We Kansas City people like to beat up on ourselves and lament how things could be if only...
Jazz had its heyday, we say, and that was long ago.
And now? Well, it's tough to find jazz in town and, besides, it's just so hard to get out of the house.
Well, hooey on that.
You could just as easily make the argument that jazz in Kansas City is nearly as vital as ever. At least for listeners willing to make the effort. (Then again, a chronic complaint of musicians is that there's not enough work and not enough pay, and that, sadly, might be true, too.)
Yet, consider who's making music in Kansas City these days and attracting appreciative audiences to the Blue Room, Jardine's and elsewhere: Ahmad Alaadeen, Bobby Watson, Carol Comer, Deborah Brown (just to note some hard-working local ABC and D's). On nearly any night of the week, somewhere in town, you can hear straight-ahead bop, swinging classics, introspective piano, vivacious vocals, a driving Hammond B-3 or exciting, new, fusionistic sounds.
I've spent recent weeks -- lots of hot summer days and cool nights -- catching sets here and there and reveling in the variety and vitality of the off-season scene.
On a beastly Sunday afternoon, a full house at Jardine's got samples of the wistful new CD from the stalwart and seemingly everywhere PBT Trio (and friends). The trio features pianist Paul Smith, bassist Bob Bowman and drummers Todd Strait (just visiting that day) and Tim Cabron (the second successive T of the band).
Jazz had its heyday, we say, and that was long ago.
And now? Well, it's tough to find jazz in town and, besides, it's just so hard to get out of the house.
Well, hooey on that.
You could just as easily make the argument that jazz in Kansas City is nearly as vital as ever. At least for listeners willing to make the effort. (Then again, a chronic complaint of musicians is that there's not enough work and not enough pay, and that, sadly, might be true, too.)
Yet, consider who's making music in Kansas City these days and attracting appreciative audiences to the Blue Room, Jardine's and elsewhere: Ahmad Alaadeen, Bobby Watson, Carol Comer, Deborah Brown (just to note some hard-working local ABC and D's). On nearly any night of the week, somewhere in town, you can hear straight-ahead bop, swinging classics, introspective piano, vivacious vocals, a driving Hammond B-3 or exciting, new, fusionistic sounds.
I've spent recent weeks -- lots of hot summer days and cool nights -- catching sets here and there and reveling in the variety and vitality of the off-season scene.
On a beastly Sunday afternoon, a full house at Jardine's got samples of the wistful new CD from the stalwart and seemingly everywhere PBT Trio (and friends). The trio features pianist Paul Smith, bassist Bob Bowman and drummers Todd Strait (just visiting that day) and Tim Cabron (the second successive T of the band).
For more information contact All About Jazz.
