Two Chicago noisemakers- drummer Alexander Adams and guitarist Jeff Goulet- perform at Grand Avenue Temple on Friday, August 1. The like-minded Kansas City musicians Seth Andrew Davis, Shanté Clair and Krista Kopper are also part of the bill.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*The misspelling of the headliner’s name on the flyer for the KC Blues and Jazz Festival was corrected in recent days. Elsewhere, recordBar’s new Play Loud Fest in September includes a rare performance by the People’s Liberation Big Band.
Brigadoon
Original image by Plastic Sax.
“Almost Like Being in Love,” the standard once interpreted by the Kansas City trailblazer Charlie Parker, originally appeared in Brigadoon. The musical is set in an enchanted realm that’s almost entirely cut off from the rest of the world.
The results of two new surveys- The 73rd Annual Downbeat Critics Poll and the 20th Annual Francis Davis Critics Poll: 2025 Midyear- suggest Kansas City is the jazz equivalent of Brigadoon.
Just as few locally based artists make an impression on the international landscape, visits from the most recognized musicians are rare. Yet in spite of its solitude, superior jazz is performed nightly in Kansas City.
Only one album by a Kansas City based artist is among the 441 new releases receiving at least a single vote in the Francis Davis endeavor. Carl Allen’s Tippin’ came in at #24 with nine votes. Here’s my ballot.
Aside from Allen, the Branford Marsalis Quartet is the sole act with an album placing in the top 100 albums of the Francis Davis poll that has performed in Kansas City during the past 24 months. Not coincidentally, Allen joined Marsalis’ band at the Folly Theater that night. Marsalis’ Belonging landed at #7 in the poll.
Six acts associated with Kansas City- three living and one locally based- appear in DownBeat’s primary listings. (The poll’s individual voter ballots aren’t available.) The results of local interest are:
Hall of Fame: Bob Brookmeyer, 29th place
Historical Album of the Year: Charlie Parker- Bird in Kansas City, 13th place
Large Ensemble of the Year: Count Basie Orchestra, 23rd place
Alto Saxophonist of the Year: Bobby Watson, 30th place
Guitarist of the Year: Pat Metheny, 5th place
Composer of the Year: Pat Metheny, 17th place
Blues Artist of the Year: Samantha Fish, 13th place
Kansas City is also represented in DownBeat’s secondary Rising Star category:
Rising Star- Large Ensemble of the Year: People’s Liberation Big Band, 17th place
Rising Star- Trumpeter of the Year: Hermon Mehari, 18th place
Rising Star- Alto Saxophonist of the Year: Logan Richardson, 6th place
Rising Star- Baritone Saxophonist of the Year: BJ Jansen, 19th place
Rising Star- Organist of the Year: Chris Hazelton, 19th place
Rising Star- Vibraphonist of the Year: Mike Dillon, 7th place
Rising Star- Vibraphonist of the Year: Peter Schlamb, 13th place
Jazz lovers in Kansas City eager to engage with the outside world will relish poring over the results of the endlessly fascinating polls. While music discovery is “almost like being in love” for me, many locals prefer familiar sounds in their sequestered Brigadoons.
In much the same way, some of the civic boosters who repeat the old saw about Kansas City being a cradle of jazz neither know nor care about the global state of the music. And given the high quality of improvised music made in isolation locally, perhaps their blissful ignorance is warranted.
Now’s the Time: Steve Cardenas
Steve Cardenas returns to Kansas City for a couple performances next week. The guitarist appears at Westport Coffee House on Thursday, July 24, and at the Blue Room on Friday, July 25. He’ll be joined by bassist Forest Stewart and drummer Brian Steever at both shows. Cardenas duets with Lorenzo Cominoli in the embedded video.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Legends Field is slated to host the KC Blues and Jazz Festival on October 3 and 4. The lineup: Stanley Clarke (misspelled on the official flyer), Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Shemekia Copeland, Bill Frisell (with Greg Tardy, Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston), Roosevelt Collier, Harrell Davenport, Brody Buster, OJT, High Society and Jackie Myers (also misspelled on the flyer). Two-day passes are $71.50-$136.50. Single day passes are $25-$60.
*Chalis O’Neal is the subject of a feature story published by The Kansas City Star.
*The most recent episode of Kansas Public Radio’s Live at Green Lady Lounge program spotlights the new band led by guitarists Matt Hopper and Jeff Shirley.
*A television news outlet reports on an attempt to fill several empty storefronts in the Jazz District.
*From a press release: In a must-see concert to cap the month-long Spotlight: Charlie Parker celebration, renowned Kansas City trumpeter Lonnie McFadden will lead the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra in a vibrant tribute to Parker’s musical genius on Saturday, August 23 at 7 p.m. at… the Folly Theatre… Tickets, starting at $28, are available… here.
Gig Review: Nick Hmeljak, Henry Scamurra, Isaiah Petrie, Jordan Faught and Jaylen Ward at Westport Coffee House
Original image by Plastic Sax.
Kansas City’s jazz community is besieged. Prominent long-standing institutions are flailing. Intercine support groups scuffle for public and charitable funding. Most of the core audience has died of old age and has been replaced by a few dozen anomalous enthusiasts.
Yet the single most important component- indeed, the only thing that truly matters- remains strong. Wave after wave of outstanding homegrown jazz musicians have enriched Kansas City bandstands for decades. Five locally based young men upheld that distinguished tradition at Westport Coffee House on Sunday, July 6.
Trumpeter Nick Hmeljak, saxophonist Henry Scamurra, vibraphonist Isaiah Petrie, bassist Jordan Faught and drummer Jaylen Ward played energetic hard bop with vigorous integrity. Hmeljak explained that the evening was dedicated to debuting all-new original compositions by members of the sextet.
The strong material was bolstered by masterful playing. The quintet is fully capable of impressing a global audience at Smalls in New York City. Instead, ten people- all but a couple were fellow jazz musicians- paid $10 to take in the first hour-long set.
Now’s the Time: Chris Hazelton
The multi-faceted organist Chris Hazelton performs at the Blue Room on Friday, July 11. The embedded video has racked up an impressive 30,000 views.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Julie Denesha created an audio feature about the late Erin Keller for KCUR.
*Hermon Mehari chatted with Joe Dimino.
*Startland reports on $19 million of new public funding on projects in and around the Jazz District.
*Guitar Elation was featured on Kansas Public Radio’s Live at Green Lady Lounge program last week.
Album Review: John Stein- Among Friends
John Stein, a guitarist born and raised in Kansas City, made a home recording with vocalist Fay Whittaker and cellist Chris White in 1997. The recently released session is Stein’s twentieth album. The spare instrumentation and relaxed tone make the entirety of Among Friends enjoyable. Yet one track rises above genial pleasantries. Whittaker’s rich voice and Stein’s tasteful guitar beget an inspired version of “Autumn Nocturne.” Those who appreciate the classic duo of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass will be glad to have encountered it.
Now’s the Time: Brian Haas
Brian Haas, the freewheeling keyboardist who once led Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and often collaborates with Mike Dillon, will appear at Hillsiders on Sunday, July 13. Haas will be joined by Seth Davis and Evan Verploegh.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Bobby Watson is among the commentators extolling Art Blakey in a The New York Times feature.
*Joe Dimino shares footage of the Lee’s Summit Jazz Festival.
*Eboni Fondren is named an “Innovator and Influencer” by In Kansas City magazine.
*A second victim of a June 22 shooting in the Jazz District has died.
Albums Review: Austin Engelhardt, Kwan Leung Ling and James Taylor- Turnsōl Tapes Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2011. I naively believed a new day had dawned on Kansas City’s music scene. I expected the two venues in Moshe Safdie’s striking building to regularly present the world’s most important cutting-edge artists.
The institution might have used its considerable prestige to cultivate a bold new era of music appreciation in the heartland. Laurie Anderson and Philip Glass appeared at the Kauffman Center in 2012. Brad Mehldau and Christian McBride perform there in October. Yet truly adventurous bookings remain scarce.
Turnsol Books, an arts space situated catawampus to the Kauffman Center, is among the many makeshift venues in Kansas City that have filled the gap during the last 15 years. Two experimental improvised music sessions hosted by Turnsol this year have been uploaded to YouTube.
Austin Engelhardt and Kwan Leung Ling converse on Turnsōl Tapes Vol. 1. Ling, a daring suona specialist, yields his unique instrument with humor as Engelhardt wrings dark textures from an electric guitar. Percussionist James Taylor joins the party on Turnsōl Tapes Vol. 2. The three formally trained musicians add punk and avant-garde classical tactics to a vital set.
The Kauffman Center will likely never present the Art Ensemble of Chicago, David Murray, Matthew Shipp or Mats Gustafsson. Recorded in the shadow of the Kauffman Center, the two albums by Engelhardt, Ling and James Taylor are fine examples of the essential art that’s been largely absent from the moneyed institution for 15 years.
Now’s the Time: Adam Levy
Adam Levy will conduct a guitar clinic at Art House 808 in Grandview on Saturday, June 28. The program is slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Details are available here. Levy may be best known for his association with Norah Jones. He interprets Horace Silver’s “Peace” in the embedded video.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*The Lawrence Journal-World commends Mia Rasmussen’s ten-minute student film "Kansas City Jazz: A Frontier for Black Success".
*A television news program reports on a shooting that killed one man and injured five others in the Jazz District last weekend.
*Joe Dimino shared footage of a performance featuring Stan Kessler and Doug Talley and interviewed John Stein.
*Bobby Watson promoted his appearance at Dazzle in Denver.
The Complete List of Executive Directors and CEOs of The American Jazz Museum
Original image by Plastic Sax.
The decline of news reporting and the fragility of archival records in the digital age can make fact-checking and research difficult. Upon discovering a consolidated listing of every Executive Director and/or CEO in the history of the American Jazz Museum didn’t exist, I decided to create one as a public service. KC Jazz Lark was consulted in the project inspired by the recent resignation of Dr. Dina Bennett, but any errors are my own.
1995-2002 Rowena Stewart
2002-2006 Juanita Moore
2006-2007 Carol Rhodes Dyson (interim)
2007-2015 Greg Carroll
2015-2016 Ralph Reid (interim)
2016-2018 Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner
2019-2020 Ralph Caro (interim)
2020-2023 Rashida Phillips
2023-2025 Dr. Dina Bennett (interim and Executive Director)
Now’s the Time: RSS Trio
RSS Trio is a mainstay at Green Lady Lounge. The organ trio’s next gig at the bustling venue is 10: 30 p.m. Friday, June 20.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*From the American Jazz Museum: Dr. Dina Bennett, Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum, will be stepping down from her role at the end of July. Dr. Bennett has been a visionary leader whose contributions have significantly advanced our mission, from elevating our national presence to deepening our local impact in the 18th & Vine District. We are incredibly grateful for her leadership, and while she will be deeply missed, we are excited for what lies ahead in her next chapter… Dr. Bennett will remain in her position through July 2025 to support a smooth transition. The Board of Directors will soon launch a national search for our next Executive Director, someone who can guide the Museum through its next stage of growth and innovation.
*Marcus Lewis was interviewed by Hampton Stevens.
*Adam Galblum chatted with Joe Dimino.
Album Review: Eddie Moore- What Makes Us
The primary rift in the jazz universe- the treacherous gulf between mainstream convention and more inclusive sounds- has been expanding for decades. Like many Kansas City musicians of his generation, Eddie Moore rejects the false dichotomy. His latest album What Makes Us is further proof that listeners needn’t take sides in the specious conflict. As he’s done for more than a dozen years, Moore traverses the musical bridge built in large part by Robert Glasper. The six tracks on What Makes Us continue to reference contemporary developments while remaining firmly rooted in tradition. Joined by vibraphonist Isaiah Petrie, bassist Ben Tervort and drummer Jaylen Ward, Moore crafts melodic jazz with universal appeal.
Now’s the Time: Tetsuya Nishiyama
Guitarist Tetsuya Nishiyama oversees the Blue Room’s weekly jam session on Monday, June 16.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Alex Abramovitz’s band is featured in the latest episode of Kansas Public Radio’s Live at Green Lady Lounge program.
*A television news broadcast touts the construction of a parking garage in the Jazz District.