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Mon, Feb 22, 2010
A KCM VID Interview: Fresh from his electrifying win of the 2009 London International Piano Competition Grand Prize at the age of 18—the youngest winner in the history of the competition—Behzod Abduraimov joins Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medal winner Stanislav Ioudenitch in concert on March 5.
Tue, Jan 12, 2010
Jazz Winterlude at Johnson County Community College last weekend was like a three-day reunion of some of the most experienced Jazz talent in Kansas City. Performed in concert venues, as opposed to bars, audiences were able to focus on the soul-filled melodies and intricate improvisations without any distractions.
Wed, Nov 18, 2009
Percussion Group Kansas City (PGKC) ia made up of members of the Kansas Symphony percussion section, Chris McLaurin, Joseph Petrasek, Matthew Henderson and Lia DeRoin showcased the diverse sonic possibilities attainable with percussion instruments in their all-American program.
Tue, Nov 10, 2009
Kansas City is major center of electronic music composition with many area composers frequently winning international competitions. Most of these composers are members of the Kansas City Electronic Music and Arts Alliance (KcEMA) which was founded in 2007 to develop a community of understanding, appreciation and collaboration of electronic artists, and to support the creation of electronic music and arts.
Tue, Nov 03, 2009
The mid-1980's spawned a Kansas City Renaissance of sorts for Ida McBeth, who reached a new level of productivity as a performer. There was a mutual admiration between city and singer that hasn't subsided since that time. You only need to look at a list of the numerous accolades and awards that McBeth has received to get the full gist.
Tue, Nov 03, 2009
Staged Readings is a unique way to experience your most beloved of movies. Actors, musicians and lighting crew work in an almost-improv setting. Producing Director, Beth Spencer's, troupe historically has selected only the most delightful of cult, or at least cultish, films. Past performances include such treats as "The Wrath of Khan," "This is NOT Spinal Tap" and "The Royal Tennebaums."
Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Angela Hagenbach sits alone at the bar and leisurely sips her cocktail as her band warms up the audience. There is only a modest crowd in the club but she's unperturbed. It's early. She knows they'll show. It's this quiet confidence-and her velvet voice-that has made her a Kansas City favorite for nearly two decades.
Tue, Oct 20, 2009
After months of brainstorming, a feverish 17-hour film shoot, and masterful editing sessions to follow, the feature film revolving around Kansas City's own answer to German cabaret, Alacartoona, premiered this past Saturday at the Crossroad's Screenland Theater. While "Night is the Mirror" is certainly a visual and aural feast, it also acted as a testament to the current support system within Kansas City arts community.
Tue, Oct 06, 2009
Nestled at the intersection of those streets is The Phoenix, Kansas City's historic jazz club that has acted as a home away from home to The Scamps. As one the oldest jazz and swing bands still actively playing in the metro area, The Scamps don't rely on quirky costumes, forced dialogue, or some newly conceived hybrid of their preferred musical genre. Rather, the latest incarnation of the band is still staying true to the roots that the pioneer members planted during the Great Depression.
Tue, Oct 06, 2009
A short list of local talent 'giggin' around the metropolis through most of October.
Mon, Sep 28, 2009
"It originally had a real violent, revolutionary meaning," Mark Southerland confesses. "Kill the old guard so the free jazz freaks could fly their flag." The evocative, sinister name suits the would-be musical hitmen who make up Snuff Jazz.
Mon, Sep 28, 2009
Quixotic has succeeded in exploring new dimensions of dance, music and design, but what really made that first performance unique was that it was stripped of all distractions. There were no chairs, no fancy ceilings, no stuffy surroundings. It was literally a blank canvas that was transformed before the spectators' eyes.
Tue, Sep 22, 2009
Arriving at a Lonnie McFadden show is to enter into a veritable feast of smiles - and if the singer/dancer/trumpeter has his own way - plenty of mingling with the dance floor. His infectious personality is only matched by his obvious passion for his music.
Mon, Sep 21, 2009
With glimpses of brilliance, the Dave Stephens Band's rendition of "If I Had You" proved to be the tightest song of the evening, featuring solid stride-piano work from Bryant, tight vocals, and a nuanced, unmuted trumpet solo from Springer. The best song of the evening, this was an aptly subtle, subdued arrangement.
Tue, Sep 15, 2009
A short list of local talent giggin' around the metropolis this weekend.
Tue, Sep 15, 2009
The word is out. Quixotic Fusion doesn't put on shows or give performances, they stage events. So naturally these innovative and daring generative artists, led by artistic directors Anthony Magliano and Mica Thomas, would tackle something like this.
Tue, Sep 08, 2009
A short list of local talent giggin' around the metropolis. Music lovers should have plenty to enjoy this weekend with all that the Crossroads Music Festival has to offer.
Tue, Sep 01, 2009
Todd Wilkinson returns to the space that his own jazz joint, the Drum Room, used to inhabit and delivers a night of polished, original jazz compositions.
Tue, Sep 01, 2009
Jeff Harshbarger was handed a violin at age four and began learning traditional music, but he knew early on that he wouldn’t stop there.
Tue, Aug 18, 2009
Giggin' on "The Steady" through the end of August. A short list of local talent 'giggin' around the metropolis.
Tue, Aug 18, 2009
One of them is in Blue Man Group. Other bandmates have won awards and received grants. All of them are members of successful, thought-provoking bands. But as members of Mongol Beach Party, they just want to make you dance.
Wed, Aug 12, 2009
A list of some of the 'steady' gigs around the metropolis through mid-August.
Mon, Jun 29, 2009
Little jazz bird sings a new song: I drove through a raging thunderstorm, a torrent of hail and the threat of flood to hear Megan Birdsall sing. But she herself went through much worse just to find her voice again.
Mon, Jun 22, 2009
You walk into a booze joint in search of certain spirits - but many who showed up for Barclay Martin Ensemble at Firefly Lounge left with their souls afire.
Wed, Jun 17, 2009
Alacartoona is Ruby Falls, vocal and guitar, Providence Forge, bass and vocal, Overton Wooldridge, accordion and vocal, and Bachelor Calwood, drums and percussion. The music was paired down; only the instrumentation that was needed was present. The troupe also delivered monologues and dialogs: emotive vignettes that were acted out.
Tue, Jun 16, 2009
Several years ago, a couple months into a budding romance, I decided to assemble some mix CDs to impress my new sweetheart. I needed something playful. Something sexy. Alacartoona's slinky and irreverent "Every Saint Needs a Sinner" did the trick.
Mon, Jun 15, 2009
KCMetropolis.org takes a look into the mechanics behind the magic during a rehearsal of the Quixotic Dance Fusion aerial team before their upcoming premiere of "Lux Esalare."
Tue, Jun 02, 2009
The debut of a new bi-weekly KCM feature that will focus on fringe music genres such as new classical, jazz and cabaret, as well as clowning, alternative dance and performance art.
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
Photographer Angela Lupton captured the moment in these images.
Wed, Nov 12, 2008
Expassionates front-man, Scott Easterday interviews Mark Southerland, Charlotte Street Performing artist award winner about his installation piece, Urban Noise Camp, an offshoot of jazz collective, Wee Snuff. ed. Nathan Granner
Mon, Nov 10, 2008
I was grumpy that night. What's new? Election Day had gone OK, but I still felt a little uneasy. I had not found much to applaud in recent American political theater. Companion review to: "I like This Country" VID interview
Sat, Nov 01, 2008
KCM contributor and Expassionate front man, Scott Easterday, interviews internationally-acclaimed artist David Ford for his Election Day show opening, "I Like this Country."
Wed, Oct 29, 2008
"I’m a big fan of the flamenco singing tradition, and it had always been a 'before I die' dream of mine to simply sit next to a real flamenco singer, in Andalucia, and accompany a soleá."
Wed, Oct 29, 2008
Brad Cox talks about an upcoming performance of the Owen/Cox Dance Group.
Sun, Oct 12, 2008
Preview: The event begins with a series of boats that travel along Brush Creek through the darkness. They make their way with torches aflame in an enchanting display to ignite the braziers and bring all 55 pieces to life. Throughout the evening, boats return to the braziers, constantly feeding them with new wood and keeping the sculpture in its original form for the duration of the evening.
Sun, Oct 05, 2008
One of Kansas City 's hardest working guitarists and KCM contributors, Beau Bledsoe, tells all about a rare find in a place that should have been likely... but really, wasn't.
Sun, Oct 05, 2008
It takes one to know one. Scott Easterday, (Expassionates) composer and KCM contributing writer shows why his songs are so tasty in his sensitive portrait of composer, Ingrid Stötzel.
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