News and Notes
Jazz & Beyond presents LUQMAN HAMZA, Sat. April 5th
Join singer, pianist, and Kansas City legend Luqman Hamza and his trio, Saturday April 5th, at 7:30 PM -- in a rare concert appearance at All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Church. Tickets are only $10 at the door. All Souls is located at 4501 Walnut Street , one block east of 45th & Main in Kansas City . Contact Tom Buck at 816-931-6415 for more info.
Brad Cox Ensemble Presents Free Concert
The Brad Cox Ensemble presents a free concert on Sunday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church (4501 Walnut, KCMO). The concert will present music from the Owen/Cox Dance Group's upcoming May 22-24 performances (see note below).
Featured works include “A Good Missouri Song”--a collage of ragtime, fiddle tunes, shape note songs, and Kansas City jazz, “12 Miniature Blues”--a Webernesque study of melodic and rhythmic blues motifs, “Bottom of the Big Top”--a work inspired by early twentieth-century circus music, and “Veni in Hortum Meum”--based on the evocative and sensual poetry of the 2,000 year-old “Song of Songs.”
Along with such fixtures to the Kansas City jazz scene as bassist Jeff Harshbarger, drummer Sam Wisman, and vocalist Valery Price, the concert will also feature tenor Nathan Granner, flamenco guitarist Beau Bledsoe, tango violinist Christine Brebes, classical accordionist Lidia Kaminska, and Kansas City Chorale alto Erin Keller.
In addition to the musical performance, Jennifer Owen will give a brief description of choreographic elements of some of the works, and artist Nate Fors will discuss costume design for “Bottom of the Big Top.”
More information is available at www.owencoxdance.org
Jardine's Expands Musical Offerings
Jardine's expanded their offerings a couple of years ago, most notably adding a popular Sunday evening slot to the schedule. They've now expanded their offerings further.
There are now three late night shows, with Monday night being added to the mornings that the club is open until 2:30 . The April schedule in the Monday 11:30 – 2:30 slot includes Mark Lowrey and Brandon Draper .
Thursday has become a permanent night for an early set, too. They'll usually have music from 5:00 to 7:30 on Thursdays. And note that they have added a Sunday afternoon set, also. Starting times vary on Sunday, you'll want to check the schedule on www.jardines4jazz.com .
Also at Jardine's
James Davis, a trumpeter and composer from Chicago , will bring his quintet to Jardine's on Thursday, May 15. Davis ' band will be playing the 5:30-7:30 early set that evening. He is on tour promoting his recent recording Angels of Refraction. The disc has received nice reviews.
Kansas City Ragtime Revelry Concert
Kansas City Ragtime Revelry will be presenting its first concert of the 2008 season on Sunday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m. This concert will feature three regulars of the Scott Joplin Festival: Perfessor Bill Edwards, Marty Mincer, and Adam Swanson. The cost is $20/person. Children with parents and students with student identification will be admitted free. KCRR members may purchase tickets in advance for $18 each ($20 at the door). The concert will be held at the Community Christian Church at 46 th and Main on the Plaza. Checks can be made out to KCRR and sent to Kansas City Ragtime Revelry, Inc., 1212 W. 66 th St. , Kansas City , MO 64133 .
 Rebka Sakati and Matthew Carney |
Owen/Cox Dance Group Presents Spring Performance
The Owen/Cox Dance Group will present its Spring Performance May 22-24 at the H&R Block City Stage Theater at Union Station ( 30 West Pershing Rd , KCMO 64108 ). Performance time for Thursday May 22 is 7:30 p.m. , while the Friday and Saturday performances, May 23 & 24, are at 8:00 p.m.
Works featured on the program include "A Good Missouri Song"--a collage of ragtime, fiddle tunes, shape note songs, and Kansas City jazz, "12 Miniature Blues"--a Webernesque study of melodic and rhythmic blues motifs, "Bottom of the Big Top"--a work inspired by early twentieth-century circus music, and "Veni in Hortum Meum"--based on the evocative and sensual poetry of the 2,000 year-old "Song of Songs." All music for the performance was composed or arranged by Brad Cox.
Featured dancers include such Kansas City favorites as Jennifer Owen, Rebka Sakati, Matthew Powell, and Lateef Williams. The eclectic musical ensemble includes musicians from a variety of traditions including jazz bassist Jeff Harshbarger, drummer Sam Wisman, vocalist Valery Price, classical tenor Nathan Granner, flamenco guitarist Beau Bledsoe, tango violinist Christine Brebes, classical accordionist Lidia Kaminska, and Kansas City Chorale alto Erin Keller.
Ticket prices are $15, $10 for students, seniors or groups; tickets are available at www.unionstation.org . More information is available at www.owencoxdance.org .
Spirituality and All That Jazz Presents…
On Wednesday, April 2, there will be a Special Edition of Spirituality and All That Jazz,
The Music of New Orleans with New Orleans Native Loren Pickford on Sax . Also performing will be Jim Mair on Sax, James Albright on bass, Jurgen Welge on Drums and Tim Whitmer on Piano. The concert will be held at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 47 th and Jefferson. Concert time is 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Tickets will be $7.
Kansas City Jazz Orchestra Salutes Herd
On April 25 and 26 the KCJO will present the music of Woody Herman in “Herd Again”. The Herds were one of the most progressive bands of several eras, as Woody Herman was never one to shy away from the current trends. The concerts start at 8:00 p.m. Kathleen Holeman is joining the band for the famous Herman vocal pieces. Tickets are available from the Central Ticket Office at 816-235-6222.
Byron L. “Butch” Berman, 1949-2008
Byron L. “Butch” Berman, veteran of many Lincoln rock bands and founder of the Berman Music Foundation, died Thursday, January 31 at the age of 58, after a four-month struggle with brain cancer. Butch was a tremendous friend of jazz, establishing the Lincoln-based Foundation in 1995 to help musicians and foster a greater appreciation for jazz. Since that time the Foundation sponsored numerous concerts in the Midwest . M emorials may be made to the Berman Music Foundation, c/o Anthony M. Rager, Cline Williams Law Firm, 233 S 13 th Street, Suite 1900 , Lincoln , NE 68508.
Got News? Got Notes? Please send to: Editor/JAM, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171-6181. Deadline for all submissions is the 15th of each odd numbered month.
