JAM Magazine: August/September 1997 Issue: First Take

by Mike Metheny
JAM Editor

In This Issue...
It's been a long time coming (decades, and millions of dollars), but the historic 18th & Vine District is finally back and brimming with new life. Most everyone knows about the inaugural events set for August 30, September 5 and 6, but what about everything else this legendary part of Kansas City will have to offer? Now, and into the 21st century? Contributor John Encell will fill you in on the full story, from the grand opening galas at the GEM Theater, to the Jazz and Negro Leagues Baseball museums. It is indeed a time of promise for a part of town forever linked to Kansas City's great jazz heritage.

There are two significant concert series of note each year in Kansas City designed to showcase prominent names in the world of jazz. The Folly Theater and the Kansas City Jazz Workshop have both gone the extra mile to bring area jazz fans the best in national and international talent. 1997-98 will be no exception. The Folly's Executive Director Doug Tatum will preview his new season in "Folly Jazz News," and the lineup for KCJW leads in "News & Notes."

Kansas City jazz musicians (and those with KC ties) have once again been busy in the studios. And "For The Record" this time is practically bursting at the seams as a result. Ahmad Alaadeen, Karrin Allyson, Wayne Hawkins, Steve Million, Diane "Mama" Ray and Claude "Fiddler" Williams all have new albums, and Interstring's new one, out soon, will be reviewed in the October/November JAM .

A local journalist for whom I've always had much respect is the Kansas City Star's jazz writer Calvin Wilson. As you may know, Calvin is heading for New York at the end of the summer for a nine month sabbatical and I was very happy that he agreed to do a "Q&A" with us before leaving town. I had a feeling it would make for a lively interview; and that it certainly was.

All this plus a new "President's Corner" from KCJA prez Vanessa Barnard in which she profiles two of the most respected members of the Kansas City jazz scene, Donald and Pat (Princess) Cox, a new edition of Dean Hampton's "Hot Licks," a reminder that there are still more jazz festivals yet to come in the remaining days of summer, and a new column titled "Classics: For the Record" in which we review reissues of those historic jazz records that made a difference. This time around contributor Paul Hofmann offers his impressions of the newest remix/reissue of the classic Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"The history in and around 18th & Vine is so deep and rich that it almost has an aroma. You can almost smell the history when you walk up and down that area." -- Kansas City Mayor Emanuel Cleaver (from an interview in JAM, June/July 1996)

RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1997 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Mike Metheny JAM Editor In This Issue... It's been a long time coming (decades, and millions of dollars), but the historic 18th & Vine District is finally back and brimming with new life. Most everyone knows about the inaugural events set for August 30, September 5 and 6, but what about everything else this legendary part of Kansas City will have to offer? Now, and into the 21st century? Contributor John Encell will fill you in on the full story, from the grand opening galas at the GEM Theater, to the Jazz and Negro Leagues Baseball museums. It is indeed a time of promise for a part of town forever linked to Kansas City's great jazz heritage. There are two significant concert series of note each year in Kansas City designed to showcase prominent names in the world of jazz. The Folly Theater and the Kansas City Jazz Workshop have both gone the extra mile to bring area jazz fans the best in national and international talent. 1997-98 will be no exception. The Folly's Executive Director Doug Tatum will preview his new season in "Folly Jazz News," and the lineup for KCJW leads in "News & Notes." Kansas City jazz musicians (and those with KC ties) have once again been busy in the studios. And "For The Record" this time is practically bursting at the seams as a result. Ahmad Alaadeen, Karrin Allyson, Wayne Hawkins, Steve Million, Diane "Mama" Ray and Claude "Fiddler" Williams all have new albums, and Interstring's new one, out soon, will be reviewed in the October/November JAM . A local journalist for whom I've always had much respect is the Kansas City Star's jazz writer Calvin Wilson. As you may know, Calvin is heading for New York at the end of the summer for a nine month sabbatical and I was very happy that he agreed to do a "Q&A" with us before leaving town. I had a feeling it would make for a lively interview; and that it certainly was. All this plus a new "President's Corner" from KCJA prez Vanessa Barnard in which she profiles two of the most respected members of the Kansas City jazz scene, Donald and Pat (Princess) Cox, a new edition of Dean Hampton's "Hot Licks," a reminder that there are still more jazz festivals yet to come in the remaining days of summer, and a new column titled "Classics: For the Record" in which we review reissues of those historic jazz records that made a difference. This time around contributor Paul Hofmann offers his impressions of the newest remix/reissue of the classic Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "The history in and around 18th & Vine is so deep and rich that it almost has an aroma. You can almost smell the history when you walk up and down that area." -- Kansas City Mayor Emanuel Cleaver (from an interview in JAM, June/July 1996) RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1997 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.