"Queen" Myra Taylor and members of the Gateway High Steppers are all smiles. Photos by Bill Brownlee
Age outshone youth Saturday afternoon at the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival.
Industry veterans, promising newcomers, local favorites and inspired amateur musicians shared an improvised stage at the corner of 13th Street and State Avenue.
Performances by 91-year-old Myra Taylor and 75-year-old Lazy Lester were clear highlights.
Returning after a hiatus in 2007, the free event was reenergized with an endearingly folksy feel. Approximately 500 blues diehards and curious neighbors were on hand at 7 p.m.
Marquise Knox takes a late afternoon stroll.
Taylor was the recipient of this year's Living Heritage Tribute award. A fixture in area clubs as a solo artist and as a member of the Wild Women of Kansas City, Taylor was born in Bonner Springs in 1917.
A royal procession replete with costumed court attendants led Taylor to the stage.
"I have never been as happy as I am today," Taylor said. "I keep wanting to cry. That's how good I feel."
Presented with a key to the city, Taylor- a woman rarely at a loss for words- seemed overcome with emotion.
Accompanied by Leon Brady's Kansas City Youth Jazz ensemble, Taylor sang "The Spider and the Fly." She initially recorded the song for Mercury Records in 1946. Taylor also delivered six spirited numbers with an all-star jazz ensemble that included pianist Luqman Hamza, trumpeter Al Pearson and trombonist Duck Warner. Taylor's a cappella duet with Warner on "Hey There" was particularly captivating.
Marquise Knox, a 17-year-old blues prodigy from St. Louis, followed. His set leaned heavily on blues standards associated with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King. The latter seems to be Knox's primary inspiration, although the teenager's tough-minded solos were a little grittier and less jazz influenced than King's distinctive style.
Knox's workmanlike set was thoroughly enjoyable. The most memorable part of his performance was his extended stroll through the festival grounds. Singing and blowing a harmonica into a wireless microphone, Knox worked the crowd like a seasoned professional.
There's no reason to think that Knox won't develop into an important figure in the blues world. It's unfortunate that he missed an ideal opportunity to pick up a few tricks Saturday. Swamp blues legend Lazy Lester sat in with Knox's band. Rather than engaging in a series of potentially memorable showdowns on harmonica and guitar, however, Knox ceded the stage to the blues master.
Lazy Lester excels.
The Louisiana-born veteran's playful demeanor and fine interplay with a young harmonica accompanist were delightful.
Much like Lazy Lester, the festival is a determined survivor.
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
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