JAM: December 2003/January 2004 Issue: Folly Jazz News

by Doug Tatum

A Proven Legend...
and a Promising Newcomer

On Saturday, December 13, the Folly Jazz Series will once again have the honor of presenting the great Jay McShann. Preceding the concert, I will have the pleasure of interviewing Jay during our "JazzTalk" discussion at 7:00 p.m. When we last did this several years ago, Jay had some really great stories to tell! In the PBS series, "The Blues," Jay was prominently featured in the "Piano Blues" episode, which was directed by Clint Eastwood. In my favorite scene from that film, Jay and Dave Brubeck were sitting side-by-side at a piano playing a blues duet. At the end of the tune, Brubeck laughs, looks at Jay and says, "Hootie, you've still got it!" Indeed, at the age of 87, Jay McShann is still going strong.

Jay McShann was born on January 12, 1916. (Several references list the year 1909, but this is incorrect.) Originally from Muskogee, Oklahoma, Jay arrived in Kansas City in 1937 after touring the Southwest with a variety of bands. In 1938, he led his own small band and soon was able to expand his group to a big band. Not too long after, an eighteen-year-old alto saxophonist named Charlie Parker joined the band. Together, they made musical history at Martin's-on-the-Plaza, which was located at 210 West 47th Street (the site of the recently-closed Fedora).

With singer Walter Brown, in 1941 Jay recorded "Confessin' the Blues," which became a national hit. Following this success, Jay's band was booked on a national tour and made an appearance in a band battle at New York's Savoy Ballroom in January 1942. Performing opposite the Lucky Millender Orchestra, the Jay McShann Orchestra with Charlie Parker as featured soloist "blew Millender off the bandstand." Over the years, Jay has remained active performing and recording, and today he is recognized worldwide as one of the finest jazz/blues stylists of all time.

Performing with Jay will be guitarist Rod Fleeman, bassist Gerald Spaits, and drummer Tommy Ruskin. At Jay's request, we are also bringing in tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson as a special guest soloist. Many jazz aficionados are familiar with Johnson's name and work, but the fact is, his playing has been heard by just about everyone exposed to any music in this country. He has been prominently featured on countless recordings by such artists as Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and The Righteous Brothers, among many others. Perhaps the most widely known recording on which his tenor saxophone has been featured is the classic rendition of Henry Mancini's, "The Pink Panther."

* * *

Each season, we present a featured "Folly Jazz Spotlight" concert, in which a rising jazz talent makes his or her Kansas City premiere. This year's pick is singer/pianist/composer Peter Cincotti, who will take the Folly stage with his trio on Friday, January 23.

Few would dispute that Cincotti (pronounced "sin-KAH-tee") is "the real deal." His piano playing is polished, he has a great voice, and he swings. Cincotti only recently turned twenty, and yet he's already played at the White House and has made several appearances on national television, including "Conan O'Brien," "Today" and "Evening at Pops." Last year, his debut CD on the Concord label was released to critical acclaim.

In the spring of 2001, Peter became the youngest performer ever to play New York's famed Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, the same venue that introduced Harry Connick, Jr., John Pizzarelli, Jane Monheit and Diana Krall to the city. Following his history-making Algonquin performance, Cincotti captured the attention of critic Rex Reed, who declared, "this much talent, polish and virtuosity in a teenager may not even be legal."

For more information or to request a flier, please call the Folly Theater at 816-474-4444. And, oh, by the way... members of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors receive special discounts!

Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater.






	Search our site:		by Doug Tatum A Proven Legend... and a Promising Newcomer On Saturday, December 13, the Folly Jazz Series will once again have the honor of presenting the great Jay McShann. Preceding the concert, I will have the pleasure of interviewing Jay during our "JazzTalk" discussion at 7:00 p.m. When we last did this several years ago, Jay had some really great stories to tell! In the PBS series, "The Blues," Jay was prominently featured in the "Piano Blues" episode, which was directed by Clint Eastwood. In my favorite scene from that film, Jay and Dave Brubeck were sitting side-by-side at a piano playing a blues duet. At the end of the tune, Brubeck laughs, looks at Jay and says, "Hootie, you've still got it!" Indeed, at the age of 87, Jay McShann is still going strong. Jay McShann was born on January 12, 1916. (Several references list the year 1909, but this is incorrect.) Originally from Muskogee, Oklahoma, Jay arrived in Kansas City in 1937 after touring the Southwest with a variety of bands. In 1938, he led his own small band and soon was able to expand his group to a big band. Not too long after, an eighteen-year-old alto saxophonist named Charlie Parker joined the band. Together, they made musical history at Martin's-on-the-Plaza, which was located at 210 West 47th Street (the site of the recently-closed Fedora). With singer Walter Brown, in 1941 Jay recorded "Confessin' the Blues," which became a national hit. Following this success, Jay's band was booked on a national tour and made an appearance in a band battle at New York's Savoy Ballroom in January 1942. Performing opposite the Lucky Millender Orchestra, the Jay McShann Orchestra with Charlie Parker as featured soloist "blew Millender off the bandstand." Over the years, Jay has remained active performing and recording, and today he is recognized worldwide as one of the finest jazz/blues stylists of all time. Performing with Jay will be guitarist Rod Fleeman, bassist Gerald Spaits, and drummer Tommy Ruskin. At Jay's request, we are also bringing in tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson as a special guest soloist. Many jazz aficionados are familiar with Johnson's name and work, but the fact is, his playing has been heard by just about everyone exposed to any music in this country. He has been prominently featured on countless recordings by such artists as Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and The Righteous Brothers, among many others. Perhaps the most widely known recording on which his tenor saxophone has been featured is the classic rendition of Henry Mancini's, "The Pink Panther." * * * Each season, we present a featured "Folly Jazz Spotlight" concert, in which a rising jazz talent makes his or her Kansas City premiere. This year's pick is singer/pianist/composer Peter Cincotti, who will take the Folly stage with his trio on Friday, January 23. Few would dispute that Cincotti (pronounced "sin-KAH-tee") is "the real deal." His piano playing is polished, he has a great voice, and he swings. Cincotti only recently turned twenty, and yet he's already played at the White House and has made several appearances on national television, including "Conan O'Brien," "Today" and "Evening at Pops." Last year, his debut CD on the Concord label was released to critical acclaim. In the spring of 2001, Peter became the youngest performer ever to play New York's famed Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, the same venue that introduced Harry Connick, Jr., John Pizzarelli, Jane Monheit and Diana Krall to the city. Following his history-making Algonquin performance, Cincotti captured the attention of critic Rex Reed, who declared, "this much talent, polish and virtuosity in a teenager may not even be legal." For more information or to request a flier, please call the Folly Theater at 816-474-4444. And, oh, by the way... members of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors receive special discounts! Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater. RETURN TO DECEMBER 2003/JANUARY 2004 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2003. All rights reserved.