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

Show: Matt Wilson's Arts and Crafts

Friday, April 20, 2007 @ The Blue Room

Despite the cover charge and bar tab, it felt more like a house party.

Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts played three solid sets of top-shelf jazz last Friday at the Blue Room. In the two long breaks in between, the band milled among the tables glad-handing the well-wishers. Arts & Crafts trumpeter Terrell Stafford chatted with local pianist and singer Pamela Baskin-Watson. Local bassist Gerald Spaits worked the room. The Folly's Doug Tatum hung out in a corner with Columbia promoter Jon Poses plotting next year's jazz series at the Folly. A group of hepsters from the UMKC Jazz program (I'm just guessing, they could also be from Jim Mair's jazz program at KCK Community College) called out requests that were honored. Organ-meister Ken Lovern floated in and back out.

In the midst of it all, beer in hand was our host, Matt Wilson. Wilson is a tall job. He looks like the human you'd get if you combined Al Franken and Tim Robbins. He laughs easily on stage and off the high spirits seem to be contagious. Keyboard wizard Gary Versace got out his accordion. Bassist Dennis Irwin told a joke and later brought out his clarinet for a couple numbers.

There's good reason for Wilson to feel comfortable around here. Though he lives in New York now, Wilson grew up in Central Illinois and went to college in Wichita where he studied with Dr. J.C. Combs. I overheard him say he's got family in Springfield and Neosho.

The Arts & Crafts approach, according to Wilson, is using whatever is at hand to express yourself. For Wilson this applies applies as much to repertoire as to instrumentation. The band covered everything from Thelonius Monk to Bossa Nova to Jackie Byard to eclectic originals like "Free Range Chicken." "Chicken" is, by the way, the first time I've heard bubble wrap employed in a jazz setting, but then I don't get out much. The everything-AND-the-kitchen-sink approach covers over a multitude of distractions: when the credit card terminal at the bar went off during "Chicken" it sounded like it was right on cue.

Wilson employed both matched and trad grips, used both ends of his drumsticks, the window sill and what looked like a shoelace full of metal bits on the cymbal. Stafford used a series of mutes including a red plumber's helper to broaden the palette of his trumpet. You might expect a horn player to be the odd man out in this kind of setting, but the arrangements and Stafford's rhythmic attack kept him very much in the mix.

For me the standout of the evening was keyboard player Gary Versace. He traded between the piano the Hammond B3 throughout the night, counting the steps at Wilson's request ("...9, 10, 11 and done!"). Versace is the newest member of the group, taking over for founding pianist/organist Larry Goldings. His work at the organ in particular added an almost mystical sheen to the often antic proceedings.

Wilson has stated often that improvisational jazz is about finding the moment. An apt illustration of this came in the third set. Versace had moved from the piano to the organ as Stafford introduced the original tune "Lester," a tribute to Lester Bowie. He sat staring at his charts (he is the new guy after all) then he whispered to Wilson, "I think accordion!" Wilson half nodded and half shrugged. Versace moved over to get his squeezebox and away he went. A moment later Wilson was grinning like a loon. It was definitely the right call.

More info
The Arts & Crafts Myspace page

Set Lists
We See (Monk)
The Scenic Route*
The Bat (Pat Metheny)
Rejoicing (Ornette Coleman)
Love Walked In

Clarinet/Accordion duet
Cuban Carnival Song
Tenderly
Free Range Chicken*
Beija Flor
We'll Be Together Again (Frankie Lane)

Confirmation (Charlie Parker)
Lester (for Lester Bowie)*
Aluminum Baby (Jakie Byard)
In Touch With Dewey*

*Wilson original

KC Alert: Matt Wilson

[Note: Video updated 01 Feb 08]

Hotshit drummer Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts ensemble is coming to the Blue Room on Friday (April 20) and the show is definitely worth checking out. Wilson is touring in support of a new album Arts and Crafts, just out on Palmetto.

To get a taste of what to expect, check out the eccentrically framed video of "The Scenic Route," captured in February at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival in Elmhurst, Illinoize. The Arts and Crafts group features of M@ (that's his new symbol) on skins, Terell Stafford on trumpet; Dennis Irwin, on the doghouse and Gary Versace, being heroic on the Hammond B3.

Versace should be as much fun to see as Wilson. They both did amazing work on Dan Balmer's recent Thanksgiving album. And Versace also lent his magic fingers to The Places You'll Go
(Songlines), a fine album by featuring guitarist Brad Shepik. He's taking the Hammond, that workhouse of the blues, to fascinating new places. Definitely not Butter For Yo Popcorn.

Terell Stafford, by the way, has a new album out: Taking Chances - Live at the Dakota (released March 13 on MaxJazz).

Kevin Mahogany in KC

Kevin Mahogany is a wonder to me. He seems to be able to approach almost any style of popular music and make it his own: the blues, bebop, Motown, Mingus and more.

He's returning to his hometown next week to perform a benefit concert at the Blue Room in the 18th & Vine Jazz district for the Euphrates Gallery.

I'm trying to set up an interview with the "Kansas City Cyclone" himself that would air on KCUR at some point. More on that later. In the meantime, enjoy this performance with the Ray Brown Trio.

(Can you really blame the drummer for looking a little intimidated?)