Album Review: Wire Town- Kansas City

The beautiful ballad “Tell Me Now” closes the debut album of Wire Town. No less rapturous than the collaboration of legendary guitar heroes Jim Hall and Pat Metheny, the hushed “Tell Me Now” is an outlier on Kansas City.

The eight tracks preceding “Tell Me Now” exemplify Green Lady Lounge’s signature sound: jaunty instrumental jazz rendered by elite musicians. Each of the esteemed members of Wire Town- guitarists Danny Embrey and Rod Fleeman, bassist Gerald Spaits and drummer Todd Strait- are closely associated with Green Lady Lounge.

Recorded live at the bustling Kansas City venue, the 69-minute Kansas City is a winning showcase for the considerable talents of the quartet. With the exception of “Tell Me Now,” the uptempo selections are vehicles for engaging soloing and seamless interplay.

The album’s official release show is 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, January 28, at Green Lady Lounge.

Concert Review: Randy Porter, Tom Wakeling and Todd Strait at The 1905

An uncommon occurrence was almost as impressive as the elegant music rendered by pianist Randy Porter, bassist Tom Wakeling and drummer Todd Strait at The 1905 in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, August 22. Not a single member of the capacity audience of 40 uttered a peep during the first 65-minute set.

Three elements contributed to the blissful absence of chatter: a $15 cover charge, a stern advisory not to talk before the first note was played and a requirement to order all food and drinks on a phone app.

Thanks in no small part to Strait, the music was worthy of rapt attention. Even though he spends much of his time in Portland, Strait is still recognized as one of Kansas City’s most outstanding musicians.

The joy-infused, straight-ahead swing he guided at the 1905 sounded a lot like PBT, Strait’s storied trio with Paul Smith and Bob Bowman. Alarmingly, the pristine Portland experience seems to be endangered.

Album Review: Rod Fleeman- Saturday Afternoon (Live at Green Lady Lounge)

The secret is out.  Rod Fleeman’s longstanding weekly matinee gig at Green Lady Lounge has long been one of Kansas City’s hidden gems.  The release of Saturday Afternoon (Live at Green Lady Lounge) reveals the magic of the furtive Saturday afternoon tradition to the world.

The guitarist has spent decades as one of Kansas City’s most in-demand sidemen.  He’s best known for his collaborations with Karrin Allyson, Marilyn Maye and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.  Incredibly, Saturday Afternoon is Fleeman’s first album as a leader.  

In one of the absorbing videos in which he discusses his life and career with Ken Lovern, Fleeman says “I want to sound like I’m from Kansas City.”  He’s succeeded.  Saturday Afternoons is 52 minutes of unadulterated Kansas City swing.  

Fleeman, bassist Gerald Spaits and drummer Todd Strait perform six original compositions with jubilant informality.  While Fleeman disdains flash, his solos prove that tastefulness needn’t be devoid of color.  His wit and imagination are displayed throughout.

Many readers were baffled when Fleeman was named Plastic Sax’s 2021 Person of the Year.  His low profile- exacerbated by the lack of a recording as a leader prevented the guitarist from receiving his due.  Fleeman gets an overdue turn to shine on the radiant Saturday Afternoon.

Album Review: Matt Hopper’s Agora- Live at Green Lady Lounge

The formidable reputations of three locally based mainstream jazz guitarists position the distinguished men head-and-shoulders above their peers.  Danny Embrey, Rod Fleeman and Will Matthews deserve the respect and acclaim they’ve garnered.

Matt Hopper is among the younger musicians who are actively demonstrating the future of jazz guitar in Kansas City is in good hands.  Quietly released at the end of 2021, Live at Green Lady Lounge captures the sound of the band featuring Hopper and organist Ken Lovern, percussionist Pat Conway and drummer Todd Strait.  

The recording exemplifies the distinctive sound that’s helped make Green Lady Lounge the most popular jazz venue in Kansas City.  The music performed in the room at 1809 Grand Boulevard is invariably cheerful, sweetly harmonious and assertively propulsive.

While Live at Green Lady Lounge is no exception, the 2018 recording is no ordinary guitar-and-organ album.  The quiet groove of “Marcelo’s Guitar” contains a slight intimation of psychedelic rock.  Hopper’s trippy solo elevates a slinky reading of his “Green Lady Low Down.” 

The dual tandems of Hopper and Lovern and Conway and Strait propel the ecstatic sensibility. Yet the guitarist merits the spotlight. Live at Green Lady Lounge indicates Hopper will eventually join the ranks of Embrey, Freeman and Matthews as a member of Kansas City jazz royalty.