Folly Jazz News

By the time most of you are reading this, the 2008- 2009 Folly Jazz Series will already have opened with the legendary Dave Brubeck’s performance on Thursday, October 2nd. At the time of this writing, my crystal ball tells me that it is going to be (was) a wonderful concert!

Vibraphonist/composer Stefon Harris and his Quintet will appear on Saturday, November 22. Stefon’s dazzling virtuosity and artistry have propelled him into the forefront; he has been heralded as “one of the most important young artists in jazz” by the Los Angeles Times. Harris earned back to back to back Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Album including The Grand Unification Theory (2003), the 2001 release of Kindred (Blue Note) and his 1999 release of Black Action Figure (Blue Note) for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. In addition to leading his own band, Stefon has recorded as part of The Classical Jazz Quartet, a series of jazz interpreted classics with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, and Lewis Nash. He has also recorded and toured with many of music’s greatest artists, including Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Buster Williams, Kenny Barron, Charlie Hunter, Kurt Elling, Cyrus Chestnut, Steve Coleman, and Steve Turre among many others.

Singer Roberta Gambarini will appear on Saturday, December 13. The Boston Globe has stated that “Gambarini is a true successor to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae.” Roberta was born in Italy and began listening to jazz as a very young child. While still in her teens, she was a finalist in a national jazz competition on TV, leading to performance opportunities at jazz festivals throughout Italy. She has performed in jazz broadcasts on the Italian radio and TV channels and recorded since 1986 both under her own name and as a guest. In 1997, she worked with French Hammond organ player Emmanuel Bex, touring jazz clubs throughout Italy. In 1998 she moved to the US to attend the New England Conservatory in Boston. Soon after her arrival she commanded the attention of the jazz community with an impressive third place finish in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition. She has performed with Michael Brecker, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones, Christian McBride, and Toots Thielemans. The John Scofield Trio will appear on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Scofield is a great jazz improviser who combines elements of post-bop, funk and rock. He made his recording debut with Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker, and was a member of the Billy Cobham-George Duke band and also the Gary Burton Quartet. He set out as a bandleader in 1978 and later worked with Miles Davis in the mid 1980s. Scofield has recorded over 30 albums including those with Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau, and Mavis Staples, among others.

Kevin Mahogany’s Kansas City Revue featuring the Music of Big Joe Turner, co-starring the Godfathers of Groove, Red Holloway, and Kathy Kosins will take over the Folly stage on Saturday, February 28. The Godfathers of Groove are comprised of Hammond B3 organist Ruben Wilson, guitarist Grant Green, Jr. and drummer Bernard Purdie. It should be a blast!

The Terence Blanchard Quintet will return to the Folly stage on Saturday, April 4, 2009. Born and raised among the jazz greats of New Orleans, trumpeter Blanchard honed his skills in the early ‘80s in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. In addition to his brilliant trumpet skills, Terence has flourished as an important composer. In particular, his film scoring work has received critical acclaim (Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, Barbershop). Earlier this year, Blanchard was awarded the Grammy for “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album” for his epic A Tale of God’s Will: A Requiem for Katrina. The album is a tour de force featuring music from and inspired by the Spike Lee documentary When The Levees Broke.

Closing out the season will be our Folly Jazz Spotlight feature, in which an emerging artist makes his/her Kansas City debut. Appearing on Saturday, May 16, we are happy to introduce Kansas City to the singing bass player, Esperanza Spalding. She holds the distinction of being the youngest faculty member (at age 20) in the history of Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Esperanza has worked with notable artists that include Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Michel Camilo, Dave Samuels, Stanley Clarke, Patti Austin, Donald Harrison, among others. The release of her latest CD has already resulted in recent TV appearances on “David Letterman” and “Jimmy Kimmel”.

Discounted Folly Jazz Series subscriptions are available and regular single ticket prices range from $15 - $40. Members of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors are eligible to receive special discounts. For more information call the Folly Theater, 816-474-4444 or visit our website: www.follytheater.com.

Doug Tatum is Executive Director of the Folly Theater