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Feature
Articles Love does
funny things. I've been semi-reclusive for
the past few years - not obsessively, as
I've ventured out for all of our BMF
functions - but I hadn't flown or
"trained" to either coast for the past
three to five years. But, now,
after hooking up with Grace, a true soul
mate, I've been on the move. On March 21,
we drove to K.C. to hear two jazz groups.
One is a new adventuresome combo that has
great potential, and the other is a
revival, of sorts, of one of the best
contemporary jazz groups of the last 10
years. I'm
talkin' 'bout the Westport Art Ensemble
and Bobby Watson and Horizon. Both
performed superbly at the great Blue Room,
adjacent to the incredible 18th and Vine
Jazz Museum. Mega
thanks and kudos go out to Dr. Rowena
Stewart, head honcho of the museum, and
saxophonist Gerald Dunn, who handles the
sound, stage and all matters of a new club
that I've fallen in love with. If you
haven't visited the museum, go, and, if
you can, take your kids, your neighbors'
kids and/or anyone who appreciates jazz
K.C.-style and the fab job Dr. Stewart and
her staff have done to make this
magnificent structure one of America's
greatest treasures in preserving its
precious heritage and providing education
for our youth to dig when a major chunk of
musical history and magic is presented in
such a way. Speaking
of music, I hope the new Westport Art
Ensemble continues to evolve, perform and
stay intact as, for example, the group
Interstring has. All players perform with
others, but enjoy this group as a special
creative project. Its main constituents
are bassist Gerald Spaits, saxophonist
Josh Sclar, guitar man Jake Blanton,
keyboard ace Roger Wilder and legendary
drummer Todd Strait (Ian Sikora filled in
most admirably while Todd was vacationing
in Hawaii). Comprising
a repertoire that extends from Ornette to
the Byrds (a tremendous rendition of
"Eight Miles High") plus originals, this
truly is a band to watch - definitely the
best new band in K.C. Bobby
Watson and Horizon, on the other hand, are
one of the best jazz groups in the world.
Joined by former founders of the famed
K.C. International Jazz Festival Steve
Irwin and Jo Boehr - total aficionados of
the arts - my beloved Grace and I had a
ball. (Off the jazz record, they turned us
on to a lovely new bistro called Zin at
19th and Main. It is truly marvelous, with
great service provided by Sondra Bowman,
wife of bassist Bob Bowman). Now, back to
music. It was
Charlie Parker Week at the Blue Room, and
Bobby Watson and Horizon was a perfect
choice to grace the stage. I haven't heard
these guys since we sponsored them at the
Lied Center for Performing Arts here in
Lincoln. They were great then, but they
were even greater two years later. The
first set is among my all-time top
performances, spanning 40-plus years of
listening. Backed by a totally stellar
cast of musicians, including, of course,
the master drummer Victor Lewis, Essiet
Essiet blowing my mind with his
outta-sight bass work, trumpeter Melton
Mustafa (although new to my ears, an
alumnus of the Count Basie band) was
splendid working the frontline with Bobby.
Their interplay left the audience
awestruck. And, last but not least, the
one-and-only Mulgrew Miller on piano,
amazed all with his deft comping and
dazzling chops. His solo performance of
"My Old Flame" - and, as Bobby said,
"where the spirit took him" - hushed the
crowd, which gave the band a standing O
each set. Bobby, of
course, just tore the place up, with not
only being one of the best altoist since
Bird, but a real showman and emcee as
well, cracking up the audience with his
hip patter and playing his shakin' ass
off. Playing cuts from his wide array of
past gems, most notably Blue Note's "Post
Motown Bop" they did two 75-minute sets to
a packed house of jazz lovers. It was a
true night to remember. We're all
anxiously awaiting Bobby's upcoming
Palmetto release due in May. |
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