Joe Zawinul, 1932-2007

Farewell.

Perhaps more than any other individual, Joe Zawinul is responsible for my initial interest in jazz. I'd never been exposed to anything quite like "Birdland" when the Weather Report instrumental became a radio hit in 1977. I soon discovered Jaco, Shorter and, of course, Zawinul. That led to Miles and beyond. Zawinul died today at the age of 75. It's impossible to select a single piece to accurately represent Zawinul, but "Tower of Silence" from 2002's Faces & Places represents many of his music's characteristic traits- deep groove, conceptual genre-bending and technical adroitness.

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Kansas City Click: Joe Cartwright and Gerald Spaits, two guys who have almost certainly listened to their fair share of Zawinul, are at the Majestic.

Mike Andrews- Love Is Tired

Exhausted.

A sure sign of a compulsive music acquisition problem is buying CDs that you never even open. That almost happened to Mike Andrews' Hand On String. It's been collecting dust in one of many teetering piles of neglected discs at There Stands the Glass central. It wouldn't have changed my life if I'd played it the day I rescued it from a retailer's sale bin, but no collection can have too much Harry Nilsson-influenced post-Elliott Smith pop. The imaginative production is especially notable.

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"The Ranch" kept me company as I drove across Kansas over the weekend. Between detailed ag reports, the country oldies station mostly stuck to obvious picks by Merle, the Possum, Cash and Waylon. So I about drove into a ditch when "Riding My Thumb To Mexico" blared from my car speakers. Man, it'd been years since I'd heard Johnny Rodriguez.

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Kansas City Click: The Ataris are at the Grand Emporium tonight.

The Pretenders- Criminal

Locked up.

It's Chrissie Hynde's birthday. Wanna guess her age? It's difficult for me to fathom, but she's 56 years old. The first Pretenders album was a staple of my college years. I kept buying Pretenders albums, hoping that each one would approach the quality of that first release. None did, but many contained lovely songs like "Criminal." It's from the out-of-print Mitchell Froom production Packed!.

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Wonderful Kansas City chanteuse Megan Birdsall recently received some bad news. She's seen here dissing Topeka before singing "Wichita Lineman."

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Kansas City Click: OK Jones plays a free show tonight at the River Market Brewery.

The best place to be Saturday and Sunday is the Crossroads Music Fest. From Malachy Papers to Lucero, and from Lights & Siren to Eleni Mandell, it's a rich lineup.

Luciano Pavarotti, 1935-2007

Curtains.

Music needs characters like Luciano Pavarotti now more than ever. That makes news of the icon's death even more painful. As they're being increasingly pushed aside by other mediums, classical, jazz and folk musics require flamboyant, larger-than-life ambassadors. Not to take anything away from the artistic merits of Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis or Doc Watson, but their personalities don't lend themselves to the challenge of providing warm, immediately engaging representations of their individual genres as did Pavarotti.

The Kansas City Star provides a local angle on Pavarotti's death. His 1973 "international solo recital debut" was in Kansas City. While the New York Times obituary makes for entertaining reading, it comes across as unnecessarily cruel. It asserts that Pavarotti "seemed increasingly willing to accept pedestrian musical standards," "was not an intellectual presence," and had a "dominant gift for soliciting admiration from large numbers of people."

Pavarotti's best loved work may have been Puccini's Tosca, heard here on this hit 1990 recording. He sings a triumphant rendition of the same piece here.

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Kansas City Click: I'd like to see more of Pavarotti's carefree consequences-be-damned attitude from Gretchen Wilson. She was initially billed as a wild outlaw, but Wilson seems to have been overly obsequious lately. She's at Ameristar tonight.

Greg Kihn- For Your Love

The love is over.

Let's start a Greg Kihn revival. Even when he became an MTV staple with dubious hits like "Jeopardy," I was always partial to Kihn's power pop. Not only was his music consistently catchy, it was obviously grounded in a solid understanding of rock music's history. This Yardbirds cover serves as an example. It's from the out-of-print Kihnspicuous Taste compilation. In addition to writing novels, Kihn currently toils as a KFOX jock and also has his own Live365 stream. It's "Kihn-tagious."

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Meet pianist Matt Herskowitz, Barry Manilow's new collaborator.

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Janis Martin died earlier this week. In this video clip, Martin explains how she became the "female Elvis." Her cover of Roy Orbison here is tons of fun.

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My head almost exploded when I tuned into the opening of the Kansas State-Auburn football game Saturday night. ESPN's new Saturday night theme song is a collaboration between 50 Cent, Kelly Rowland and Perry Farrell. Really.

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Kansas City Click: Keith Kirchoff has a piano recital at UMKC tonight. He'll be performing works by Derek Bermel, Ives, Ruggles and others.

Hank Jones- Lazy Afternoon

Night.

I don't yet own Hank Jones' new album with Joe Lovano. It's receiving terrific notices, and an EPK for the release convinced me that I must find a copy. (I do, however, relish their work together on this year's Billy Strayhorn tribute.) On the 89-year-old's out-of-print 1989 Lazy Afternoon he's joined by Dave Holland on bass, Keith Copeland on drums and Ken Peplowski on reeds. It's all very nice, of course, but it's the title track that's utterly brilliant.

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I'm waiting for an irate mob of Nickelback and Daughtry fans to bust down my door. They're not amused by this review of Sunday's show.

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On the other hand, concertgoers seem to think I was overly generous in my negative review of the Black Crowes' Friday night outing.

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Ali & Gipp are what's making cash registers ring in my neck of the woods.

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The moment I saw the headline- Colorado Police Link Rise In Violence to Music- I knew the story would be about Colorado Springs. It's a gritty town with startlingly varied social contrasts.

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Kansas City Click: I'm amused that the manager of this area high school marching band's MySpace account posted today's practice as a show. They're good, but I don't know if they're good enough to compel me to sit in the heat and watch them work on alignments.

Tower of Power- Give Me Your Love

Hip no more.

It's probably an anomaly; it could signal a trend. At a handful of jazz and R&B concerts I've attended in recent months, stars have explicity referenced Tower of Power. And it's true that their brand of horn-driven funk will never go away. The strength of most recent release, the already out-of-print The Oakland Zone, offers proof. Carlos Santana sits in with the band in this live performance of their most famous song.

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I continue to plug away at my lonely little Kansas City jazz blog.

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Kansas City Click: Try the Irish Fest tonight. Return Saturday and Sunday if you have a good time.

The Black Crowes hit the Crossroads Saturday.

Ginuwine does this to the Beaumont on Sunday.

Why not catch Liverpool at Santa Cali Gon Days on Labor Day? They're not the Beatles, but they're free.

Solas- When My Love and I Parted

Gone for good.

Solas, a fine Irish-American band, performs in my town this weekend at a popular Irish festival. They have their critics, but I appreciate how Solas makes short forays into new territories from their firm base in traditional music. This song is from their 2000 The Hour Before Dawn release. This video is representative of the band's vibe.

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I'm amused by Raheem DeVaughn's reworking of Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing." Download it at his MySpace page.

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Kansas City Click: The Beach Nuts are at Harry's.

The Cro-Mags- Street Justice

Jailed.

Hilly Kristal died yesterday. By the time I got around to visiting Kristal's CBGB, bands like Television and Blondie had been replaced by the likes of The Cro-Mags. The hardcore punk group's out-of-print CD reissue of The Age of Quarrel and Best Wishes is an influential collector's item today. Would the group have had an outlet for their rage without the contribution of Kristal? Probably, but it wouldn't have been the same. Here's a tinny-sounding video of the Cro-Mag's 2001 reunion at CBGB.

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I find plenty of nice things to say in my review of last night's Dave Matthews Band and Umphrey's McGee show.

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While trapped in post-concert traffic, I heard a few tracks from the new Jacky Terrasson release. Gorgeous!

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Kansas City Click: Johnny "Whiskey River" Bush is at Knuckleheads tonight.

Mark Chesnutt- Good Night To Be Lonely

Lonely no more.

The forthcoming holiday weekend is loaded with festivals. I don't know yet where I'll end up, but I could do worse than to catch Mark Chesnutt at Independence's Santa Cali Gon Days on Saturday night. Jason Michael Carroll opens. The honky tonk singer had a decent run of hits about fifteen years ago. My favorite is the summer heartbreak classic "Too Cold At Home". The song I feature from his self-titled release isn't quite as memorable, but true to the George Jones tradition upheld by Chesnutt, it also takes place in a tavern.

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My review of Alice Cooper and Whitestarr is here.

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Kansas City Click: Loren Pickford is at Jardine's.

World Saxophone Quartet- Netdown

Lost connection.

I attended a memorial service at Charlie Parker's grave yesterday. Bobby Watson, Ahmad Alaadeen, Chris Burnett and other area saxophonists ran through "Now's the Time." It put me in mind of the great World Saxophone Quartet. On the excellent post-Julius Hemphill 25th Anniversary: The New Chapter, Oliver Lake, John Purcell, David Murray and Hamiett Bluiett continue their tradition of providing the ideal balance between tradition and musical progression. It's fun to watch kids react to the W.S.Q.'s honking in this video.

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I was entertained by Alice Cooper last night. I'd almost forgotten the primal appeal of great songs like "Elected".

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Kansas City Click: Magnolia Electric Company and Golden Boots are at the Grand Emporium tonight.

Dale Ann Bradley- Last Drink of Wine

Empty.

Etta James spoiled music for me. Her incendiary show last night makes it difficult for me to enjoy anything else right now. So I thought I'd seek solace in a very different type of vocalist. One of bluegrass' most gifted performers, Dale Ann Bradley trades in subtle nuances and quiet strengths. Fans of Alison Krauss- an avowed Bradley advocate- should seek Bradley out immediately. If this song from the out-of-print East Kentucky Morning doesn't convince you of Bradley's merits, her cover of "Me and Bobbie McGee" might do the trick.

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My review of Etta James is here.

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I'm Not There? I'm so there.

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Kansas City Click: The Wreckers play a free show at Crown Center tonight.

Club Kandi is advertising a Saturday appearance by Project Pat.

Alice Cooper brings his "Psycho-Drama Tour" to the Uptown on Sunday.

Andy and Joey- Wonder No More

Solved.

Ska and reggae guitarist Jerome "Jah Jerry" Haynes died August 13. He was 86. He played on hundreds of seminal sides. I'm sure it's a gross simplification, but I've always figured that either Haynes or Ernest Ranglin played guitar on every Jamaican classic up to 1965 or so. Dozens of those hits are featured on the absolutely essential Ska Bonanza collection. While Jones probably plays guitar on this fabulous Andy and Joey selection, only a few Jamaican crate diggers know for certain. The Specials later rewrote it as "You're Wondering Now." Here's some very rough footage of Amy Winehouse singing and dancing along to the song.

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Here's an inspiring story about jazz vocalist Ed Reed. The guy did time with Art Pepper and finally managed to release his debut recording this year.

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I heard "So Hott" for the first time yesterday and I wondered why Buckcherry didn't let their vocalist sing lead on the sleazy song. It turned out to be the new Kid Rock.

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Kansas City Click: Etta James is at the VooDoo tonight.

The Pontiac Brothers- It's Alright At Home

The door's shut.

I wasted far too much of my youth balancing on a bar stool while bands like The Pontiac Brothers stumbled around on a nearby stage. A few of the bands I followed- the Long Ryders, Thin White Rope, the Pontiac Brothers and the Rain Parade- are featured in this video. The unintentional irony of Lisa from Frontier Records being interviewed in front of a record store's "cut out" sign really upsets me. Another priceless tidbit is a brief interview with folk-rock cult artist Iain Matthews, who was apparently moonlighting as an A&R guy at the time. This typical song is from an out-of-print CD reissue.

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"Pray To the Lord" is presumably going to be on Lil Wayne's next official release. It might be my favorite song of the year.

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NPR aired a interesting feature about Chinese jazz vocalist Coco Zhao last week. The sole video at YouTube leaves me skeptical.

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Kansas City Click: I'd never heard of ZZ Rose until I bumped into her at MySpace. I can't say I became an instant fan, but I'll bet she went over well at the organic farmer's market she appeared at today.

Alison Moyet- Satellite

Landed.

I liked High School Musical 2. Sue me.

It's set at a country club on summer vacation, so I expected a heightened level of romance and accordant sexual tension. I was wrong. It's a completely antiseptic document perfectly suitable for American grade schoolers. Maybe it's just me, but there is one scene that seemed to convey an unlikely homosexual theme. In the Michael Jackson-flavored "I Don't Dance," two young men compete in a jazz-dance battle. Lyrics like "I'll show you how I swing/You'll never know if you never try/There's just one little thing that stops me every time" seem open to liberal interpretration.

I'm much more comfortable with Alison Moyet singing about a "she-boy" on this song from her 1994 Essex release. Unlike the content of High School Musical 2, it's honest and direct. Here's a Moyet video from the same period.

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My friend M. uncovered a lovely version of "Waterloo Sunset" by a Vietnamese band.

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Kansas City Click: Mark Lowrey is at Jardine's tonight.

Reverend Gary Davis- Death Don't Have No Mercy

Dead.

Not that it matters to anyone but me, but I've never featured the same artist twice at There Stands the Glass. I figured that I'd reevaluate the policy after I hit 500 posts. (This is #449.) If it wasn't for this self-imposed rule, I'd feature a song from Hillstomp's new After Two But Before Five today. The band is in my town tonight. But I already spotlighted the Portland, OR, duo 16 months ago.

Rather than post a Fat Possum artist- Hillstomp are deeply indebted to R.L. Burnside- I'm invoking Reverend Gary Davis. Hillstomp surely appreciate the gloom of this Davis favorite from a live 1967 recording.

In order to best illustrate the value of Hillstomp's punk-inspired take on traditional blues, I encourage you to compare and contrast these videos. Here's Hillstomp's aggressive approach. And here's a very famous group with the exact opposite tack.

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One of my biggest musical and cultural shocks came several years ago when I joined a local jazz club and befriended the organization's younger members. Instead of finding Dolphy, Monk and Parker when I flipped through their collections, I discovered that their idea of jazz was Jon Lucien, Roy Ayers and Ronnie Laws. Lucien died Saturday. This video is typical of his style.

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Kansas City Click: According to Back To Rockville, Hillstomp and a country-fried steak can be had at the Brick's Monday matinee for $6.95.

Fela Kuti- Gentleman

Retired.

Fela Kuti died ten years ago this month. I've never previously posted bootleg material, and for all I know, this dubious disc is entirely legit and was assembled at the Fela shrine in Lagos. I know my friend M. acquired the CD the same day he visited the site and had his photo taken with Fela's daughter. The four minutes featured here is less than a third of the original 1973 recording. Here's the out-of-print full-length album.

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Go ahead and accuse me of having a man-crush on Rodney Crowell. My rave review of his Wednesday night show is here.

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Elvis with a sock! I caught some of TCM's airing of Jailhouse Rock last night. I'd forgotten that it's incredibly entertaining. The trailer doesn't quite capture the film's sublime cheese.

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I'd be, like, totally lying if I said I wasn't going to watch High School Musical 2 at least once this weekend.

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Kansas City Click: Earth, Wind & Fire are at Starlight tonight.

It appears that Ozomatli is the first of three bands performing at Crossroads on Saturday night, but they're one of today's best live acts, as evidenced by this rough fan video.

The Wild Women of Kansas City play a free Sunday evening show in Leawood.

Max Roach, 1924-2007

Goodbye.

The great drummer Max Roach died today.

I last saw Roach when he was in Kansas City in 1997. In addition to headlining a traditional concert, Roach played at a ceremony in the lobby of the Black Archives. I want to say that someone honked on Charlie Parker's Grafton- I call it the Plastic Sax- at that event, but I'm unable to verify this recollection. As There Stands the Glass readers probably know, Parker used that instrument in the famous show at Massey Hall that featured Roach on drums.

This piece from Streams of Consciousness may be the single most concise and representative example of Roach's approach. The 1977 duet with Dollar Brand (later Abdullah Ibrahim), it shows both politically-driven musicians in top form.

(Thanks to my friend Jason for delivering the sad news.)

Herb Pomeroy, 1930-2007

Farewell.

Herb Pomeroy died August 11. While he worked with a number of greats, the trumpeter may be best known for his lengthy tenure at Berklee. He's paired with clarinetist Billy Novick on This Is Always, an out-of-print ballads session from 1996. Pomeroy's eloquent playing on this Ellington tune serves as a fitting elegy.

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The latest chapter in Bruce Springsteen's dastardly plan to bleed me dry was announced today. Earlier this week, I stumbled across this rough footage of Bruce's best summer song, "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" from 1975. While it's much rougher than the officially released London video from later that year, it still wipes me out. "Them angels have lost their desire for us..."

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Too young and ignorant to grasp the significance of Elvis' death thirty years ago, I recall laughing in disbelief at the hysterical mourning of his fans. I know better now.

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Kansas City Click: The Redwalls, Mark Mallman and There Stands the Glass favorites OK Jones are at the Grand Emporium tonight.

Sugar Pie DeSanto- Do I Make Myself Clear?

Obscured.

Heads up, Amy Winehouse fans. This 1965 song by Sugar Pie DeSanto is a virtual blueprint for the English soul revivalist. With its wails, moans and threats, the performance is so tough that it'd give Diana Ross nightmares. It features Etta James, the woman who's always somewhat overshadowed DeSanto. But this gritty song, as well as "Down In the Basement," her biggest hit, have aged incredibly well. This seems to be the only DeSanto compilation of her classic work for Chess, and it's out of print.

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Kansas City is well over twice the size of Little Rock, yet I'm very familiar with the sense of independence and isolation captured in the trailer for the music documentary Towncraft.

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Kansas City Click: I'm a wimp. My multi-year string of consecutive Warped Tour attendance will be broken today. It was only 90 degrees last year on the Verizon parking lot where most of the stages are erected, and I still spent $15 on Gatorade. It'll be over 100 today. Forget it. It's too bad- I'd been looking forward to P.O.S., K-Os, Coheed and Cambria, Gallows, Pepper, Circa Survive and Tiger Army.

Ben Webster- Over the Rainbow

Evaporated.

Few have ever played as pretty as Ben Webster. That so many people are chattering in the background as Webster and pianist Kenny Drew bare their souls just floors me. I guess some things never change. The 1965 Danish session also features Nils-Orsted-Pedersen and Alex Riel. This title seems to be completely unavailable, but a second volume can be yours for $100.00. There's also a priceless video of Webster performing the same song with a different group.

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I just returned from Branson, Missouri. Here are pictures I took of the tourist town's main drag.

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The new release I'm rooting for today is Chingo Bling's They Can't Deport Us All. Here's the TV spot.

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Kansas City Click: Danny Embrey sits in with the PBT trio at Jardine's tonight.

The Nels Cline Singers- Confection

Consumed.

Maybe I'm the only person in the world who'd like to hear Pat Metheny sit in with Sonic Youth. It might result in something like Draw Breath. The inspired improvisation is much more compelling than the recent similarly-minded Frisell/Motian/Lovano releases. Nels Cline manages to seemlessly blend the sounds Duane Eddy, John Fahey, Jimi Hendrix, Elliott Sharp and Marc Ribot. It's a probable year-end Top 10 album for me.

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That's it!. I'm learning Portugese.

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Mine is the only positive review I've seen of last night's Rufus Wainwright concert. I adored his performance.

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Kansas City Click: OK Jones play a free show at the River Market Brewery tonight.

Like Johnny Thunders? So do The Rich Boys. They're at the Record Bar on Saturday.

T.I. headlines a big show at Kemper Arena on Sunday.

Benny Goodman- The Earl

Retired.

I couldn't help overhearing a group of elderly gentlemen as they visited the American Jazz Museum yesterday. Their comments- delivered in the shout utilized by the hearing impaired- were priceless. "Charlie Parker? Whose band was he in?" "Where the hell did Bob go?" "Where's the damn exit?" And my favorite: "There's not one picture of Benny Goodman in this place!" I forget that to much of the World War II generation, jazz meant Glenn Miller, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. It'd be easy to dismiss old folks' lack of interest in the last fifty years of jazz. But not only would that be disrespectful, it would be a serious oversight not to investigate Goodman's later work. This May 1957 date features Hank Jones on piano and some startling clarinet work by Goodman. It's from the out-of-print The Yale Collection: Volume 4, a set of unreleased material from Goodman's vault.

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My friend Tim told me about the forthcoming release by Arthur Alexander. Three songs stream at his MySpace page, and they're every bit as good as Tim indicated.

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The new UGK is great- shockingly great.

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Kansas City Click: It's my lucky day. I'll be indoors at the icy Harrah's casino for Rufus Wainwright, Neko Case and A Fine Frenzy.

Chris Smither- Time To Spend

Time's up.

I love Townes Van Zandt as much as the next guy. The troubadour deserves all the posthumous acclaim he's received. But where's the love for Chris Smither? Does the guy have to die in order to become fashionable? A few poor production decisions prevent Happier Blue from being perfect. The coveted out-of-print 1993 release closes with "Time To Spend." It reveals Smither's wit, lyricism and remarkable way with a guitar.

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David Byrne covering "There Stands the Glass"? No way! Yet here it is.

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Kansas City Click: Join the kids at El Torreon for Benison and Edwin Vs. the Ants.

Lemmie Battles- Jesus Is All We Need

The prayer ends.

Having overcome throat cancer, Chicago gospel star Lemmie Battles titled her new release You're Looking For a Miracle. And she's filled with the Spirit, as evidenced by this view from a pew. I'm quite enamored with the project- I'm going to listen again today before I crack the seal on the new UGK.

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Ray Price was in magnificent form Friday night. My review is here.

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Kansas City Click: The Go and Be/Non are at the Record Bar.

Art Davis, 1933-2007

Goodbye.

Even if he'd never recorded with the likes of John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Quincy Jones and Freda Payne, the death of Art Davis would still merit attention. As detailed in the Los Angeles Times obituary, his journey was incredibly rich and dramatic. That said, Davis' discography is amazing. And his work holds the chaotic We Free Kings together. His solo on this Charlie Parker number comes at 3:17. Davis is also heard to good effect working with Max Roach in this video from 1958.

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I expect I'll buy the new Underground Kingz by UGK tomorrow.

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Kansas City Click: The Fuchsia Band visit Eddie Delahunt's Cafe tonight.

Tommy Makem, 1932-2007

Farewell.

Tommy Makem, hailed by some as "the godfather of Irish music," died August 1 in New Hampshire. While it's not a song immediately associated with the Clancy Brothers, I couldn't resist featuring the poignant "The Dutchman" in this small memorial. It's a sentimental heartbreaker, perfect for Makem's spirited style. The song never fails to make my eyes a little watery. In the expert hands of these Irishmen, tears roll down my cheeks. It's on this live collection.

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I speculate on the jazz audiences of tomorrow at Plastic Sax.

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I'm currently infatuated with the unbelievable sound of Jessie Morales' band.

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Kansas City Click: There's a stunning array great live music options tonight. I'm going with Ray Price at Knuckleheads.

Reverend Horton Heat and Murder By Death at Crossroads should make for a lively Saturday night.

Gary Sivils is at Jardine's on Sunday.

Dead Rock West- Pretty Disaster

Cleaned up.

Knowing nothing about Dead Rock West except that John Doe had selected them as tour mates, I was put off when I first heard Honey and Salt. I thought these kids were unnaturally slick and refined. Only when I read the band's press kit did I realize that they're not kids- they're roots rock lifers. Their professionalism was earned the hard way. The band's members have worked with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Peter Case, Rickie Lee Jones and John Prine. This fan video of the band backing Doe on "Fourth of July" last month proves that it's an ideal pairing. And this video reveals the terrific chemistry between Doe and vocalist Cindy Wasserman. The tour continues without a break through August 10. I can't wait to see them in Kansas City a week from today.

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Tommy Makem has died. I'll have a proper post tomorrow.

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Kansas City Click: Even without Dave Alvin, The Blasters are a sure thing. The great band is at Knuckleheads tonight.

Ron Carter and Richard Galliano- A Small Ballad

Vanished.

I've never comprehended the widespread dislike of accordions. They're simply breathing keyboards capable of more intimacy than most instruments. This 1990 collaboration between the great bassist Ron Carter and French accordionist Richard Galliano is infinitely charming. Dozens of Galliano videos grace YouTube. This one is particularly gorgeous.

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Here's a suggestion for the makers of the next Harry Potter film: Use Leonard Cohen's "Who By Fire" over the end credits. Its lyrics and atmosphere are a perfect fit.

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I'm surprised by how quickly I've embraced Mark Ronson's Dylan remix.

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Kansas City Click: Wes Borland's Black Light Burns and Shudder are at the brand-new version of The Static Bar tonight.

Lagbaja- Gengen

Gone.

My globetrotting friend M. lent me a few discs he picked up in Nigeria. We is available domestically in a more attractive package. I love the way in which Lagbaja brings Fela's sound into the new millennium. And at moments, "Gengen" sounds like Bootsy Collins playing "Jungle Boogie" backwards. It's clear that the band is also reworking "Genius of Love." Go figure. A thorough press release about Lagbaja accompanies this YouTube video.

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I immediately searched for this video when I heard that Tom Snyder had died. I recall catching this episode when it first aired. The Clash were easily my favorite band at the time, and I was in awe of everything they did. Yet looking at this now, they were, in Snyder's word, "pious."

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Kansas City Click: How many people discovered rockabilly via the Stray Cats? Imagine how many fewer Eddie Cochran albums would have sold if the they'd never come along. The trio plays at the Uptown tonight.

Andy Biskin- I Should Talk

No snitching.

Even at this late date, it's somewhat astounding to me that a modest clarinet, trumpet and bass trio can unfurl infinite musical possibilities. This unlikely group's foundation seems to be turn-of-the-20th-century popular music, but it spins in countless, unexpected directions, including old-timey, classical, jazz, ragtime and new music. Henry Threadgill, no doubt, would be pleased by the brilliant interplay of Andy Biskin, Dave Ballou and Drew Gress. Trio Tragico is a mind-blower.

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This story in yesterday's Los Angeles Times explores the unlikely relationship between jazz and metal.

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My review of last night's Musiq Soulchild and Chrisette Michele show reflects my frustration at not being allowed to fully enjoy the performance.

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Kansas City Click: Coulter, a Seattle concern that sounds like vintage OMD, the Pet Shop Boys and Culture Club, are at the Record Bar tonight.

James Booker- One Hell of a Nerve

No more nerves.

Ostensibly recorded in Germany thirty years ago, King of the New Orleans Keyboard finds James Booker in fine form. He plays a ton of piano, delivers a distinctive yodel in the song's hook and offers anecdotal asides to his lucky audience. Booker was the clear spiritual heir of Fats Waller.

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My photographs and musings from yesterday's performance by Kansas City cult favorites BCR are Plastic Sax.

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My review of last night's Art Garfunkel show is here.

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Kansas City Click: Centro-Matic headlines a four-band bill that also includes OK Jones tonight.

Negro Scoe is among the Fringe Festival's performers on Saturday.

Come Sunday, I'll be at the Beaumont for Musiq Soulchild and Chrisette Michele.

Tommy Olivencia- Mujeres Como Tu

End credits

You can have Transformers. Take Hairspray. The only new movie I really want to see this summer is El Cantante. It looks to have all the necessary ingredients to satisfy me- an underdog's struggle, plenty of salsa, and J-Lo's... well, you know. I've been listening to a lot of vintage salsa accordingly. Although he didn't record for Fania, Tommy Olivencia 's rise to stardom occurred during the same era. This ebullient song is from the out-of-print 10 Exitos. This video captures a vibrant moment, even if Olivencia's head is obscured by a logo through much of it.

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Of this week's new releases, it was a compilation that inspired the most self-examination. With the possible exceptions of Joan Jett and Lita Ford, all 18 of these songs turn my stomach. Each was, in fact, a monster hit, and through osmosis I know every one of them. Am I lacking an irony gene? And how will I react when this collection is playing at the next neighborhood barbecue?

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Kansas City Click: Art Garfunkel croons at the Folly Theater.

Phil Woods- Ebullition

Silence.

Rod at Words and Music recently speculated on what Charlie Parker might sound like had he survived. I'm inclined to believe that Bird's career would have mirrored Miles' forays into new realms like funk and electronica. Phil Woods, one of Parker's greatest disciples, would probably disagree. Those who believe that Woods plays it too straight need to hear Woods' solo on "Ebullition." After Steve Gilmore's extended bass introduction, Woods lets loose at the 3:15 mark. It's real blindfold test material. Hal Crook, Tom Harrell, Hal Galper and Bill Goodwin join Woods on the out-of-print 1989 session Flash.

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According to Elbo and Hype Machine, only a handful of the music bloggers they track have mentioned Julieta Venegas. And almost all of those references were merely because the vocalist appeared at Coachella. What in the name of Bishop Allen is going on! Few performances in the last couple of years can possibly be more charming and sexy than Venegas' role in this video.

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Kansas City Click: Even though there's nothing in their Coldplay meets Nickelback sound that interests me, I'm tempted to catch Absentstar at the Hurricane tonight just to see why a major label signed the Chicago band. Or perhaps I've already solved that riddle.

The Lonely H- Say Your Prayers

Bedtime.

Tired people with jaded ears whine that rock'n'roll has run its course. I know a guy who claims that nothing fresh has come along in 25 years. He's unimpressed with my enthusiasm for acts like Wilco, the Flaming Lips and Prince.

I might hit him with The Lonely H. They're not a great band- not yet anyway. What makes The Lonely H so vital is that they represent a new era of blissful ignorance that allows them a musical freedom unavailable to previous generations. The five Seattle-area teenagers know nothing about the context or associations older musicians and fans had made with decades of songs and bands. These kids don't grasp that combining the pomp of Yes and the isolated edginess of Television- as they do on "Say Your Prayers"- breaks several fundamental rules of rock. They don't stop there- The Lonely H mixes and matches elements of CCR, Arctic Monkeys, Roxy Music and Weezer.

Their highly entertaining second album, Hair, is released Tuesday, July 24. In addition to offering insights into the album title, the excellent video of "For Barbara" shows that these fresh-faced pups know not what they do- and the future rock'n'roll is all the better for it.

Kansas City and Lawrence-area readers have four chances to catch Lonely H this week. They have an instore at Kief's Records before playing the Replay on Wednesday. And on Thursday, the band entertains at Zebedee's before a show at the Hurricane.

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These guys played a party I attended Saturday night. I couldn't resist thumbing through the "cheat book" on the stage's music stand while they took a break. One of the pages had lyrics and chord changes for the Ramones' "Beat On the Brat." I'm still laughing.

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Kansas City Click: The Abel Ramirez Big Band has a weekly Tuesday gig at Tony's, 8621 Quivira.

Harold Budd and Brian Eno- Against the Sky

Dark

I don't have a security blanket. And the only pills I pop are Advil. When I get the urge to crawl under my desk, I sometimes reach for The Pearl instead. The out-of-print Harold Budd and Brian Eno collaboration is immeasurably soothing. In fact, it's so mesmerizing that I spaced out for ten minutes while writing this post. It's no surprise that Daniel Lanois is listed as a producer of the 1984 release.

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I've launched another music blog. I describe Plastic Sax as "an irreverent and opinonated guide to jazz in Kansas City." My rationalization for the commitment is here.

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I got to talking about music with a guy at a party Saturday night. He began raving about Fennesz. I had no idea what he was talking about until I looked him up online. It's embarrassing that I'd been oblivious to the Austrian's great stuff.

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Kansas City Click: The great John McEuen returns to the Mountain Music Shoppe tonight. His March show in the intimate room was spectacular.

Booker T & the MG's- Mo' Greens

Consumed.

They can't all be "Green Onions." Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn regrouped in 1994 for the now out-of-print That's the Way It Should Be. The project has its moments, including this slow-burning slab of Memphis funk.

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I'm digging the rapidly expanding jazz songbook. A great example is Shay Estes' version of the Church's "Under the Milky Way." Listen here.

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Kansas City Click: Guru's Jazzmatazz comes to the Record Bar tonight.

Stellar guitarist Will Matthews is at the Blue Room on Saturday.

Gifted blues-folk-jam boy Noah Earle toughs it out at the Westport Flea Market Sunday evening. Earle sounds like M. Ward on a Tom Rush binge.

Bill Charlap- Pure Imagination

Dreaming.

I tuned into the fuzzy signal of Lawrence's KANU-FM as I stepped into my car a few nights ago. I was awestruck by a brilliant pianist's lyrical reading of "Autumn In New York." It didn't quite sound like Bill Evans, but it was clearly a jazz giant at work. Was it Kenny Barron? Ahmad Jamal? Thankfully, the DJ back-announced it. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised to learn that it was Bill Charlap's new Live At the Village Vanguard. He's been touted to the heavens for years, but the evidence is now incontrovertible that Charlap has a permanent place in the jazz pantheon. This solo piece from the Willie Wonka songbook is from All Through the Night, which features his long-time collaborators, Peter and Kenny Washington. While I prefer his ballad work, here's a recent video showing that Charlap's playing is pretty even on livelier material.

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My latest musical obsession is banda star Graciela Beltran. She's pretty, sure, but it's her voice and unique charisma that have me hooked. This video is typical.

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I have to admit that the new Spoon is really good.

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Kansas City Click: Cry in your beer at the Grand Emporium tonight with the The New Tragedies, Richard Gintowt of OK Jones, and Grant Richard.

Sonny Sharrock- As We Used To Sing

The song is over.

The out-of-print Into Another Light is a coveted title among jazz collectors, and not just because of its "none more black"cover. Issued after the death of innovative guitarist Sonny Sharrock, it's a extreme mix of rock, jazz and "out." "As We Used To Sing," recorded in 1991, is my favorite composition. The compact Sharrock solo beginning at the 70-second mark wipes me out. If the drummer sounds like Elvin Jones, that's because it is Elvin Jones. The earthy textures added by fellow Coltrane alum Pharoah Sanders are useful points of entry for less adventurous listeners. Charnett Moffett plays bass.

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My immediate impressions of Monday's Bob Dylan show are here.

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A local caterer relates an amusing story about her brush with Bob here. Banana puddin'!

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Kansas City Click: Paul & the Violent Farmers are what might happen if the Blue Collar Comedy guys wrote songs for a heavily medicated Mojo Nixon. I detest myself for laughing at this repugnant stuff. Unless his MySpace account is an elaborate joke- which is entirely possible- this freak is at a place in Lee's Summit called Sorano's tonight.

Gladys Knight- Greatest Love of All

Retired.

A family member told me about her dining experience at Gladys Knight's restaurant during a recent trip to Atlanta. She said that the food and atmosphere were good, but that she was startled by the staff's disarming lack of awareness of Knight's career. They're missing out on decades of inspiration. Here's a gospel track from Knight's otherwise secular At Last. Oh, that voice!

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"The streets is blazin' with it right now." "In My Chevy" by Cash Image has blown up in Kansas City this summer. But because the artist's MySpace account is so ridiculously tricked out that it's unloadable, I'm forced to refer you to this unflattering video. Welcome to Kansas City.

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Kansas City Click: A guy named Bob Dylan is at Starlight tonight. Jimmie Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton open.

Blackhawk- Cast Iron Heart

Fried

I'm fascinated by musicians who manage to reinvent themselves to sustain their commercial viability. Bon Jovi seems to be successfully crossing over to the country audience. Henry Paul helped blaze that trail several years ago. He was once a member of the Outlaws, a band famous for recording the second best Southern rock jam. Paul later retooled his talents to become the voice of mainstream country music band Blackhawk. They had a pretty decent run of hits. This formulaic song from a 1995 release is an album track that showcases Paul's distinctive voice and the band's boogie undercurrents.

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It pains me to write negatively of music, especially when it's made by a bunch of seemingly nice guys. But my review of last night's O.A.R. show is unkind.

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Kansas City Click: A free show featuring Mark Selby and Johnny Ricker is in Olathe tonight.

Lucinda Williams and very special opening act Charlie Louvin play Saturday at Crossroads.

Good ol' Charlie Pride sings at Ameristar on Sunday.

Chris Spedding- Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots

Drove away.

Have you seen La Vie En Rose, the new film about Edith Piaf? I still don't know enough about her career to understand how she wound up recording a Leiber and Stoller song. Here's video footage of Piaf recklessly throwing herself into "L'Homme a la Moto." It's quite odd, and not just because the sound is out of sync. Chris Spedding, on the other hand, seems born to sing the song. It's the single best contribution on this 1993 tribute project. Willie DeVille, Leon Russell, Ivan Lins and Emmylou Harris also appear.

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I've been digging the MP3s saxophonist Greg Osby has made available at his site.

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Kansas City Click: It promises to be a gorgeous night for O.A.R. and Augustana in Westport.

Astor Piazzolla- Muerte del Angel

Flew away.

Local journalist Sylvia Maria Gross filed an excellent report on the state of post-Piazzolla tango in the United States. It made me feel less guilty about not attending area shows. Dancers dominate the scene, frustrating serious musicians like Beau Bledsoe. It'd be quite a feat to dance to "Muerte del Angel." It's from an out-of-print recording of a 1984 concert.

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Brace yourself for the Fourth of July. The Lawrence, Kansas, band makes exactly the sort of perfect indie-pop idealized by most music bloggers. Each of the four songs at their MySpace page is worthy of the breathless raves they'll soon be receiving.

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Two things struck me as I listened to Modern Times last night with the All-Star Game on mute. I can't believe I ranked it so low on my 2006 best-of list. It's first-rate Dylan. And secondly, it compliments baseball beautifully. Ichiro!

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Kansas City Click: The Old 97's and The Drams are at Crossroads tonight.

Marvin "Smitty" Smith- The Neighborhood

Rezoned.

In 1989 I was an ambitious assistant manager at a record store. Many of my colleagues were disinterested teenagers. I also loved Madonna, Neneh Cherry and the B-52s. But no way was I going to tolerate much in-store play of Bon Jovi, Martika and N.W.A. We listened to a lot of Paul's Boutique, 3 Feet High and Rising, Yellow Moon, Nick of Time and Doolittle that year. Yet every time I threw on jazz, my co-workers became apoplectic. Miles, Trane, Chet, Sarah- they hated all of it. The Road Less Traveled saved the day. The Marvin "Smitty" Smith album's melodic strength and constant groove pleased Metallica dudes, 2 Live Crew nitwits and Top 40 fans alike. It's been one of my favorites ever since. That's James Williams on piano, Wallace Roney on trumpet, Robin Eubanks on trombone and Robert Hurst on bass. This video shows Smith working with Don Pullen and John Scofield.

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I'll confess that I didn't know anything about Tomahawk until a guy at a record store set me straight last week. Progressive noise and math-rock stars riffing off of Native American music? It somehow works.

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Kansas City Click: All the cool kids will be at the Record Bar tonight for Battles. The Pixel Panda open.

Orquestra Was- Forever's A Long, Long Time

Time's up.

I lose my mind for k.d. lang in my review of her Friday night show. It'd be easy to forget that she opened for Lyle Lovett. Among the many stars in Lovett's band was vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson. Although he sounded great, the Detroit soul singer appeared somewhat frail. Atkinson is backed by Herbie Hancock, Terence Blanchard and other luminaries on this Hank Williams song. It's the title track of the out-of-print Don Was project Forever's a Long, Long Time.

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I monitored quite a bit of the Live Earth concert on television and the internet. Quick observations: Kelly Clarkson sold me on "Sober." The Native American stuff in D.C. was compelling. The Japanese pop acts baffled me. My most exciting discovery was Australian band Ghostwriters. They're exactly what you'd hope members of the Hoodoo Gurus and Midnight Oil sound like together. Two songs stream at their MySpace page.

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I caught the debut of local trumpet and cornet legend Gary Sivils' new band last night. They were fine, but I don't know if they'll ever be as exciting as his last group. Sivils has virtually no web presence, but his music is featured to good effect in this video.

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I put together a little photo journal of a big metal show I attended last month.

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Kansas City Click: Are the kids alright? Find out tonight at El Torreon. A bunch of screamo bands are doing what they do.