Erin Keller performs at the Ship on Thursday, January 9. As with her 2023 EP Songs for Times Like These, Keller will be backed by the James Ward Band.
Now’s the Time: Morgan Faw
Morgan Faw will showcase material from his new album It Takes a Village at the Blue Room on Monday, August 22. The saxophonist performs with the James Ward Band in the embedded video. Faw will return to the Blue Room alongside Houston Smith on Friday, August 26, in a concert billed as “Ode to Bird.”
Now’s the Time: The James Ward Band
Plenty of family bands call Kansas City home. The James Ward Band is among the best of them. The trio returns to the Blue Room on Saturday, May 21. The interpretation of Marcus Miller’s “Panther” in the embedded video typifies JWB’s robust approach to contemporary jazz.
Now's the Time: The James Ward Band
In addition to participating in an auspicious concert last month, the funk, R&B and jazz luminary Bill Summers spent time jamming with locally based musicians while in Kansas City. Summers revisits the Herbie Hancock and Bernie Maupin composition “Butterfly” in a groovy collaboration with The James Ward Band. (Tip via Plastic Sax reader JW.)