Album Review: Seth Andrew Davis and Evan Verploegh- Hunter

Hunter is an all-out assault on civility.  The sonically perverse and tremendously prolific Kansas City duo of Seth Andrew Davis and Evan Verploegh outdo themselves on the belligerent instrumental album released on cassette and digitally in March.

Davis approximates a reckless version of the intrepid jazz guitar hero Mary Halvorson during much of the 18-minute “In the Moon 100 Years Ago Or in the Middle of Kansas Now.”  The whimsically harrowing epic lives up to its title.  

“Americus” could be mistaken for a pernicious remix of a deep cut from Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland.  Countering Verplough’s decisive drumming, Davis commits to an intentionally funkless evocation of Eddie Hazel on “(Un)Controlled Burn.”  

The livid “Where Are the Buffalo” and the relatively serene “Let the States Tremble, Let the Nations Weep” complete the assault on established Kansas values.  Why is the duo picking on Kansas?  Davis and Verplough are likely responding to any one of many regrettable developments in the state on their furious protest album.

Now’s the Time: Rod Fleeman

Rod Fleeman, Plastic Sax’s 2021 Person of the Year, leads a trio every Saturday afternoon at Green Lady Lounge. The guitarist performs with a band led by drummer John Armato in the embedded video.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*A band led by Adam Larson featuring Terell Stafford will headline The Prairie Village Jazz Festival on September 10.

*The new piano bar Uptown Lounge will showcase performances of  “show tunes, jazz standards, classic rock, blues, and songs from famous artists such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, The Beatles, the Eagles, Billy Joel, Elton John and more” according to Joyce Smith’s feature for The Kansas City Star.

*Nina Cherry recalls Tiny Davis for Kansas City magazine.

*Portions of recent performances by Jazzy Jazz and Nduduzo Makhathini were documented by Joe Dimino.

*Soul vocalist Peabo Bryson headlines the American Jazz Walk of Fame’s July 2 concert.

*Tweet of the Week: Coleman Hawkins Jazz- This weekend HawkFest returns to downtown St. Joseph MO. Come out and join us for a great weekend of music and fun!

Concert Review: Nduduzo Makhathini at the Blue Room

Gerald Dunn of the American Jazz Museum told an audience of about 50 at the Blue Room on Friday, June 3, that the first set of Nduduzo Makhathini’s two-night residency at the Blue Room would be briefly delayed because Lonnie Plaxico’s bass “exploded.”  The South African pianist, Kansas City saxophonist Logan Richardson and Cuban drummer Francisco Mela ultimately opted to begin without the storied bassist.  

The mishap was quickly transformed into an advantage.  In one of many astounding moments, Makathini placed his hands on his knees and swayed back and forth as Mela’s explosive drumming propelled Richardson’s ascending solo into the stratosphere.  Explaining his intent a few minutes later, Makhathini said he’s committed to “pushing toward the unknown” with a sound that “escapes the realm of definitions.”  

His 11 albums as a leader can be characterized as spiritual jazz. Makathini insisted his music also reflects South Africa’s “dysfunctionality and displacement” and “violent historical past.”  With the aid of a replenished Plaxico in the second half of the 65-minute set, the quartet forged spiritually transcendent and intellectually illuminating art of the highest order.

Now's the Time: Snarky Puppy

Snarky Puppy returns to Muriel Kauffman Theatre on Thursday, June 9. The band’s 2019 concert at the glitzy venue was one of the most auspicious jazz-adjacent shows to transpire in Kansas City in recent years.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Jeff Shirley posted a lyric video for a track from his forthcoming album Blue Gold.

*Tweet of the Week: KC Jazz Orchestra- We're stoked to be putting on a FREE big band concert live from Swope Park on June 21! Bring your family, friends and a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy #MakeMusicDay2022 @KCMOParks #kansascity #kcmo

Album Review: Addison Frei- Time and Again

Addison Frei established a reputation as a fine mainstream jazz pianist several years ago. With Time and Again, the former resident of Lawrence, Kansas, seems to have made the daunting leap from good to great. A prestigious rhythm section helps Frei make the significant breakthrough. Bassist Ben Wolfe and drummer Terreon Gully provide impeccable support. Frei’s playing suggests he’s aware of contemporary innovators like Brad Mehldau even as he remains rooted in the classic sound of pianists such as Tommy Flanagan. A rendition of Irving Berlin’s “Remember” is the height of elegance while “Ramble for FK” is a gussied-up blues. The curiously formal and unexpectedly exceptional Time and Again is a timeless statement.

Now’s the Time: Nduduzo Makhathini

Nduduzo Makhathini will perform at the Blue Room on Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4. The celebrated South African pianist is touring in support of In the Spirit of Ntu, his new album on Blue Note Records.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Steve Kraske chatted with Eboni Fondren, Leslie Maclean and Aryana Nemati on KCUR’s Up To Date program.

*Kansas City’s jazz landscape is represented in a ranking of Kansas City's Ten Best Music Venues.

*Tweet of the Week: San Diego Reader- Kansas City native Julian Vaughn will be performing at the San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival! Happening June 11 - June 12, 2022, at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Purchase your tickets now (lineup)

Concert Review: Logan Richardson + Blues People at the Ship

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: The James Ward Band

Plenty of family bands call Kansas City home. The James Ward Band is among the best of them. The trio returns to the Blue Room on Saturday, May 21. The interpretation of Marcus Miller’s “Panther” in the embedded video typifies JWB’s robust approach to contemporary jazz.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Deploring the lack of organic enthusiasm for Kansas City’s jazz scene, Nina Cherry asks “(w)here is the interest in the music being created now?” in an essay published by Kansas City magazine.

*Jon Poses decries the absence of a single proper summer jazz festival in the state of Missouri in The Columbia Daily Tribune.

*Snippets of a midday performance at the Blue Room were captured by Joe Dimino.

*The author of Plastic Sax reviewed a jazz-tangential concert by the British musicologist Samantha Ege.

*Tweet of the Week: Jeff Shirley- Tonight, Jeff Shirley Organ Trio is at Green Lady Lounge, 11:30-2:30, joined by Mark Slimm and Brian Steever!! We're playing all originals, here's a short clip from Mark's tune "Lunar Lander." (video)

Grading the 2022-23 Season of the Folly Jazz Series

The mere existence of the 41st season of The Folly Jazz Series is reason to celebrate.  Without a proper jazz festival during the past five years and the termination of the American Jazz Museum’s Jammin’ at the Gem presentations several years ago, the Folly Jazz Series represents a reliable oasis for jazz fans thirsty for performances by touring musicians.

New York Voices with The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra

October 14, 2022

Grade: C-

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra seems to be in the midst of a resurgence.  Yet the big band’s momentum is hindered by the pairing with the kitschy New York Voices.  A collaboration with a representative of the latest wave of cliché-free vocalists exemplified by Cécile McLorin Salvant would have resulted in a very different grade.

Keiko Matsui

November 4, 2022

Grade: C+

Smooth jazz remains the most commercially viable form of jazz.  Keiko Matsui has been at the vanguard of the genre since the release of her debut solo album 25 years ago.  Ticket sales for the popular keyboardist’s concert might help subsidize the series’ less accessible bookings.

Miguel Zenón Quartet

January 20, 2023

Grade: A-

In addition to being an avid Charlie Parker devotee, the brilliant saxophonist Miguel Zenón is an enthusiastic proponent of the popular music of his native Puerto Rico.  Caveat: only 50 people attended Zenón’s 2014 show at the Blue Room.  The Folly Theater was half-empty for his 2018 appearance with the all-star SFJazz Collective.

Hermon Mehari Quartet

February 18, 2023

Grade: A-

Since moving to Europe, the one-time Kansas Citian Hermon Mehari has developed into one of the most exciting young innovators in jazz.  Should the trumpeter play with the dazzling imagination displayed in his recent work rather than reverting to conventional bop, his concert could be a contender for the show of the year.

Oleta Adams

March 11, 2023

Grade: B+

The warm voice of Oleta Adams embodies the best aspects of her hometown of Kansas City.  Each of the Parade of Hearts sculptures around the metropolis should be equipped with an internal speaker playing her heartwarming 1988 hit “Get Here.”  Adams’ music is a sophisticated blend of pop, soul, gospel and jazz. 

Tia Fuller Quintet

April 22, 2023

Grade: B

The form of jazz favored by the native Coloradan Tia Fuller is closely aligned with the sound associated with Kansas City’s most prominent jazz venues.  The fervent swing the saxophonist is likely to exhibit will please habitués of the Blue Room and Green Lady Lounge.

Anat Cohen Quartetinho

May 5, 2023

Grade: B+

The truly global jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen is probably best known for her membership in the all-star band Artemis but her Brazilian-oriented group Quartetinho promises to bring a fresh sound to Kansas City.  Caveat: Cohen’s concert at the Gem Theater in 2018 drew 200 people.

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

*The 2022-23 season of The Folly Jazz Series has been revealed.

*The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra announced its 2022-23 season.

*Tweet of the Week: KU School of Music- Jazz Ensemble I excelled in the 45th Annual DownBeat Student Music Awards and at the 2022 Rudin Jazz Championship at Jazz at Lincoln Center. We are so proud of everyone who worked hard for this! Rock Chalk! Learn about their accomplishments here.

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: Brian Scarborough

The buoyant Kansas City trombonist Brian Scarborough will perform with saxophonist Matt Otto, pianist Roger Wilder, bassist Ben Tervort and drummer Doug Auwarter at Westport Coffee House on Thursday, May 12. Otto and Tervort assist Scarborough in a rendering of the title track of his 2020 debut album Sunflower Song in the embedded video.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Doreen Maronde, a longtime Kansas City jazz advocate, is the subject of a lovely video profile created by Lakeview Village.

*Larry Kopitnik and James McGee considered the history of the Mutual Musicians Foundation with Steve Kraske on KCUR’s Up to Date program.

*The American Jazz Museum, the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and KC Jazz Alive are among the recipients of grants from Kansas City, Missouri’s Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

*The Kansas City Star amplified the American Jazz Museum’s current talking points.

*I tried and failed.  Again.  Kansas City isn’t represented among the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2022 Winners for Jazz Performance and Recordings.

*Tweet of the Week: Luke X. Martin- Mingus Big Band at the @ajazzmuseumKC's Gem Theater on International Jazz Day. Y'all missed a great show, #KansasCity!

Concert Review: High Pulp at recordBar

Even if Kansas City isn’t quite ready to embrace the music’s future, jazz is going to be just fine.  An invigorating performance by High Pulp at recordBar on Thursday, April 28, belied the fact the room was nearly empty.  The giddy Seattle collective’s thrilling effort was an affirmation of jazz’s ongoing adaptability.

Countless pundits continue to wring their hands about the declining popularity of conventional forms of jazz.  I’m guilty of occasionally joining the doomsayers.  High Pulp’s mind-expanding and deliriously edifying set should inhibit negativity about the commercial prospects of improvised music for the foreseeable future at this site.

Had the same sounds been presented at a festival between sets by the like-minded young duo Domi & JD Beck and the jazz-loving rapper Tyler, The Creator, High Pulp would likely be hailed as the event’s breakout act.  The fun-loving jazz-based cosmic grooves freely incorporate elements of hip-hop and electronic music.

The members of High Pulp are among the scores of sonically inclusive musicians working in the wake of Flying Lotus. Far from stooping to the lowest common denominator, High Pulp attempts to elevate listeners to the highest spiritual sphere.  While many solos were outstanding, every note was intended to advance an ecstatic sensibility.

The only thing missing at Thursday’s show was an audience.  Not counting the venue’s staff or the members of the other three bands on the bill- a power trio led by Jered Mattson of The Mattson 2, the electro-funk duo Kid Pari and the plugged-in singer-songwriter Meyadi- a dozen Kansas Citians heard a tantalizing sample of a flourishing future.

Now’s the Time: Stephen Martin

Stephen Martin, one of Kansas City’s finest young musicians, will lead bands at Black Dolphin on Saturday, April 30, and Friday, May 6. The saxophonist is likely to showcase material from his impressive new album High Plains. He’ll be joined by pianist Brant Jester, bassist Sam Copeland and drummer John Kizilarmut on April 30. Pianist Andrew Ouellette, bassist Sam Copeland and drummer Brian Steever will accompany Martin on May 6.