Vibraphone Jazz
The Great American Zig-Zag Day 171 | Kansas City, MO
Okay, enough talking about heavy things, time to talk about the incredible Jazz performance I had the joy and pleasure of witnessing tonight in Kansas City.
I am working on a new EVagabond article and had some ice cream videos to edit, so the day was spent in a library being productive. The exciting part happened at precisely 8:09pm when I arrived at The Ship in Kansas City to witness their Free Jazz Thursdays. Now, I am a sucker for jazz and I am a sucker for free music. And Missouri is supposedly a great state for music.
I had to go through about three separate foyers before arriving at the bar, and the first thing I realized was that I would never be able to find a sound like this on a track. From the first note I was enthralled. I walked in to see Isaiah Petrie’s FLO/DIS in the middle of a vibraphone solo. The mallets were crossing the keys so fast they were a blur. It was a chaotic, yet angelic sound beautifully complimented by the hyperfast drums, harmonizing saxophone, and grounding piano & bass cello.
Hearing this music brought a goofy grin to my face. An uncontrollable feeling of bliss through incredible musical vibes. I lament the fact there is no recording of their music while appreciating the fact no track will ever approach the sheer vibes in the room.
I was originally planning to stay for 15 minutes then head out since I still have another hour of driving to do tonight. But after 5 minutes of listening, I knew I was enthralled. There would be no leaving until the natural conclusion to their set. So I settled in, got a local lager, and enjoyed the music.
Partway through, I used the restroom, and it is there I gained more evidence to my theory that the more stickers exist in a venue’s bathroom, the better their musical guests are. For example, Ground Zero had graffiti everywhere to the point the mirrors were essentially unusable. It was clear The Ship maintained a cleaner aesthetic, but the paper towel holder was absolutely plastered in stickers. Fine, like I needed more reasons to stay for a drink.
FLO/DIS’s set ran the gambit of chaotic jazz to dream sequence, to traditional, to solos, and beyond. By 9pm, they had told a full story which I interpreted as the tale of an artist attempting shattering of musical norms as a child only to mature and realize the history and significance of the jazz genre and return to the form while maintaining their music independence.
I was only barely able to tear myself away after they finished their set. They were going to go on again for a second set, but I really needed to go. Missouri is a big state and I can’t afford to not continue my journey tonight.
When I return from my travels, I am certain sound like this exists in DC, and I will seek it out with my every breath. Hearing this form of live music beamed straight from the soul of an artist into my ears inspires me with a depth of joy unmatched by most every other form of entertainment.
