JAM Magazine: December/January 1999 Issue: Correspondence

Thank You, KCJA
The 18th & Vine Authority is greatly appreciative for the charitable contribution presented by the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors.

18th & Vine is an historic arena and we are proud to share this legacy with the Jazz Ambassadors.

Thank you again for your generous support.

Sincerely,
Rowena Stewart, D.H.
Executive Director
18th & Vine Authority
Kansas City, MO

Continuing a Tradition of Support
Dear Jam,
On September 30, 1998 we lost my father Don Strait to a sudden illness. My sisters, Laurie LeMieux and A. Christine Strait, and I have established a Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Topeka Jazz Workshop in his honor. This scholarship will be presented to a promising young jazz musician each year to aid in sending them to summer jazz camps and workshops. I was a recipient of three such scholarships when I was in high school, which enabled me to attend the Stan Kenton and Jamie Aebersold jazz camps. There I met, among many others, Ed Soph, who became a strong influence on my playing and career. Those opportunities along with the unwavering support of my dad had a tremendous impact on me and helped shape my future. My family would like to continue Dad's tradition of support for tomorrow's jazz musicians.

Though Dad held a "9 to 5" all his life to support his family, his heart was in his weekend gigs. He played and sang since high school, recorded an album in college with "The Five Guys," was a big fan of Stan Kenton and The Four Freshman, and gigged all the way to the end. Self-taught and with a great ear for swing, he was also a huge fan of many KC musicians. Recently retired, he traveled with me around the country and abroad to support our hometown musicians. In KC, he could usually be seen in the crowd with Dave Overmeyer, a great friend and my adopted uncle, unless they were off gigging with "The Three Guys" (their own group) in Topeka.

If any of your readers would like to contribute to this scholarship fund, donations can be sent to:

TJW
c/o Jim Monroe
2221 SW DeSousa Ct.
Topeka, KS 66611
memo: Don Strait Jazz Scholarship

Thanks for helping to spread the word!

Sincerely,
Todd Strait
Prairie Village, KS

Welcome to KC
Love your magazine. I wish every city had one!

I am a jazz guitarist fairly new to the area. I would like to be added to the musicians guide, please.

Thank you!
Ben Edmonds
Kansas City, MO

(Consider yourself added, Ben. -- Ed.)

Staying Informed
Thanks for an informative website concerning jazz in this region of the country. Now I can keep up on what is scheduled in a very effective manner.

Chris Burnett
Waynesville, MO

Our Russian Jazz Ambassador
Dear friends and colleagues,

As a frequent visitor to JazzTimes conventions and as an active member of IAJE, I strongly support Dean Hampton's idea (see JAM, October/November '98) of having a "Kansas City Jazz" booth at all major festivals, conferences and other national or international events. Your beautiful town truly deserves wider recognition!

I wish you all good luck in realizing that idea and I hope to join my little forces with yours some day.

Sincerely yours,
Alexander Mezdrikov
Member of KC Jazz Ambassadors
Novosibirsk, Russia

RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1999 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		Thank You, KCJA The 18th & Vine Authority is greatly appreciative for the charitable contribution presented by the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. 18th & Vine is an historic arena and we are proud to share this legacy with the Jazz Ambassadors. Thank you again for your generous support. Sincerely, Rowena Stewart, D.H. Executive Director 18th & Vine Authority Kansas City, MO Continuing a Tradition of Support Dear Jam, On September 30, 1998 we lost my father Don Strait to a sudden illness. My sisters, Laurie LeMieux and A. Christine Strait, and I have established a Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Topeka Jazz Workshop in his honor. This scholarship will be presented to a promising young jazz musician each year to aid in sending them to summer jazz camps and workshops. I was a recipient of three such scholarships when I was in high school, which enabled me to attend the Stan Kenton and Jamie Aebersold jazz camps. There I met, among many others, Ed Soph, who became a strong influence on my playing and career. Those opportunities along with the unwavering support of my dad had a tremendous impact on me and helped shape my future. My family would like to continue Dad's tradition of support for tomorrow's jazz musicians. Though Dad held a "9 to 5" all his life to support his family, his heart was in his weekend gigs. He played and sang since high school, recorded an album in college with "The Five Guys," was a big fan of Stan Kenton and The Four Freshman, and gigged all the way to the end. Self-taught and with a great ear for swing, he was also a huge fan of many KC musicians. Recently retired, he traveled with me around the country and abroad to support our hometown musicians. In KC, he could usually be seen in the crowd with Dave Overmeyer, a great friend and my adopted uncle, unless they were off gigging with "The Three Guys" (their own group) in Topeka. If any of your readers would like to contribute to this scholarship fund, donations can be sent to: TJW c/o Jim Monroe 2221 SW DeSousa Ct. Topeka, KS 66611 memo: Don Strait Jazz Scholarship Thanks for helping to spread the word! Sincerely, Todd Strait Prairie Village, KS Welcome to KC Love your magazine. I wish every city had one! I am a jazz guitarist fairly new to the area. I would like to be added to the musicians guide, please. Thank you! Ben Edmonds Kansas City, MO (Consider yourself added, Ben. -- Ed.) Staying Informed Thanks for an informative website concerning jazz in this region of the country. Now I can keep up on what is scheduled in a very effective manner. Chris Burnett Waynesville, MO Our Russian Jazz Ambassador Dear friends and colleagues, As a frequent visitor to JazzTimes conventions and as an active member of IAJE, I strongly support Dean Hampton's idea (see JAM, October/November '98) of having a "Kansas City Jazz" booth at all major festivals, conferences and other national or international events. Your beautiful town truly deserves wider recognition! I wish you all good luck in realizing that idea and I hope to join my little forces with yours some day. Sincerely yours, Alexander Mezdrikov Member of KC Jazz Ambassadors Novosibirsk, Russia RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.