JazzHQ: Kansas City Jazz Orchestra to release recording "In the Key of KC" #jazz

Wednesday, August 02, 2023

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra to release recording "In the Key of KC" #jazz

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's Artistic Director

Clint Ashlock has announced the upcoming album release of "In the Key of KC," a project to commemorate the organization's

twenty year anniversary.

Release Date: September 22nd, 2023

About The Recording

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's fourth studio recording presents, for the first time, an album of arrangements by current members of the ensemble, with all but one track an original composition. This approach allows the band to pay homage to the architects of the Kansas City sound from years past, while concurrently introducing new sonorities informed by the evolution of big band jazz in the 21st century.

Artistic Director Clint Ashlock stated, "At times, jazz is a measured balance of tradition and innovation. The former carries a lot of weight in the Kansas City jazz community, but with In The Key of KC, the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra (KCJO) is paying homage to the past through the creation of new big band works. With “Moten Swing” as the only song from yesteryear, KCJO’s family of artists penned tunes that are steeped in the riffy, bluesy regional language and also reflective of the creative energy of today. As we move beyond the first twenty years of KCJO’s existence and into the next, the future is bright with possibilities of how Kansas City’s jazz tradition will continue to grow.

In The Key of KC

1. Moten Swing (comp. Bennie Moten, arr. Ashlock) - 5:09

Soloists: Charles Williams, Earlie Braggs, Bob Harvey, Bob Long

2. One Million Five (comp. Eboni Fondren, arr. Ashlock) - 6:24

Eboni Fondren, Jeff Hamer, Trent Austin

3. Banana Slug (comp./arr. David Aaberg) - 7:09

Steve Dekker, David Chael

4. Blue Cheese (comp. James Albright, arr. Ashlock) - 4:39

Rod Fleeman, David Aaberg, James Albright

5. Ain’t Nobody Like My Baby (comp. Fondren, arr. Ashlock) - 6:28

Clint Ashlock, Rod Fleeman

6. Lester’s Run (comp./arr. Paul Roberts) - 7:14

Brad Gregory, Doug Talley, Sam Wisman

7. Sir Charles (comp./arr. Ashlock) - 5:50

Charles Williams

About The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra (KCJO)

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra (KCJO) is one of the nation’s preeminent big bands, performing familiar favorites, artful arrangements and contemporary compositions, making them a dynamic force locally and abroad. A proud representative of Kansas City’s jazz tradition, the ensemble currently boasts a Signature Series at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Folly Theater, Riff Generation, and an ever-growing education program, JazzWorks. KCJO is committed to delivering innovative programs rooted in tradition while celebrating the past and embracing the future in all of its artistic endeavors.

Founded in 2003 by Gene Hall and saxophonist and educator Jim Mair, KCJO has delivered outstanding performances of big band jazz at the highest level from its inception. They began with just two concerts per season at Unity Temple on the Plaza, but over time have added more performances to the series and seen significant growth in attendance, as well as artistic merit under the direction of Artistic Director Clint Ashlock. With over twenty years under their belt, KCJO is thrilled to expand their endeavors beyond their exceptional Signature Series performances, recently launching Riff Generation, a secondary ensemble dedicated to creating new music rooted in the Kansas City jazz tradition, and expanding their JazzWorks educational programming.

Integral to KCJO's mission is jazz education, which the organization continues to expand and refine for all ages. From casual listeners to students of the genre, KCJO’s JazzWorks educational initiative offers events and content that enrich understanding and encourage exploration of every element of the genre. Jazz history, theory, musicianship, and so much more are highlighted through the various components of JazzWorks.

KCJO also performs for numerous venues and events around the region in a variety of settings. Partnering with local and regional organizations such as Kansas Public Radio, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Midwest Trust Center, and many others, the big band and their smaller chamber ensembles entertain audiences with classic big band repertoire, lively dance music and fresh, cutting-edge compositions.