JAM Magazine: February/March 1997 Issue: Correspondence

What Is Jazz?
First I'd like to thank you for the nice mention of the All Music Guide to Jazz (JAM, December/January). I am working hard to make the project (which is a continual work in progress) into the definitive jazz reference book. Sales of the 2nd edition are going quite well.

I read with interest Paul Hofmann's article titled "What Is Jazz?" I've come up with a definition that I use and I think is open enough to include all eras and styles of the music. Jazz is music that emphasizes improvisation and always has the feeling of the blues. All other qualities (swing, rhythm, even being in tune) are optional. Of course just because something is jazz does not necessarily mean it is good music!

Here's another definition to ponder. A jazz singer is a vocalist who brings his or her conception to a song and improvises through words, sounds, notes and/or phrasing.

I'd be interested to hear what the readers of your fine magazine (which ranks with the very best of the regional jazz publications) think of these two definitions.

Sincerely,
Scott Yanow
Editor,
All Music Guide To Jazz
Burbank, CA

Work for KCJA,
Get Stuff!
Enclosed are the 100-plus CDs which you are free to give to the dedicated volunteers in your organization. It seems like you have about that many, and more.

I hope you find these promotional CDs useful. Please pass on my thanks to Vicki, Vanessa, Dean and the rest of the crew for their help during last summer's Blues and Jazz Festival.

Hope to see you all again next year... sans storms!

All the best,
Lee Mergner
Associate Publisher
Jazz Times
Silver Spring, MD

Kudos from The East
JAM continues doing a good job of providing us with full information on what is going on around the Kansas City area. Because I am a big band fan, I particularly enjoyed reading "Q&A" with Warren Durrett in the October/November ('96) issue.

I look forward to receiving the next issue of JAM.

Best Wishes,
Hideo Tateno
Nisshin Aichi, Japan

News & Updates From KKFI
I enjoy your publication and appreciate your "On the Air" postings. Would you please update the KKFI listing to reflect current changes?

Sincerely,
Valerie "ValRae" Wolf
KKFI-FM
Kansas City, MO

P.S. I need more local jazz artists' CDs for my Monday show and would be glad to have guests, too. Send to my attention at the station: KKFI 90.1 FM, P.O. Box 32250, Kansas City, MO 64171.

(KKFI programming updates can be found in "On The Air." -- Ed.)

Roy Was Right
Just wanted to "e" in a note saying how much I enjoyed the December/January JAM. Trumpet is a great instrument, and we have several excellent players here in KC, each bringing their own personality to the horn. Being a frustrated trumpet player myself (that was my first choice of instruments as a kid), I had to laugh at Roy Eldridge's quote. Some times my drums say the same thing to me!

Thanks for a great issue

Todd Strait
Prairie Village, KS

Send written correspondence to: Editor/JAM, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171-6181, or e-mail to: dhampton@sound.net

RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 1997 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		What Is Jazz? First I'd like to thank you for the nice mention of the All Music Guide to Jazz (JAM, December/January). I am working hard to make the project (which is a continual work in progress) into the definitive jazz reference book. Sales of the 2nd edition are going quite well. I read with interest Paul Hofmann's article titled "What Is Jazz?" I've come up with a definition that I use and I think is open enough to include all eras and styles of the music. Jazz is music that emphasizes improvisation and always has the feeling of the blues. All other qualities (swing, rhythm, even being in tune) are optional. Of course just because something is jazz does not necessarily mean it is good music! Here's another definition to ponder. A jazz singer is a vocalist who brings his or her conception to a song and improvises through words, sounds, notes and/or phrasing. I'd be interested to hear what the readers of your fine magazine (which ranks with the very best of the regional jazz publications) think of these two definitions. Sincerely, Scott Yanow Editor, All Music Guide To Jazz Burbank, CA Work for KCJA, Get Stuff! Enclosed are the 100-plus CDs which you are free to give to the dedicated volunteers in your organization. It seems like you have about that many, and more. I hope you find these promotional CDs useful. Please pass on my thanks to Vicki, Vanessa, Dean and the rest of the crew for their help during last summer's Blues and Jazz Festival. Hope to see you all again next year... sans storms! All the best, Lee Mergner Associate Publisher Jazz Times Silver Spring, MD Kudos from The East JAM continues doing a good job of providing us with full information on what is going on around the Kansas City area. Because I am a big band fan, I particularly enjoyed reading "Q&A" with Warren Durrett in the October/November ('96) issue. I look forward to receiving the next issue of JAM. Best Wishes, Hideo Tateno Nisshin Aichi, Japan News & Updates From KKFI I enjoy your publication and appreciate your "On the Air" postings. Would you please update the KKFI listing to reflect current changes? Sincerely, Valerie "ValRae" Wolf KKFI-FM Kansas City, MO P.S. I need more local jazz artists' CDs for my Monday show and would be glad to have guests, too. Send to my attention at the station: KKFI 90.1 FM, P.O. Box 32250, Kansas City, MO 64171. (KKFI programming updates can be found in "On The Air." -- Ed.) Roy Was Right Just wanted to "e" in a note saying how much I enjoyed the December/January JAM. Trumpet is a great instrument, and we have several excellent players here in KC, each bringing their own personality to the horn. Being a frustrated trumpet player myself (that was my first choice of instruments as a kid), I had to laugh at Roy Eldridge's quote. Some times my drums say the same thing to me! Thanks for a great issue Todd Strait Prairie Village, KS Send written correspondence to: Editor/JAM, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171-6181, or e-mail to: dhampton@sound.net RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 1997 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.