JAM: April/May 2007 Issue: Hampton's Hot Licks

Behind the scenes with Tom Alexios . . .

We don't see a lot of Tom Alexios these day but he is here and working behind the scenes to most of us. Over the past few years, Tom has put together many programs and events involving jazz and the community. While working with the Duke Ellington Legacy (Foundation), Tom is also acting as Director of Education for the KC Jazz Ambassadors.

The range of projects is vast. Some are small and others very involved. I remember helping Tom get autographed photos of prominent jazz artists for jazz students. Then, there were the back stage passes and artists interviews by area high school students.

Most years, Tom attends the IAJE Conference. We usually ship him as many as 1,000 copies of JAM as part of our KC jazz educational component. These are back issues as well as a current issue. In years when the October issue is devoted to jazz education, we have printed extra copies for shipment to IAJE. The conference is usually attended by over 7,000 jazz educators, students and artists from all over the globe so our magazines run out quick. Frequently, Tom will manage to take a few students and they help with the JAM distribution effort.

A Jay McShann drawing was commissioned by Alexios to support the music program at MCC-Penn Valley. Signed by Jazz McShann, these limited edition prints were sold for $100 each. Clarence Smith of Penn Valley's jazz program wrote a thank you letter regarding the program. “I once again want to thank you for your support of the music program at MCC-Penn Valley. The money from the purchase of the Jay McShann prints, most ntoably those bought by the Ellington Legacy, helped send one of our students to the IAJE convention in January. I would also like to express thank the Jazz Ambassadors for covering the cost of registration (for the student).”

In years past Johnson and Alexios partnered on numerous projects. Paseo Academy Students participated in the Duke Ellington 100th Birthday program at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. They were one of only two schools invited to participate.

Even a coloring book project resulted in both jazz and blues illustrated workbooks to understanding the art forms. The art work for the books was created by Paseo Academy students. The books were edited by Jazz Ambassador magazine staff editors. These books are still being distributed internationally (at least 31 countries) and include KC Jazz Ambassadors credits and indorsement. The Jazz Workbook is distributed by the Smithsonian Institute Master Works Orchestra as “leave behind” materials. The Blues Workbook is available through the Blues Museum in Clarksdale, MS and is available to blues societies throughout the nation.

Crittenton Behavioral Health of Saint Luke's Health System has been a beneficiary of a Tom Alexios project. Their Music Coordinator, Michael Ellis, writes, “I would like to start this letter off by personally thanking the Duke Ellington Foundation, Jazz Ambassadors, and yourself for keeping jazz music alive, and providing resources to those in need in the community, throughout the country and abroad.” The youth residents in the Crittenton programs are there for up to two years of treatment. Mr. Ellis explained that patients are there for various reasons such as abuse, neglect, and abandonment, which can cause serious damage to that young person's self-esteem. Drum sticks from Promark Percussions were provided along with drum pads for music therapy.

A similar program with The Leo Center in Lawrence, KS provided Hohner harmonicas for patients with upper respiratory problems. Leo Center president, Paul Gray said, “ ... we know that the continued discipline of harmonica playing will increase their lung capacities and help their overall health. Again, thank you for your kind generosity - it's making a difference here in Lawrence, KS!”

Perhaps one of the most rewarding programs orchestrated by Tom Alexios was at Swope Ridge Geriatric Center. Here, both drumsticks and pads and harmonicas were given to the center. A jazz program that included Luqman Hamza and The Scamps was a real hit with the residents. This was done via the KC Jazz Ambassadors and the American Jazz Museum. It didn't end with the concert. Swope Ridge CEO, Patricia Wyatt explained. “We appreciate so much the innovate prorams you have included us in over the last six years. Our rhythm band activities, which meet on a weekly bassis, continure to be very popular. Residents who are no longer able to dance or sing can still respond to the music and express their enhoyment. We are now finding that residents who say then can't do anything anymore, will play a rhythm instrument such as the drum pads, and will even do a solo, creating their own rhythms.”

“Music, especially jazz, has been such an important part of many of our residents lives. When given an opportunity to talk about it and participate in it, they often come alive. The programs you help provide for us along with tickets to jazz concerts . . . have added so much to the quality of their lives.”

This is really the short list of projects done via Tom Alexios and including KC Jazz Ambassador credits. There are more in process now and more even yet to come in the near future.

Jazz in MySpace
Until last November, I thought that Myspace was just a place where pedophiles hung out to make dates with kids. That's what I got from TV shows such at NBC's Dateline. Several things caused me to check out Myspace.com and none of them had anything to do with what I had seen on TV about them. Within a few hours of snooping on MySpace, I discovered quite a jazz community. I was shocked and everyday since then I am more and more amazed at the giant jazz presence in this relatively new cyber world. To understand just how big MySpace is, check this: If every MySpace owner lived in the same country, MySpace would be the 11th most populated country on the globe. That somewhere between Mexico and Japan. The last real count I read was over 111 million. Whew!

In December, I started to build my own MySpace community (myspace.com/webjazz). I also started managing Karrin Allyson's MySpace (myspace.com/karrinallyson). Karrin's site had been online for quite a while and her community “friends” list totaled about 1,800. I thought that was a lot of friends. I started checking to see what some others were like. I looked for my friend, Alaadeen and found that he had really been working it and his list was up to just over 2,500. Ibelieve that Chris Burnett was over 8,000 at the time. Pat Metheny was just over 27,000 and is not over 36,000.

I began to wonder what the game is here; Is it possibly “He/she who dies with the most friends wins!” While that is what it appears to be to me as a newbie, I have found that is is a lot deeper. It is a terrific networking tool. It's a great place to here new jazz and artists you would probably never hear in today's music world.

A few names on my list include Bobby Watson, Kendra Shank, Bob Brookmeyer, Stan Getz (a tribute page), Red Holloway, jazz writer Scott Yanow, DJ Sweeney. Even the somewhat long lost Larry van Loon has made it to my list - what a nice reunion. A lot of people I've never even heard of before who I am communicating with regularly now: Benita Hill - a super jazz vocalist from Nashville, Jaijai Jackson - daughter of the late Chubby Jackson (fantastic big band music in her page), Scott (a drummer) & wife Lori from the Bay area, an unnamed bassist who is trying to locate his stolen bass, east coast vocalist, Nancy Kelly who is headed for The Bistro (St. Louis) soon, Mathew Fries - NYC pianist with Tri Fi trio, one of the very best jazz trios I've ever heard,

I used to say that if you didn't have an email address, you were homeless. I'm starting to feel that way about a jazzy myspace. I've saved a new friend for the last mention. Sacha Boutros from San Diego. Sacha is a very classy lady who sings jazz/Latin extremely well. On her site you can read her very interesting blogs while listing to her.

I'd like to leave you with Sacha's feeling about music ...

“While listening to life in silence this is what came to mind...

Music is every color
It is neither Black or White
It has no race
It does not discriminate
It is every culture and every language
There are no superiors
No people below or above
In its presence we are all equals
It is a place where people are not judged by the color of their skin, their size, their looks,
their age, their wealth, their possessions
It is blind to prejudice and accepts all

Music is freedom from the world around us
Freedom from the oppression of society and the chains that enslave us
It is a place where our souls meet to exchange sentiments, a place where we go to find peace, a place we go to play and rejoice.

Music heals
Music touches
The soul of music is every color, every race
It is the peoples legacy of hardships written out in successions of melodies and harmonies, it transcends all languages
In music we find God and with it we find purpose if we open our hearts to hear the message it speaks.

Visit Sacha online at http://www.sacha-boutros.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/jazzsacha






	Search our site:		Behind the scenes with Tom Alexios . . . We don't see a lot of Tom Alexios these day but he is here and working behind the scenes to most of us. Over the past few years, Tom has put together many programs and events involving jazz and the community. While working with the Duke Ellington Legacy (Foundation), Tom is also acting as Director of Education for the KC Jazz Ambassadors. The range of projects is vast. Some are small and others very involved. I remember helping Tom get autographed photos of prominent jazz artists for jazz students. Then, there were the back stage passes and artists interviews by area high school students. Most years, Tom attends the IAJE Conference. We usually ship him as many as 1,000 copies of JAM as part of our KC jazz educational component. These are back issues as well as a current issue. In years when the October issue is devoted to jazz education, we have printed extra copies for shipment to IAJE. The conference is usually attended by over 7,000 jazz educators, students and artists from all over the globe so our magazines run out quick. Frequently, Tom will manage to take a few students and they help with the JAM distribution effort. A Jay McShann drawing was commissioned by Alexios to support the music program at MCC-Penn Valley. Signed by Jazz McShann, these limited edition prints were sold for $100 each. Clarence Smith of Penn Valley's jazz program wrote a thank you letter regarding the program. “I once again want to thank you for your support of the music program at MCC-Penn Valley. The money from the purchase of the Jay McShann prints, most ntoably those bought by the Ellington Legacy, helped send one of our students to the IAJE convention in January. I would also like to express thank the Jazz Ambassadors for covering the cost of registration (for the student).” In years past Johnson and Alexios partnered on numerous projects. Paseo Academy Students participated in the Duke Ellington 100th Birthday program at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. They were one of only two schools invited to participate. Even a coloring book project resulted in both jazz and blues illustrated workbooks to understanding the art forms. The art work for the books was created by Paseo Academy students. The books were edited by Jazz Ambassador magazine staff editors. These books are still being distributed internationally (at least 31 countries) and include KC Jazz Ambassadors credits and indorsement. The Jazz Workbook is distributed by the Smithsonian Institute Master Works Orchestra as “leave behind” materials. The Blues Workbook is available through the Blues Museum in Clarksdale, MS and is available to blues societies throughout the nation. Crittenton Behavioral Health of Saint Luke's Health System has been a beneficiary of a Tom Alexios project. Their Music Coordinator, Michael Ellis, writes, “I would like to start this letter off by personally thanking the Duke Ellington Foundation, Jazz Ambassadors, and yourself for keeping jazz music alive, and providing resources to those in need in the community, throughout the country and abroad.” The youth residents in the Crittenton programs are there for up to two years of treatment. Mr. Ellis explained that patients are there for various reasons such as abuse, neglect, and abandonment, which can cause serious damage to that young person's self-esteem. Drum sticks from Promark Percussions were provided along with drum pads for music therapy. A similar program with The Leo Center in Lawrence, KS provided Hohner harmonicas for patients with upper respiratory problems. Leo Center president, Paul Gray said, “ ... we know that the continued discipline of harmonica playing will increase their lung capacities and help their overall health. Again, thank you for your kind generosity - it's making a difference here in Lawrence, KS!” Perhaps one of the most rewarding programs orchestrated by Tom Alexios was at Swope Ridge Geriatric Center. Here, both drumsticks and pads and harmonicas were given to the center. A jazz program that included Luqman Hamza and The Scamps was a real hit with the residents. This was done via the KC Jazz Ambassadors and the American Jazz Museum. It didn't end with the concert. Swope Ridge CEO, Patricia Wyatt explained. “We appreciate so much the innovate prorams you have included us in over the last six years. Our rhythm band activities, which meet on a weekly bassis, continure to be very popular. Residents who are no longer able to dance or sing can still respond to the music and express their enhoyment. We are now finding that residents who say then can't do anything anymore, will play a rhythm instrument such as the drum pads, and will even do a solo, creating their own rhythms.” “Music, especially jazz, has been such an important part of many of our residents lives. When given an opportunity to talk about it and participate in it, they often come alive. The programs you help provide for us along with tickets to jazz concerts . . . have added so much to the quality of their lives.” This is really the short list of projects done via Tom Alexios and including KC Jazz Ambassador credits. There are more in process now and more even yet to come in the near future. Jazz in MySpace Until last November, I thought that Myspace was just a place where pedophiles hung out to make dates with kids. That's what I got from TV shows such at NBC's Dateline. Several things caused me to check out Myspace.com and none of them had anything to do with what I had seen on TV about them. Within a few hours of snooping on MySpace, I discovered quite a jazz community. I was shocked and everyday since then I am more and more amazed at the giant jazz presence in this relatively new cyber world. To understand just how big MySpace is, check this: If every MySpace owner lived in the same country, MySpace would be the 11th most populated country on the globe. That somewhere between Mexico and Japan. The last real count I read was over 111 million. Whew! In December, I started to build my own MySpace community (myspace.com/webjazz). I also started managing Karrin Allyson's MySpace (myspace.com/karrinallyson). Karrin's site had been online for quite a while and her community “friends” list totaled about 1,800. I thought that was a lot of friends. I started checking to see what some others were like. I looked for my friend, Alaadeen and found that he had really been working it and his list was up to just over 2,500. Ibelieve that Chris Burnett was over 8,000 at the time. Pat Metheny was just over 27,000 and is not over 36,000. I began to wonder what the game is here; Is it possibly “He/she who dies with the most friends wins!” While that is what it appears to be to me as a newbie, I have found that is is a lot deeper. It is a terrific networking tool. It's a great place to here new jazz and artists you would probably never hear in today's music world. A few names on my list include Bobby Watson, Kendra Shank, Bob Brookmeyer, Stan Getz (a tribute page), Red Holloway, jazz writer Scott Yanow, DJ Sweeney. Even the somewhat long lost Larry van Loon has made it to my list - what a nice reunion. A lot of people I've never even heard of before who I am communicating with regularly now: Benita Hill - a super jazz vocalist from Nashville, Jaijai Jackson - daughter of the late Chubby Jackson (fantastic big band music in her page), Scott (a drummer) & wife Lori from the Bay area, an unnamed bassist who is trying to locate his stolen bass, east coast vocalist, Nancy Kelly who is headed for The Bistro (St. Louis) soon, Mathew Fries - NYC pianist with Tri Fi trio, one of the very best jazz trios I've ever heard, I used to say that if you didn't have an email address, you were homeless. I'm starting to feel that way about a jazzy myspace. I've saved a new friend for the last mention. Sacha Boutros from San Diego. Sacha is a very classy lady who sings jazz/Latin extremely well. On her site you can read her very interesting blogs while listing to her. I'd like to leave you with Sacha's feeling about music ... “While listening to life in silence this is what came to mind... Music is every color It is neither Black or White It has no race It does not discriminate It is every culture and every language There are no superiors No people below or above In its presence we are all equals It is a place where people are not judged by the color of their skin, their size, their looks, their age, their wealth, their possessions It is blind to prejudice and accepts all Music is freedom from the world around us Freedom from the oppression of society and the chains that enslave us It is a place where our souls meet to exchange sentiments, a place where we go to find peace, a place we go to play and rejoice. Music heals Music touches The soul of music is every color, every race It is the peoples legacy of hardships written out in successions of melodies and harmonies, it transcends all languages In music we find God and with it we find purpose if we open our hearts to hear the message it speaks. Visit Sacha online at http://www.sacha-boutros.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/jazzsacha RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 2007 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2007. All rights reserved.