Kevin Mahogany Sings Big Joe Turner

A big man with a big voice and a huge talent, Joe Turner reigned in Kansas City in the 1930s, when the torrid scene was melting together swing, blues, R&B, and boogie woogie, oozing toward rock 'n' roll. Kevin Mahogany shares a hometown, rich baritone voice, and abundant musical savvy with Turner, and even played a character based on him in Robert Altman's 1996 film Kansas City, a tribute to those rollicking times. A superb and versatile vocalist, Mahogany focuses on Turner in this wide-ranging tribute, but the real scope is the city as crucible of cutting-edge music. The show's subtitled the Kansas City Revue, and will also feature the music of Pete Johnson, Charlie Parker, Bennie Moten, Count Basie, Jimmy Rushing, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Joe Williams. Mahogany's superb supporting cast will include singer Kathy Kosins and a trio currently going by the name Godfathers of Groove, which is soul-jazz organ vet Reuben Wilson; guitarist Grant Green Jr., who has picked up the fluid soul-jazz legacy of his late father; and drummer Edward Lewis, filling in for Bernard "Pretty" Purdie. $25 at 7 p.m.; $20 at 9:30 p.m.
Mondays, Tuesdays. Starts: July 21. Continues through July 22, 2008