JAM Magazine: October/November 1998 Issue: KC/DC

by Gregg Ottinger

Joe Cartwright and Angela Hagenbach Shine at the Kennedy Center
Washingtonians, weary of summer, scandal and special prosecutors, could kick back and enjoy some cool jazz sounds, as Kansas City's Joe Cartwright and Angela Hagenbach kicked off their international tour at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage on September 17.

Joe and Angela are one of seven jazz duos selected in a nationwide competition to represent the United States and present American music overseas as part of the US Information Agency's and Kennedy Center's Jazz Ambassador Touring Program. Their five-week tour is to take them to Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mauritius.

Music fans in those countries are in for a treat. Joe and Angela have worked together for a number of years, including on Angela's CDs, Come Fly With Me and Feel The Magic, and on Musa Nova's CD, Angela Hagenbach and Musa Nova. On each, Angela's smoky voice and Joe's sophisticated piano complement each other beautifully.

After they opened with an up-tempo tune that got all the toes in the house tapping, "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me," my date whispered in my ear, "I can't believe that I'm in love with her!" Other favorites of the evening included Jobim's "Agua de Beber," which Angela sang in Portuguese, Dave Frishberg's "Peel Me a Grape," Angela's original composition "Feel The Magic," Bobby Troup's "Baby, Baby, All The Time," Bruno Martino's hauntingly beautiful "Estaté," and Nnenna Freelon's "Changed," which closed the show and garnered a standing ovation.

The audience included several special guests from the diplomatic corps. His Excellency Chitmansing Jesseramsing, Ambassador of Mauritius, told Joe and Angela how much his countrymen enjoy jazz, and thanked them for the "foretaste of the type of banquet to which we will be treated when you visit Africa."

Joel Siegel, who was Shirley Horn's producer and manager for twelve years, was particularly pleased with Angela's offering of "Estaté," to which he penned the English lyrics. "I was being sort of vain one day," Mr. Siegel told me, chuckling after the show, "and looking on the Internet to see who had recorded my lyrics. Angela and I met that way. She sent me one of her CDs, which I loved, but I've never met her or heard her in person until this evening. She brought something new and very beautiful to the song. I liked it very much."

This is the second year the Kennedy Center and USIA have worked together to showcase some of the United States' most talented musicians. Last year, they joined in presenting classical musicians. This year, it is jazz.

"Worldwide, jazz is considered one of America's greatest exports," commented Kennedy Center president Lawrence J. Wilker. "Our relationship with USIA, through the Jazz Ambassadors program, provides broad opportunities for outstanding American artists to be heard abroad. The Kennedy Center is pleased to present these outstanding musicians in the nation's capital on the eve of their international tours."

In her introduction of the final number of the evening, Ms. Hagenbach explained that the song, "Changed," was offered in anticipation of returning from this trip with new and exiting ideas, experiences, and music. As a former Peace Corps volunteer who has lived in Africa, I know that she is correct. Although this five-week tour undoubtedly will be exhausting and, at times, frustrating, Joe Cartwright and Angela Hagenbach will return not only having learned much more about the music, people and countries they visit, but also about their own music and themselves. Kansas Citians should make a point of going out, once the tour is over, to hear how the trip has influenced their ideas and music.

RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1998 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Gregg Ottinger Joe Cartwright and Angela Hagenbach Shine at the Kennedy Center Washingtonians, weary of summer, scandal and special prosecutors, could kick back and enjoy some cool jazz sounds, as Kansas City's Joe Cartwright and Angela Hagenbach kicked off their international tour at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage on September 17. Joe and Angela are one of seven jazz duos selected in a nationwide competition to represent the United States and present American music overseas as part of the US Information Agency's and Kennedy Center's Jazz Ambassador Touring Program. Their five-week tour is to take them to Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. Music fans in those countries are in for a treat. Joe and Angela have worked together for a number of years, including on Angela's CDs, Come Fly With Me and Feel The Magic, and on Musa Nova's CD, Angela Hagenbach and Musa Nova. On each, Angela's smoky voice and Joe's sophisticated piano complement each other beautifully. After they opened with an up-tempo tune that got all the toes in the house tapping, "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me," my date whispered in my ear, "I can't believe that I'm in love with her!" Other favorites of the evening included Jobim's "Agua de Beber," which Angela sang in Portuguese, Dave Frishberg's "Peel Me a Grape," Angela's original composition "Feel The Magic," Bobby Troup's "Baby, Baby, All The Time," Bruno Martino's hauntingly beautiful "Estaté," and Nnenna Freelon's "Changed," which closed the show and garnered a standing ovation. The audience included several special guests from the diplomatic corps. His Excellency Chitmansing Jesseramsing, Ambassador of Mauritius, told Joe and Angela how much his countrymen enjoy jazz, and thanked them for the "foretaste of the type of banquet to which we will be treated when you visit Africa." Joel Siegel, who was Shirley Horn's producer and manager for twelve years, was particularly pleased with Angela's offering of "Estaté," to which he penned the English lyrics. "I was being sort of vain one day," Mr. Siegel told me, chuckling after the show, "and looking on the Internet to see who had recorded my lyrics. Angela and I met that way. She sent me one of her CDs, which I loved, but I've never met her or heard her in person until this evening. She brought something new and very beautiful to the song. I liked it very much." This is the second year the Kennedy Center and USIA have worked together to showcase some of the United States' most talented musicians. Last year, they joined in presenting classical musicians. This year, it is jazz. "Worldwide, jazz is considered one of America's greatest exports," commented Kennedy Center president Lawrence J. Wilker. "Our relationship with USIA, through the Jazz Ambassadors program, provides broad opportunities for outstanding American artists to be heard abroad. The Kennedy Center is pleased to present these outstanding musicians in the nation's capital on the eve of their international tours." In her introduction of the final number of the evening, Ms. Hagenbach explained that the song, "Changed," was offered in anticipation of returning from this trip with new and exiting ideas, experiences, and music. As a former Peace Corps volunteer who has lived in Africa, I know that she is correct. Although this five-week tour undoubtedly will be exhausting and, at times, frustrating, Joe Cartwright and Angela Hagenbach will return not only having learned much more about the music, people and countries they visit, but also about their own music and themselves. Kansas Citians should make a point of going out, once the tour is over, to hear how the trip has influenced their ideas and music. RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.