JAM Magazine: June/July 1999 Issue: Folly Jazz News

by Doug Tatum

1999-2000: A Sneak Preview
As we go to print, I am busily working to finalize the lineup for the 1999-2000 Folly Jazz Series. So far, about half the season has been confirmed. Here is a sneak preview.

On August 13, 1999, pianist George Shearing will turn 80 years old. Just as you would expect of an octogenarian, Mr. Shearing has decided to celebrate this milestone by going out on a world tour! The Folly Theater date for George Shearing's 80th Birthday Tour will be Friday, October 1.

A native of Great Britain, Shearing first commanded national attention in the U.S. when, in 1949, he assembled a quintet featuring his distinctive blend of piano, bass, drums, guitar and vibes to record "September in the Rain" for MGM. The record was an overnight sensation and Shearing's reputation became permanently entrenched when he played at New York's Birdland, for which he penned his famous "Lullaby of Birdland," now a jazz standard.

After many years of success and numerous recordings, Shearing decided to disband his famous quintet in 1978 to concentrate on solo piano and piano/bass duo performances, working primarily with the fine, young bass player from Toronto, Neil Swainson. Speaking of the duo, Shearing states, "The idea appealed to me. I'm not confined to a group sound and I can address myself to being more pianistic."

The veteran team of singer Etta Jones and saxophonist Houston Person will appear on the Folly stage on Saturday, December 11. Person describes himself as a "road warrior" and for over 30 years, his smoky tenor sound has provided the perfect complement to the soulful jazz vocals of Etta Jones.

On February 11, 2000, the Folly will have the pleasure of presenting Tony Reedus and his "Frontiers" band. Reedus is one of the most important drummers on the scene today, and as the name of the group implies, his band is one of the most innovative. The group includes guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist John Patitucci and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. In case you're wondering, Ravi is the son of the late John Coltrane. I had the opportunity to hear Ravi a few years ago in Cleveland (performing alongside Joe Lovano and Dewey Redman) and, in my opinion, he is clearly one of the most important saxophonists to emerge in recent years.

Next season will close with the Tommy Flanagan Trio. Flanagan is a legendary jazz veteran whose credentials read like a tour through modern jazz history. Noted jazz critic Stanley Crouch has described Flanagan as "the greatest living bebop pianist." During the 1950s and '60s, Flanagan appeared as a sideman on a number of now-classic recordings by Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus and Miles Davis. From 1968 to '78, Flanagan served as Ella Fitzgerald's pianist. Since that time, he has consistently led his own trio, and has been in great demand in the recording studios.

The Folly Jazz Series for 1999-2000 should be finalized by the second or third week in June. To request a copy of a flyer when it is available, or for more information, call the Folly Theater at (816) 474-4444 during regular business hours.

And now, I would like to put forth a few thoughts about the Kansas City jazz scene. Each spring, as the various indoor venue series draw to a close, the summer festivals appear just around the corner. At the risk of stating the obvious, Kansas City enjoys one of the richest festival seasons to be found anywhere in the world. Check out the outstanding lineup of the Kansas City International Jazz Festival that will take place at Crown Center June 25-27. And the Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival, July 16-18, is equally impressive. On top of that, there's the annual Corporate Woods Jazz Festival, the Parkville Jazz & Fine Arts River Jam, Summit Fest, the KC Spirit Festival and other popular summertime events. Although there is such a wealth of live music from which to partake, I am sometimes amazed at some folks who spend hundreds of dollars a year on CDs, but rarely attend concerts. If you truly care about jazz, being an avid fan who only buys recordings is not enough. The careers of these great jazz musicians depend upon live audiences turning out to hear them. Let's all do our part to support live music.

See you at the festivals!

Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater.

RETURN TO JUNE 1999 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Doug Tatum 1999-2000: A Sneak Preview As we go to print, I am busily working to finalize the lineup for the 1999-2000 Folly Jazz Series. So far, about half the season has been confirmed. Here is a sneak preview. On August 13, 1999, pianist George Shearing will turn 80 years old. Just as you would expect of an octogenarian, Mr. Shearing has decided to celebrate this milestone by going out on a world tour! The Folly Theater date for George Shearing's 80th Birthday Tour will be Friday, October 1. A native of Great Britain, Shearing first commanded national attention in the U.S. when, in 1949, he assembled a quintet featuring his distinctive blend of piano, bass, drums, guitar and vibes to record "September in the Rain" for MGM. The record was an overnight sensation and Shearing's reputation became permanently entrenched when he played at New York's Birdland, for which he penned his famous "Lullaby of Birdland," now a jazz standard. After many years of success and numerous recordings, Shearing decided to disband his famous quintet in 1978 to concentrate on solo piano and piano/bass duo performances, working primarily with the fine, young bass player from Toronto, Neil Swainson. Speaking of the duo, Shearing states, "The idea appealed to me. I'm not confined to a group sound and I can address myself to being more pianistic." The veteran team of singer Etta Jones and saxophonist Houston Person will appear on the Folly stage on Saturday, December 11. Person describes himself as a "road warrior" and for over 30 years, his smoky tenor sound has provided the perfect complement to the soulful jazz vocals of Etta Jones. On February 11, 2000, the Folly will have the pleasure of presenting Tony Reedus and his "Frontiers" band. Reedus is one of the most important drummers on the scene today, and as the name of the group implies, his band is one of the most innovative. The group includes guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist John Patitucci and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. In case you're wondering, Ravi is the son of the late John Coltrane. I had the opportunity to hear Ravi a few years ago in Cleveland (performing alongside Joe Lovano and Dewey Redman) and, in my opinion, he is clearly one of the most important saxophonists to emerge in recent years. Next season will close with the Tommy Flanagan Trio. Flanagan is a legendary jazz veteran whose credentials read like a tour through modern jazz history. Noted jazz critic Stanley Crouch has described Flanagan as "the greatest living bebop pianist." During the 1950s and '60s, Flanagan appeared as a sideman on a number of now-classic recordings by Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus and Miles Davis. From 1968 to '78, Flanagan served as Ella Fitzgerald's pianist. Since that time, he has consistently led his own trio, and has been in great demand in the recording studios. The Folly Jazz Series for 1999-2000 should be finalized by the second or third week in June. To request a copy of a flyer when it is available, or for more information, call the Folly Theater at (816) 474-4444 during regular business hours. And now, I would like to put forth a few thoughts about the Kansas City jazz scene. Each spring, as the various indoor venue series draw to a close, the summer festivals appear just around the corner. At the risk of stating the obvious, Kansas City enjoys one of the richest festival seasons to be found anywhere in the world. Check out the outstanding lineup of the Kansas City International Jazz Festival that will take place at Crown Center June 25-27. And the Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival, July 16-18, is equally impressive. On top of that, there's the annual Corporate Woods Jazz Festival, the Parkville Jazz & Fine Arts River Jam, Summit Fest, the KC Spirit Festival and other popular summertime events. Although there is such a wealth of live music from which to partake, I am sometimes amazed at some folks who spend hundreds of dollars a year on CDs, but rarely attend concerts. If you truly care about jazz, being an avid fan who only buys recordings is not enough. The careers of these great jazz musicians depend upon live audiences turning out to hear them. Let's all do our part to support live music. See you at the festivals! Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater. RETURN TO JUNE 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.