JAM Magazine: June/July 1998 Issue: First Take

by Mike Metheny
JAM Editor

End of an Era
In a blaze of musical glory, the William McGlaughlin era at the Kansas City Symphony came to an end on May 2 as the orchestra filled the RLDS Auditorium with the spectacular sounds of Mahler's 8th, "The Symphony of a Thousand." Since 1986, Music Director McGlaughlin has not only been a glowing presence on the city's classical music scene, but he has been a true friend of Kansas City jazz. When he moves on later this year (to New York, rumor has it), there will be a noticeable void in both the jazz and classical music communities, a void that won't be easily filled. In 1993, I had the pleasure of interviewing the maestro for this magazine. An edited version of that Q&A is now on the JAM website and is recommended reading. Bill McGlaughlin is a gracious and gifted musician, an articulate scholar, and an all-around class act. He will be missed.

And Then There's Scott
The more I dabble in this whole music journalism thing, the more I realize that a line exists between responsible, objective, constuctive music criticism and literary self-gratification laced with personal agenda. If chronically crossing that line constituted grounds for dismissal at The Kansas City Star, classical music critic Scott Cantrell would have been booted years ago. But that's only in a perfect world. Let us never forget that, for a substantial number of the McGlaughlin years, Cantrell repeatedly beat up on the Kansas City Symphony and its learned captain, all while giving new meaning to the words "flogging the bishop." To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw: those who can, do; those who cannot, wank.

Fresh Voice, Familiar Subject
High praise to drummer (and occasional JAM contributor) Doug Auwarter for an incisive letter to The Star on May 2 in which he took Star music writer/restaurant critic Timothy Finn to task for an unfortunate point of view. In a review of Jardine's on April 24, Finn revealed in so many words that he is one of many in KC who sometimes think of a band in a jazz club as an "invasion" and an obstacle to conversation. "They're forcing us to listen to the music," Finn quotes a friend as saying. Doug's response? "Friends, you're supposed to listen, and if you feel you are being forced against your will, then you should be somewhere else." Well said. May such commentary speed the arrival of the day when area jazz musicians no longer feel they must out-decibel the disinterested just to be heard.

In This Issue...
On to happier thoughts. It's Summertime! And, if you're a jazz lover in KC, you'll know what that means. Festivals. The Pub Crawl. Sticky days and star-lit nights. All with great jazz as the perfect soundtrack. In this issue of JAM, you'll find everything you need to know about a summer of sizzlin' sounds. That plus Dean Hampton's yearly "Kansas City Jazz Vacation," our annual Club Scene Synopsis, a preview of the '98-99 season at the Folly Theater, a report from KCJA webmaster Brad Lucht on the still-growing JAM website, and a profile of pianist Ronnell Bright who has backed some of the biggest names in the history of vocal jazz.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"If you don't know the melody, just play it in unison." -- Lawrence Welk

RETURN TO JUNE/JULY 1998 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Mike Metheny JAM Editor End of an Era In a blaze of musical glory, the William McGlaughlin era at the Kansas City Symphony came to an end on May 2 as the orchestra filled the RLDS Auditorium with the spectacular sounds of Mahler's 8th, "The Symphony of a Thousand." Since 1986, Music Director McGlaughlin has not only been a glowing presence on the city's classical music scene, but he has been a true friend of Kansas City jazz. When he moves on later this year (to New York, rumor has it), there will be a noticeable void in both the jazz and classical music communities, a void that won't be easily filled. In 1993, I had the pleasure of interviewing the maestro for this magazine. An edited version of that Q&A is now on the JAM website and is recommended reading. Bill McGlaughlin is a gracious and gifted musician, an articulate scholar, and an all-around class act. He will be missed. And Then There's Scott The more I dabble in this whole music journalism thing, the more I realize that a line exists between responsible, objective, constuctive music criticism and literary self-gratification laced with personal agenda. If chronically crossing that line constituted grounds for dismissal at The Kansas City Star, classical music critic Scott Cantrell would have been booted years ago. But that's only in a perfect world. Let us never forget that, for a substantial number of the McGlaughlin years, Cantrell repeatedly beat up on the Kansas City Symphony and its learned captain, all while giving new meaning to the words "flogging the bishop." To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw: those who can, do; those who cannot, wank. Fresh Voice, Familiar Subject High praise to drummer (and occasional JAM contributor) Doug Auwarter for an incisive letter to The Star on May 2 in which he took Star music writer/restaurant critic Timothy Finn to task for an unfortunate point of view. In a review of Jardine's on April 24, Finn revealed in so many words that he is one of many in KC who sometimes think of a band in a jazz club as an "invasion" and an obstacle to conversation. "They're forcing us to listen to the music," Finn quotes a friend as saying. Doug's response? "Friends, you're supposed to listen, and if you feel you are being forced against your will, then you should be somewhere else." Well said. May such commentary speed the arrival of the day when area jazz musicians no longer feel they must out-decibel the disinterested just to be heard. In This Issue... On to happier thoughts. It's Summertime! And, if you're a jazz lover in KC, you'll know what that means. Festivals. The Pub Crawl. Sticky days and star-lit nights. All with great jazz as the perfect soundtrack. In this issue of JAM, you'll find everything you need to know about a summer of sizzlin' sounds. That plus Dean Hampton's yearly "Kansas City Jazz Vacation," our annual Club Scene Synopsis, a preview of the '98-99 season at the Folly Theater, a report from KCJA webmaster Brad Lucht on the still-growing JAM website, and a profile of pianist Ronnell Bright who has backed some of the biggest names in the history of vocal jazz. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "If you don't know the melody, just play it in unison." -- Lawrence Welk RETURN TO JUNE/JULY 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.