JAM Magazine: December/January 1998 Issue: First Take

by Mike Metheny
JAM Editor

BIRD'S GRAVE
Thumbs up to Kansas City Star jazz writer Lee Hill Kavanaugh for her piece, "KC Blows It Again" (Oct. 30) in which we were reminded of the embarrassment that is Charlie Parker's gravesite. That one of the greatest improvisers in the history of jazz ended up in an obscure Kansas City cemetery few can even find is one thing, but the eternal typo on the headstone (an engraving of a tenor sax) makes the city of Parker's birth look even more out of touch. Is there a chance of righting this wrong? Stay tuned for new initiatives and developments.

DIVIDED WE FALL
Anyone who's followed the history of multiple autonomous (and sometimes bickering) entities in the Kansas City jazz community was no doubt rolling their eyes when the October rift between the Jazz Ambassadors and the 18th & Vine Authority spilled into the pages of The Star. Things seem to be resolved for now (a press-time update can be found in Vanessa Barnard's "President's Corner") so, little additional comment is needed here. Except for this. The Kansas City jazz scene -- or that of any cultural hub for that matter -- cannot afford the luxury of division or internal feuds. Jazz is too esoteric a music, the profession of jazz musician is historically too fragile, and any ambitious endeavor to do with jazz -- such as the redevelopment of the 18th & Vine District -- needs the support of all jazz enthusiasts in order to survive.

A unified jazz community that works together. Kansas City jazz, past, present and future, deserves nothing less.

IN THIS ISSUE...
For years, area jazz fans have been able to enjoy their work on the walls of the clubs, on the jackets of CDs... even in the pages of this magazine. Now, in this issue's "Q&A," photographers Allene Mahogany and Beverly Rehkop talk about what goes into capturing great jazz moments on film. It's not as simple as you might think.

Former KCIY/Smooth Jazz program director Doug Gondek once said to me, "The house of jazz has many rooms, but we need to get people through the front door first." Good point, I remember thinking. "Contemporary jazz" has never gotten its share of ink in JAM. With this issue, that will change. We're happy to welcome, as a new contributor, Jeff Charney, popular host of the "Sunday Jazz Brunch" on KPRS. Jeff will offer news and views from one room in the house of jazz where many fine musicians reside.

This plus a profile of the Blue Room at 18th & Vine, reviews of new CDs from singers Pat Wilson and the late Richard Ross, and a little Yuletide poetry in "Coda" that's designed to get you in touch with your inner Scrooge.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"They said Bird played bebop, but Bird could still swing. I've heard a lot of guys play bebop, but they wasn't swinging."

-- Jay McShann

RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1998 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Mike Metheny JAM Editor BIRD'S GRAVE Thumbs up to Kansas City Star jazz writer Lee Hill Kavanaugh for her piece, "KC Blows It Again" (Oct. 30) in which we were reminded of the embarrassment that is Charlie Parker's gravesite. That one of the greatest improvisers in the history of jazz ended up in an obscure Kansas City cemetery few can even find is one thing, but the eternal typo on the headstone (an engraving of a tenor sax) makes the city of Parker's birth look even more out of touch. Is there a chance of righting this wrong? Stay tuned for new initiatives and developments. DIVIDED WE FALL Anyone who's followed the history of multiple autonomous (and sometimes bickering) entities in the Kansas City jazz community was no doubt rolling their eyes when the October rift between the Jazz Ambassadors and the 18th & Vine Authority spilled into the pages of The Star. Things seem to be resolved for now (a press-time update can be found in Vanessa Barnard's "President's Corner") so, little additional comment is needed here. Except for this. The Kansas City jazz scene -- or that of any cultural hub for that matter -- cannot afford the luxury of division or internal feuds. Jazz is too esoteric a music, the profession of jazz musician is historically too fragile, and any ambitious endeavor to do with jazz -- such as the redevelopment of the 18th & Vine District -- needs the support of all jazz enthusiasts in order to survive. A unified jazz community that works together. Kansas City jazz, past, present and future, deserves nothing less. IN THIS ISSUE... For years, area jazz fans have been able to enjoy their work on the walls of the clubs, on the jackets of CDs... even in the pages of this magazine. Now, in this issue's "Q&A," photographers Allene Mahogany and Beverly Rehkop talk about what goes into capturing great jazz moments on film. It's not as simple as you might think. Former KCIY/Smooth Jazz program director Doug Gondek once said to me, "The house of jazz has many rooms, but we need to get people through the front door first." Good point, I remember thinking. "Contemporary jazz" has never gotten its share of ink in JAM. With this issue, that will change. We're happy to welcome, as a new contributor, Jeff Charney, popular host of the "Sunday Jazz Brunch" on KPRS. Jeff will offer news and views from one room in the house of jazz where many fine musicians reside. This plus a profile of the Blue Room at 18th & Vine, reviews of new CDs from singers Pat Wilson and the late Richard Ross, and a little Yuletide poetry in "Coda" that's designed to get you in touch with your inner Scrooge. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "They said Bird played bebop, but Bird could still swing. I've heard a lot of guys play bebop, but they wasn't swinging." -- Jay McShann RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.