The Rhythm & Ribs 18th and Vine Jazz and Blues Fest has regained its groove. After taking a hiatus in 2009, the festival was revived last year. Its return was welcome, although the 2010 edition was marred by several missteps.
With a decidedly populist sensibility that offers something for most everyone, Rhythm & Ribs almost certainly attracts the most diverse audience of any music festival in the Kansas City area.
"It's so nice to look out and see an audience of every age and every color," bandleader Stan Kessler said during the Sons of Brasil's sublime set.
In addition to Brazilian music, Rhythm & Ribs featured reggae, easy listening, dance music and the wildly unpredictable guitar work of Charlie Hunter. Vintage funk band War served as the festival's headliner. Never mind that this version of the band has only one original member. Songs including "Cisco Kid" and "Spill the Wine" made for ideal outdoor party music.
Nostalgia was also a central element of a showcase for blues legend Bobby "Blue" Bland. The opening strains of hits from the 1950s evoked ecstatic sighs from much of the audience. Although the vocalist's power is greatly diminished, both his regal bearing and signature growl remain intact. Even when his voice occasionally gave out, Bland's effort packed an emotional wallop. Locally-based Mary Bridget Davies has the sort of naturally rugged voice that belonged to Bland decades ago. The powerhouse blues belter impressed with a tasteful set that focused on strong material from her forthcoming album.
Jazz played a reduced role Saturday, but it was far from underrepresented. Bassist Christian McBride, one of the most energetic figures on the international jazz scene for the last twenty years, led a sterling band in a luminous set of mainstream jazz. A cameo by saxophonist Bobby Watson served as the set's highlight. Performances by the Dennis Winslett Quartet and the KC Sound Collective demonstrated that Kansas City is loaded with young talent, a fact noted during a fierce late-night set led by New York-based saxophonist Rob Scheps.
"It's just like when you find dinosaur skeletons in Colorado," Scheps said. "Kansas City is still one of the cradles of jazz."
Rhythm & Ribs began with a noontime performance by five teenage Kansas City Youth Jazz students. Their tentative but promising appearance indicated that the Kansas City cradle remains astonishingly fertile.
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
BBQ and Blues. A perfect combo platter!
Posted by: onthemark | October 11, 2011 at 12:26 PM
telling that there's only one comment from otm, then nothing but spam. can you bbq spam?
Posted by: fiddler | October 12, 2011 at 06:19 AM
I hear ya fiddler. Every morning I check in to see what overnight comments are on B2R only to find that most if not all of them are some sort of spam.
And yes, you CAN bbq Spam. Low and slow is the secret. Along with a lot of sauce...
Posted by: onthemark | October 12, 2011 at 07:07 AM
Speaking of Blues, looking forward to Buddy Guy tomorrow night. Never seen him before. I heard from a friend at Knuckleheads who has seen him a few times saying that he pretty much does a similar 70 minute set each time out. I'll take 70 minutes from a legend any day and the guy is 75, after all. We'll see....
I did get an email yesterday stating that opener, guitarist Quinn Sullivan, won't be part of the show now. I saw a few clips on YouTube and the kid (he's only 12!) is not bad. I imagine he won't be making the gig as he probably has a Math test on Friday and can't make the trip from his home in Massachusetts. Hopefully another opener is in place or it's gonna be a brief show.
Posted by: Geordan | October 12, 2011 at 07:32 AM
Still should be an incendiary 70 minutes. Would love to hit this, but am gearing up for Daltrey the next night. Enjoy the show, Geordan.
Posted by: pellboy | October 12, 2011 at 07:44 AM
Right back at ya for Daltrey, Pellboy! I was curious about that show, but am going back to Knuckleheads Friday for Kelly Willis and Robbie Fulks. Let us know how it was when the review winds up here.
Posted by: Geordan | October 12, 2011 at 07:52 AM
btw, setlist from Roger's recent show (10/8) in St.Louis. Stellar!
1.Overture
2.It's a Boy
3.1921
4.Amazing Journey
5.1921
6.Sparks
7.Eyesight to the Blind
8.Christmas
9.Cousin Kevin
10.The Acid Queen
11.Underture
12.Do You Think It's Alright?
13.Fiddle about-Uncle Ernie
14.Pinball Wizard
15.There's a Doctor
16.Go to the Mirror
17.Tommy Can You Hear Me
18.Smash the Mirror
19.Sensation
20.Miracle Cure
21.Sally Simpson
22.I'm Free
23.Welcome
24.Tommy's Holiday Camp
25.We're Not Gonna Take It
(tommy portion is over- no break. )
27.I Can See for Miles
28.The Kids Are Alright
29.Behind Blue Eyes
30.Pictures of Lily
31.Days of Light
32.Gimme A Stone
(Levon Helm cover)
33.Going Mobile
34.Johnny Cash Medley
(Johnny Cash cover)
35.Who Are You
36.My Generation
37.Young Man Blues
38.Water
39.Baba O'Riley
40.Without Your Love
41.Red, Blue and Grey
Posted by: pellboy | October 12, 2011 at 09:11 AM
They throw it all out there in the end dont they, wow, thats a killer ending, guess when you make music for 30 or 40 years you can end a show strong.
Posted by: Green | October 12, 2011 at 09:55 AM
I'm especially excited about the rarely played gems like Going Mobile and Red,Blue and Grey.
Posted by: pellboy | October 12, 2011 at 10:04 AM
@Fiddler
"can you bbq spam"
BBQ as in low and slow? Maybe, but I'm guessing it's so processed and dense you aren't going to get much smoke in it.
BBQ as in throw on the grill? I don't see why not. Slice it thin and grill it up!
Posted by: SinCityDisciple | October 12, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Well, I am jealous. I had planned on seeing both Buddy Guy and Roger Daltrey. Not going to either as it turns out. So, look forward to your reviews!
I have heard that when Daltrey finishes this tour he and Pete are going to go back out as 'The Who' and perform Quadrophenia. That will be a must see show!
Posted by: onthemark | October 12, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Interesting that majority of the comments on a thread about Rhythm & Ribs are either spam or discussion of Roger Daltrey.
[shakes head]
Posted by: Andrew | October 13, 2011 at 01:32 PM
Andrew, any long time reader of this blog will tell you that the commentators are quite adept at hijacking a thread and moving it to a different subject entirely!
Posted by: onthemark | October 13, 2011 at 03:08 PM
yup, at any moment this thread could turn into a blistering attack against the crossroadskc, and how much it sucks to the Nth degree ad nauseuminfintato.... and people will start saying how it should be shut down... and someone will start ranting about how the dump has no plumbing and how bad the porta potties smell...
Not that I would ever start saying how much I hate the dump, or how lame it is that they steal concerts from real venues, and make people watch shows in the rain... but beware, some people have no problem posting about how much they despise the money grubbing pigs who run that dump.... so be careful... there is just no telling how/why/where a thread will turn.
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