JAM Magazine: October/November 1998 Issue: First Take

by Mike Metheny
JAM Editor

Meeting The Press
I've often joked that one of the reasons I started putting a horn on my face as a kid was so I wouldn't have to talk to people. When it comes to verbal communication, I've always been pretty much a human sleeping pill. And speak to the media? I'd rather have a root canal. And an enema. Simultaneously. But if needed, I can usually fake my way through addressing a crowd. Or, heaven forbid, a bank of TV cameras and reporters, if it's for a good cause.

On August 18 I was asked to participate in a press conference with Mayor Cleaver, the purpose of which was to announce additional plans for the September 11-12 18th & Vine anniversary gala (of which I was honored to be a part). It was also a time for each speaker to take stock of the many positive things that have transpired since the Historic District reopened a year ago last month.

As we all know, I said in my remarks, most politicians could care less about jazz. Or, for that matter, any of the arts. But in Kansas City we have a mayor whose vision has made the return of 18th & Vine a reality. A vision without which we all would have been standing in a pile of dusty bricks that hot summer day. I also said that the local jazz community should be eternally grateful to Mr. Cleaver for breathing new life into Kansas City jazz. "I know I sure am," I added. At which point I caught a glimpse of what I thought was the mayor's quizzical expression (had I inadvertently ended the sentence with the word "man"?... was I straying too close to the Kiss-up Zone?...) and knew it was time to wrap things up. But I meant every word of what I said. Without Mayor Cleaver, 18th & Vine would still be a ghost town. And an important part of the Kansas City jazz scene would not be in the good shape it's in today.

I also managed to squeeze in a ringing endorsement of the Blue Room at 18th & Vine and the many good things it represents. If you are a jazz aficionado who has given up on going out to the clubs because of the smoke, noise and other distractions that can ruin a jazz lover's evening, the Blue Room is a venue you should check out. No smoking is allowed, no food is served, and the main reason people are there is to enjoy live jazz. And, as I mentioned to the press, it's a great place to play. (But by then, note pads had slipped from fingers, and muffled snores mixed with the summer breeze...)

Rumor Control
Was I cut off for "going over the allotted time" at the 18th & Vine Gala on September 11? Yes. Was the chart just about to end anyway? Yes. Was the truncated tune written by, of all people, Charlie Parker? Yes. Did any other acts go over? Probably. Was the show running on time? No. Was the rehearsal the best time to express concerns about segment length? Duh. Did this incident take place in front of 500 confused VIPs? Yes. Was the soloist left stunned and stranded on stage without a graceful exist? Big time. Was the decision of a disrespectful imported production team a monumental bummer with scatological backstage consequences?

I guess you had to be there.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"The trouble with this world is that the stupid are cock-sure and the intelligent are full of doubt." -- Bertrand Russell

RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1998 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Mike Metheny JAM Editor Meeting The Press I've often joked that one of the reasons I started putting a horn on my face as a kid was so I wouldn't have to talk to people. When it comes to verbal communication, I've always been pretty much a human sleeping pill. And speak to the media? I'd rather have a root canal. And an enema. Simultaneously. But if needed, I can usually fake my way through addressing a crowd. Or, heaven forbid, a bank of TV cameras and reporters, if it's for a good cause. On August 18 I was asked to participate in a press conference with Mayor Cleaver, the purpose of which was to announce additional plans for the September 11-12 18th & Vine anniversary gala (of which I was honored to be a part). It was also a time for each speaker to take stock of the many positive things that have transpired since the Historic District reopened a year ago last month. As we all know, I said in my remarks, most politicians could care less about jazz. Or, for that matter, any of the arts. But in Kansas City we have a mayor whose vision has made the return of 18th & Vine a reality. A vision without which we all would have been standing in a pile of dusty bricks that hot summer day. I also said that the local jazz community should be eternally grateful to Mr. Cleaver for breathing new life into Kansas City jazz. "I know I sure am," I added. At which point I caught a glimpse of what I thought was the mayor's quizzical expression (had I inadvertently ended the sentence with the word "man"?... was I straying too close to the Kiss-up Zone?...) and knew it was time to wrap things up. But I meant every word of what I said. Without Mayor Cleaver, 18th & Vine would still be a ghost town. And an important part of the Kansas City jazz scene would not be in the good shape it's in today. I also managed to squeeze in a ringing endorsement of the Blue Room at 18th & Vine and the many good things it represents. If you are a jazz aficionado who has given up on going out to the clubs because of the smoke, noise and other distractions that can ruin a jazz lover's evening, the Blue Room is a venue you should check out. No smoking is allowed, no food is served, and the main reason people are there is to enjoy live jazz. And, as I mentioned to the press, it's a great place to play. (But by then, note pads had slipped from fingers, and muffled snores mixed with the summer breeze...) Rumor Control Was I cut off for "going over the allotted time" at the 18th & Vine Gala on September 11? Yes. Was the chart just about to end anyway? Yes. Was the truncated tune written by, of all people, Charlie Parker? Yes. Did any other acts go over? Probably. Was the show running on time? No. Was the rehearsal the best time to express concerns about segment length? Duh. Did this incident take place in front of 500 confused VIPs? Yes. Was the soloist left stunned and stranded on stage without a graceful exist? Big time. Was the decision of a disrespectful imported production team a monumental bummer with scatological backstage consequences? I guess you had to be there. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "The trouble with this world is that the stupid are cock-sure and the intelligent are full of doubt." -- Bertrand Russell RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.