Jazz and Classical fight like mad dogs at Helzberg Hall

This past Saturday was my first concert at Helzberg Hall in the Kauffman Center.

I discovered there are three things I like about Helzberg Hall:

1. It smells of fresh wood. I noticed it as soon as I entered. 
2. The seats are blue, not the more typical loud red. Two pleasing shades of blue that seem to alternate at random intervals.
3. The cheap seats are the best seats in the house.  

The cheap seats put me in the choir loft, overlooking the Kansas City Symphony. I had a bird's eye view--the view of a low-flying bird that at any moment might choose to relieve itself on the violinist's head. Why would I want to pay more to sit out on the floor when I could be right where the action was? If a symphony musician yawned or grabbed a furtive scratch inside his armpit, I was there to see it. 

                Sitting behind the orchestra also enabled me to see conductor Aram Demirjian as the musicians

                see him. I greatly enjoyed all his gesticulations!

 

                 Note the piano player to the right of the conductor.  Also, the bass player, drummer, and guitar
                player. You can tell they are jazz musicians because they are wearing black. What are jazz
                musicians doing up there with the KC Symphony?

    Getting ready to solo, of course! Roger Wilder launches into his solo on a Charlie Parker number. 

Still going at it.

Still at it..........

      At last he finishes. Triumph! Awesomeness makes Bobby Watson point.

     

                     Roger was performing with Bobby Watson and the KC Symphony as a member of Bobby's

                    All-Star Big Band for the Shake, Rattle and Roll concert, a mashup of jazz and classical.
                   Contrary to my sensationalistic headline, the jazzbos behaved themselves for the most part  
                    and everyone got along.  The concert came off like a rose.

Roger, guitarist Rod Fleeman and drummer Ryan Lee look on as Bob Bowman throws down.