5 Questions
with the Kansas City Symphony's new Music Director,
Anne Manson

© 1999 Mike Metheny

Anne Manson

JAM: As you may know, your predecessor, William McGlaughlin, was, and still is, closely tied to the Kansas City jazz community. Not to draw irrelevant comparisons, but what role has jazz played in your career as a musician?

AM: I've had the opportunity of performing with a few outstanding musicians outside the classical mainstream including Lena Willemark, a great creative talent on the Swedish folk music scene, and Chick Corea, with whom I've performed in Kansas City and will be performing in London when he plays the British premiere of his own piano concerto.

JAM: Who are some of your favorite jazz artists of yesterday and today?

AM: Ella, Sarah Vaughan, the "Duke," Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Thelonious Monk, and, of course, Chick Corea.

JAM: There has always been the perception that the worlds of classical music and jazz are polar opposites. How do you feel about that?

AM: It's not true! In the post-World War I era particularly, these two worlds are very connected, both rhythmically and harmonically. More importantly, they both push musical expression to new frontiers in order to express the world in which we live. Our programming at the Kansas City Symphony this year will reflect that.

JAM: What kind of jazz-related programming do you have planned?

AM: We have really exciting plans for jazz fans in this season's programs. Chick Corea is coming to play his own piano concerto. Richard Stolzman, who, in my opinion is the best living clarinetist, is playing Aaron Copland's clarinet concerto, which was written for and first performed by Benny Goodman. He will also perform two Gershwin works, "Bess you is my woman now" and "Promenade." Joanna MacGregor, the innovative British pianist who plays standard classical repertoire and Thelonious Monk with equal ease, will play Lou Harrison's wild piano concerto. And in our Summerfare series, our second concert, August 20-21, will have a tribute to Duke Ellington, featuring his "Black, Brown and Beige" Suite.

JAM: Kansas City is well known not only for its jazz, but for its barbecue. Have you had a chance to sample both yet?

AM: I've had the good fortune to sample a bit of delicious KC barbecue and look forward to some evenings of great jazz when we move to Kansas City in August.


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