Chris Heim’s Music Roundup 12.5.11

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The full list of regional concert dates from over 100 regional venues can be found in the Comprehensive Concert Listings.

This week the Music Roundup highlights local shows, regional blues concerts and a pick for this week’s holiday concerts.

WICHITA

Wichita concerts this week include the WSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble with WSU Chamber Winds Tuesday in the CAC Theater on the WSU campus. The following night the WSU Concert Band with Jazz Combos perform in the CAC Theater as well.
Friday former Stray Cat and rockabilly champion Brian Setzer has just started a U.S. tour with his Rockabilly Riot lineup (two drummers, two bassists, boogie woogie piano and guitarist Setzer make up the group). They also have a date Wednesday at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City.

Brian Setzer, earlier this year in Paris, with the Rockabilly Riot lineup doing an old favorite, “Stray Cat Strut”:

BLUES

A fine week for blues and R&B highlighted by a show with American music treasure Mavis Staples of Staple Singers fame, who finally has the successful solo career she has so long deserved. She appears Thursday at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City.

Mavis Staples with her version of “Hard Times Come Again No More”:

Louisiana bluesman and regional favorite, Josh Garrett, has just released a new album, String of Problems.  He brings his Bottomline lineup to Uncle Bo’s in Topeka Friday.

Saturday Stacy Mitchhart is at Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City and Wichita Blues Challenge winners, Josh Vowell and Rumble, are at Uncle Bo’s in Topeka.
And popular Louisiana bluesman and wetlands activist Tab Benoit, touring with a new album called Medicine, plays Uncle Bo’s Sunday.

HOLIDAY CONCERTS

It’s also a busy week for holiday concerts. One particular highlight is the marvelous KC vocalist Kevin Mahogany, a great scat singer with a deep, rich voice in the tradition of Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman, teams up with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra for a holiday jazz concert Saturday at Liberty Hall in Lawrence.

Kevin Mahogany sings “Please Send Me Someone to Love”:

For the full list of local and regional holiday concerts, and reviews of recent holiday music CDs, please see last week’s music roundup.

Details on these shows and the full list of local and regional concerts from over 100 regional venues can be found in the Comprehensive Concert Listings