Jazz Beat: Trumpet Summit at the Blue Room

I’ve told Mike Metheny more than once that there aren’t enough opportunities to hear him play. Whether he’s on trumpet or his magical EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument, introduced to him by little brother Pat), or whether he’s blowing lyrical solos on a standard or the inventive lines of his own compositions, Metheny’s jazz performances are a rare Kansas City treat. This weekend, he holds court with two other KC jazz-trumpet masters: Stan Kessler and Hermon Mehari. Back that trumpet trio with T.J. Martley on piano, Gerald Spaits on bass and Brian Steever on drums. Now you have Trumpet Summit, spanning jazz traditional and eclectic, Saturday at the Blue Room.