Album Review: Seth Andrew Davis, Michael Unruh and Kevin Cheli- Lowland

Wichita has entered the chat. The metropolis 200 miles southwest of Kansas City is rarely recognized as a center of musical innovation. Lowland should move the needle in new music circles.

Recorded in Wichita on December 15, 2023, the album is representative of the elite improvisation currently emanating from Stan Kenton’s hometown. Lowland features bass clarinetist Michael Unruh and was engineered by guitarist David Lord. The pair of Wichita based artists are joined by percussionist Kevin Cheli and Kansas City’s Seth Andrew Davis.

“Combustible” explodes in spectacular new directions after eight shape-shifting minutes. The trepidatious “Basin” resembles the score of a slasher flick while portions of “Mounds” sound like the prog-rock cult heroes Van der Graaf Generator at a Ken Kesey acid test.

The unruly closing track “Flint” is a radio-friendly five minutes long. Even though radio stations in Wichita are unlikely to add it to their rotations, “Flint” is a representative entry point for curious listeners willing to sample the uncommon textures the trio produces.

Concert Review: David Lord at Farewell

Getting a handle on the music of David Lord isn’t easy. The Wichita based guitarist showcases a unique conception on his 2023 album Forest Standards, Vol. 3. Is Lord filtering John Fahey through Ornette Coleman’s harmolodics? Elsewhere, he sounds like James “Blood” Ulmer interpreting Claude Debussy.

Lord echoed Thelonious Monk in a solo outing at Farewell on Saturday, March 9. Thorny and agitated, Lord’s hermetic approach resists categorization. Reverent members of an audience of 25 who paid a $10 admission charge seemed certain that Lord is among today’s most important artists.

Wearing a Depeche Mode shirt, V.Vecker preceded Lord with a mesmerizing set in which he looped riffs from his saxophone to construct swirling sonic monoliths. The evening began with the jagged power trio of Seth Andrew Davis, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verploegh.

Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes

*KCUR reported on the resignation of Rashida Phillips as the executive director of the American Jazz Museum.

*Reed Jackson investigated the Kansas origins of guitarist David Lord for The Pitch.

*Greg Carroll and Deborah Brown promoted the annual Spotlight: Charlie Parker initiative on KCUR.

*Joe Dimino interviewed Matt Otto.

*Marc Myers is on a Basie bender.