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Folly
Box Office: 
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! “One of
the most important young
artists in jazz” - Los Angeles Times
Grammy nominated vibraphonist/composer Stefon Harris'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 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.
Roberta Gambarini 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. “Gambarini is a true successor to Ella Fitzgerald Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae.” - Boston Globe
Possessing a very distinctive sound, guitarist John Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop and funk edged jazz. He made his recording debut with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, and was a member of both the Billy Cobham-George Duke band and 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, Eddie Harris, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau, Mavis Staples, and Medeski, Martin & Wood, among others.
Kevin Mahogany's “homecoming” concert is sure to be great fun. 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 singers in the world. Need we say more?
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. “Folly Jazz Spotlight”
Esperanza Spalding
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Closing
out the season will be our Folly Jazz Spotlight feature, in which a rising jazz talent makes her Kansas City
debut. We are happy to introduce KC to bassist/singer Esperanza Spalding, who was born in 1984 in Portland, Oregon. Starting
at age four, Esperanza taught herself to play the violin, and by age 15 she had also discovered the bass. She went on
to study at the Berklee College of Music where, at the age of 20, she also became 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. Her latest CD has already resulted in recent TV appearances
on “David Letterman” and “Jimmy Kimmel”. Spalding is definitely “the real deal!”
The
Folly Jazz Series is made possible through generous support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, and the
Arts KC Fund, a community-supported funding program administered by The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City.