JAM Magazine: June/July 1999 Issue: Correspondence

A Definition, Please
Please define "intelligent art form" for me ("Peeing Into the Wind For Distance..." JAM, April/May '99). I am kinda slow and don't want to do anything embarrassing like talk in a bar while the intelligent people are plying their trade.

Every time I think about rejoining the Jazz Ambassadors I read something in JAM that's prompts me to put my checkbook away.

Thanks for renewing my belief that most Kansas City jazz players are pompous snobs who will never achieve broad universal appeal.

Richard Brotbeck
Swing City Attractions
Kansas City, MO

Mike Metheny responds:
When Billy Taylor, Max Roach, Al Grey, Milt Jackson, Doris Parker, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Dicky Hunter and a multitude of other renowned jazz authorities gathered at 18th & Vine in late March for the Charlie Parker Symposium, their anecdotes made it clear that Bird was a very intelligent man. A good example, it would seem then, of how intelligence and jazz are sometimes quite compatible.

A far as the offending article is concerned, "...With Tongue Firmly in Cheek" was an important partial headline that accompanied that minor treatise, the point of which was to remind readers that it's good to have a sense of humor about these kinds of things (even if the satire is framed in a certain amount of honesty).

And regarding the derogatory comment about "most Kansas City jazz players," about the only thing to say about that is the list of jazz artists with KC connections and national notoriety continues to grow.

An Amazing Weekend
I just thought I'd pass along my thanks to the Jazz Ambassadors for all of their hard work putting together a truly amazing weekend (Charlie Parker Symposium, Mar. 25-28). It was an honor to be a part of it, and Karrin Allyson, Debbie Duncan and I all had a blast performing together that Friday night.

Laura Caviani
St. Paul, MN

A New Link
Dear Jazz Ambassadors,
I am contacting you to inform you of a new jazz e-zine that I am publishing: the E-Jazz Gazette. It features interviews with famous jazz artists, CD reviews, jazz related articles, info on hard to find and out of print CDs and more. If you could list this in your publications section, it would be most appreciated.

The link for the E-Jazz Gazette is: http://www.shadestreet.com
Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Vance Thompson
Chicago, IL

p.s. Great site! Keep up the good work!

Thank You, KCJA
Dear Jazz Ambassadors all:
Thank you so much for the warmness of your reception April 15 at Club Mardi Gras. I do feel that often we dry historians get pretty boring, especially in front of a group of people who may at times want to hear the music rather than study it. But your attention was complete, and whether or not you wished that someone would start playing, I felt your friendship and support.

Thanks very much. I will happily answer any questions you may have, and look forward to the next time.

John Leisenring
Professor of Jazz Studies
University of Missouri/Kansas City
Kansas City, MO

Five Stars From a New Member
As a new member of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, I want to share several observations with you. In regard to your publication, JAM, you are to be applauded. The recent article, "Bird Lives: Year 44" by Don Rose (April/May '99) deserves any jazz lover's thorough reading. Mr. Rose has succeeded in words with what so often seems inadequate when dealing with musical iconography. To borrow from another source: five stars, indeed!

Also, congratulations on going to the full-color glossy cover. There is no comparison as far as reader appeal and image to your previous format.

Long live those of us helping to advance this wonderful music.

Jon King
KTDJ Productions
Topeka, KS

High Praise For Marilyn Maye
Dear KC Jazz Ambassadors,
Here's something I thought JAM readers might enjoy. WGBH in Boston has a daily program called "The Connection," hosted by Christopher Lyden. There was a special show recently about the late Joe Williams, and the composer and lyricist, Gene Lees, was one of the guests. He was asked how Joe Williams stacked up against the great singers like Sinatra, Ella, Sarah Vaughan, etc. "Well, first of all," he said, "if you ask me, the greatest singer of all time is Marilyn Maye."

I thought Marilyn and her Kansas City audience would appreciate hearing about that.

Brooks Wright
West Newbury, MA

Two From Japan
To the KC Jazz Ambassadors,
My name is Yoko Takemura. I live in Tokyo. This is my first letter to you. I'm very much interested in the KC Jazz Ambassadors. I need more information about you. I would appreciate it if you could tell me the name of the president or the chairman of your association.

I do hope I visit your place in the near future. I'm going to join the KC Jazz Ambassadors, of course.

Best regards,
Yoko Takemura
Tokyo, Japan

My name is Kenichi Fujiwara. I will go to Kansas City May 13-18 from Kurashiki City where is the sister city of Kansas City in Japan. I love jazz very much. So, I'm very interested in KCJA. I want to talk about what I can do for KCJA. Please let me know.

Yours in harmony,
Kenichi Fujiwara
Kurashiki City, Japan

It's always nice to hear from jazz lovers from around the world; and to welcome them into the KCJA! -- Ed.

RETURN TO JUNE 1999 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		A Definition, Please Please define "intelligent art form" for me ("Peeing Into the Wind For Distance..." JAM, April/May '99). I am kinda slow and don't want to do anything embarrassing like talk in a bar while the intelligent people are plying their trade. Every time I think about rejoining the Jazz Ambassadors I read something in JAM that's prompts me to put my checkbook away. Thanks for renewing my belief that most Kansas City jazz players are pompous snobs who will never achieve broad universal appeal. Richard Brotbeck Swing City Attractions Kansas City, MO Mike Metheny responds: When Billy Taylor, Max Roach, Al Grey, Milt Jackson, Doris Parker, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, Dicky Hunter and a multitude of other renowned jazz authorities gathered at 18th & Vine in late March for the Charlie Parker Symposium, their anecdotes made it clear that Bird was a very intelligent man. A good example, it would seem then, of how intelligence and jazz are sometimes quite compatible. A far as the offending article is concerned, "...With Tongue Firmly in Cheek" was an important partial headline that accompanied that minor treatise, the point of which was to remind readers that it's good to have a sense of humor about these kinds of things (even if the satire is framed in a certain amount of honesty). And regarding the derogatory comment about "most Kansas City jazz players," about the only thing to say about that is the list of jazz artists with KC connections and national notoriety continues to grow. An Amazing Weekend I just thought I'd pass along my thanks to the Jazz Ambassadors for all of their hard work putting together a truly amazing weekend (Charlie Parker Symposium, Mar. 25-28). It was an honor to be a part of it, and Karrin Allyson, Debbie Duncan and I all had a blast performing together that Friday night. Laura Caviani St. Paul, MN A New Link Dear Jazz Ambassadors, I am contacting you to inform you of a new jazz e-zine that I am publishing: the E-Jazz Gazette. It features interviews with famous jazz artists, CD reviews, jazz related articles, info on hard to find and out of print CDs and more. If you could list this in your publications section, it would be most appreciated. The link for the E-Jazz Gazette is: http://www.shadestreet.com Thanks for your consideration. Sincerely, Vance Thompson Chicago, IL p.s. Great site! Keep up the good work! Thank You, KCJA Dear Jazz Ambassadors all: Thank you so much for the warmness of your reception April 15 at Club Mardi Gras. I do feel that often we dry historians get pretty boring, especially in front of a group of people who may at times want to hear the music rather than study it. But your attention was complete, and whether or not you wished that someone would start playing, I felt your friendship and support. Thanks very much. I will happily answer any questions you may have, and look forward to the next time. John Leisenring Professor of Jazz Studies University of Missouri/Kansas City Kansas City, MO Five Stars From a New Member As a new member of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, I want to share several observations with you. In regard to your publication, JAM, you are to be applauded. The recent article, "Bird Lives: Year 44" by Don Rose (April/May '99) deserves any jazz lover's thorough reading. Mr. Rose has succeeded in words with what so often seems inadequate when dealing with musical iconography. To borrow from another source: five stars, indeed! Also, congratulations on going to the full-color glossy cover. There is no comparison as far as reader appeal and image to your previous format. Long live those of us helping to advance this wonderful music. Jon King KTDJ Productions Topeka, KS High Praise For Marilyn Maye Dear KC Jazz Ambassadors, Here's something I thought JAM readers might enjoy. WGBH in Boston has a daily program called "The Connection," hosted by Christopher Lyden. There was a special show recently about the late Joe Williams, and the composer and lyricist, Gene Lees, was one of the guests. He was asked how Joe Williams stacked up against the great singers like Sinatra, Ella, Sarah Vaughan, etc. "Well, first of all," he said, "if you ask me, the greatest singer of all time is Marilyn Maye." I thought Marilyn and her Kansas City audience would appreciate hearing about that. Brooks Wright West Newbury, MA Two From Japan To the KC Jazz Ambassadors, My name is Yoko Takemura. I live in Tokyo. This is my first letter to you. I'm very much interested in the KC Jazz Ambassadors. I need more information about you. I would appreciate it if you could tell me the name of the president or the chairman of your association. I do hope I visit your place in the near future. I'm going to join the KC Jazz Ambassadors, of course. Best regards, Yoko Takemura Tokyo, Japan My name is Kenichi Fujiwara. I will go to Kansas City May 13-18 from Kurashiki City where is the sister city of Kansas City in Japan. I love jazz very much. So, I'm very interested in KCJA. I want to talk about what I can do for KCJA. Please let me know. Yours in harmony, Kenichi Fujiwara Kurashiki City, Japan It's always nice to hear from jazz lovers from around the world; and to welcome them into the KCJA! -- Ed. RETURN TO JUNE 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.