by Doug Tatum

The 2004 - 2005 Folly Jazz Series

Ray Vega

The 2004-2005 Folly Jazz Series will open on Saturday, October 2, with the Latin Jazz All Stars , featuring seven masters of the genre. T his dynamic band includes pianist Hilton Ruiz, flutist Dave Valentin, trumpeter Ray Vega, saxophonist Jorge Castro, bassist Yunior Cabrerra, and percussionists Giovanni Hidalgo and Steve Berrios. Each possesses impeccable jazz credentials, having come up through such legendary Latin bands such as Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto and Mario Bauza, among others.

Gary Burton's “Generations” Quartet will appear on Saturday, October 30. B urton 's amazing mastery of the vibraphone has been the hallmark of a career that has spanned over four decades. His five Grammy Awards and 13 Grammy nominations cross multiple categories and attest to the high regard his music has achieved among his peers. His latest CD, Generations (Concord Records), features 17-year-old guitarist Julian Lage, who is highlighted in this season's Folly Jazz Spotlight, which is our annual pick of a rising jazz talent making his or her Kansas City premiere. If you saw the Grammy Awards' youth jazz band segment that was featured three or four years ago, Julian Lage was the guitarist in that band (and Eldar Djangirov was the pianist).

The Benny Golson Quartet will take the Folly stage on Friday, December 10. Golson is an indisputable master of the tenor saxophone, having performed with a stellar list of jazz greats that include Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, and Art Blakey, among countless others. Equally renowned as a composer, his jazz standards include Killer Joe, I Remember Clifford, Along Came Betty, Stablemates, Whisper Not , and Blues March . His prolific writing includes scores for hit TV series and films that include M*A*S*H, Mission Impossible, and the theme for Bill Cosby's last television series. Most recently, Benny Golson has added ‘actor' to his list of accomplishments, with an appearance in the film, “The Terminal”, starring Tom Hanks.

Delivering performances that virtually define charm and elegance, the Marian McPartland Trio will appear on Saturday, January 22. McPartland's legendary virtuoso performances at the piano and her own personable style have won her international acclaim as one of the most important figures in jazz today. Marian provides an enlightening insider's view of jazz on her Peabody Award-winning program, Piano Jazz on National Public Radio. As a performer, she continues to astound audiences with her “nonchalant stylistic range and uncompromising allegiance to a deeply personal interpretation of classic songs…” (Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star )

On Saturday, February 26, Folly Jazz will present Ann Hampton Callaway , who is one of the most versatile and widely acclaimed singer/songwriters working today. Her recent CD “Signature”, features the signature songs of the great jazz legends of the 20 th century, performed with pianist Kenny Barron and guest artist Wynton Marsalis. Ann has appeared as special guest artist with Mr. Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and on a nationally televised performance with the Boston Pops. She also received a Tony Award nomination for “Best Featured Actress in a Musical” for her work in the Broadway musical hit, “Swing!”

Two-time Grammy winner Dr. John will be displaying his jazz roots at the Folly on Saturday, March 12. Universally celebrated as the living embodiment of the rich musical heritage of New Orleans , Dr. John (aka Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack) is truly a Crescent City original with his “gumbo” mix of jazz, blues, “voodoo-funk” and just rompin' good fun. His “rumba-and-boogie-spiked” piano and vocals draw inspiration from a broad musical spectrum that includes Duke Ellington, Big Joe Turner, Pete Johnson, and Professor Longhair. This show should prove to be a spicy Louisiana recipe of jazz, blues, funk, Creole, and everything else in between.

The Russell Malone Quartet will close out the Folly Jazz Series on Friday, April 15 (tax day!). Guitarist Malone has emerged as a major presence on the jazz scene over the past decade, most prominently through his recording and touring with both Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall. He also was featured in Robert Altman's 1996 movie, “ Kansas City .” A self-taught player, Malone's influences include such guitar luminaries as B.B. King Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, and George Benson. About Malone, jazz critic Leonard Feather declared, “Here is an artist who is destined to make a powerful mark in the evolution of jazz guitar.”

This season, we are introducing specially discounted “Backbeat seats” that are located in the Folly's upper balcony section, priced at $15 for any of the concerts. These seats are in the last few rows, however, I can personally attest to the fact that the acoustics up there are GREAT! You have to remember that the Folly is a small intimate theater to begin with. (With its 1,078 seats, the Folly's very last rows are comparable to being just about a third of the way back at the Midland Theater, for example.) With our new “Backbeat” offer, we hope to make the Folly Jazz Series accessible to virtually anyone interested in hearing and seeing great jazz masters perform in a live concert setting. In our efforts to build the audience for jazz, providing less expensive seats can't be a bad thing. Check it out!

For more information call the Folly Theater, 816-474-4444 or check out our website: www.follytheater.com.

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