KC Alert: Two for the Blue Room

In addition to the usual line up of fine local acts, the Blue Room is bringing in two special out-of-town guests in August.

On Saturday, August 11 the Bobby Watson Quartet will be joined by trumpeter Valery Ponomarev.

Ponomarev famously escaped what was then the Soviet Union in 1977 to play jazz. If that sounds like the story line of Moscow on the Hudson, you'd be right (and showing your age). Whether Ponomorov was indeed the inspiration for the movie, as is sometimes claimed, remains in doubt. What isn't in doubt is that since landing on these shores Ponomorev has gone on to have a distinguished career as a player, composer and author. Watson and Ponomarev both were members of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the late 70s and early 80s when Watson was the group's Music Director.

It should be a fine show. As numerous Horizon albums demonstrate, Bobby Watson loves to work with trumpet players.

The Watson/Ponomorev show also serves as an occasion to feature the following performance of "Wheel Within a Wheel," recorded in 1980, in Antibes (the one in France). In addition to solos by both Watson and Ponomorev, it's remarkable for the presence of two pairs of brothers, one named Marsalis (Branford and Wynton), the other named Eubanks (Kevin and Robin). They've all done well for themselves in the time since. Presiding over the event is the circus master himself, Art Blakey, resplendent in a powder blue suit with matching cowboy hat. You just know everybody in Antibes wanted one.





In case you missed Dr Lonnie Smith's appearance at the Rhythm and Ribs Festival in June, he's coming back Thursday August 23rd. The good doctor was part of the troupe that Javon Jackson brought to the festival. This time he'll be bringing a classic organ jazz trio to the more intimate confines of the Blue Room. Smith has earned his "legend" status. For a demonstration of his chops, check out the following video of Dr Lonnie, drummer Yoron Israel & guitarist Mel Henderson working over Monk's Bemsha Swing.




Both shows are $20. See you on the Vine.

The Blue Room at the American Jazz Museum
1616 East 18th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108

Hello, Mary Lou

Attention students of Kansas City (and every other kind of) jazz:

National Public Radio's Jazz Profiles has produced a fine portrait of Mary Lou Williams, "the Lady who Swings the Band." Williams is a key figure in the history of jazz, having been schooled by Jelly Roll Morton and later having schooled Thelonius Monk.

Starting with Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy, she was influential in developing the Kansas City sound. In addition to being a fine pianist with an amazing left hand, she was also a composer with a visionary sense of what jazz music could become.

If you care about jazz, you ought to know more about Mary Lou.

Radio: July 19 Jazz update - notes and links

I subtitled this Jazz Update "Hello Ladies" but looking over the selections, it could as easily be "In a Sentimental Mood." What can I say? It's summer, so sue me already.

Listen to the segment:



Artist - Sara Gazarek
CD - Return to You (Native Language)
Track - Make Me Feel This Way
More evidence for the ongoing evolution of the jazz standard. On her first album Yours (2005) Gazarek and company featured a selection of standard standards (Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye, Cheek To Cheek, You are My Sunshine, etc.) in addition to four originals. That's what you expect from a young jazz singer's debut disc. This time around the originals are still solid but the cover choices a bit more adventurous: Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney and Billy Joel. Gazarek's technique is exquisite: cool the rain in her native Seattle but tight as a snare drum. As with Erin Bode, there is much "next Norah Jones" talk, but I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

For a sample of Gazarek's live chops, check out this performance of I'm Old Fashioned.

Artist - Waverly Seven (featuring Anat Cohen)
CD - Yo, Bobby! (Anzic Records)
Track - I Guess I'm Good For Nothing But The Blues

About Anat Cohen: A native of Tel Aviv, Cohen studied at Berklee College of Music where she says became intrigued with bossa nova and other forms of Latin Jazz. She later made the inevitable move to New York where she's picked up notoriety for her reed work. She was recently voted Best Clarinetist of 2007 by the Jazz Journalists Association and this seems appropriate. Her work on the various saxes is excellent but, for me, the clarinet is where she really shines.

About The Waverly Seven: The two-disc tribute to Bobby Darin brings together some of the bright young things of the current New York scene to record songs that are at least twice if not three times as old as most of the performers. In addition to Anat Cohen, the ensemble features her younger brother, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, Joel Frahm, Manuel Valera, Barak Mori, Jason Lindner and Daniel Freedman. Scott Robinson guests on bari sax and Vic Juris on guitar. The youth factor helps out here I think. While they're not breaking any ground, they are putting a nice polish on the old ballroom.

Two numbers from the Waverly Seven's debut performance:
Nature Boy
Charade

Artist - Deborah Cox
CD - Destination Moon (Decca/EMI)
Track - I Don't Hurt Anymore
Originally from Toronto, Deborah Cox had a gajillion seller in 1998 with "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here," one of those mechanized Mariah-esque late 90s make-out songs. Here she's back with something that makes better use of her admirable pipes, a tribute to Dinah Washington. No small challenge that, but Cox is definitely up it. In fact, you have to wonder why she it's taken this long. The string arrangements are a tad gooey, but the swinging big band numbers harken back to the days of Basie and Sinatra at the Sands.

Listen: An interview with Cox on NPR's News & Notes

Artist - Hiromi's Sonicbloom
CD - Time Control (Telarc)
Track - Real Clock Vs. Body Clock = Jet Lag
And now for the palate cleanser. Hiromi Uehada, like Anat Cohen is grad of Berklee, who works comfortably in both acoustic and electric settings. And like another prodigy named Eldar, she was originally inspired to take up jazz by Oscar Peterson records. They've both absorbed other influences into their styles, while maintaining the OP flair. Hiromi's Spiral was one of my favorites of 2006. This project features a new set of co-conspirators, including guitarist David “Fuze” Fiuczynski (of the Screaming Headless Torsos, etc.) and a lot more electrification, but the results are similarly spirited.

Download yourself an EP - 6 tracks from two of Hiromi's earlier releases.

Hiromi in performance:
Time Difference
A piano duet with some guy named Chick Corea

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The next TNLD Jazz Update on Up to Date will be in the 3rd week of August (I've been promised more than 23 hours notice this time). As always, if you like these segments, please let us know. Email the show at uptodate@kcur.org.

Plastic Sax to the rescue

Good news, KC! There's a new jazz blog in town.

Omnivorous blogger/music maven Happy in Bag has launched Plastic Sax, a blog devoted to the KC Jazz scene. I've lost count, but I believe this his fourth. Under the wildly improbable pen name "Bill Brownlee," he also reviews concerts and new releases for the Kansas City Star and its music blog Back to Rockville, covering everything from kiddie pop to country and back again. And he also coaches little league. Where he finds the time, I'll never know, but heaven bless him and his fingers.

There isn't a more knowledgeable or devoted advocate for the local music scene than HIB. He puts duffers like me to shame and we are lucky to have him.

I'll be checking it regularly (and blatantly cribbing his layout ideas). You should, too.

Radio: New jazz update - Hello ladies!

Sorry for the short notice, but I'm doing another Up to Date update tomorrow featuring hot new jazz ladies.

Who

• Vocalist Sarah Gazarek and lovely lilting-ness
  
• The Waverly Seven, featuring jazz clarinetist of the year Anat Cohen
• Vocalist Deborah Cox and her tribute to Dinah Washington (no pressure there...)
  
• Keyboard phenom Hiromi Uehara, the brain and fingers behind Hiromi's Sonicbloom

When to tune in

• Thursday, July 19 at 11:50-ish Central
  

Where to tune in

• KCUR FM 89.3 on your terrestrial radio
• kcur.org on your web thingading

Updates to follow tomorrow-ish. As always, if you like these jazz segments, please let us know. Email the show at uptodate@kcur.org

E Pluribus Simpson

I only did this because emaw asked me to, but I must say I'm pleased with the result.

The site for the new Simpson's movie has a nifty avatar generator/time sucker. Have at it, if you care.

And just to fatten the post, a favorite Simpson's moment featuring Moe Szyzlak.

Also available in Spanish.

San Francisco in 1940

San Francisco was a heck of a place in 1940, as demonstrated in this little film by Harold T. O'Neal.

Note: BYO Soundtrack, there's nothing but projector clack provided here.

Which begs the question, what's your SF soundtrack? Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, The Tubes, Huey Lewis? I didn't give it a thought when I lived there, but I get a tiny pang now when I hear Journey's "Lights."