JAM Magazine: August/September 1998 Issue: First Take

by Mike Metheny
JAM Editor

Bravo, KCJI
At the Kansas City International Jazz Festival June 26-27, someone was heard to say, "What Kansas City jazz needs is a mascot... you know, a guy in a chicken suit, or someone dressed up like a cow. Then maybe people would come to these things." For the third straight year, Kansas City Jazz International and its founders Steve Irwin, Jo Boehr and John Jessup have put on a first rate jazz festival featuring the finest in name, new and local talent. And, for the third year KC has had better things to do. Granted, it was oppressively hot both days, and true, our brawling, below .500 baseball team was in town drawing nearly 40,000 per game (and do we really want half-naked guys with "Go Royals!" painted on their bellies at a jazz fest anyway?). But the question remains: what does it take to get KC to support a world class jazz event, hot and humid weather notwithstanding? The folks at KCJI have consistently delivered the goods and have done exactly what was necessary to bring a major league jazz festival to Kansas City. Is their vision too hip for the room? Apparently so.

In This Issue...
It may be the result of reading too much Playboy (as a younger guy, of course) but I've always found the "Q&A" interview format to be the most interesting. There's the feeling of listening in on an actual conversation, spontaneous replies are transcribed nearly verbatim, and the subject's voice is presented in the context of an honest give and take. This issue, we have two such interviews, both with giants in the world of jazz-based popular music.

When talking with trumpeter Doc Severinsen it's easy to lose perspective. Doc's neighborly charm, relaxed humor and genuine humility can obscure the fact that for nearly 50 years he has been one of, if not the finest studio-soloist/lead-jazz trumpet players in the history of the instrument. In his "Q&A," Doc fields a variety of questions and does so from the lofty vantage point of a musician who has seen and done it all. In 1998, Doc Severinsen is still at the top of his game, and he's just as enthusiastic as ever about a busy career in music.

George Benson has also made an indelible mark in the history of jazz and popular music. And in his regular "Contemporary Jazz" column, contributor Jeff Charney talks with the venerable guitarist about a new CD, memories of playing in Kansas City, and the next wave of contemporary jazz musicians who keep an icon like Benson young and inspired. Like Doc Severinsen, George Benson's lengthy career is showing no signs of slowing down. Both are admirable examples of how excellence and longevity can go hand in hand.

This plus new CDs reviewed, a rundown of the complete 1998-99 Folly Jazz Series, a photo gallery of candid moments from several of this summer's area jazz events, and news about a rare string of live concerts by Marilyn Maye, one of finest jazz singers to ever come out of Kansas City.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him fluttertongue." -- Delmar Hansen

RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1998 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Mike Metheny JAM Editor Bravo, KCJI At the Kansas City International Jazz Festival June 26-27, someone was heard to say, "What Kansas City jazz needs is a mascot... you know, a guy in a chicken suit, or someone dressed up like a cow. Then maybe people would come to these things." For the third straight year, Kansas City Jazz International and its founders Steve Irwin, Jo Boehr and John Jessup have put on a first rate jazz festival featuring the finest in name, new and local talent. And, for the third year KC has had better things to do. Granted, it was oppressively hot both days, and true, our brawling, below .500 baseball team was in town drawing nearly 40,000 per game (and do we really want half-naked guys with "Go Royals!" painted on their bellies at a jazz fest anyway?). But the question remains: what does it take to get KC to support a world class jazz event, hot and humid weather notwithstanding? The folks at KCJI have consistently delivered the goods and have done exactly what was necessary to bring a major league jazz festival to Kansas City. Is their vision too hip for the room? Apparently so. In This Issue... It may be the result of reading too much Playboy (as a younger guy, of course) but I've always found the "Q&A" interview format to be the most interesting. There's the feeling of listening in on an actual conversation, spontaneous replies are transcribed nearly verbatim, and the subject's voice is presented in the context of an honest give and take. This issue, we have two such interviews, both with giants in the world of jazz-based popular music. When talking with trumpeter Doc Severinsen it's easy to lose perspective. Doc's neighborly charm, relaxed humor and genuine humility can obscure the fact that for nearly 50 years he has been one of, if not the finest studio-soloist/lead-jazz trumpet players in the history of the instrument. In his "Q&A," Doc fields a variety of questions and does so from the lofty vantage point of a musician who has seen and done it all. In 1998, Doc Severinsen is still at the top of his game, and he's just as enthusiastic as ever about a busy career in music. George Benson has also made an indelible mark in the history of jazz and popular music. And in his regular "Contemporary Jazz" column, contributor Jeff Charney talks with the venerable guitarist about a new CD, memories of playing in Kansas City, and the next wave of contemporary jazz musicians who keep an icon like Benson young and inspired. Like Doc Severinsen, George Benson's lengthy career is showing no signs of slowing down. Both are admirable examples of how excellence and longevity can go hand in hand. This plus new CDs reviewed, a rundown of the complete 1998-99 Folly Jazz Series, a photo gallery of candid moments from several of this summer's area jazz events, and news about a rare string of live concerts by Marilyn Maye, one of finest jazz singers to ever come out of Kansas City. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him fluttertongue." -- Delmar Hansen RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.