Folly Jazz News

The 2008-2009 Folly Jazz Series will open with the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet on Thursday, October 2. Without a doubt, Dave Brubeck is a true jazz icon. Throughout his long career, his recordings and concert appearances
have probably introduced more new fans to jazz than any other group in jazz history. Brubeck’s talent and courage as an “experimenter” led the Chicago Tribune to call him “a musician who always has delighted in crossing musical boundaries that lesser artists fear.” Fortunately for all of us, it’s a phenomenon that still continues.

The Stefon Harris Quintet will appear on Saturday, November 22, 2008. Grammy nominated vibraphonist/
composer Stefon Harris was heralded as “one of the most important young artists
in jazz” by the Los Angeles Times. Stefon’s artistry and astonishing virtuosity have propelled him into the forefront of the jazz scene. Widely lauded by both his peers and jazz critics, Harris is committed to exploring jazz composition and blazing new trails on the vibraphone. Stefon has recorded and toured with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Lewis Nash, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Buster Williams, Kurt Elling, Cyrus Chestnut, Steve Coleman, Jacky Terrasson and Steve Turre, among many others.

On Saturday, December 13, we are pleased to present singer Roberta Gambarini. Roberta was born in Italy into a family where jazz was much loved. She began listening to this music as a very young child, and by the time she was 17, she was performing in jazz clubs around Northern Italy. In 1998 she moved to the US with a scholarship to attend the New England Conservatory
in Boston. Two weeks later, Roberta stunned the jazz world with a third place finish in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition. She has since performed with Michael Brecker, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock,
Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Hank Jones, and Christian McBride, among others. The Boston Globe stated, “Gambarini is a true successor to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae.”

The John Scofield Trio will take the Folly stage on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Possessing a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, guitarist John Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop and funk edged jazz. Scofield took up the guitar at age 11, inspired by both rock and blues players. After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he made his recording debut with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, and was a member of the Billy Cobham-George Duke band followed by a stint with the Gary Burton Quartet. Scofield began his career as a bandleader in 1978, and from 1982-1985, he toured and recorded with Miles Davis. Since that time he has recorded over 30 albums (many already classics) including collaborations with Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell,
Brad Mehldau, and Mavis Staples, among others.

Fasten your seat belts, because on Saturday,
February 28, the Folly is very happy to present Kevin Mahogany’s Kansas City Revue featuring the Music of Big Joe Turner, co-starring the Godfathers of Groove, Red Holloway, and Kathy Kosins. That’s the official billing of this show, and I’m confident that Kevin’s homecoming performance will be memorable. The members of the Godfathers of Groove include Ruben Wilson performing on Hammond B3 organ, guitarist Grant Green, Jr. and drummer Bernard Purdie. Tenor saxophonist Red Holloway last performed at the Folly with Jay McShann in 2005. Red is probably best known as the featured saxophonist in “The Pink Panther”. Kathy Kosins is one of the most exciting singers working today. Of course, Kansas City’s own Kevin Mahogany has established himself as one of the greatest jazz singers in the world. Need I say more?

The Terence Blanchard Quintet will return to the Folly stage on Saturday, April 4, 2009. Born and raised among the jazz greats of New Orleans, trumpeter Blanchard honed his skills in the early ‘80s in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Since his first appearance at the Folly in 1996, Terence has developed tremendously as an artist, not just as a gifted trumpeter but also as a composer. In particular, his film scoring work has received critical acclaim (Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, Barbershop to name but a few). Earlier this year, Blanchard was awarded the Grammy for “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album” for his epic A Tale of God’s Will: A Requiem for Katrina. The album is a tour de force featuring music from and inspired by the Spike Lee documentary When The Levees Broke.

Closing out the season will be our Folly Jazz Spotlight feature, in which an emerging artist makes his/her Kansas City debut. Appearing on Saturday, May 16, we are happy to introduce KC to bassist/singer Esperanza Spalding. Spalding was born in 1984 in Portland, Oregon. At age four, after watching cellist Yo Yo Ma perform on TV, Esperanza had essentially taught herself to play the violin well enough to land a spot in The Chamber Music Society of Oregon. By age 15, she had been elevated to concertmaster position, but by then she had also discovered the bass. At the Berklee College of Music she not only earned a degree, but also became an instructor in 2005 at the age of 20 – an appointment
that made her the youngest faculty member in the history of the college. Esperanza has worked with notable artists that include Michel Camilo, Dave Samuels, Stanley Clarke, Pat Metheny, Patti Austin, Donald Harrison and Joe Lovano. The release of her latest CD has already resulted in recent TV appearances on “David Letterman” and “Jimmy Kimmel”. Spalding is definitely “the real deal.”

Discounted Folly Jazz Series subscriptions are available and regular single ticket prices range from $15 - $40. Members of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors are eligible to receive special discounts. For more information call the Folly Theater, 816-474-4444 or visit our website: www.follytheater.com.

Doug Tatum is Executive Director of the Folly Theater