Wednesday MidDay Medley 

TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org

90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio

Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

New Jazz & Afro Beat! + Christel Highland 

+ Jeff Harshbarger & Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey’s “Race Riot Suite”

1. Femi Kuti – “Dem Bobo”

from: Africa For Africa / Knitting Factory Records / Apil 12, 2011

[In a career spanning over twenty years, Femi Kuti has been performing for 20 years, preserving the legacy of his father, Fela Kuti and revealing his own voice. He recorded this new album in the same studio where he produced his first recordings with his father and his breakthrough solo album, Shoki Shoki. He wanted to present Afrobeat in its rough, purest form. One music critic noted that his music is, “inspired as much by Miles Davis as James Brown.”]

2. Hearts of Darkness – “Terror Flu”

from: Hearts of Darkness / Shipshape Music / July 10, 2010

[KC’s very own: funk/soul/rock/hip-hop ensemble featuring: Les Izmore: Vox & Perc, Brandy Gordon, Rachel Robinson & Erica Townsend: Voices / Sean P Branagan: Drum Kit, Mikael Spears: Congas, Perc, Phil Keegan: Shakere, Aux Perc, Brad “Bad Brad” Williams: Percussion, Kit / Pete Leibert: Bass Guitar, Josh Mobley: Rhodes, Hammond, Clavinet, Mark Vick: Guitar 1, Jeff Harshbarger: Guitar 2 / Jolan Smith: Tenor Sax, Vox, Perc, Shawn Hansen: Alto Sax, Vox, Perc, Alex Smith: Alto Sax, Vox, Perc, Sam Hughes: Baritone Sax, Vox, Perc / Andrew Ford: Slide Trombone, Vox, Perc, Ken Walker: Valve Trombone, Vox, Perc, Bob Asher: Trumpet, Vox, Claves, High Kicks.]

[Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will be in concert at Crosstown Station, 1522 McGee, on Friday, Sept. 16, with The Hearts of Darkness.]

10:15

3. Loose Cannon Brass Band – “Funkin’ at YJs”

from: I Heard It On 18th Street II: No Foolin’ We Schoolin’ / Independent (David Ford) / 2009

4. The Creighton Organization featuring: Jimmy Dykes -“Goin To New Orleans”

from: I Heard It On 18th Street II: No Foolin’ We Schoolin’ / Independent (David Ford) / 2009

5. Mike Dillon’s Gogo Jungle – “Stupid Americans”

from: Battery Milk / Hyena Records / Jan. 30, 2007

[Born and raised in Houston, TX, Mike Dillon was a member of the pivotal bands Billy Goat and Hairy Apes BMX, and The Malachy Papers and has collaborated with MC 900 Ft. Jesus, Secret Chiefs 3, Polyphonic Spree and Sex Mob.]

6. Malachy Papers with Earl Harvin – “Four Titter Puppet”

from:  Malachy Papers with Earl Harvin / Reap and Sow / 2005

[a track written by Mike Dillon featuring Mark Southerland on horns, Mike Dillon on vibraphone, Johnny Hamil on Bass, and Earl Harvin on Drum Kit and Tiympani.  Recorded in December of 2004.]

10:30 –  Interview with Christel Highland 

Christel Highland is an Artist and Designer who has created her own line of fashion line of clothes and wearable art called Pistol Threads.  Through Christel’s work she is devolping new trade between artists and products in Morocco and Kansas City with Argon Naturals and Atlas Weavers. Christel is also an artist and Mother and she will be featured in “Paint The Town” at The Intercontinental on September 24 during the weekend of The Plaza Art Fair.

We talked with Christel about her fashion line of clothes and wearable art called Pistol Threads, being an independent artist, the Journey.

Christel will be featured at: Paint The Town 2011, Celebrating Saint Luke’s Nurses, Above the Plaza Art Fair, September 24, 2011, from 6-11 PM. Poolside at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, 401 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112, More info at:  PaintTheTownKC.org

Christel is working with two new ventures including: Argon Naturals and Atlas Weavers.

You can learn more about Christel’s work at PistolThreads.com or ChristelHighland.com.

10:45

7. Snuff Jazz featuring Brian Haas – “Trailer Ride”

from: I Heard It On 18th Street II: No Foolin’ We Schoolin’ / Independent (David Ford) / 2009

8. Diverse – “Sojourner”

from: Diverse / Origin Records / July 21, 2009

[Mentored by the great Bobby Watson at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, trumpeter Hermon Mehari, saxophonist William Sanders, pianist John Brewer, bassist Ben Leifer, and drummer Ryan Lee were the winners of the 2008 Origin Records / Gene Harris Jazz Festival Competition, beating out 10 other very original groups from across the country, the quintet opened for Roy Haynes’ ‘Birds of a Feather’ band at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival and were awarded a deal to record this album of original music.]

[Jeff Harshbarger Presents: DIVERSE Trio @ Record Bar, Sunday, September 18, 8:00pm – 11:00pm, The DIVERSE Trio will be celebrating Ben Leifer’s return to Kansas City.  The trio consists of Hermon Mehari (trumpet), Ryan Lee (drums), and Ben Leifer (bass). Diverse Trio will be playing a mix of original music and standards, as well as other types of music that have inspired us in the past year. More info at: diversejazz.com.]

11:00

9. The People’s Liberation Big Band  – “The Council of Mice”

from: The People’s Liberation Big Band / Tzigane / November 7, 2010

[Recipient of the 2010 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Award, Brad Cox is founder of The People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, Brad was out guest olast year in December.  The Owen/Cox Dance Group with The People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City presenting annually “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” at the H&R Block City Stage Theater at Union Station.  More information at owencoxdance.org. The People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City appears the first Sunday of each month at the Record Bar as part of Harshbarger’s Alternative Jazz Series. ]

10. Hearts of Darkness – “Come Forward”

from: Studio Dailies / unreleased recording from sessions for new album / April 6, 2011

[Thank you Bobby Asher.]

11.   Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey – “Black Wall Street”

from: Race Riot Suite / Kinnara Records – The Royal Family / August 30, 2011

[from Tulsa, Oklahoma, their 20th album, Race Riot Suite,  written by Chris Combs for the current quartet of Brian Haas on piano & keyboards, Josh Raymer on drums, Chris Combs on lap steel and Jeff Harshbarger on upright bass.  For this recording the band is accompanied by a horn section consisting of Sex Mob’s Steven Bernstein, Jeff Coffin (of Dave Matthews and Bela Fleck fame), Mark Southerland (Snuff Jazz, Malachy Papers), Peter Apfelbaum, and former JFJO member Matt Leland. The album is dedicated to the victims of the 1921 Tulsa race riot, the largest race riot in United States history.  Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will be in concert at Crosstown Station, 1522 McGee, Friday, Sept. 16, w/ The Hearts of Darkness, in one of the final shows at Crosstown Station.]

11:15 – Interview with Jeff Harshbarger

Jeff Harshbarger was voted Kansas City’s Best Bassist by The Pitch Magazine in 2007.  A Composer, bandleader, and collaborator, Jeff has recorded and performed with Bobby Watson, Forever Tango, Krystle Warren, Milt Abel, Tango Lorca, Snuff Jazz, Ghosty, Forrest Whitlow, and The People’s Liberation Big Band.  Jeff is curator pf Jeff Harshbarger Presents: An Alternative jazz Series, promoting new improvised music in Kansas City.  Jeff has received numerous grants and awards, including The Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter Fellowship, the Steans Institute fellowship, and the professional Development Grant from the Creative Capital Foundation.  Jeff also host the Wednesday edition of Jazz Afternoon, 1:00 to 3:00, on 90.1 FM.  Jeff joins us to talk about Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey’s newest release, “Race Riot Suite.”

While this is Jacob Fred’s 20th album release, this is actually Jeff’s first recording with the band, as he joined just a year ago.

Written by Chris Combs for the current quartet of Brian Haas on piano & keyboards, Josh Raymer on drums, Chris Combs on lap steel and Jeff Harshbarger on upright bass.

For this recording the band is accompanied by a horn section consisting of Sex Mob’s Steven Bernstein, Jeff Coffin (of Dave Matthews and Bela Fleck fame), Mark Southerland (Snuff Jazz, Malachy Papers), Peter Apfelbaum, and former JFJO member Matt Leland.

The album is dedicated to the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot, the largest race riot in United States history.

12.   Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey – “Second Prayer”

from: Race Riot Suite / Kinnara Records – The Royal Family / August 30, 2011

Jeff Harshbarger has played on the recordings from many of our featured artists toddy including: The Hearts of Darkness, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Snuff Jazz, The People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City, Shay Estes & Trio All.

The People’s Liberation Big Band of Greater Kansas City

Jeff Harshbarger hosts Jazz Afternoon, Wednesdays, 1:00 to 3:00 PM on 90.1 FM

Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will be in concert at Crosstown Station, 1522 McGee, Friday, Sept. 16, w/ The Hearts of Darkness, in one of the final shows at Crosstown Station.

11:30

13.  Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey – “Lost in The Battle For Greenwood”

from: The Race Riot Suite / Kinnara Records – The Royal Family / August 30, 2011

14. Sex Mob – “Roswell”

from: Din of Inequity / Sony / May 7, 1998

15.  Shay Estes & Trio All – “Where You At?”

from: Despite Your Destination / Independent / 2009

16.  Mark Lowrey – “Roman Candle”

from: Live At Jardines / MarkLowreyMusic.com / 2010

[Recorded Live at Jardine’s, 4536 Main street]

11:45

17.  Barclay Martin Ensemble – “Wishing Well”

from: Pools That Swell With The Rain / Independent  / September 24, 2010

[Barclay Martin Ensemble will be featured at SHINE A LIGHT, A CFCA benefit concert, on Sunday, September 25, 2011, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., rain or shine, at The Theatre in the Park, Shawnee Mission Park, 7710 Renner Road , Shawnee, Kansas. Parking Opens at 2:00 p.m., The Box Office Open at 2:30 p.m.  The Doors Open at 3 p.m.  More info at: shinealightconcert.com or BarclayMartin.com.]

18.  Seun Kuti – “Mr. Big Thief”

from: From Africa With Fury: Rise / Knitting Factory Records / June 21, 2011

19. Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”

from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]

Sources for Notes: Artist’s websites noted above and wikipedia.org

Show #386