JAM: August/September 2000 Issue: First Take

Mike Metheny
JAM Editor

Welcome Back!
About the time faces were starting to get a little long last winter due to the departures of Kevin Mahogany and Karrin Allyson, smiles soon began to spread with the rumor of Bobby Watson's possible return. As we reported in April, it is official: This fall Watson will join the University of Missouri/Kansas City Conservatory of Music staff as the William D. and Mary Grant/Missouri Distinguished Professor in Jazz Studies. In this issue's "Q&A," Watson talks about how it feels to be coming back to the Midwest and what he would like to bring to the scene as both an educator and worldclass player. The possibilities sure are exciting.

The Vine at Three
When Pitch Weekly blared its hyperbolic cover headline in June, "Is the Jazz District DEAD?" it was tempting to get into pounce mode and pick the story apart. After all, these are the same people who have proclaimed that: Charlie Parker was born on August 22 (even Maynard LeBlanc knows better than that; see "From the Spit Valve"), Tom Pendergast was once the mayor (Exalted Poobah fer sure; Mayor, not really), "This year marks a century since (Duke) Ellington's birth..." (that would have been, like, 1999?) and who, to this day, find nothing wrong with calling a music awards show "The Klammies." (See "since c. 1950" under "clam" in Robert Gold's Jazz Talk.)

In all fairness, however, Shawn Edwards' cover story about 18th & Vine was well researched and objectively reported. And it pointed out some things worthy of further discussion. We wanted to sit down with key parties at 18th & Vine and roundtable the current buzz, but... schedules are tight... meetings are hard to arrange... it's summer, and... well, maybe next issue.

In the meantime, head on over to this bountiful jazz crossroads for the best in live music at the Blue Room, an eye and ear-opening day at the attractive American Jazz Museum, good sounds at the state-of-the-art Gem Theater, and maybe a sidetrip up the street to both the Club Mardi Gras and the Mutual Musicians Foundation. The new Jazz District, now celebrating its third anniversary, is nowhere close to being "dead;" but it can only thrive again with your support.

Pub Crawl Dividends
A highlight of the monthly KCJA meeting in September is the listing of those organizations and entities that will receive charitable donations from Jazz Lover's Pub Crawltm profits. Contrary to what some may think, pub crawl income doesn't end up lining the pockets of the KC Jazz Ambassadors. It is, instead, put back into the jazz community where help is needed the most. I'll admit, until I fully understood this cycle of support, I was one local player who brought an attitude to that gig (along with a redundant anti-noise track record). But, as I've learned in recent years, the crawl is an annual event that is vitally important to the continued good health (sometimes literally) of the local jazz scene and its musicians.

Look for a summary of 2000 pub crawl beneficiaries in the October/November JAM. And also look for grand totals of moneys donated by the KCJA in the history of the crawl. It all adds up to a worthy cause.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"I think I have an illegal embouchure." -- Alto saxophonist Paul Desmond (1924-77), when asked about his unique and easily identifiable sound.

RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2000 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		Mike Metheny JAM Editor Welcome Back! About the time faces were starting to get a little long last winter due to the departures of Kevin Mahogany and Karrin Allyson, smiles soon began to spread with the rumor of Bobby Watson's possible return. As we reported in April, it is official: This fall Watson will join the University of Missouri/Kansas City Conservatory of Music staff as the William D. and Mary Grant/Missouri Distinguished Professor in Jazz Studies. In this issue's "Q&A," Watson talks about how it feels to be coming back to the Midwest and what he would like to bring to the scene as both an educator and worldclass player. The possibilities sure are exciting. The Vine at Three When Pitch Weekly blared its hyperbolic cover headline in June, "Is the Jazz District DEAD?" it was tempting to get into pounce mode and pick the story apart. After all, these are the same people who have proclaimed that: Charlie Parker was born on August 22 (even Maynard LeBlanc knows better than that; see "From the Spit Valve"), Tom Pendergast was once the mayor (Exalted Poobah fer sure; Mayor, not really), "This year marks a century since (Duke) Ellington's birth..." (that would have been, like, 1999?) and who, to this day, find nothing wrong with calling a music awards show "The Klammies." (See "since c. 1950" under "clam" in Robert Gold's Jazz Talk.) In all fairness, however, Shawn Edwards' cover story about 18th & Vine was well researched and objectively reported. And it pointed out some things worthy of further discussion. We wanted to sit down with key parties at 18th & Vine and roundtable the current buzz, but... schedules are tight... meetings are hard to arrange... it's summer, and... well, maybe next issue. In the meantime, head on over to this bountiful jazz crossroads for the best in live music at the Blue Room, an eye and ear-opening day at the attractive American Jazz Museum, good sounds at the state-of-the-art Gem Theater, and maybe a sidetrip up the street to both the Club Mardi Gras and the Mutual Musicians Foundation. The new Jazz District, now celebrating its third anniversary, is nowhere close to being "dead;" but it can only thrive again with your support. Pub Crawl Dividends A highlight of the monthly KCJA meeting in September is the listing of those organizations and entities that will receive charitable donations from Jazz Lover's Pub Crawltm profits. Contrary to what some may think, pub crawl income doesn't end up lining the pockets of the KC Jazz Ambassadors. It is, instead, put back into the jazz community where help is needed the most. I'll admit, until I fully understood this cycle of support, I was one local player who brought an attitude to that gig (along with a redundant anti-noise track record). But, as I've learned in recent years, the crawl is an annual event that is vitally important to the continued good health (sometimes literally) of the local jazz scene and its musicians. Look for a summary of 2000 pub crawl beneficiaries in the October/November JAM. And also look for grand totals of moneys donated by the KCJA in the history of the crawl. It all adds up to a worthy cause. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "I think I have an illegal embouchure." -- Alto saxophonist Paul Desmond (1924-77), when asked about his unique and easily identifiable sound. RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2000 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.