JAM: June/July 2000 Issue: President's Corner

Mike Fitzgerald

A KANSAS CITY JAZZ COMMUNITY

The other day someone asked, "How are things in the Kansas City jazz community?" "Just great," I automatically said. But, I soon found myself doing some serious thinking about what the word "community" really means.

Mr. Webster's dictionary defines "community" as "a unified body of individuals... with common interests." While Kansas City is rich in jazz tradition, it is not exactly overflowing with jazz lovers. And, if the continuing tradition of Kansas City jazz is to be kept alive, I believe we will need to become more unified and less segmented. We will need to become more of a true jazz community.

Supporters of jazz in Kansas City -- and that would include the Jazz Ambassadors, as well as the clubs, the concert venues, the musicians, the fans and the radio stations -- need to give this some serious thought. Sure, there are separate agendas at times. The club owners need to make a profit, and the musicians need to feel good about their art plus make a living. Also, there are as many individual musical passions -- whether they be straightahead or contemporary, blues or Latin -- as there are jazz fans.

Those of us who volunteer to serve as unpaid members of the Jazz Ambassadors have many good reasons to devote so much time and energy to the larger cause of jazz in Kansas City. Some of us love just the music itself. Others enjoy supporting the local jazz musicians and clubs. Still others are involved because the KCJA is such an important part of Kansas City's cultural scene.

Is it possible to mesh these different interests, passions and agendas into a sense of community? I think it is. But first, there are some tough questions to ask.

* Can we put aside personal musical preferences and embrace Kansas City jazz as a whole?

* Can we give total support to a jazz series like the one at the Folly Theater, even when one of its programs features a guy playing sea shells?

* Are there enough membership support dollars to sustain multiple jazz support organizations?

* Can concert organizers do a better job coordinating their events? (The Gem and Folly Theaters have had competing high profile concerts; other scheduling conflicts in town have detracted from jazz and blues events.)

* And, can our musicians and clubs give full support to the KCJA's Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl -- an event that only happens one night out of the year and serves as an excellent PR and marketing vehicle for both players and venues -- even though some might not care for a "pub crawl atmosphere?"

I honestly don't think Kansas City can sustain its proud jazz heritage without good cooperation among the musicians, the club owners, the concert venues, 18th & Vine, the radio stations, the colleges, the festivals, and yes, the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors.
Your KCJA Board of Directors believes a focus group involving all interested parties is needed. And it will have one goal in mind: an increase in attendance at all jazz-related events and performances.

The KCJA is ready to take the lead. What do you think? Are you willing to join us? If you don't hear from us, please let us hear from you.

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






	Search our site:		Mike Fitzgerald A KANSAS CITY JAZZ COMMUNITY The other day someone asked, "How are things in the Kansas City jazz community?" "Just great," I automatically said. But, I soon found myself doing some serious thinking about what the word "community" really means. Mr. Webster's dictionary defines "community" as "a unified body of individuals... with common interests." While Kansas City is rich in jazz tradition, it is not exactly overflowing with jazz lovers. And, if the continuing tradition of Kansas City jazz is to be kept alive, I believe we will need to become more unified and less segmented. We will need to become more of a true jazz community. Supporters of jazz in Kansas City -- and that would include the Jazz Ambassadors, as well as the clubs, the concert venues, the musicians, the fans and the radio stations -- need to give this some serious thought. Sure, there are separate agendas at times. The club owners need to make a profit, and the musicians need to feel good about their art plus make a living. Also, there are as many individual musical passions -- whether they be straightahead or contemporary, blues or Latin -- as there are jazz fans. Those of us who volunteer to serve as unpaid members of the Jazz Ambassadors have many good reasons to devote so much time and energy to the larger cause of jazz in Kansas City. Some of us love just the music itself. Others enjoy supporting the local jazz musicians and clubs. Still others are involved because the KCJA is such an important part of Kansas City's cultural scene. Is it possible to mesh these different interests, passions and agendas into a sense of community? I think it is. But first, there are some tough questions to ask. * Can we put aside personal musical preferences and embrace Kansas City jazz as a whole? * Can we give total support to a jazz series like the one at the Folly Theater, even when one of its programs features a guy playing sea shells? * Are there enough membership support dollars to sustain multiple jazz support organizations? * Can concert organizers do a better job coordinating their events? (The Gem and Folly Theaters have had competing high profile concerts; other scheduling conflicts in town have detracted from jazz and blues events.) * And, can our musicians and clubs give full support to the KCJA's Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl -- an event that only happens one night out of the year and serves as an excellent PR and marketing vehicle for both players and venues -- even though some might not care for a "pub crawl atmosphere?" I honestly don't think Kansas City can sustain its proud jazz heritage without good cooperation among the musicians, the club owners, the concert venues, 18th & Vine, the radio stations, the colleges, the festivals, and yes, the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors. Your KCJA Board of Directors believes a focus group involving all interested parties is needed. And it will have one goal in mind: an increase in attendance at all jazz-related events and performances. The KCJA is ready to take the lead. What do you think? Are you willing to join us? If you don't hear from us, please let us hear from you. RETURN TO JUNE 2000 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.