Album Review: The Tim Whitmer Goodtime Quartet featuring Rod Fleeman- Happy Holidays

The same qualities that occasionally threaten to make the music of Tim Whitmer offputting- relentless cheerfulness and giddy sentimentality- have produced an instant seasonal classic. Happy Holidays is imbued with the benevolent spirit associated with Christmas.

Whitmer, a Kansas City institution, is joined by guitarist Rod Fleeman, saxophonist Mike Herrera, bassist Chase McRoy and drummer Ray DeMarchi on original compositions and holiday standards. Whitmer’s trademark glee is ideally suited to the material.

The band plays in the genial bluesy Kansas City tradition throughout the live session. Sustaining his remarkable career renaissance, Whitmer sounds better than ever as he exhibits his stride piano mastery. Even so, Fleeman steals the show.

The guitarist’s delightful original composition “It’s Christmas Time Again (At Last)” is followed by his transcendent solo reading of “The Christmas Song.” A wonderful gift for Kansas City jazz enthusiasts, Happy Holidays is a swinging bundle of yuletide joy.

(The album release show for Happy Holidays is 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, at Black Dolphin.)

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*A feel-good story about an elderly Count Basie fan is shared by a TV reporter. Joe Dimino offers his perspective and documents portions of the Count Basie Orchestra’s concert at the Music Hall.

*Bassist Chase McRoy is featured by In Kansas City magazine.

*A television news outlet reports on the latest Jazz District redevelopment project.

Album Review: Tim Whitmer Good Time Quartet- Double Live at Black Dolphin

Tim Whitmer has specialized in giving jazz fans in Kansas City exactly what they’ve wanted for more than forty years. The veteran’s joy-infused, smile-inducing and foot-stomping music delivers the goods for listeners preferring old-fashioned fun to high-brow innovation.

The cheerful sensibility of the pianist and bandleader isn't static. The new album Double Live at Black Dolphin shows how his celebratory sound continues to evolve. Saxophonist Michael Herrera II, bassist Chase McRoy and drummer Ray DeMarchi match Whitmer’s exuberance while avoiding excessive sentimentality.

“Back Alley Bluz” epitomizes the approach. Herrera’s slow, stirring solo and Whitmer’s evocation of Jay McShann on the original composition are conclusively Kansas City. “Brookside Boogie” and “Basie’s Back in Town” are similarly buoyant. Yet the album isn’t a nonstop party. A refreshed reading of “Dancing with Theresa” is among the solo piano statements adding depth to the nearly two-hour recording. 

Whitmer frequently quotes the phrase “these are the good old days” in his social media posts. In this instance, the axiom is spot-on. City Light Orchestra’s classic 1984 album Raised Spirits excepted, Double Live at Black Dolphin is the definitive Whitmer album.

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The album release party for Double Live at Black Dolphin will take place at Black Dolphin from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m on Saturday, November 2.