Kansas City Jazz Spectrum Kaycee Jazz 1978

Kansas City Jazz Spectrum Kaycee Jazz 1978 CAT #KC-7801

The players here kind of flooded the scene with a number of Kansas City Jazz releases. The big draw featured here is Pat Metheny's brother, Mike Metheny on flugelhorn. Other than that, it's just another from a batch of LPs that are scattered throughout KC featuring these artists.

Overall, this isn't as cheesy or soaked in lounge as it looks. The players attempt to recreate a KC Jazz scene that had died decades prior and was only a matter of pride and history by 1978. The first track is "Perdido" which was made famous by Duke Ellington, but the Kansas City Jazz Spectrum is doing it as a nod to Charlie Parker. The track does showcase each player as competent and isn't drenched in late 70's lounge sound, it could be mistaken for period by a casual listener.

The remainder of the LP features a more covers, some of which are restaurant friendly, others are a bit cooler such as "Stella By Starlight" which was a popular track performed by Miles Davis. There are originals, a vocal track written and performed by Carol Cox Comer which is clever. Mike Ning (who I believe was a transplant to KC) attempts a bit of Cool Jazz on "Grable's Able (Milt Abel)". And the saxophonist, Bill Perkins, contributed a tune called "Lost Moments," which attempts to get almost Kenton-like in sophistication, but mind you, can't reach that level.

Other points are awarded to the cover collage, which does seem a bit hokey, but has great references to KC. And the label name, Kaycee Jazz, is kind of fun.

Pat Metheny with Charlie Haden & Billy Higgins Rejoicing ECM/Warner Brothers 1983

Pat Metheny with Charlie Haden & Billy Higgins Rejoicing ECM/Warner Brothers 1983 CAT# ECM 1271

Usually after 3 minutes of hearing Pat Metheny noodle around, I've decided I have something better to do. I literally have a closet full of his albums on the account he's local, but I'm not sure I'll ever get it. I mean, I get that he's great at guitar and all, it's just a lot of guitar masturbation all over the place on these LPs.

Pat Metheny is a Kansas Citian, though. I think it's pretty safe to say, he's Kansas City's most accomplished guitar player. I mean the guy made a kajillion albums like this, he's been giving a ton of Grammy's, and been voted best guitarist by guitar magazines over and over. It's pretty impressive. He was born outside of Kansas City in Lee's Summit, Missouri. By age 15, his jazz guitar styling was catching the eye of teachers. After graduation, he briefly attended a school in Florida, but they apparently realized there wasn't much left to teach him and offered him a job. He would wind up taking a teaching job eventually, at one of the most prestigious music schools in the country, Berklee College of Music in Boston. There he was an assistant teacher with legendary vibraphonist, Gary Burton, leading the way. By the late 70's, he'd perform regular with Burton, from there, the guy just started recording and touring. When you look at his body of work, it looks like it must have been non-stop.

But yeah, I kind of kid on Pat Metheny. It's very good music, just not really my cup of tea. I get why people like it, as stated above, he's extremely talented. The ECM releases are great because the label was so focused on quality, typically pressed on virgin vinyl, well sleeved and tastefully designed. This album features Charlie Hayden from Iowa, but took his first paying gig nearby in Springfield, Missouri. Billy Higgins is amazing drummer who played with just about everybody important in the post-bop era.

The Calling from the album, it's most of side 2.