JAM Magazine: August/September 1998 Issue: President's Corner

by Vanessa Barnard

As I write this column the day after the end of the Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival, I first have to say a big "thank you" to all of the people who volunteered in the Jazz Ambassadors' merchandise and beverage tents. Don and Jeanne Wickens and Wayne Davis also deserve special thanks for organizing our volunteers, not only for the Blues & Jazz Festival, but for the Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl(sm) and the International Jazz Festival.

And, of course Vicki Rollf again deserves applause for putting together another great supply of merchandise. Few in the organization realize just how much time Vicki spends researching new designs, working with vendors to get orders done in time, and just keeping general order in the merchandise tent itself.

So, a bow to everyone who braved the heat, climbed that hill into Penn Valley Park, and made this another successful festival for the Jazz Ambassadors.

And how can I leave out kudos for Greg Patterson, Connie "Crash" Humiston at the Blues & Jazz Festival and all the volunteers who give their time year-round to make the festival a success. After working a portion of the festival backstage this year, I have a healthy new respect for all that it takes to keep the festival running on time, as well as what is necessary to make sure everyone is taken care of. Actually, I didn't really "work" backstage; I just observed the rhythm of the people who have been doing this for years. I was in awe of the way they all worked together so easily. These people definitely know what they are doing.

There are no figures as we go to press, but from all indications the festival was a big success. And, considering the things that can go wrong with events like this, I felt the festival was very well organized and that it accomplished just what it set out to do. The new "Soul School" tent went over especially well, and the lineup for each of the stages was outstanding. So, congrats to the festival staff for another great year!

And now it's mid-summer.

Looking back on how things have gone so far, I have to say that Kansas City has been treated to some of the best jazz the world has to offer. And there is more to come with both the Spirit Festival and the 18th & Vine gala in September.

It was another successful year for the Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl(sm) on June 25th. Further information about our annual donations to various recipients will be announced at a later date.

And the International Jazz Festival in June brought some outstanding musicians to Kansas City, as did the Blues & Jazz Festival in July. At each of these events, you could hear a good sampling of KC's local musicians doing their thing, just as they do every night in clubs all over town. I have to say, these musicians can hold their own anytime anywhere against any national act I've seen come through Kansas City this summer. That's certainly not to make less of the national acts, but just to give thanks for what we Kansas Citians have on a daily basis.

I guess this is why we all do what we do to keep this organization going. It's one thing to say you love the music. It's altogether another thing to love the music and want to support it badly enough to volunteer your time and energy (and sanity!) just to make sure the music lives on.

That's what we do in the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. And I happen to think we do it very well.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support.

RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1998 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Vanessa Barnard As I write this column the day after the end of the Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival, I first have to say a big "thank you" to all of the people who volunteered in the Jazz Ambassadors' merchandise and beverage tents. Don and Jeanne Wickens and Wayne Davis also deserve special thanks for organizing our volunteers, not only for the Blues & Jazz Festival, but for the Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl(sm) and the International Jazz Festival. And, of course Vicki Rollf again deserves applause for putting together another great supply of merchandise. Few in the organization realize just how much time Vicki spends researching new designs, working with vendors to get orders done in time, and just keeping general order in the merchandise tent itself. So, a bow to everyone who braved the heat, climbed that hill into Penn Valley Park, and made this another successful festival for the Jazz Ambassadors. And how can I leave out kudos for Greg Patterson, Connie "Crash" Humiston at the Blues & Jazz Festival and all the volunteers who give their time year-round to make the festival a success. After working a portion of the festival backstage this year, I have a healthy new respect for all that it takes to keep the festival running on time, as well as what is necessary to make sure everyone is taken care of. Actually, I didn't really "work" backstage; I just observed the rhythm of the people who have been doing this for years. I was in awe of the way they all worked together so easily. These people definitely know what they are doing. There are no figures as we go to press, but from all indications the festival was a big success. And, considering the things that can go wrong with events like this, I felt the festival was very well organized and that it accomplished just what it set out to do. The new "Soul School" tent went over especially well, and the lineup for each of the stages was outstanding. So, congrats to the festival staff for another great year! And now it's mid-summer. Looking back on how things have gone so far, I have to say that Kansas City has been treated to some of the best jazz the world has to offer. And there is more to come with both the Spirit Festival and the 18th & Vine gala in September. It was another successful year for the Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl(sm) on June 25th. Further information about our annual donations to various recipients will be announced at a later date. And the International Jazz Festival in June brought some outstanding musicians to Kansas City, as did the Blues & Jazz Festival in July. At each of these events, you could hear a good sampling of KC's local musicians doing their thing, just as they do every night in clubs all over town. I have to say, these musicians can hold their own anytime anywhere against any national act I've seen come through Kansas City this summer. That's certainly not to make less of the national acts, but just to give thanks for what we Kansas Citians have on a daily basis. I guess this is why we all do what we do to keep this organization going. It's one thing to say you love the music. It's altogether another thing to love the music and want to support it badly enough to volunteer your time and energy (and sanity!) just to make sure the music lives on. That's what we do in the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. And I happen to think we do it very well. Thanks to all of you for your continued support. RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.