JAM: June/July 2000 Issue: First Take

by Mike Metheny
JAM Editor

Brush With Greatness

At this year's Charlie Parker Symposium in March, the 3-day Bird and bop-oriented series of panel discussions got off to a lively start with an online chat at the American Jazz Museum featuring Billy Taylor, Roy Haynes, Sheila Jordan and Jimmy Heath. Each are now well into their 70s yet still remember in vivid detail anecdotes about Bird as well as first hand accounts of the bop era itself. It was another panel at 18th & Vine that provided a perfect forum for a dwindling number of bop survivors to tell their stories to followers of the music and a new generation of fans.

And then there's this aside. The next day I slipped into the Museum's closed Blue Room to load some more JAMs into the front entrance rack. Around the corner, I could hear someone practicing on the club's piano, and whoever it was sounded serious and diligent, yet animated and musical, as only a major league artist would while in the shed. I took a peek. It was Billy Taylor. He spotted me, remembered me from a brief introduction at last year's symposium, extended his hand and broke into that familiar smile. For the next 15 minutes I had an impromptu private audience with one of the world's foremost jazz authorities, all as Dr. Taylor beamed with one observation after another, demonstrated several things on the piano, and listened patiently as I tried to come up with questions worthy of his time. ("I can't believe this," I thought, trying to appear calm. "Is my shirt tucked in? Is there a bread crumb from lunch still stuck to my chin?") And yes, before concluding this interruption of his practice session, I had the presence of mind to ask Dr. Taylor if he'd like to do a "Q&A" for the June/July JAM. He said "Sure!" and handed me his card. You had to be there. What a thrill.

Thank You, Mr. A

If you have memories of and/or connections to the Missouri music (and jazz) education scene in the late '60s, you might remember musician/educator extraordinaire John Alexander. As the trumpet teacher at MU, 1966-69, John was the reason many of us packed our bags and hit the road for college in Columbia back then. With degrees from the University of Michigan (under that musical Mussolini, William D. Revelli) and a hitch as trumpet soloist with the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, John was the consummate world class player and motivational teacher. (He later completed his doctorate in trumpet performance at UMKC.) He was also someone who, over a 35 year teaching career, inspired everyone from future professional players to the everyday anybody who thought it would be cool to join the band. For one former student, two years of intense study with this brilliant man became another life-changing, career-shaping experience. And all these years later, it still stands as a reminder of what good fortune it is to come in contact with a gifted educator who can back it all up with great musicianship. John Alexander passed away on April 1 at the age of 63. R.I.P., "Mr. A."

Bring on the Summer!

...And bring on the hot sounds of jazz and blues here, there and everywhere. As you will see in this issue, many of the coming summer's jazz events are listed in as much detail as we were able to gather before going to press. This we do know: 'tis the season to kick back and enjoy good music and a cold drink. Or, as a well known humorist once said:

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." -- Dave Barry

RETURN TO JUNE 2000 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Mike Metheny JAM Editor Brush With Greatness At this year's Charlie Parker Symposium in March, the 3-day Bird and bop-oriented series of panel discussions got off to a lively start with an online chat at the American Jazz Museum featuring Billy Taylor, Roy Haynes, Sheila Jordan and Jimmy Heath. Each are now well into their 70s yet still remember in vivid detail anecdotes about Bird as well as first hand accounts of the bop era itself. It was another panel at 18th & Vine that provided a perfect forum for a dwindling number of bop survivors to tell their stories to followers of the music and a new generation of fans. And then there's this aside. The next day I slipped into the Museum's closed Blue Room to load some more JAMs into the front entrance rack. Around the corner, I could hear someone practicing on the club's piano, and whoever it was sounded serious and diligent, yet animated and musical, as only a major league artist would while in the shed. I took a peek. It was Billy Taylor. He spotted me, remembered me from a brief introduction at last year's symposium, extended his hand and broke into that familiar smile. For the next 15 minutes I had an impromptu private audience with one of the world's foremost jazz authorities, all as Dr. Taylor beamed with one observation after another, demonstrated several things on the piano, and listened patiently as I tried to come up with questions worthy of his time. ("I can't believe this," I thought, trying to appear calm. "Is my shirt tucked in? Is there a bread crumb from lunch still stuck to my chin?") And yes, before concluding this interruption of his practice session, I had the presence of mind to ask Dr. Taylor if he'd like to do a "Q&A" for the June/July JAM. He said "Sure!" and handed me his card. You had to be there. What a thrill. Thank You, Mr. A If you have memories of and/or connections to the Missouri music (and jazz) education scene in the late '60s, you might remember musician/educator extraordinaire John Alexander. As the trumpet teacher at MU, 1966-69, John was the reason many of us packed our bags and hit the road for college in Columbia back then. With degrees from the University of Michigan (under that musical Mussolini, William D. Revelli) and a hitch as trumpet soloist with the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, John was the consummate world class player and motivational teacher. (He later completed his doctorate in trumpet performance at UMKC.) He was also someone who, over a 35 year teaching career, inspired everyone from future professional players to the everyday anybody who thought it would be cool to join the band. For one former student, two years of intense study with this brilliant man became another life-changing, career-shaping experience. And all these years later, it still stands as a reminder of what good fortune it is to come in contact with a gifted educator who can back it all up with great musicianship. John Alexander passed away on April 1 at the age of 63. R.I.P., "Mr. A." Bring on the Summer! ...And bring on the hot sounds of jazz and blues here, there and everywhere. As you will see in this issue, many of the coming summer's jazz events are listed in as much detail as we were able to gather before going to press. This we do know: 'tis the season to kick back and enjoy good music and a cold drink. Or, as a well known humorist once said: THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." -- Dave Barry RETURN TO JUNE 2000 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.