Album Review: Vinny Golia, Dan Clucas, Kevin Cheli and Seth Andrew Davis- Orchid

An area music enthusiast recently insisted my embrace of new music necessarily meant that I no longer cared about the mainstream jazz performed in Kansas City. It’s simply not so. Plastic Sax consistently covers conventional, swing-oriented jazz.

Nonetheless, the April 4 release of Orchid validates my big ears. The tenacity of a small coterie of Kansas City renegades reasserts Kansas City’s status as a meaningful contributor to the adventurous fringe of improvised music. An outline of the album’s backstory follows.

The Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society has hosted dozens of concerts in Kansas City by touring musicians since its formation about four years ago. The collective presented separate concerts by two renowned California based musicians- trumpeter and violinist Dan Clucas and woodwind master Vinny Golia- in 2023. St. Louis percussionist Kevin Cheli of St. Louis is a more frequent participant at these events.

Seth Andrew Davis, a co-founder of the collective, joins those musicians on Orchid, an exhilarating session recorded in Los Angeles 20 months ago. The Kansas City based Mother Brain Records released the album. The mastery of the improvisors make much of Orchid seem composed. Passages of “Cloud” even echo Eric Dolphy and Freddie Hubbard.

Confidently issuing electric glurts and skizzles, Davis clearly belongs among the rarified company. While the free jazz of Orchid is decidedly an underground phenomena, the album is a significant milestone in the annals of Kansas City’s artistic counterculture.

Now’s the Time: The Count Basie Orchestra

Organizers are promoting The Count Basie Orchestra’s concert at the Music Hall on Wednesday, April 30, as the world’s biggest event on International Jazz Day. Alas, the current ticket availability at Ticketmaster tells a different story. Even if it plays to a sea of empty seats, the band led by Scotty Barnhart is certain to swing.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Nina Cherry ​​explores Jackie Myers’ new album.

*Michael McClintock chatted with Joe Dimino.

*Local television station personalities visit the American Jazz Museum.

Album Review: Michael McClintock- Here and There

A passionate subset of Pat Metheny enthusiasts favor the Lee’s Summit native’s subdued solo guitar albums. Beloved recordings such as 2003’s One Quiet Night and last year’s MoonDial showcase the guitarist’s penchant for sensitive meditations.

Those listeners will relish Michael McClintock’s new album Here and There. McClintock, an expansive guitarist born in Neosho, Missouri, is cut from the same cloth as Metheny. McClintock is best known for his work in Brazilian and Cuban contexts, but Here and There consists largely of contemplative Metheny-esque instrumentals

The title of “From Topeka to Zurich” alludes to McClintock’s life as a globetrotting musician. The heartland folk-jazz composition possesses enough sophistication to resonate in Europe’s most cultured cities. The melodic “St. Matthew” sounds like an enchanted music box.

Given McClintock’s specialty, it’s odd that “Matancera” is Here and There’s only unsuccessful track. The jaunty workout feels out of place amid the otherwise serene recording that’s both emotionally soothing and intellectually invigorating.

Now’s the Time: James Singleton

Mike Dillon performs with bassist James Singleton and drummer Earl Harvin at Greenwood Social Hall on Sunday, April 20. Dillon goes gonzo on vibraphone in the embedded Singleton music video.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Joe Dimino shared footage of Bob Bowman and Bobby Watson at the Blue Room.

Concert Review: Helen Sung and Bach Aria Soloists at the Folly Theater

Plenty can go wrong at one-off, cross-genre collaborations. Performances of this ilk can be stilted, fussy and worse still, boring. A collaboration between the New York based jazz pianist Helen Sung and Kansas City’s chamber music ensemble Bach Aria Soloists dodged those traps at the Folly Theater on Saturday, April 5.

An audience of more than 300 was entertained by the charming tone of the baroque-meets-jazz experiment. (I paid $33.50 for a seat in the upper balcony.) Much like an elevated variety show, the casual approach staved off priggishness. 

Separate segments featured torch songs, solo piano, a take on Bach with swinging harpsichord and a four-movement suite commissioned by Bach Aria Soloists. Sung explained the latter composition was inspired by Charles Mingus, but the work was infused with echoes of Chick Corea classics like “Spain.”

The great misfortune of the concert was its timing. Habitues of the Folly Theater were thrilled at a March 7 recital by arguably the world’s finest classical pianist and violinist. An eminent jazz band’s homage to Keith Jarrett played the room March 15. While Sung and Bach Aria Soloists didn’t match that level of artistry, their presentation was much more fun.

Now's the Time: Bob Bowman

Bob Bowman is back in town. The storied bassist’s ​​bustling schedule in the Kansas City area includes an appearance at the Blue Room on Saturday, April 12.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Joyce Smith provides an update on the uncertain future of Westport Coffee House.

Album Review: Jackie Myers- What About the Butterfly

Witnessing the transformation of Jackie Myers from a peripheral figure on Kansas City’s jazz scene to one of the region’s most compelling artists has been extraordinarily gratifying. Quietly upping her game in incremental steps, Myers’ resolute work in recent years is reaping dividends. 

On any given night, Myers applies her talents in a variety of contexts in Kansas City cafés, restaurants and barrooms. The variety of sounds- pop, rock, blues and, yes, jazz- coalesce on What About the Butterfly. The new album marks the culmination of a remarkable metamorphosis. 

Not only is What About the Butterfly superior to Myers’ previous recordings, the album makes most jazz-rooted efforts seem unimaginative and simplistic. Her ambitions extend well beyond conventional Kansas City jazz.

Support from elite collaborators including Bobby Watson helps the album compare favorably to the arty pop of Laura Nyro, the contemporary soul of Cory Henry and the fastidiousness of Jacob Collier. Rarely has Kansas City been the setting for a more pleasing musical glow-up.

Now’s the Time: Iver Cardas

The Norwegian guitarist Iver Cardas will be joined by the top-tier Kansas City musicians Pete Fucinaro, Jeff Harshbarger and Ryan Lee at the Ship on Thursday, April 10.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Lonnie McFadden is the subject of an 18-minute documentary created by a cable television travel channel.

*Bob McWilliams of Kansas Public Radio was honored by the state of Kansas.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Jackie Myers and Scotty Barnhart.

*From a press release: The KU School of Music is proud to announce that Keegan Kaiser is the recipient of The Presser Foundation’s 2024-25 Undergraduate Scholar Award. The Award is designed to encourage and support the education of a music student who has achieved a high level of musical and academic excellence, demonstrated leadership and service, and contributed to an inclusive community…. “Keegan has been the lead alto saxophonist in KU Jazz Ensemble I since the beginning of his freshman year,” says Gailey. “During that time, the band has won three consecutive DownBeat Student Music Awards in the category of best college jazz ensemble in the United States and also was selected as a finalist at Wynton Marsalis’ Rudin Jazz Championship at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where Keegan was also recognized as the most outstanding musician on any instrument at the event.”

Album Review: Bob James and Dave Koz- Just Us

"Nautilus" is one of the greatest artistic achievements of the 20th century. But what would happen if the pungent funk and lavish production were peeled away from the signature sound of the Marshall, Missouri, native Bob James?

Just Us, the new album by James and saxophonist Dave Koz, indicates melody is king. In a modest way, Just Us’ eleven acoustic duets are just as satisfying as James’ plush disco jazz of the 1970s.

The octogenarian’s unquestioned jazz chops pair nicely with Koz’s tart alto and soprano saxophones tones on a mix of original material like "Sommation" and "T W O" and standards including "All the Way".

The spare setting accentuates the sentimental streak associated with both artists. James’ responsibility for loads of saccharine dreck can’t be denied. The purity of Just Us, however, results in mature tenderness rather than repellent schlock.

Now’s the Time: RSS Trio

The new video for RSS Trio’s “Searching” is one second shy of 4:20. The lapse represents a missed opportunity to correspond with the song’s unmistakably wavy intent. The band plays the late shift at Green Lady Lounge on Friday, March 28.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*A University of Kansas press release publicizes Eddie Moore’s latest album.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Anita Dixon-Brown.

*OJT is featured in the most recent Live at Green Lady Lounge program on Kansas Public Radio.

Concert Review: The Branford Marsalis Quartet at the Folly Theater

A storied American band played a European form of jazz at the Folly Theater on Saturday, Mary 15. The Branford Marsalis Quartet’s uncharacteristically continental ninety-minute concert was a high-concept triumph.

The band reimagines Keith Jarrett’s 1974 album Belonging on its forthcoming album on Blue Note Records. Even when the band wasn’t previewing material from Belonging, the distinctive tone of the ECM Records recording permeated the performance. 

The singular American pianist Jarrett was joined by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, Swedish bassist Palle Danielsson and Norwegian drummer Jon Christensen on Belonging. Marsalis’ channeling of Garbarek provided the audience of about 1,000 a highly refined but undeniably peculiar experience. (I paid $42 for my ticket.)

Even when Marsalis switched to Ben Webster mode on vintage blues selections like “There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth the Salt of My Tears,” he and the band retained a sense of cool reserve.

Pianist Joey Calderazzo seemed to enjoy offering new insights into Jarrett’s legacy. As always, the superlative bassist Eric Revis impressed. The absence of Justin Faulker, the quartet’s current drummer, resulted in accidental entertainment.

Realizing that the frequent admonishments of drummer David Hawkins made by the three veterans were visible to the audience, Marsalis explained Hawkins was playing his second gig with the band. Hawkins, a drummer with deep Kansas City ties, didn’t seem fazed by the hazing. In fact, his powerhouse attack was welcome.

Carl Allen and Houston Smith of Kansas City joined Marsalis and Calderazzo for the encore. Calderazzo’s son sat next to his father. The child looked alternately awed, baffled and delighted. His was precisely the right reaction to the slightly disorienting but entirely wonderful concert.

Now’s the Time: Helen Sung

Pianist Helen Sung often explores the intersection of jazz and classical music. On Saturday, April 5, the native Texan will collaborate with the Kansas City chamber music group Bach Aria Soloists at the Folly Theater. Portions of the concert will likely resemble the performance in the embedded video.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*Kansas Public Radio’s Live at Green Lady Lounge program aired a performance by the Sam Platt Trio last week.

Concert Review: Dawson Jones at Green Lady Lounge

While the Phoenix has long served up jazz-ish brunches, Green Lady Lounge recently resumed offering performances of undiluted jazz on Saturday mornings. Saturday appearances by vibraphonist Dawson Jones currently run from 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. 

With no televisions, bright lights or rambunctious children to interfere with recovery from Friday night revelries, Green Lady Lounge is an ideal place to ease into Saturday. The heavenly sound of vibraphone provides a comforting soundtrack for indulging in the hair of the dog or merely sipping coffee.

Dawson’s conception differs from the approaches taken by the prominent Kansas City vibraphonists Mike Dillon, Isaiah Petrie and Peter Schlamb. Accompanied by bassist Andrew Voggesser on March 8 and saxophonist Pete Fucinaro on March 15, Dawson’s sublime sound is reminiscent of Gary Burton.

Voggessor’s aggressiveness waylaid any opportunity for tweeness on material including an imaginative contrafact of Charlie Parker’s “Confirmation.” A week later, Fucinaro tackled a contrafact of “How Deep is the Ocean” as if his life depended on it.

The performances merited rousing ovations. Yet only a pair of diehards showed up to the opening sets. Not only were the regulars present for an experience unique to Kansas City, they knew that the good times were just getting started. The room gradually fills up before the final notes are played at 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

Now’s the Time: Matt Villinger

Matt Villinger is preparing for the release of an album by his powerhouse plugged-in band All Night Trio. Yet it’s highly unlikely that the versatile keyboardist and bandleader will showcase material like "All Faded" during his noon recital at Polsky Theatre on Tuesday, March 18.