August 1986 Kansas City's Free Music and Entertainment Newspaper Issue 68 Confessin' the Blues
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Bulk All the rate US Postage news paid permit that's fit to pitch no. 2419 KC PITCn KCMO August 1986 Kansas City's free music and entertainment newspaper Issue 68 Confessin' the blues by Scott O'Kelley great demand as a sideman. After a couple of years with local small groups, he began assembl By the spring of 1939, Kansas City was on ing his own big band. Some of the backing was a political reform binge. Boss Tom Pendergast provided by the same local businessman who was on his way to a tax fraud conviction and had helped Basie get off the ground. Gus the corruption that made KC the "Paris of the Johnson on drums and Gene Ramey on bass Plains" went with him. The great bands of Basie with McShann on piano comprised one of the and Andy Kirk had gone on to bigger and bet best rhythm sections since the ter things and the glory days of the jumping Basie/Jones/Page section and provided a solid Kaycee jazz scene were almost memory. This footing for the young soloists that included Bud isn't to say that the Southwest was suddenly dy Anderson, Piggy Minor, Bob Mabane and without talent. Harlan Leonard and his Rockets vocalist Walter Brown. were still operating out of the area and great Rounding out the horn section was a young musicians like Buddy Anderson and Buster alto player named Charles Parker. Like his idol, Smith were still around. But the days of easy Lester Young, Parker was the driving force money for all the musicians that had flocked to behind the band on many nights and often its KC in the last 10 years were gone. most interesting soloist. Barely 19, Charlie About the same time that they were packing Parker had many of his advanced musical no Pendergast off to the federal pen, a young tions already intact. Though stories of Parker pianist from Muskogee. Oklahoma was form shOWing up late (if at all) and without a horn ing his first major orchestra. With a style rooted are numerous, McShann appreciated Parker's In the blues. boogie woogie and barrelhouse efforts and let him us the bandstand as his own traditions of the barnstorming territory bands of musical laboratory. Charlie Parkers contribution the Southwest, Jay McShann commanded a lot to the advancement of jazz is also McShann's of respect in a town that already had more than legacy and proves his orchestra to be one of the its fair share of piano talent. most important to come out of KC. The McShann orchestra was the last of the while on a swing through Wichita in the fall of 1940, the band cut some radio transcriptions for station KFBI. On Saturday, November 30, the band lllade two reCcordings, "I Found a New Baby" and "Body and Soul~ These mark the first time Charlie Parker's alto was recorded. The mtricate arrangements and silky standard, "Lady Be Good" and "Honeysuckle solos that were staples of the Harlem bands of Rose." "Body and Soul" shows the impact Col this era. Instead, the emphasis was on a driv eman Hawkins had on developing sax players Jay McShann is scheduled to play the Kansas City Jazz Festival ing rhythm and the core of any successful KC of the time and Parker was no exception. But outfit was a strong piano/bass/drums founda on "Lady Be Good" the similarities to Lester August 24. tion. The piano player had to be able to propel Young are uncanny. Lester was young Charlie's the brass while pounding out the rhythm for hero and the influence is evident. On "I Found the Kansas City style and its impOl;tance to for its session, McShann caught a 90und vOCalist hours on end. Strong wrists and agile left hands a New Baby," "Moten Swing" and "Honeysuckle modern music. named Walter Brown at a Kansas City nightspot were a must for any pianist that wanted to keep Rose" the strong tone and powerful lines For the next six months the band toured and invited him to accompany the troupe to the dance floors jammed and the club owners foreshadow the Charlie Parker to come. This throughout the area, gaining fans and honing Dallas for the recordings. This collaboration pro happy. collection of tunes has been preserved in Early its chops. In the spring of '41 the McShann or duced a number of hits and continued until McShann was a natural. With his feeling for Bird (Spotlite 120, $10.98 list) and document chestra finally got a contract to cut eight sides McShann was drafted in 1944. the blues and apercussive power, he was in the missing link between the development of for Decca. Just before the band was to depart (continued on page 9) Local boys make rain• by Danny Joe Dean bit much). So someone came up with the old fans welcomed each other. It was quite a Rainmakers-someone from their new label Hall being more or less The first time I saw the Ram makers thev PolvGram. Probably the same guy that said thev The whole show was should add The Rain- Steve. Bob and the steps outside the Art sets consisted mostly of stripped-down are the same. covers. and that. coupled with their now there's a cleaner edge. And with the addi simply three-man sound. tion of Pat. Bob. best pop/ the dancing and listening a lot of fun. In the six vears since. they've traded Dave for Rich Heart work. o Amenca. band pulls off a solid effort the towns. colleges and big cities. Now they've sign label's intervention. It's another 22. ed a real live recording contract and landed Without the label's support there would be no smack m the lap of corporate rock, complete album and without the band there would be no with A&R consultants. label reps and a rock video. only part of this whole deal that smells is Gone are the subtle one-liners hidden in their the regionalism, which was played up at cover tunes. the stand-up drum kit and the mat PolyGram's insistence. Supposedly an early sug ching vintage mics. They've been replaced with Steve, Bob an,d ... I .mean, the Rainmakers gestion for a new name was something like the a major label deal and a commercial endorse Trumans. 1 hope that's just a bad rumor. Other ment from Miller Beer. Also missing are singer Listen, I'm not against change. I'm glad the On the other hand there's the distinct possibi wise the record business is in worse shape than Bob Walkenhorst's theatrics with a snare drum. As aren't here anymore. I just don't like the idea lity that Steve, Bob & Rich were tired of play anyone thought. Along similar lines, their debut that being replaced by a real drummer (Pat of a big record company muscling up to a small ing frat parties at K State and wanted to move album (due out in early August) has a Thomas Tomek) with a real drum set and a stool. Of local band, one that was just fine before the ex on to bigger and better things. At their official Hart Benton painting on the cover and a cou course it would be silly to call a quartet Steve, ecs got here telling the band members they've unveiling a few nights ago at Parody Hall, the ple of the tunes which deal specifically with KC Bob & Rich (and Steve, Bob, Rich & Pat is a got to get a new name, a slick sound and for new Rainmakers, their new label and hordes of (continued on page 9) ?age 2 kC PITCI1 August 1986 .................................... -~--------------------------------- Mail Bad news revisited Metal monger I would like to let you know how In response to Metal Mongral's letter (and the wholeheartedly in agreement I am with the Big news) last month (July), ALL RIGHT! Let PETER CASE piece in your July issue entitled "Now the bad us see Vyper, Avalanche, Fortress, Bishop Steel, news." Recently I moved away from Kansas City The Front, Shock, Donnie and the Rock, and one of the better things that moved with Harlow and Banshee. me was my subscription to KG Pitch. but now K. Manning the KG Pitch is not what it used to be. It was NKC, MO my hope to be able to do mail order business with PennyLane gUided by Leroi's fine reveiws A new and true rock troubadour. and all around good tast, BUT NOOOOO! From west Texas Somehow we got stuck with Shapiro, or As usual I received my Pitch on time, but this would shafted be a better description!? His time it was f~rwarded to my new address. I have reviews suck! Even if you let him recommend been transferred to far west Texas for at least dog food you are not safe: lots of dead dogs one more year and eleven months. I would like and the ASPCA on your ass. to continue receiving the KG Pitch if it is possi I do not know if I can change the world, but ble. I have been an avid reader for almost three I would like to improve my little corner of it. years, ever since I discovered PennyLane. I will PLEASE drop Shapiro and rediscover some of always continue to support PennyLane. your journal's previous taste and my business! especially now that I am in El Paso.