Gil Scott-Heron, 1949-2011

Ever since my friend BGO informed me of the (not unexpected) news of Gil Scott-Heron's death last week, I've had an extraordinarily difficult time processing the loss. I just can't come to terms with the artist's absence. Several passes at providing a brief synopsis of what he meant to me have been inadequate. Alas, my despair "Ain't No New Thing".


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Along with a few friends, generous business and dozens of musicians, my friend C. organized Midcoast Cares: A Benefit For Joplin (Facebook login required). Please join me at Crosstown Station on Wednesday.

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Today's new releases, in order of personal preference: Tom Harrell, The Vaccines, My Morning Jacket, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Robert Pollard, Eliane Elias, John Adams, Playing For Change 2, Black Stone Cherry, Kate Bush, Death Cab for Cutie, Eddie Vedder, The Melvins, J.D. Souther, Flogging Molly and Jim Snidero.

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I reviewed The Kansas City Symphony's Celebration at the Station.

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"Is this live?" Miles Bonny interviewed Dudley Perkins.

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I'm enjoying NPR's free downloads of Aloe Blacc and Bob Mould performances. Grab 'em here.

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Kansas City Click: Buckethead returns to Crossroads KC on Tuesday.

Ha Ha Tonka is one of a dozen or so acts participating in Wednesday's benefit at Crosstown Station.

My favorite Joe Ely song isn't available at YouTube, so I'm forced to "Settle For Love". The Texas troubadour performs at Knuckleheads on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Kansas City Wine

I'd been waiting for the moment for years. I've loved hanging out in the Jazz District for as long as I've been able to drive. In past decade, however, the area's live music offerings have been long on quality and short on quantity. I've typically attended a single event at a time in the 18th & Vine area.

Last night, however, I finally succeeded in experiencing a couple hours of musically rewarding club-hopping on weeknight that wasn't boosted by a festival or a major event. It sounds minor, but I was absolutely euphoric.

I began at the Blue Room, where about 30 people were taking in Makuza. Many in the small but sexy crowd danced. Everyone laughed when the malaprop-prone bandleader referenced "an internal joke." The sound of a blues trio led by Millage Gilbert pulled me in to Danny's Big Easy across the street. An even rowdier crowd was drinking and dancing to covers of familiar hits by Albert King, B.B. King and Slim Harpo.

"You take the drink," a sketchy guy told his wobbly dance partner as "Since I Met You Baby" concluded, "I take the purse."

He wasn't kidding. I decided to head to the Blues & Jazz Juke House before the obligation to thwart theft (or worse) spoiled my fun. The third club was more crowded still. So fun! Join me next time, won't you?

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This think piece by Billboard's editorial director is fascinating.

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Listen to snippets of the new live album by Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian here.

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Mike Stover's notes on the destruction in Joplin are very moving.

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Kansas City Click: The latest installment of Mark Lowrey vs. Hip Hop takes place Friday at Crosstown Station. It all began here. (I'm one of the Kansas City Skinny guys standing around in the parking lot.)

Janelle Monae and Bruno Mars appear Saturday at Independence Events Center.

Adler's Appetite hits the VooDoo Lounge on Sunday.

Cowboy Mouth play Crossroads KC on Monday.

(Original image of Danny's Big Easy by There Stands the Glass.)

Gabba Gaga: We Accept You, One of Us

"Gabba Gabba, We Accept You, One of Us!"


"Everybody's doing it." That's my excuse for purchasing Lady Gaga's new album for ninety-nine cents at Amazon yesterday. Sometimes a hopeless outsider just wants to feel like a part of something bigger. Pop culture provides an immediate bond with all who choose to participate. I haven't watched a single episode of American Idol this season. I don't go to movies. I only know Charlie Sheen from films about baseball and war. Yet my investment in Born This Way makes me a participant in what may be music's single biggest sales event of the year.

All of the above is at least partially true. I actually wanted to test Amazon's servers. The download literally took three hours. And one song, "Judas," never arrived. (I have yet to receive a response to email to customer service.) (UPDATE : Amazon successfully resolved the issue on May 26.)

The music? Oh yeah, that... Well, I liked Madonna back in the day. And Lady Gaga is probably no better or worse. As far as state-of-the-art disposable pop goes, however, I prefer the Black Eyed Peas and Rhymes-With-Snake.

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This week's other new releases, in order of personal preference: Art Brut, Smod, David Binney, MMG Presents: Self Made, Vol. 1, Sean Jones (album EPK), Joseph Arthur, Los Tigres Del Norte, Stephen Marley, Thurston Moore, Vieux Farka Toure, David Bazan, Ari Hoenig, Boris, Foster the People, Alex Sipiagin, Duff McKagan, Brad Paisley, Jadakiss, White Denim, Chip Taylor and Robin Guthrie.

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I reviewed Vanilla Ice, Jonathan Butler and Warren Haynes over the weekend.

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More acts have been added to Kanrocksas. Here's the revised list.

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I'd never heard of MerQury, but his video for "Rhythm of the Night," shot in Kansas City, looks expensive. (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

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Kansas City Click: Vedera play the Riot Room on Tuesday.

The Riot Room hosts The Givers on Wednesday.

Hermon Mehari oversees a tribute to Miles Davis at Crosstown Station on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

On the Clock

When smoking was prohibited from most of the area's public buildings a few years ago, the most noxious element associated with live music vanished. Finances aside, my new primary obstacle is time, or rather, the lack of it. Just like most civilians, I crawl out of bed around 6 a.m. Standing around in a club after midnight doesn't appeal to me. That's why I rejoiced when a 15-minute countdown clock (pictured) was posted during the intermission of last night's concert by Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience. Sure enough, the lights went down when the clock reached 0:00. Such consideration for fans is all too rare. I may never forgive one artist who kept his (former) fans needlessly waiting for over two hours in 2009.

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I may be lonesome, on'ry and mean, but I have nothing but nice things to say about Thursday's outing by Jason Bonham's band.

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Here's a snippet of a new remix of the Blue Riddim Band's "Nancy Reagan." (Via Wayward Blog.)

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Here's a clip from Toumastin, the forthcoming album from Aratan N Tinariwen. (Via BigSteveNO.)

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Bay Area hip hop star Messy Marv allegedly performs Friday at the Scottish Rite Temple.

Hammerlord returns to the Riot Room on Saturday.

Alaturka plays Jardine's on Sunday.

A free jam session takes place every Monday at the American Jazz Museum's Blue Room.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: The Gypsy Folk Circus of Dirty Bourbon River Show

Dirty Bourbon River Show- "Spectacular & Magnificent Day" (video)

In an unsolicited pitch to your humble correspondent, a member of Dirty Bourbon River Show characterized his band's approach as "New Orleans Gypsy Folk Circus." There's no way I could pass on that.

Sure enough, I adore the collective's Volume 2. The new album demonstrates that the members of Dirty Bourbon River Show hold Kurt Weill and Professor Longhair in equally high regard.

While the band's pithy description is unique, Dirty Bourbon River Show is hardly the first act to stumble down the same neon-lit path. The genre's godfather, of course, is Tom Waits. Calexico, Gogel Bordello and Nick Cave are kissing cousins. Honorary influences include Chet Baker, Leonard Cohen, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, Django Reinhardt and Jimmy Scott.

That's mighty fine company for circus folk.


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This week's new releases, in order of personal preference: Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi, James Carter, Meredith Monk, Ran Blake, Tinie Tempah, JD Allen, Iggy Pop, Hank III, Killer Mike, Levon Helm, Matraca Berg, New Boyz, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Ben Harper, Face to Face, The Elected, Moby and Elvin Bishop.

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Busta Rhymes, Twista and Yelawolf join Tech N9ne on "Worldwide Choppers". Cha!

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Snooky Young has died. (Initial tip from BGO.)

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Here's raw footage of a performance by new Kansas City band BeardKCrazy. It's like a mashup of King Sunny Ade's Syncro System and Miles Davis' On the Corner.

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Rockfest! Here's my review.

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Kansas City Click: Portugal the Man appear at the Record Bar on Tuesday.

Max Justus is on Wednesday's bill at the Record Bar.

Jason Bonham does this Thursday at the Voodoo Lounge.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Ultraviolence: Tyler the Creator vs. Atmosphere

Atmosphere- "Just For Show" video
Tyler the Creator- "Yonkers" video

I intended to dedicate my listening time on Tuesday to Goblin, the new album by Tyler the Creator. Yet I found it difficult to tear myself away from The Family Sign, the latest release from Atmosphere. Filled with pain songs about death and disappointment, The Family Sign hits close to home.

Atmosphere may be old hat, but Slug and Ant enjoyed hot-new-thing status just a decade ago. Slug now raps convincingly about the travails of adulthood. And while he name-checks Gang Starr, songs like "Who I'll Never Be" show that Slug is also down with the classic rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The nihilistic Goblin doesn't connect with me in the same way. I find Slug's portrait of a "Bad Bad Daddy" far more distressing than Tyler's Clockwork Orange-style tales of ultraviolence.

Besides, Tyler's attempts to shock listeners don't always work in the land of Tech N9ne. Been there. Done that. Anyone can smash something. Only experience allows the ramifications of anarchy to be wholly understood. Slug and Ant get it. Tyler will learn soon enough.


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Here's a new track from Miles Bonny's forthcoming album.

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Kansas City Click: Will Mathews plays guitar Friday at the Blue Room

Friends think I'm kidding when I express enthusiasm for Rockfest. Don't tell anyone, but I'd go to Saturday's festival even if I wasn't being paid to attend.

James Harman, one of the most under-appreciated men in blues, visits BB's Lawnside BBQ on Sunday.

Reptet and Beard Crazy perform at the Record Bar on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: The Captain Black Big Band

Captain Black Big Band EPK

One thing, as they say, leads to another. Little did I know when I named Bobby Watson's The Gates BBQ Suite my top album of 2010 that I'd soon become immersed in big band jazz. My favorite new album in the form is Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band. Evans, as jazz obsessives know (and the rest of the world doesn't care about), is a Watson protege. Boasting a bevy of ringers like saxophonist Tim Warfield, the Philadelphia-based big band is raucous but squarely within the tradition. Evans' arrangement on the first minute of "Inheritance" epitomizes everything that's good about the powerfully soulful groove that only be attained by a big band. "Jena 6," the title of one adventurous composition, reflects the band's contemporary sensibility. The illicit speakeasy atmosphere of live recording on the Posi-Tone label is entirely winning.

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Today's new releases, in the order of my personal preference: Tyler the Creator, Jesu, Raphael Saadiq, Samantha Fish/Cassie Taylor/Dani Wilde, Manchester Orchestra, Randy Newman, Gerald Clayton, Black Label Society, Colin Vallon and Patrice Moret, Okkervil River, Nigeria 70- Sweet Times: Afro-Funk Highlife, Sea & Cake, Booker T. Jones, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Anvil, The Cars, Larry Goldings, Blue October, Bruce Barth Trio, Man Man and Greg Brown.

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I'm genuinely impressed by Samantha Fish and company's take on the Rolling Stones' "B*tch".

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Guitarist Cornell Dupree has died.

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John Walker of the Walker Brothers has died.

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Kansas City Click: Tim Whitmer plays at Accurso's on Tuesdays.

My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult is ostensibly appearing Wednesday at El Torreon.

Jessica Lea Mayfield is at the Record Bar on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Garage a Trois- Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil

Always Be Evil, But Stay Happy EPK

Like many of my associates, I'm prone to occasionally waxing poetic as I recall the ill-fated band Morphine. Nothing will ever replace the work of the late Mark Sandman, but with Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil, the new album by Garage a Trois, sorrowful Morphine fans can find at least a temporary cure for their pain.

Much of the album seems like a tense prelude to unspeakable acts of violence. The atmospheric "Chimp and Flower" would be perfect for the opening credit sequence of a disturbing horror film. The cinematic musicality of the album's quieter moments even brings Ry Cooder's excellent soundtrack work to mind.

Although vibraphonist Mike Dillon (a sometime Kansas Citian) and saxophonist Skerik are members of The Dead Kenny G's and Garage a Trois, the latter band is substantially more polished. The presence of drummer Stanton Moore and new music gadfly Marco Benevento help steer the noirish instrumental band toward the mainstream. I've witnessed the Dead Kenny G's serve as a successful opening act for Primus, but Garage a Trois would fit comfortably on the same bill with Medeski Martin & Wood, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones or the Flaming Lips.

Take heed, my fellow sad sacks- this compelling new album will keep you on the path of evil.


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I reviewed the Moody Blues' concert Thursday at the Midland Theater. I also reviewed a collaboration between NewEar and the Owen/Cox Dance Ensemble last week.

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Here's the tranquil scene at Charlie Parker's grave earlier this week. This is my happy place.

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Who are the cool kids on Kansas City's music scene? Here's an interesting list.

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Kansas City Click: Karrin Allyson will showcase her new album Saturday at the Folly Theater.

The wonderful Ledisi appears with Kem and Donell Jones at Municipal Auditorium on Sunday.

Millie Edwards sings at the Phoenix on Mondays.

The Abel Ramirez Big Band appears at the former site of the Gold Buffet on Tuesdays.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Here Comes the Water: Dengue Fever's Cannibal Courtship

Cannibal Courtship EPK

Cannibal Courtship, the new album by Dengue Fever, is good. But it's not as good as this. Or this. Or this. A deliberately kitschy homage to vintage Cambodian pop, the album is a lot of fun. Much of it, however, is just plain wacky. Even though I'm down on Cannibal Courtship, I hope I get a chance to see the band this year. I'll be the guy hollering for "Cement Slippers", my favorite song on the new album.

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Today's new releases, in order of personal preference: Shinedown (recorded in Kansas City, 2010), Karrin Allyson, Big Scoob, Loudon Wainwright III (box set), Brandi Carlile, Musiq Soulchild, Beastie Boys, Sixx: A.M., Kelly Price, Fleet Foxes, Galactic, Tara Nevins, Jennifer Lopez and Priscilla Ahn.

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I love the lady, but I absolutely detest Emmylou Harris' latest release. So whiny!

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Kansas City Click: Social Distortion returns to the Beaumont Club on Tuesday.

Danzig plays the VooDoo on Wednesday.

Bob Seger, the "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" entertains at the Sprint Center on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Feelin' Groovy: Paul Simon's So Beautiful or So What

So Beautiful Or So What EPK

Like many avid music fans, I'm constantly in search of the thrill of the new. Established, tried-and-true artists, consequently, don't always grab my attention. Earlier this week I reluctantly cued up Lucinda Williams' new Blessed album. It's really nice. With the same sort of initial misgivings, I recently began listening to Paul Simon's So Beautiful or So What.

"Ain't no song like an old song," Simon sings on "Love & Blessings."

Sometimes I forget just how true that is. The new album is a natural extension of the same smart but playful grooves that have characterized his entire career. Besides, the album's gospel, African and South American flourishes are already familiar in popular music today in large part because Simon was doing that stuff forty years ago.

Now excuse me while I get back to glorifying my shiny new toys.


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Krystle Warren! (Video tip via Sam Wisman.)

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The video for "All I Kno Is Hood" shows why I'm a fan of Big Scoob and Krizz Kaliko. I'm less impressed by Ron Ron's new tribute to Run-DMC.

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I L.O.V.E. the Go! Team.

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I'm awed by the video documentation of Dustin O'Halloran's performance at HBC Berlin.

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"Run the World (Girls)," the jigsaw puzzle that passes as her new single, makes my role as a shameless Beyonce apologist rather difficult.

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Did you know that a compilation of Henry Rollins' favorite Blue Note recordings has been issued by the jazz label?

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Kansas City Click: Doug MacLeod appears Friday at BB's Lawnside BBQ.

The Whigs play the Riot Room on Saturday.

The People's Liberation Big Band celebrate May Day at the Record Bar.

Manchester Orchestra headline Monday at the Beaumont Club.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Shiftless When Idle: Notes on Sunday's Tribute to the Replacements

Take it from a guy who was there- The Replacements weren't a good live band. Sunday's tribute show at the Record Bar, consequently, was an attractive proposition. And coming as it did on Easter, I was able to celebrate in a fashion appropriate to the occasion.

Dead Girls opened the show with "Little Mascara." They went on to play Big Star's "September Gurls," The Beatles' "Nowhere Man" (a learned friend informed me that Westerberg covered it for the I Am Sam soundtrack) and Kiss' "Black Diamond." Another friend amusingly characterized the set as a "tribute to a Replacements tribute."

Although the quality of the subsequent performers didn't dissipate, the remainder of the night represented a case of diminishing returns. I just wasn't feeling it. Only when Steve Tulipana's band was joined by a three-piece horn section that included excellent jazz saxophonist Rich Wheeler for a crackling rendition of "Can't Hardly Wait" did I get chills.

You guessed it- I left "Unsatisfied".

(The Pitch provides proper pictures.)

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Today's new releases, in order of personal preference: James Farm, Bill Frisell, Of Montreal, Emmylou Harris, Eric Alexander, Prefuse 73, MF Doom, Otep, Julian Lage, Tindersticks, Cachao, Explosions In the Sky, Various- The Sue Story, Bootsy Collins, Ricky Dillard, Irvin Mayfield, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Juvenile, NightShade, Steve Earle, Todd Rundgren, Etta Jones & Houston Person, Lightnin' Malcolm, Bowling For Soup and Thao & Mirah.

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I reviewed reviewed last night's concert by Deftones and Dillinger Escape Plan. I reviewed Aaron Lewis' performance in the same venue last week.

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Huey Meaux has died. I only spoke to him a couple times, but I represented Meaux's incredible catalog for years.

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That voice! Phoebe Snow has died.

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Hazel Dickens died last week. Not every folk artist can be Joan Baez, you know.

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Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex has died.

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I interviewed Clayton McDonnell of MaxJazz at Plastic Sax.

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Kanrocksas.

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Kansas City Click: The Beaumont seems like an awfully big venue for The Black Lips, but the band is headlining at the Westport venue Tuesday.

Kinky Friedman does his thing at Knuckleheads on Wednesday.

The Photo Atlas perform at Crosstown Station on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: DJ 2-Tone Jones' Shaolin Jazz: The 37th Chamber

Shaolin Jazz EPK

If you suspect that classic Wu-Tang Clan material re-imagined as the work of a jazz-based collective would be exactly my thing, well, you have me pegged. I represent precisely the target audience for DJ 2-Tone Jones' Shaolin Jazz: The 37th Chamber.

The train-spotting aspect of the new free mixtape has already provided me with hours of pleasure.

Is that the Blackbyrds on "The High Priestess of Chessboxin'"? Wait, is that Fela during this interlude? Hey, that's Pharoah Sanders' "Astral Traveling" behind "C.R.E.A.M."! I can't believe he thought to combine Ramsey Lewis' version of "Quinn the Eskimo" and "Method Man." Is DJ 2-Tone Jones mocking Redman and Method Man's juvenile "How High"? Hilarious!

Is Shaolin Jazz greater than the sum of its parts? No, of course not. Herbie Hancock's essential Blue Note sessions and Liquid Swords are already perfect. But DJ 2-Tone Jones has nonetheless created something new, something that should also have lasting value.

Aside from dealing with the noxious nature of Mediafire, adventurous There Stands the Glass readers and Gil Scott-Heron fans have nothing to lose. Go get it. "The combination," as Raekwon suggested, will make your "eyes bleed."

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I reviewed Mac Lethal's new North Korean BBQ mixtape. (Spoiler: I like it a lot.)

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UMKC professor Zhou Long was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in music this week.

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Gerard Smith of TV on the Radio has died.

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Terry Currier reports that Kent Morrill of the Fabulous Wailers has died.

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Big band leader Orrin Tucker died April 9.

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Kansas City Click: I'll break my KC-only rule to recommend Soul Track Mind's Thursday appearance at the Bottleneck in Lawrence. RIYL: Charles Bradley, Delbert McClinton and Eddie Hinton.

Longtime There Stands the Glass favorite Steddy P. tops Friday's bill at the Record Bar.

Red Line Chemistry have an acoustic in-store lined up at FYE in Independence on Saturday.

Here comes a regular. I'll be at the Record Bar on Sunday. Here's an invitation I made at Card Karma.

Deftones and Dillinger Escape Plan hit the VooDoo on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Crate Digging with DJ P

As friends posted updates about their Record Store Day activities last Saturday, I considered inviting them over to my home for an impromptu sale. I could always use the money and my neglected collection takes up a lot of space. Even so, I was sucked into the vinyl vortex the following day when I heard that DJ P was performing in front of Zebedee's. I like DJ P in part because we both understand that hip hop, metal and reggae albums belong in the same bin. Footage from 2006 shows that DJ P was ahead of the curve. Inevitably, I wound up buying more jazz and R&B vinyl. I just can't help myself.

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With features from many of the town's top names, The Popper's "For the Mo" will almost certainly be the Kansas City-area's top music video of 2011. (Initial tip via Tony's Kansas City.) It also reminds me that it's been far too long since I've heard "Check My Posture", one of my favorite songs of 2008.

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Randy Wood, founder of Dot Records, died last week. Jazz blogger Marc Myers provides valuable perspective on Wood's legacy.

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I'm misty blue. A storm destroyed Malaco Records last week.

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I recently reviewed performances by Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer and the Del McCoury Band with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

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I've done a disservice to myself and to There Stands the Glass readers by not regularly listing the new releases that most excite me. In order of personal preference, here's a checklist of artists with albums out today: Ralph Stanley, Les Nubians, Dead Rock West, Berner, Gorillaz, Walt Weiskopf, High Llamas, DJ Quick, Willie Clayton (If Your Loving Wasn't Good Enough To Keep Me...How In The World Do You Think It Can Bring Me Back), Various- Shattered Dreams: Funky Blues 1967-78, Various- Impulse! @50: First Impulse - The Creed Taylor Collection, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Allen Toussaint (Lost Sessions), Erwin Schrott, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, Duff McKagan, Old Time Religion- Rare Recordings Of Jerry Lee Lewis In Church Preachin', Shoutin', and Singin', Samuel Blaser & Paul Motian and Cam'ron.

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I made an e-card invitation for a show I plan to attend on Easter. Feel free to join me.

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Here's a new Kickstarter funding request from the People's Liberation Big Band.

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Kansas City Click: The Barclay Martin Ensemble return to Jardine's on Tuesday.

The Hudson Falcons play Davey's on Wednesday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Robert Parris at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church

I attended an organ recital Monday. On purpose. I overcame my bias against Episcopal churches to hear Robert Parris perform at Saint Paul's.

Parris doesn't look like the kind of guy who spends much time around 808s, but he opened the concert with an original composition that seemed as if it was directly inspired by hip hop. The low end of his Sonata II was dope.

The brilliance of J.S. Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E minor, S. 548 allowed me to conduct a spontaneous exercise in astral projection. The complete version of Julius Reubke's challenging Sonata on the 94th Psalm had many in the audience of 150 squirming impatiently in the unforgiving wooden pews. Not me.

I'm looking forward to future American Guild of Organists events.

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Here's the money line from Tim Finn's interesting survey of music retail: Kelly Corcoran of Love Garden suggests that "The new interest in vinyl is from people mostly interested in the same 500 records." You mean to tell me that the trend-chasing of hipsters hasn't increased the value of my complete collection of Cameo albums?

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A Facebook friend challenged people to list their favorite fifteen songs by the Kinks. Here's what I posted: Oklahoma U.S.A., Picture Book, All Day and All of the Night, Where Have All the Good Times Gone, You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset, Alcohol, Low Budget, Stop Your Sobbing, Tired of Waiting, The Village Green Preservation Society, Big Sky, Celluloid Heroes, A Rock'n'Roll Fantasy and This Is Where I Belong.

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Mashup of the year? (Via Meesha.)

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Jazz violinist BIlly Bang has died.

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Chicago blues man Lacy Gibson has died.

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It's astounding that a guy who played with Django Reinhardt is alive and continuing to make groundbreaking music. I watched NPR's live webcast of Martial Solal's gig last night. It was really good. The cumulative viewership never surpassed 300. That's not so good.

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The newly announced Wakarusa schedule poses several intriguing choices for attendees of the festival- My Morning Jacket or Galactic? Umphrey's McGee or Ha Ha Tonka? Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings or Lucero?

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Ces Cru's new video features footage from its January 15 gig opening for Tech N9ne at the Beaumont. (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

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Kansas City Click: The weekly KC Songwriter Forum takes place Thursday at the Brick.

Diverse plays the music of Michael Jackson at the Record Bar on Friday.

Terence Blanchard performs at the Gem Theater on Saturday.

Alaturka return to Jardine's on Sunday.

Pepper Rabbit top Monday's bill at the Riot Room.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Middle of the Map

It's a hit! The inaugural Middle of the Map festival succeeded on every level. I caught eight of the festival's fifty-plus performances. In order of personal preference:

1. Daniel Johnston with Capybara- The pairing of cult hero Daniel Johnston with Capybara was inspired. Johnston's effort was nothing short of heroic.
2. Cowboy Indian Bear- Even though its feathery melodies and happy bounce aren't really my thing (they'd be the perfect house band for Yo Gabba Gabba!), Cowboy Indian Bear is on to something extraordinary.
3. Deadringers- Blues-based garage rock along the lines of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
4. Paper Route- The OneRepublic of indie-rock. (That's a good thing.)
5. Spirit is the Spirit- A hippie version of Dr. Dog.
6. Saharan Gazelle Boy- It doesn't happen often outside of hip hop, but this is a rare instance of an act's recordings being superior to its live show.
7. Margot & the Nuclear So & So's- Bland.
8. Sam Billen- There's a time and place for Billen's laptop folk music. Saturday afternoon at the Record Bar wasn't one of them. (One of the bored people in this photo is your humble correspondent.)

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Hammerlord has a new video for "Tombstone Piledriver".

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I loved Kool Keith's rare Kansas City appearance. Here's my review.

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Kansas City Click: Hermon Mehari returns to the Blue Room on Monday.

Movits! play at Crosstown Station on Tuesday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Israel Nash Gripka- Barn Doors and Concrete Floors

Video stream of Israel Nash Gripka's "Goodbye Ghost"

Where my hippies at?

Israel Nash Gripka creates music that's a throwback to the Nixon era. Yet today's listeners don't need to remember John Denver or wear bell-bottoms to appreciate Barn Doors and Concrete Floors.

The new album contains the songcraft of Robbie Robertson and the bleary gypsy-folk style associated with Bob Dylan's Desire. And then there's the Stones references. "Sunset, Regret" and "Louisiana" make it clear that Gripka and his band have spent some quality time with Sticky Fingers. The presence of producer Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth insures that the album never sounds stale. Barn Doors and Concrete Floors demands to be played on vinyl with windows thrown open so that crickets can chirp along.

"Oh, Missouri won't you bless my soul," Gripka moans on "Bellwether Ballad."

Shake it on down.


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I'm not entirely sold on the music, but Spoek Mathambo's "Control" is my second-favorite video of 2011. (Via BigSteveNO.)

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My final Middle of the Map band of the week is Maps & Atlases: The Chicago-based band is slotted between Work Drugs and Two Door Cinema Club at the Beaumont Club on Friday.

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Here's a high-quality performance video of Kristie Stremel & the 159ers.

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I might have accomplished a lot more in recent weeks if only I'd been able to stop thinking about Chris Brown's "Look At Me Now". It's not a proper song, yet it's one of the year's biggest hits. How does that happen? Brown is going out of his way to make everyone in the world hate him. Why isn't it working? Are his fans really that dim? Busta! Is Weezy's explicit homophobia merely a sly response to Brown's opening rap about male genitalia? And is the video an intentional homage to the sexual ambiguity of Michael Jackson's "Beat It"?

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Kansas City Click: The inaugural Middle of the Map festival takes place in four venues Friday and Saturday.

The annual fundraiser for Kansas City Youth Jazz is Sunday at the Madrid Theater.

Hermon Mehari hosts Monday's jam at the Blue Room.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Big K.R.I.T.- Return of 4Eva

After quickly glancing at a list of my favorite releases from the first quarter of 2011, I was pleasantly surprised to spot several free self-released mixtapes in my nascent top ten. They range from Nicholas Payton's label-rejected Bitches to Kansas City hip hop artist Steddy P.'s What Happened Tomorrow. Big K.R.I.T.'s Return of 4Eva is also in the mix. Unlike many such projects, it boasts top-quality production and solid features by the likes of David Banner, Chamillionaire and Raheem DeVaughn. I'd gladly pay money for songs like "Lions and Lambs" and "King's Blues." And that's the conundrum- how can I justify spending money on today's new releases from the Raveonettes, Gretchen Parlato, Avant and Etta James when I already possess hour after hour of excellent free new music? Aw... I'm not fooling anybody. Money I'd otherwise spend at the Oak Tree will continue to go to prerecorded music.


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The hype surrounding Vijay Iyer quickly becomes tiresome, but I have to admit that this trio session recorded for NPR is astounding.

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Here's my review of Joe Lovano and Us Five's concert at the Folly Theater. I also covered a fine outing by the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Snuff Jazz.

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Although I always loathed his biggest hit, I'm saddened by the death of Mel McDaniel.

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I must have missed the release of the new video for "Caked Up" by Ron Ron and Stik Figa while I was on my blogging sabbatical.

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Free Lil' Boosie! Not really. But the new video for Kansas City's Mon EG and Boosie's "Dime Piece" is solid. (Via Tony's Kansas City.)

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Kansas City Click: Big K.R.I.T. appears at the Granada Theater in Lawrence on Tuesday.

Jack Walrath performs at White Recital Hall on Wednesday.

The Waybacks pick and grin at Crosstown Station on Thursday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Nicholas Payton's Bitches

I'll take credit for being the first to make the connection- Nicholas Payton's Bitches is the jazz equivalent of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

Both albums were rejected by the artist's record labels. And both projects represented major stylistic departures. Just as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was not the expected roots-rock album, Bitches is not a mainstream jazz recording. As "By My Side" and "Shades of Hue" indicate, Bitches contains the sort of contemporary psychedelic R&B associated with Erykah Badu, Bilal and Maxwell. The top ten lists in the column to the right show that I already adore that sound.

It's been noted elsewhere that the project was initially inspired by Miles Davis' Bitches Brew. I was unaware of these sessions when I attended Payton's odd appearance at the Rhythm & Ribs festival last October. In my notes about the event at Plastic Sax, I drew comparisons to Davis' On the Corner and Stevie Wonder's Fulfillingness' First Finale. Bitches affirms that impression.

At 74 minutes, it's a sprawling mess. As with the genre's greatest album, however, even Bitches' flaws sound right. Bitches is brilliant.

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I'm also currently obsessing over George Cables' 1979 album Cables Vision.

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I reviewed last night's performances by the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Snuff Jazz.

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Wayward Blog brought the locally-based Overland Shark label to my attention today.

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Why yes, I am excited about Amazon's sound cloud. Thanks for asking.

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Here's the schedule for next week's Middle of the Map festival. My festival band of the week is the mysterious Candy Claws. It's typical of Middle of the Map's emphasis on electronic dream-pop.

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Kansas City Click: Foster the People will play "Pumped Up Kicks" Thursday at the Beaumont.

Benny Golson will be honored at the Blue Room on Friday.

Joe Lovano leads a band Saturday at the Folly Theater.

The Dramatics top Sunday's bill at the Beaumont.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Review: Ingrid Fliter and the KC Symphony

"Such soothing music!" a misguided patron exclaimed as he strolled out of the Lyric Theater on Saturday. The performance by the Kansas City Symphony could be characterized as inspiring or stimulating, but calling it soothing was an unintended insult to the musicians and composers. Elgar's Enigma Variations didn't do anything for me but Ravel's G Major Piano Concerto provided a wild ride. Ingrid Fliter, the featured pianist, was charming. Although I'm still in search of the mythical $10 Symphony ticket, at $16, Saturday's rush tickets still represented a steal.

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I love whatever's happening on track #10 of The Lost and Found, Gretchen Parlato's new album.

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In spite of its patronizing tone, a recently uncovered 1956 documentary about the music of a Southern sharecropper is worth the attention of roots music fans and students of American history. (Via Marc Meyer's Jazz Wax.)

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Syd Kitchen has died.

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My friend Corky alerted me to this exciting development.

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Red Line Chemistry made a video for "You Don't Get It".

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Local readers might be interested in a ticket contest at Plastic Sax.

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Kansas City Click: Tom Russell returns to Knuckleheads on Tuesday.

The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey graduates to Crosstown Station on Wednesday.

Electric Six perform at the Riot Room on Thursday. Request "Gay Bar".

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

The Gruesome Return of the Death Blog

I visited the grave of Serge Gainsbourg in Paris last week. I'm attending a funeral in western Kansas tomorrow. Rather than allowing the long list of music-related deaths to paralyze me, I'll simply list them.

*Kansas City pianist Ronald Brown.
*Michael Charles, a fixture on Kansas City's black gospel scene.
*Reggae's Smiley Culture.
*Disco star Loleatta Holloway.
*Country legend Ferlin Husky.
*Blues man Big Jack Johnson.
*Jazz drummer Joe Morello.
*Death Row Records luminary Nate Dogg.
*Steel guitarist Ralph Mooney (Tip via BGO.)
*Blues pianist Pinetop Perkins.
*Oddball Zoogz Rift.
*Jazz-funk guitarist Melvin Sparks.
*Mike Starr of Alice in Chains.

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Have I mentioned that I love Alison Krauss? I'm looking forward to her new album.

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I recommend Pusha-T's Fear of God free mixtape to fans of the Clipse, N.E.R.D and Odd Future.

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Could "Into the Spin" be the video that makes Doomtree's Dessa a star?

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The pictured Melvin Sparks import contains two entertaining albums from the '70s.

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Hidden Pictures is critiqued by a drunk guy.

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Kansas City Click: Brass Bed brings its Big Star-style pop to the Record Bar on Thursday.

Dianne Reeves performs Friday at the Gem Theater.

Trio Mediaeval return to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday.

The Trashcan Sinatras perform at Knuckleheads on Sunday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)