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It's hard to recall a time when "Yardbird" Parker or any other jazz notable were still wet-behind-the-ears pupils, but that image becomes a little easier to digest upon visiting the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance. The musicians' names might not be immediately recognizable, but a bevy of young Yardbirds-in-the-making is turning Grant Recital Hall into a veritable hotbed for jazz.

There's something to be said about discovering diamonds in the rough. While veteran musicians' repertoires become second nature after 20, 30 or even 40 years of gigging, a select group of fresh faces are in the early stages of mastery. UMKC is providing these promising jazz players with an opportunity that extends beyond the confines of the standard classroom. On the first three days of each semester, auditions are held to take part in one of six UMKC Jazz Combos, which rehearse twice per week and eventually perform not only at the Conservatory, but at various clubs around the city.  

The Jazz Combos' latest concert was close to the students' daily grind on college grounds - a far cry from the intimate, darkly lit venues across the city. Grant Recital Hall set the stage on March 8 for three of the school's Jazz Combos, one of which was a last-minute addition. As each outfit took the stage, it was as if one was watching the very evolution of a musician-in-training. Although each of the acts handily tackled complex jazz arrangements, the level of chemistry and charisma seemed to exponentially grow with each band.

The two-hour concert session kicked off with the doe-eyed-but-extremely-proficient 3:30 Combo (named after their corresponding class schedule), a quartet featuring pianist Paul Shinn, guitarist Ryan Overfelt, bassist David Tourtellot, and drummer Evan Maslak.  The group, which is directed each week under the guidance of Bram Wijnands, delivered a set that included everything from nostalgic standards ("A Fine Romance") to the Brazilian-jazz-inspired personal composition penned by Shinn. The 3:30 Combo's wasn't entirely immaculate, but the rough patches were few and far between.

While the musicians in the 3:30 Combo appeared to feel slightly ill at ease in the spotlight - or at least lacking the ability to truly "own the stage" - their peers in the 2:00 Combo conveyed a modest assurance with each of their respective instruments. Directed by Michael Pagán, the group breezed through such selections as Chick Corea's "Sicily" and the composition "Ripped Off," written by the quintet's pianist Will Crain. The momentum was aided by guitarist Clayton DeLong's accomplished solo work, which delved into a rock-oriented style as much as it did jazz. The 2:00 Combo's sound was a more substantial one, an inevitable result of the addition of one-man horn section Aaron Linscheid (trumpet).

The last-minute addition of Diverse, a regularly performing jazz group that shaved its lineup to a trio for this particular concert, stole the show. With only trumpeter Hermon Mehari, upright bassist Ben Leifer, and stand-in drummer Brian Steever taking the stage, the trio displayed the cleanest, tightest set. Mehari displayed the musicianship of a young Wynton Marsalis and wowed the audience with a captivating solo during the introduction of "Body and Soul." Interestingly enough, the band's replacement percussionist Steever was one of the most entertaining aspects of the entire evening. Not only was Steever "in the pocket" for every song, he also embodied the spirit - smiles and wacky exclamations included - of a burgeoning Buddy Rich.

For nightclub regulars, there are a few pros and cons to visiting Grant Recital Hall for a periodical jazz fix. Remove any image from your mind that these are students that are on par with neophytes in a high school marching band. The Jazz Combos are more in sync with the gigging veterans of Kansas City, and in fact do make regular appearances at clubs like Jardine's. Of course, you won't find any liquor flowing in Grant Recital Hall, but that also means drunken outbursts by patrons are essentially eradicated. If you're fond of that atmosphere (and embrace inebriated loud-talkers), take comfort in knowing the Jazz Combos' college concerts end well before your usual nightclub hotspot sees its first patrons arrive.

REVIEW
UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
UMKC Jazz Ensembles
Monday, March 8, 2010
Grant Recital Hall
5227 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO


Upcoming Shows for UMKC Jazz Combos Series:

Grant Recital Hall
March 15 at 7:30 pm
5227 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO
(816) 235-2900

Jardine's
April 11 at 2 pm
4536 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
(816) 561-6480

Top photo: Hermon Mehari of Diverse

By Amy Kelly

theSTEADY Contributor (Past writer)