX- FM 101.1 (816 -576 -7739) Sunday “The Blues Show” with Lindsay Shannon........................ 8:00 pm “Jazz In The Morning”........................................6:00 - 9:00 am KUDL- FM 98.1 (913- 677-8998) Sunday KKFI - FM 90.1 (816 -931-5534) Smooth Sunday Brunch w/Taylor Scott................7:00 - 11:00 pm Monday-Friday “Morning Buzz”.................................................6:00 - 8:00 am Monday “Beautician Blues” w / Luscious Lynn.......................10am - Noon “Jazz, Blues & Latin Tracks” w/ The Jazz Insider............................................1:00 - 3:00 pm “Mother’s Mix” w/Lady D...................................3:00 - 6:00 pm Tuesday “Tuesday Midday Medley” w/ Barry Jackson.....10:00 am - Noon “Lunch & Brunch” w/The Jazz Disciple.................1:00 - 3:00 pm “Road Trippin’ Blues” w/ The Voodoo Kittens........3:00 - 6:00 pm K M BZ BUSINESS CHANNEL 1660 A M Saturday Dick Hawk’s Gaslight Jazz, featuring Lynn Zimmer..............................11:00 pm — Midnight Sunday Dick Hawk’s Gaslight Jazz, featuring Lynn Zimmer.....................................11:00 am - Noon KCXL 1140 A M/102.9 FM Wednesday Saturday “Afternoon Jazz” w/ Jeff Harshbarger..................1:00 - 3:00 pm Old G’s Hangout with Groovy Grant....................3:00 - 6:00 pm Neon Jazz with Joe Dimino.......................................... 8:00 am Thursday “My Place” w/Larry J ....................................10:00 am – Noon “Afternoon Jazz” w/KC......................................1:00 - 3:00 pm Main Street Mojo w/ Various DJs.........................3:00 - 6:00 pm “One of the 10 jazz sites worth visiting” -New York Times Friday “Lunch & Brunch” w/The Jazz Geek.....................1:00 - 3:00 pm “Edged in Blue” w/ Wendy.................................3:00 - 5:00 pm Saturday Larry’s Freak Out...............................................5:00 - 6:00 am Beale Street Blues...............................................6:00 - 8:00 am “The Blues Kitchen” w/Junebug & Chuck Pisano...............................................8:00 - 11:00 am Online kcjazzambassadors.com JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 25 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 PHOTO BY CHARLES STONEWALL NEWS + NOTES Owen Cox dancers Megan Horton, Shane Tice, and Latra Wilson available at owencoxdance.org. Musical elements of the piece will be created from a combination of pre-recorded sounds that dancers’ bodies produce when dancing, and live vocal and percussive sounds. The piece acts as a reminder that while technology plays a near constant role in our modern lives, all work is ultimately dependent on the beauty and versatility of the human body. More information on a ll performances is UMKC Conservatory Events: Jazz & BBQ and More! The UMKC Jazz Friends and the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors are sponsoring the 13th Annual Jazz & BBQ benefit on October 12 at the UMKC Student Union, 5100 Cherry Street. The benefit, for UMKC scholarships and support, features the UMKC Jazz Studies Program under the direction of Boby Watson and Dan Thomas. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a buffet and silent auction, followed by a concert at 7:30. For more information contact Nathan Shatto at [email protected] or 816-235-6260, or visit the Jazz Friends Web site umkcjazzfriends.org. On November 11 at 7:30 at Grant Recital Hall, Jazz Combos, with students of all degree levels performing standards and originals. The Hall is at 5227 Holmes Street. The concert is free. Then on December 2 at 7:30 p.m. the Conservatory Concert Jazz Band and 11 O’Clock Jazz Band, directed by Bobby Watson and Dan Thomas, respectively, will play at White Recital Hall in the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street. Tickets are $8, $6 for seniors, and free for students with ID. Take Five Moving in Fall Take Five Coffee + Bar, the Kansas City area’s jazz living room, is moving and expanding this fall. The new shop in Corbin Park at 135th and Metcalf (behind Von Maur) features more than twice the seating for live shows, a house grand piano and a stage spacious enough to fit a full big band. The first real test of that idea will come at 26 Take Five’s house warming party November 1 featuring the People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City. The new Take Five also has a full kitchen, which means an expanded menu and a Sunday Jazz Brunch, and expanded offerings of beer, wine and coffee-based cocktails. Expect the same superb coffee and the same comfortable, casual and intimate setting for listening to the best live jazz in town. Annual Holiday Tradition: Jazz Carol Fest It’s never too early to think Christmas! The celestial magic of the holiday season kicks off each year with a stellar line-up of talent performing their favorite Christmas tunes. Community Christian Church on the Plaza proudly presents its 19th Annual Jazz Carol Fest on Sunday, December 7 at 4 p.m. in their beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building at 4601 Main. Classic holiday melodies become fresh and new with the Jazz influences from a diverse line-up of talented artists, hosted by pianist Tim Whitmer. For ticket information please contact Community Christian Church, 816-561-6531 or www. community-christian.org . FOR THE RECORD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 Recorded June 11 and 12, 2014, at Sear Sound, NYC. Engineer: Jay Messina. Assistant Engineer: Chris Allen. Mixed by Gary Chester, John Mosca, Douglas Purviance and Migiwa Miyajima at Avatar Studios, NYC. Mastered by Alan Silverman at Arf! Mastering Soon after Bob Brookmeyer and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra premiered “Suite for Three” in Columbia, Missouri in February 2009, John Mosca of the VJO started talking about the new recording that they were working on with Bob. A year or so later, the VJO was playing one of the new pieces, “At the Corner of Ralph and Gary” on its famous Monday night Village Vanguard performances. However, Bob was also working on other projects, and his health was faltering. When he died in December 2011 these were the only new compositions that were completed. Fortunately, the band was committed to the project. They were able to unearth three Brookmeyer compositions from the 1979-1981 years when he was reestablishing his career, returning to the band of which he was a charter member, then called Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra. He wrote two fabulous records, but the three composi- JUNE + JULY 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE FOR THE RECORD CONTINUED tions included here - “The Big Time,” “XYZ” and “Sad Song” - had not been recorded. Brookmeyer’s first contribution to Mel in 1979, the wonderful reworking of “Skylark,” is also included in this set. The new pieces show how Bob’s writing evolved over time. There aren’t formal structures that are repeated anymore. In both cases, he created full pieces for the band, which interacts with the featured soloists (Dick Oatts in “Oatts,” Rich Perry in “Rich” and Scott Wendholt in “Scott,” the three parts in “Suite for Three,” and Ralph LaLama and Gary Smulyan on “At the Corner of Ralph and Gary”). This demands a bit more from the listener, but the attention reveals fine solo playing and amazing melodic lines from the composer. Brookmeyer was a pioneer of the chromatic scale in jazz; his “ABC Blues” was one of the original tunes in the Thad Jones – Mel Lewis book. “XYZ” is a follow up on that chart. Jim McNeely calls “The Big Time” a “wild chromatic ride,” and it is a great opener to the CD. Dick Oatts has been featured on “Skylark” since Bob brought it to the band, and it has never sounded better. The closer “Sad Song” is sad indeed, and my guess is that when the band plays it at the Vanguard you could hear a pin drop; it’s just that kind of tune, with Oatts playing a gorgeous flute solo. I have been anticipating this record from the first time I heard John mention it. Well, the project took five years to be completed. It was worth the wait. —Roger Atkinson Frederick Hodges Richard Dowling Monday, Oct. 20 – 7:00 p.m. Schmitt Music 119th and Metcalf, Overland Park Visit www.kcragtimerevelry.org or call (913)-491-6923 Tickets are $20 – children w/parents and students with ID admitted free MONDAY SPOKEN WORD POETRY 7pm-12am WEDNESDAY DJ THURSDAY OPEN JAM SESSION 7:30pm-11:30pm FRIDAY LIVE BAND 6pm-10pm SATURDAY LIVE 1700 E 18th St. • Kansas City, Missouri (816) 472-0013 OLD SCHOOL BAND 5pm-9pm WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY LUNCH 11am-3pm JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE • JUNE + JULY 2 014 27 FOLLY JAZZ NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 After exploring pop, rock, classical singers and songwriters in Omaha, San Francisco and Minneapolis, Karrin cut her teeth in jazz for 10 years in Kansas City, signing with Concord Jazz and cutting her debut album, I Didn’t Know About You, in 1992, with Kansas City musicians Paul Smith, Russ Long, Joe Cartwright, Danny Embrey, Rod Fleeman, Bob Bowman, Gerald Spaits, Todd Strait, Gary Sivils and Mike Metheny. Near the end of the 1990s, she moved to NYC, receiving considerable attention in 1999 for From Paris to Rio, which broke recording tradition by including songs in French, Portuguese, Brazilian, Italian and English. She continued to earn acclaim into the 2000s with such releases as the 2001 double Grammy® award-nominated Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane and In Blue in 2002. Besides Ballads, Grammy® nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album include Footprints (2006), Imagina: Songs of Brasil (2008) and ‘Round Midnight (2011). Chris Caswell, Karrin’s co-writing partner and Hammond B-3 player on this Folly Theater date, has performed with ‘everyone’ including Bonnie Raitt, Paul Williams, Mos Def and Paul McCartney at the Grammys last year. She currently spends much time on tour in the United States and internationally, and mixes in clinics, private lessons and master classes, often with longtime partner Bill McGlaughlin. What unites this wide world of music—brings it together and makes sense of it all—is Karrin’s warmth and depth. What a Christmas blessing for the Folly audience, wrapped in a pixie package, as Karrin brings that warmth to Kansas City, celebrating being home for the holidays with her Quintet’s Yuletide Hideaway. But as we know, Karrin never fails to light up the town when she’s home, no matter the season. Cyprus Avenue & Series Subscriptions Cyprus Avenue Live! presents Richard Thompson at the Folly on October 22 and Rosanne Cash on November 14, both at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30, $45 and $60. Tickets for all Folly Jazz Series concerts are $35, $27 and $18 (group discounts for 10 or more). Discounted Jazz Series subscriptions are available, and KCJA members are eligible for additional discounts: (816) 474-4444 or www. follytheater.org. Compiled by Connie “Crash” Humiston, Crash in Communications, [email protected] 28 JUNE + JULY 2 014 • JAZZ AMBAS SADOR MAGAZINE Dick Hawk’s GASLIGHT GRILL & BACK ROOM Enjoy scintillating New Orleans jazz and mellow traditional favorites by Lynn Zimmer and the Jazz Band featuring some of K.C.’s finest jazz musicians Wednesday through Sunday every week. Private Event Facilities for 10 – 200 Sunday Brunch 10am – 2pm Private Rooms Available for Holiday and other Party Events Lynn Zimmer is joined by the New Red Onion Jazz Babies for our gala New Year’s Eve in the Back Room. Expansive Happy Hour Menu No Cover Charge • K ansas Dry Aged Steaks • S eafood • C hef Specialties • D ance Floor 5020 W. 137th St. ( Just south of 135th on Briar Drive) Leawood, KS 66224 913.897.3540 • Ga slightGrill.com Visit us on TickeTs 816-474-6262 americanjazzmuseum.org
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