writing by Libby Hanssen
“This is the world premiere of Libby Hanssen. And in the grand tradition of the People’s Liberation Big Band, it is unrehearsed.” -Brad Cox *********************** Unrelenting thunderstorms washed out some of the crowd for the People’s Liberation Big Band’s regular gig at the RecordBar. My baby and I made it out, despite the rains, for... Continue Reading →
A group of mostly strangers sat in an old house in the Valentine neighborhood staring at the walls. We were listening to a recording by Frank Zappa, performing the most famous piece by one of the last century’s most innovative composers. The HVAC system swirled, the beams of the old house creaked. Bewildered, some people... Continue Reading →
As a music critic, it's essential to my development to study the cultural commentary of the past. Though in recent times critcs have become speciliasts in a genre (to even more recent times when budgets mandate that critics became specialists on whatever they're going to see that night...), it used to be that critics were... Continue Reading →
Nothing will stop us now - the baby headphones have arrived. Flamenco, folk, Mexican marimba, jazz and then some crazy-ass jazz - my kid has seen it all. In his short life he's been to over six concerts - that's more than one a week, not a stat many can claim. But as musicians (and... Continue Reading →
I want to recap a show that opened last month here in Kansas City. Well, more event than show, at least for my involvement and observation. “America: Now and Here” ran at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center in the Crossroads over the course of May. The project was conceived and spearheaded by artist Eric Fischl. The prescribed... Continue Reading →
Proust Eats a Sandwich 