Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
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.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*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.”
The Top Performances of 2024
Original image of Seth Davis, Kwan Leung Ling, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verploegh at 7th Heaven by Plastic Sax.
The Top Jazz Performances of 2024 by Kansas City Musicians
1. Peter Schlamb at the Ship
Plastic Sax review.
2. Rev. Dwight Frizzell’s Bridge at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram clip.
3. Rev. Dwight Frizzell’s Heliophonie at Charlotte Street Foundation
Plastic Sax review.
4. Steve Cardenas, Forest Stewart and Brian Steever at Westport Coffee House
Plastic Sax review.
5. WireTown at Green Lady Lounge
Instagram clip.
6. Seth Davis, Kwan Leung Ling, Aaron Osborne and Evan Verploegh at 7th Heaven
Instagram clip.
7. Jackie Myers, Matt Otto and Bob Bowman at the Market at Meadowbrook
Instagram snapshot.
8. Alber at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram snapshot.
9. Ernest Melton, Parker Woolworth, Jordan Faught and Jalen Ward at In the Lowest Ferns
Plastic Sax review.
10. Rod Fleeman Trio at Green Lady Lounge
Instagram clip.
The Top Performances of 2024 by Touring Musicians
1. Makaya McCraven at Liberty Hall
Plastic Sax review.
2. Trond Kallevåg at the Folk Alliance International Conference
Instagram clip.
3. David Lord at Farewell
Plastic Sax review.
4. Willow at the T-Mobile Center
There Stands the Glass review.
5. Trap Jazz at Concourse Park
Instagram clip.
6. Mike Baggetta and Peter DiStefano at the Ship
There Stands the Glass review.
7. Damon Smith at Westport Coffee House
Instagram clip.
8. Phill Smith and Kyle Jessen at Charlotte Street Foundation
Instagram clip.
9. Síomha at the Kansas City Irish Festival
Instagram clip.
10. David Menestres at the Bunker Center for the Arts
Instagram snapshot.
Last year’s survey is here.
Now's the Time: Jackie Myers
Jackie Myers is one of Kansas City’s most in-demand musicians. Her calendar indicates she’s at Chaz on Thursday, July 11, at the 1909 Club on Friday, July 12, and at Ophelia’s on Saturday, July 13. She’s featured at the Blue Room in the embedded video.
Now’s the Time: Jackie Myers
The new season of Johnson County Community College’s free jazz recital series opens with a noon performance by Jackie Myers on Tuesday, February, 20. The vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader has become an esteemed component of Kansas City’s music scene since relocating from Austin several years ago.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Aaron Diehl’s adaptation of Mary Lou Williams’ orchestration of Zodiac Suite was released by Mack Avenue last week.
*Joe Dimino shared footage of the Jackie Myers Trio performing at KC Bier Co.
*From a press release: On May 15, 1953, five of jazz’s most influential musicians – Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Max Roach, and Bud Powell – gathered at Toronto’s Massey Hall for what would result in their first and only known recording as a quintet. While only a small audience was able to experience it in person, this historic evening was captured on tape. The resulting album, The Quintet: Jazz at Massey Hall, would become one of the genre’s most essential and celebrated releases. Now, Craft Recordings commemorates the 70th anniversary of this singular concert (2023) with Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings, a definitive collection that presents the entirety of the evening’s recorded material by the members of this quintet. Arriving November 17 and available for pre-order today, the 3-LP, 2-CD and digital release features meticulous 24-bit audio restoration and remastering…
*From a press release: Longtime Kansas City jazz guitar hero Danny Embrey is releasing his first recording of new music under his name since 1988… Bassist Gerald Spaits and drummer Brian Steever join Danny on this freewheeling live recording. The compositions are mostly by Danny with a couple by Gerald Spaits and one each by Brian Steever and Kansas City piano legend Russ Long… The performances on this recording were captured live at Green Lady Lounge earlier this year. Danny leads a trio in the downstairs Orion Room every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30, and has done so for several years now. CD Release Event on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 7:30 pm in the downstairs Orion Room at Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand, Kansas City, Missouri. The show lasts till 10:30, but the first set will include many of the new tunes from the CD and stories about their origin… CDs will be available for $10 each at Green Lady Lounge on the day of the show… Digital copies will be available as of October 2 on all major streaming platforms.
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*A blogger reviewed Bobby Watson’s concert at Yardley Hall.
*The Defender offers an unconventional perspective of Kansas City’s jazz heyday.
*Seth Davis is characterized as an “improv-aholic” in his appearance on Classical KC’s Sound Currents program.
*A Jackie Myers gig was documented by Joe Dimino.
*Tweet of the Week: NPR Music- For nearly a century, jazz musicians have debated what gives songs that swing feel. The secret may lie in subtle nuances in a soloist's timing. (link)
Confirmation: Weekly News and Notes
Original image of Judith Shea’s “Storage” by Plastic Sax.
*Rod Fleeman discussed his new album with Steve Kraske on KCUR’s Up to Date program.
*Nina Cherry caught up with Marilyn Maye.
*A television station reports on concerns related to the latest round of development plans for the Jazz District.
*Snippets of a Jackie Myers performance at Ophelia’s were captured by Joe Dimino.
*More than 500 albums received votes in the 17th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll. Kansas City is represented by Bobby Watson’s Back Home in Kansas City (#106), Steve Cardenas’ Healing Power: The Music of Carla Bley (#125), Pat Metheny’s Side-Eye NYC (#347) and Hermon Mehari’s Asmara (#414). My ballot is here.
*No Kansas City establishments are among the 106 venues listed in Downbeat’s 2023 International Jazz Venue Guide.
*Tweet of the Week: StrayhornProject- Congratulations to Caden Bradshaw from Kansas City, winner of our ‘Strayhorn; An Illustrated Life’ book raffle. Caden is an up and coming jazz pianist himself. We will continue to wish him well on his musical journey! (photo)
On the Market
Original image by Plastic Sax.
I’ve spent several carefree Friday afternoons at The Market at Meadowbrook this year. The cafe attached to The Inn at Meadowbrook in Prairie Village features live music from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every Friday. Most of the entertainers in the family-friendly setting perform jazz. Outings by small groups led by Adam Galblum and Jackie Myers have been particularly rewarding. Alas, not every booking is commendable. The efficient staff and excellent food offer consolation when the music is inferior. On those occasions, watching affluent travelers check into the tony hotel is sufficiently entertaining. Although I don’t benefit from the high-dollar transactions, the ingrained sound of a ringing cash register is music to my ears.
Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes
Original image by Plastic Sax.
*Aryana Nemati, Jackie Myers and Carly Atwood pay tribute to Charlie Parker compositions at the Kansas City Museum.
*The streaming performances of pianist Mark Lowrey caught the attention of KCUR.
*Tweet of the Week: Warta Jazz- Trombonis asal Kansas City Brian Scarborough merilis album SunFlower Song (link)
Confirmation: Weekly News & Notes
Original image of Gary Giddins’ Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker by Plastic Sax.
*Eddie Moore, Hermon Mehari and Jackie Myers are among the musicians paying tribute to Charlie Parker in an episode of Eight One Sixty.
*Television news stations reported on area Charlie Parker celebrations here, here and here.
*The New York Times lists the best ways to observe the centennial of Charlie Parker’s birth.
*Marcus Lewis chatted with Joe Dimino.
*The Kansas City Star reports that Johnson County Community College is rescheduling its fall concerts. The slate included an appearance by Larry Carlton.
*Tweet o’ the Week: Kansas City PBS- Just in case you haven't heard: On the centennial of Charlie "Bird" Parker's birth, we're taking a look back at the 21 years #Bird spent in #KansasCity and his lasting impression on present-day #KC jazz. Take our word for it, you don't want to miss this premiere! August 29!