For over 20 years, the Folly Theater has brought the best-known and most highly acclaimed jazz performers to downtown Kansas City. Why? Jazz is KC's heritage. Jazz shaped music as we know it. And jazz is cool. Join us again at the 2007-2008 Folly Jazz Series - or for the first time - and experience what having rhythm is all about.

The Joshua Redmond Trio featuring Reuben Rogers, bass and Eric Harland, Drums
Friday, October 26, 2007
Single tickets $30, $15

Stellar saxophonist Joshua Redman pays homage to the classic trio recordings of Sonny Rollins with his current group, as featured on his highly acclaimed CD, Back East. About the recording, Redman says “there is a sense of return to a style I associate with the east coast, a return to playing—for lack of a better description—modern, swing-based, acoustic jazz. This was and is my musical bread and butter, the core of what I do.”

“It's been a long time since jazz produced a saxophonist with Redman's fearless improvisational skill and mature melodic sense.” - Times

Bill Charlap Trio
Friday, November 16, 2007
Single tickets $30, $24, $15

For more than a decade, pianist Bill Charlap has been forging a career characterized by hard-swinging eloquence and a “rigormeets- romance" musical sensibility. Charlap was first fully thrust into the jazz world in the late ‘80s when he joined baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan’s quintet. Charlap has released four superb albums for Blue Note Records—CDs celebrating the American songbook tradition—that have afforded him an increased visibility as one of jazz’s foremost pianists.

“When he sits down to play, the result is an embrace…” - Time

Kurt Elling
Friday, December 14, 2007
Single tickets $30, $24, $15

With seven Grammy nominations already to his credit, Kurt Elling has forged a potent body of work that is marked by quality, consistency and a sense of excitement as he combines thought-provoking lyrics with an infinite capacity to swing. On Nightmoves, his recent brilliant debut for Concord Records, Elling artfully uses his rich baritone voice in a wideranging repertoire of tunes associated with such greats as Frank Sinatra, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Irving Berlin, and Duke Ellington. Elling was named Down Beat’s Male Vocalist of the year in both Critics and Readers polls for 2006—the third time he’s won the top spot in both polls.

“the most flamboyantly creative jazz singer to emerge in the last decade.”  - San Francisco Chronicle

Bobby Sanabria Latin Jazz Band
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Single tickets $30, $24, $15

Grammy-nominated Latin percussionist Bobby Sanabria will bring his stellar Latin Jazz Nonet, Ascensión, to the Folly stage. Sanabria has performed with such legendary figures as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Paquito D’Rivera, Mongo Santamaria, Chico O’Farrill, and Mario Bauza. In particular, Bobby carries on the legacy of Tito Puente, who served as his inspiration and mentor. Bobby’s latest recording, Big Band Urban Folktales (Jazzheads) has received critical acclaim. Sanabria is the subject of a feature article in the July 2007 issue of Down Beat, providing the broader national exposure that he richly deserves.

“Sanabria is the Buddy Rich of Afro-Cuban Jazz.”  - Chico Alvarez, WBAI-FM, New York Red Hot... blistering... brilliant... Sanabria breathes Latin fire.

Terell Stafford Quintet
Friday, February 29, 2008
Single tickets $30, $24, $15

Known for being a gifted and versatile player with a voice all his own, trumpeter Terell Stafford combines a uniquely expressive lyricism and a deep love of melody with an adventurous spirit. He first gained national exposure as a member of Bobby Watson’s group, Horizon. He has subsequently worked with McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Kenny Barron, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Cedar Walton, Sadao Watanabe, the Clayton Brothers, Herbie Mann, and Matt Wilson, among others. Terell has recorded four albums as a leader; his latest release is the enthusiastically received New Beginnings (MaxJazz). As a sideman Stafford has been heard on over 40 albums.

“One of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player.”  - McCoy Tyner

Rachael Price Folly Jazz Spotlight
Friday, March 28, 2008
Single tickets $20, $15

Returning this season is our Folly Jazz Spotlight feature, in which an emerging artist makes his or her Kansas City debut. The Folly is pleased to introduce KC to singer Rachael Price, who has been creating quite a stir wherever she performs. She possesses a rich, mature resonance in her voice that usually comes with age. This is remarkable, because Rachael just turned 21 in June. Noted actress/singer Kathryn Grayson of MGM fame says of Price: “The best young voice I’ve heard, period. No one around can even touch her voice and style -- a style all her own."

“tRachael Price, who performed at the Kennedy Center… is young, gifted...it became clear that Price has the talent to match her enthusiasm.”  - Washington Post

Monty Alexander Trio
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Single tickets $30, $24, $15

In a career that spans more than four decades, pianist Monty Alexander’s exuberant sounds have been featured with artists from every corner of the musical universe, including Frank Sinatra, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Clark Terry, and many more. Born and raised in Jamaica , Alexander has spent a lifetime exploring the rich depths of musical and cultural diversity. Monty says, “My goal is to uplift. The piano, to me, is a vehicle for connecting to other human beings. I’m very open to all forms of music. I’m a musician who loves it all!"

“Monty Alexander is now right at the forefront of jazz piano players world wide…any of Monty’s live performances is guaranteed to lift the soul, his playing is the essence of jazz.” -Don Mather, MusicWebInternational.com