JAM: April/May 2003 Issue: News & Notes

The Class of 2003
On April 25 the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz celebrated 20 years of saluting KC's finest; and, no doubt, it is a long list of alumni made up of a "who's who" of Kansas City jazz, past and present. This year's induction ceremony was held at the Mutual Musicians Foundation, 1823 Highland, and among those honored with Elder Statesmen status were Harold Ashby, Priscilla Bowman (posthumous), Bob Branstetter, Alice Jenkins, Edith Kirk, Marilyn Maye, Paul Smith, Teddy Stewart (posthumous) and Bernice Todd (widow of former Elder Statesman Vice President Oliver Todd). As an added treat, jazz and blues legend Jay McShann was named Elder Statesman of the Year. Congratulations to all. And please note: plans are already in the works for next year's ceremony in April 2004. Stay tuned to these pages for updates.

Bravo, Marilyn!...
This is turning out to be a good year for singer-jazz legend Marilyn Maye. Not only has she been welcomed into the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz, but on June 18, at the 15th Annual Induction Banquet Gala of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in Tulsa, she will receive the 2003 Jay McShann Lifetime Achievement Award. Among others to be honored at the gala are blues legend Taj Mahal (the 2003 Living Legend Award), the late trumpeter Howard McGhee, and the contemporary ensemble Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. There is also a "new twist" to the week, says event organizer Chuck Cissel.

"Marilyn Maye will perform in concert on Saturday evening, June 21, 7:30 p.m., at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Miss Maye holds the distinction of performing on Johnny Carson's 'Tonight Show' more than any other performer -- 76 times to be exact. Plus, she has had a stellar career with performances on recordings, in nightclubs, Broadway shows and at jazz festivals around the world. So, this will be a special bonus for us." The black-tie scholarship fundraiser on the 18th will be held in the International Ballroom of Tulsa's Doubletree Downtown Hotel. For more information call the Jazz Hall of Fame office at 918-596-1001. Says Cissel: "We'd like to see a lot of people from Kansas City! Please come on down to help us honor the great Marilyn Maye.

"...and Fiddler!
For Claude "Fiddler" Williams the honors just keep pouring in. In early April the New Jersey Jazz Society and the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University announced the election of Terry Gibbs, Ahmad Jamal, Jimmy Smith, Gene Ammons, Bill Harris, Joe Mooney, Mel Torme' and The Fiddler to the American Jazz Hall of Fame. The AJHOF was established in 1982 to recognize individuals who have earned a special place in the history of jazz, and since the first class was elected in 1983, almost 200 jazz greats have been included. For more information about the New Jersey Jazz Society, visit www.njjs.org. And for the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers, go to www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rulib/abtlib/danlib/jazz.htm.

The AJM Board Expands
New faces continue to be added to the American Jazz Museum's Board of Directors, including another prominent KC jazz musician. At the board's April 22 meeting, trumpeter Al Pearson was unanimously voted in along with KC Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver (sister of the ever-popular McFadden Brothers team) and accountant William Cogshell, owner of W. Henry Cogshell and Associates. Other board members include singer Ida McBeth, saxophonist Mike White, trumpeter Mike Metheny, and Board Chairman Emanuel Cleaver.

Sherry Jones & Mike Ning

Jammin' North of the River
On May 2, the Mike Ning/Sherry Jones Group began a new summer season of hosting the Northtown Jazz Jam each Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Town Square, 321 Armour Road. These free jazz jam sessions feature musical guests with varied backgrounds -- from national recording artists to aspiring new performers -- and are scheduled to continue through September. Town Square is just southeast of the intersection of Armour Road and Swift Street in North Kansas City, and its shaded performance oasis, complete with fountain, garden areas and picnic amenities, is ideal for relaxing and meeting friends for lunch while enjoying a KC jazz jam. For more information call 816-274-6040.

Jazz at The Fairmont
The Fairmont Hotel, 401 Ward Parkway in the Country Club Plaza, has announced its "Best of Kansas City Jazz Thursday Summer Concert Series" running from June 5 to August 28. The weekly series on consecutive Thursdays will take place in the Oak Bar at the Fairmont with two shows per concert at 8:00 and 9:45 p.m. The series will be hosted by the Joe Cartwright Trio, with Cartwright (piano), Gerald Spaits (bass) and Ray DeMarchi (drums) and will feature different guest artists each Thursday including Bobby Watson, Danny Embrey, Mike Metheny, Kim Park, Sharon Thompson, Lester "Duck" Warner, Gary Helm, Stan Kessler, Rod Fleeman, David Basse, Todd Strait, Bob Bowman, and Paul McKee. Complete schedule information can be found on the web at joe-cartwright.com. (Note: prior to each Thursday show, the Oak Bar will also offer cocktails along with the solo piano of Joe Cartwright from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) Like to know more? Call either 816-576-1500 or 816-468-4462.

It All Starts With an Audition
Beginning Monday, June 9, the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre, 1600 S. Withers Road, will hold auditions for the 2003 New Musician Showcase. The Showcase highlights upcoming amateur musical talent from the Kansas City metro area. The auditions in June are the musicians' entry point to live Showcase performances in August, and depending on the number of entries, musicians will take the stage on as many as eight evenings between August 18 and August 31.

"Each evening of Showcase performances will feature between four and six musical groups," says Theatre Coordinator Paul Miller. "In a style similar to the popular Apollo Amateur Night, the winner of each Showcase will be determined by audience applause." Each evening's winner will receive cash awards and other prizes sponsored by Kansas City area music-related businesses. One grand prize-winning ensemble will receive complimentary recording studio time (courtesy of HomeStudioMusician.com), a live radio interview (hosted by KKFI 90.1), and a "concert package" from the Liberty Theatre which, according to Miller, includes "enough stage time, production personnel, and ticketing services to stage a full-scale concert." There are no charges or entry fees associated with any aspect of the Showcase. The performances are free and open to the public.

"Although the cash and other prizes are an important element," Miller says, "the real purpose of the Showcase is to provide a hands-on experience for new musicians. They will be exposed to all the complexities of concert production, such as sound checks, staging, lighting, and auditioning. Plus, they'll see how other groups handle the same scenario."

Musicians may audition on Monday, June 9, or Monday, June 23. Call the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre at 816-792-6130 for additional details.

Striking the Right Chords
If you grew up in a home where there were the sounds of music lessons, you will want to check out the Missouri Repertory Theatre's June 13-29 production of "2 Pianos, 4 Hands" in which two talented musicians tell the story of growing up at the piano. Enjoyed by packed houses from New York to San Francisco, "this funny and tender account of young talents mixes memories of music teachers, parents, and hours of practice." Music featured ranges from Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin to Hoagy Carmichael, Rodgers and Hart, Jerry Lee Lewis and Billy Joel. For more information, call 816-235-2700, or visit www.MissouriRep.org.

The Big Band Sound
On Thursday, June 19, the Lenexa Arts Council, Lenexa Parks & Rec., and the Musicians Performance Trust Fund will come together to present the sounds of the Vince Bilardo Big Band in concert. The set list will have a Sinatra/Basie flavor and will feature vocalist Lloyd Schad. The music plays from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. at the New Lenexa Conference Center, 11184 Lachman Road (College & Lachman) and is free and open to the public. Bring lawn chairs and blankets, and call 913-541-0209 for additional info. (What a perfect way to get warmed up for the Westport Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl!)

The IAJE Returns
For the fourth consecutive year, The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) is joining forces with MENC: the National Association for Music Education, and BET on Jazz: the Jazz Channel, to present an intensive two and a half day Teacher Training Institute at sites around the country, one of which is Kansas City. Designed for instrumental, vocal and general music teachers "who desire to increase their understanding and competency in jazz education," the institute is also open to music supervisors and administrators, college music education majors, and string orchestra directors. Many topics are to be covered, including teaching jazz improv, jazz history, jazz in the general music curriculum, new vocal and big band music, and much more.

"Music educators today must be masters of teaching all aspects of music, from performance and improvisation to analysis and evaluation," says MENC president Willie Hill. "Unfortunately, many of today's music educators have had little or no training in jazz pedagogy, and these Teacher Training Institutes will help to fill that void." IAJE president David Baker adds:

"The value placed on jazz education is at an all-time high, thanks in part to the emphasis on improvisation in the National Standards for Music Education. The Institute program will provide a unique opportunity for teachers to work directly with an all-star faculty and develop skills and techniques they need to be effective jazz educators."

The Institute's site in KC will be the American Jazz Museum at 18th & Vine, Thursday-Saturday, June 19-21. To view the faculty, programs, and to register online, go to www.iaje.org/tti.asp. For a detailed brochure, call the International Association for Jazz Education at 785-776-8744 or email info@iaje.org.

Jim Mair

Calling All Campers!
In recent summers student jazz enthusiasts have had multiple opportunities to study and perform jazz at various area camps. Summer 2003 is no exception. First up is the second annual Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Improv Camp, June 9-13. Staff includes camp director Jim Mair (woodwinds), Mike Metheny (trumpet, theory), Everette DeVan (keyboards) and Scott Prebys (drums, percussion). For more information contact Jim Mair at 913-288-7149 or email jmair@toto.net. KCK Community College is located at 7250 State Avenue. Ages "14 to 114" are welcome.

Next is a four-week jazz band camp, July 7-August 1, at St. Teresa's Academy, 5600 Main, sponsored by Kansas City Young Audiences. "Jazzam!" is open to instrumentalists in grades 6 through 12 and, according to Young Audiences spokesperson (and former KCUR jazz host) Dianne Gregg, it "allows students from all over the city to perform with each other and jam with professional jazz musicians in a nurturing environment." A staff that includes noted jazz educator Leon Brady will offer instruction in music theory, jazz history, harmony, improvisation, sight-reading and ear training. Like to know more? Contact Ms. Gregg at 816-531-4022, email: dgregg@kcya.org.

Then toward the end of July comes Jim Widner's annual Jazz Band Camp sponsored by the Metropolitan Community Colleges. From July 28 to August 1 Penn Valley Community College, 3201 Southwest Trafficway, will host daily classes and ensembles for middle and high school students. Onhand will be a staff of noted jazz musicians including Widner (bass), Paul McKee (trombone), Kim Park (saxophone), Mike Metheny (trumpet), Joe Cartwright (piano), Wayne Goins (guitar), and Steve Pemberton and Clarence Smith (drums). For additional details, contact Becky Burns at 816-220-6508 or email rebecca.burns@kcmetro.edu.

Together Again
It was just about the time that the Westport Art Ensemble was building up a head of steam (a loyal following, an excellent debut CD) that its members began peeling off and moving away. For those who fondly recall the fresh and innovative sounds of the WAE, its original members -- Josh Sclar (saxophones), Roger Wilder (piano), Gerald Spaits (bass) and Todd Strait (drums) -- will reunite for two gigs this summer: Monday, July 7, 8:00 p.m. at the Westport Coffee House, 4010 Pennsylvania, and Saturday, July 12, 8:30 p.m. at the Blue Room, 18th & Vine. Call the Coffee House at 816-756-3222 and the Blue Room at 816-474-2929 for more information.

The Revelry Continues
The annual concert series presented by Kansas City Ragtime Revelry is now in full swing with three shows remaining for 2003. They are...