Thinking About Spring

Ryan Haralson 

March 2009 was still cool, and not in the boorish hipster douchebag sense. Spring was coming and people came out in droves to celebrate in the Kansas City Crossroads Arts District 1st Friday artwalk. Ryan Haralson agreed to meet me to do one of my walk n talks with the camera. He provided one of the most insightful art walks that I have been privy to. Ryan is an interesting person as well as a great artist. I got one of his art openings one month earlier in February 2009...

YJ's Jazz Jam, New PS section

YJ's Jazz Jam 1-24-10 from Justin.tv/stevosvoboda

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tvCLICK HERE FOR MORE JAZZ ON THE ARCHIVES PAGE




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Upcoming Events Finally... I have my handy dandy google calender with all the upcoming events in the area and beyond... 

BLOG DOG

PLEASE LOOK AT AND COMMENT ON MY BLOG...

If you are interested in expressing your opinion about art, or this blog, or if you have ideas, calender updates or even blog entries, send me a message at http://www.facebook.com/Svoboda.KC TMI, BRD

P.S. (Photo Section -- Photo's from throughout the week)

Looking North from the Pencoyd Bridge at Union Station

Looking northeast at the Crossroads District from the Frieghthouse district

Blogdog Tima standing guard on the Pencoyd Bridge over Union Station. I was approached by a very irritable homeless guy who claimed he was "area security." He asked me if Tima was a vicious dog. He then went out of sight and told anybody that was approaching the bridge from Union Station to watch out for a vicious dog. Yeah.... sure looks like a vicious dog. Watch out she'll tear your legs off!

Neon on Main Street. Hotel Monroe is one of the luxury loft condo's in the area.

Neon for an old Kansas City business that has somehow held on for over a hundred years despite virtual abandonment of the area in the 70's and 80's, then skyrocketing real estate prices after the area got taken over by artists and luxury condo's.

Gargoyle Light on Main

The Modern Power and Light building

Around 5th and Campbell in Kansas City Missouri -- goin' to get some vittles at Vietnam Cafe

The blog dog, Tima gets a bath

East 18th Street in Kansas City Missouri

Busy Bee Diner sits empty on east 18th street in Kansas City Missouri

Door to Stretch's studio

Midwestern Music

Stretch Arts KC

Midwestern Music

East 18th Street. Unfortunately, I've heard that the Pi Gallery is shutting down

Grinders on East 18th Street in Kansas City Missouri

Mutual Musicians Foundation

West Bottoms

Bill Drummond

Bill Drummond in the West Bottoms

YJ's

YJ's

Glass Etching by Bill Drummond

Bill Drummond and one of his etchings

I heard it on 18th Street

I heard a rumor, well, I heard more than just a rumor -- I heard the actual record.  I heard it on 18th is a celebration of music that David Ford, world traveler, artist and owner of YJ's put out on CD in 2007.  It features local musicians playing music that is as advertised, played on and around the art corridor which stretches from 18th and Highland to 18th and Wyandotte in Kansas City Missouri.  It is a precursor to the celebration of Kansas City's Carinval, or Mardi Gras.  This grass roots neighborhood celebration has been happening for over ten years.  Don't believe me?  Check out these videos...




The second coming of this recording is being dubbed now.  I've actually known about this effort for several months now, but couldn't figure out a way to do a story about it.  Tonight, and advanced copy was played for the patrons of YJ's, including myself.  I now know some of what is on the record.  For instance, the band, Chickenhoof, which reformed for New Years plays a song that I recorded on video in 2001.  I decided to upload it again to take advantage of the improvements in quality on Youtube...

Also, what has become one of my favorite jazz tunes played at the jam at YJ's, I believe it is called seven eleven is on the record.  I have samples of the Jazz Jam at YJ's, here is one of them....

Lets not forget all the others who play and keep the spirit alive in our city....

In short, this recording is a celebration of the music, musicians and artists who make this street come alive.  It should not be missed or overlooked by Kansas Citians that these creative people are showing us the way forward.

In his honor

Today I decided to find some photos I took of the Martin Luther King Jr. assasination site in Memphis in March 2008.







In Kansas City, probably the biggest memorial ceremony will be held at St. Stephen Baptist Church on Truman Road.  Every year I have been there, it has been a very moving experience.  I have come to think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a champion for American freedom, not just freedom for one group or another.  In my opinion, anybody who apposes equality and justice for everyone is espousing ideals that run against american ideals.  You can never expect just freedom for some.  Defending the rights and freedom of everyone is the best means of defending the rights and freedoms for ourselves.

YJ's Jazz Jam Livestream on www.justin.tv/stevosvoboda
How do I segway from a memorial to one of the biggest peacemakers in the history of the United States to Jazz?  Well, it should be noted that the first efforts at integration often came on the dance floors and dance halls and clubs.  So much so that the conservative backlash against this form of integration was often to ban or censor what was often called "devils music".  To see people working at and preserving a musical form which is essentially an integration of African and European forms of music is a perfect dedication for this day....

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Red Light Winter, Sofa Paintings and Saints of Capitalism

RED LIGHT WINTER
I really didn't do this play justice in my last entry as I was too busy enjoying the performance to take decent pictures, so when I was invited by the producers to come back redeem myself, I obliged....







MEANWHILE....
In the same performance space, another happening is taking place until the end of January 2010....

Peter Lawless composes music in the Fishtank Performance Studio



SOFA PAINTINGS
At the Late Show Gallery run by Tom Deatherage, I was treated to two great openings. The first was a set of rather impressive sofa paintings of... sofa's. They are very creatively crafted by Adolfo Gustavo Martinez and are a must see....

I am reminded of another artist, Rick Probst, who also did sofa paintings, but in a more overtly humorous way....



SAINTS OF CAPITALISM
Also at the Late Show Gallery.....



LIVESTREAMING ON JUSTIN.TV

www.justin.tv/stevosvoboda

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tvALSO WATCH STUFF FROM CHROMETUNA'S

SUPER NATURAL BOLONEY Watch live video from Chrometuna's Super Natural Boloney on Justin.tv

Upcoming Events Finally... I have my handy dandy google calender with all the upcoming events in the area and beyond... 

BLOG DOG

PLEASE LOOK AT AND COMMENT ON MY BLOG...

If you are interested in expressing your opinion about art, or this blog, or if you have ideas, calender updates or even blog entries, send me a message at http://www.facebook.com/Svoboda.KC TMI, BRD

PS
More YJ's Jazz Jam

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv

Watch live video from Svoboda KC on Justin.tv