JAM Magazine: February/March 1997 Issue: Hampton's Hot Licks

by Dean Hampton

The New York Times & KC Jazz
JAM and Kansas City jazz had a good year in 1996. And 1997 promises to be even better. Last year, JAM broke a record by offering its readers over 300 pages of jazz happenings, a sure sign of a healthy jazz scene.

In a recent article for the New York Times ("On a Riff in Kansas City," 12/29/96), former Times writer and current Kansas City resident Shirley Christian wrote, "Though Kansas City is no longer in the upper ranks of jazz towns, it does offer a wide variety of styles and performers in a friendly and accessible setting." I liked Ms. Christian's article very much and, because of it, would add KC to my list of jazz vacation spots were I not a resident. But, regarding her comment that we are no longer in the upper ranks of jazz towns... Last year, Ib Skovgaard from Radio Denmark took me up on my standing offer to embark on a one week Kansas City jazz vacation. We were both worn to a frazzle when it was all over; and it was a relatively slow week for KC jazz!

Who's Hot!

Everette DeVan -- If you are missing the Friday night jam at Club Mardi Gras, you are missing hot. On a recent trip to this gig, I heard the Everette DeVan Quartet featuring DeVan on B-3, Gerald Dunn on tenor, Ervin Brown on guitar, and Donivan Daily on drums. The group sizzled. Make it a point to drop by. And check out the new jazz mural by Alexander Austin (JAM, December/January).
Rosetta Robinson -- After November's monthly Jazz Ambassador meeting at Club 427, several of us stayed to listen to singer Rosetta Robinson. What a performer she is. Her voice and presentation were both equally captivating. A few weeks later, Sue and I returned for dinner -- and for more of Rosetta -- and enjoyed a variety of music that ranged from Broadway show tunes to down 'n dirty blues. (Can you imagine Sarah Vaughn singing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline?) On the first trip, Don Warner turned in a super job on piano. On the second, Steve Miller was just as good. These duos, and Club 427's wonderful cuisine, are always worth an evening out.
Willie Matthews -- After dinner at Club 427, we made a stop at the downtown Phoenix and were fortunate to hear master guitarist, Willie Matthews (along with Dwight Foster and Rusty Tucker). Willie, on hiatus from touring with the Basie band, exhibited all the talents that landed him that prestigious gig in the first place. (When we spoke, he was next off to take part in the January 20 Clinton inauguration.)
Karrin Allyson -- The Phoenix at 8th & Central is not generally thought of as a concert setting. It's more of a festive gathering spot where Tim Whitmer and/or The Scamps regularly turn the crowd into a foot stompin', hand clappin' congregation of jazz fans. On Saturday, January 4, however, it was a different story altogether. Singer Karrin Allyson, joined by pianist Laura Caviani for this Saturday afternoon standing room only gig, was suffering from some post-holiday sniffles. And her pipes were a little raw. In the middle of the second set, she excused the rest of the group from the stage and took a seat at the piano. Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" and "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from "Evita" were the next two tunes. All eyes moved to centerstage. The bartender stopped the blender. The servers who could find a chair, sat down. The Phoenix is rarely so quiet, even in the wee hours of the morning, let alone on a Saturday afternoon. It was a special, and unique moment.
Lisa Henry -- Lisa Henry tells me that her new CD has finally hit the stores. After it was reviewed in the October/November '96 JAM, Murphy's Law went into effect: everything that could go wrong did. But, at long last, the CD is now available. And it's hot. Find your back issue of JAM and re-read the review. Then hurry out and pick up a copy of Lisa's Jam Session.
Pete Eye -- The Phoenix at Station Casino? It's a class act. On opening night, January 16, this second and newest Phoenix won big with a full house. When I arrived at 9:30 p.m., Max Groove had everyone in the palm of his hand. I was expecting a double dose of the normal rowdy downtown crowd, but surprisingly (and pleasantly), the audience was very attentive. I also expected to see the first-night fumbling I've experienced all too often in other restaurants and clubs on opening night. Leave it to Ron Schoonover and his crew to pull everything off like they'd been at it for years. The following Saturday afternoon was also a real treat. Pianist Pete Eye played for an appreciative audience, and he was clearly enjoying the superb sound system and the new Yamaha baby grand piano he had tuned just a couple weeks before. Be sure to catch his trio, including Tyrone Clark on bass and Allen Wiley on drums, every Saturday from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m.

KC Invades '97 IAJE Convention
Every January, the IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators) holds one of the largest gatherings of jazz aficionados and educators in the world. This year's event in Chicago featured several Kansas Citians, one of whom was drummer Todd Strait.

"IAJE was a ball this year," says Todd. "I was there with Dan Gailey performing his work commissioned by the IAJE. Dan won the Gil Evans composition award last year and this was one of the responsibilities that came with the honor. Our guest soloist was John Fedchock, and the band was made up of players from Texas, Wisconsin, Chicago, Lawrence, Kansas City... all over. We played Dan's piece right after they presented Rufus Reid with a Humanitarian Award.

"Later that evening," Todd reports, "Kevin Mahogany performed with his group -- Tyrone Clarke, Dave Stryker, James Wideman and myself. We were sandwiched between the Yellow Jackets and Bob James, a hot seat for me! Both concerts were in the Grand Ballroom, and I don't know the actual audience numbers, but the place was huge, and it was very well attended and received. Karrin Allyson was there the next day with Laura Caviani and Bob Bowman -- I had to miss that, though, so I could get back to Kansas City. Doug Tally gave a clinic that Saturday on how to drum up interest in high school jazz programs, and Bob (Bowman) did a gig Friday evening with Steve Million, Ron Vincent and Randy Brecker at The Green Mill."

The IAJE Convention is normally attended by several thousand people from all over the world. With this many KC musicians performing, maybe it's time to help them save some money. Let's host the event in Kansas City some day!

Mini Pub Crawls
Don't get excited yet... The Jazz Ambassadors have one major pub crawl each year and that's not until in June. The Blues Society, however, has its Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras Club Crawl every February. Go ahead and get excited about that. (See "News & Notes" for more.)

There is a third kind of pub crawl you may not be aware of: the "Mini Pub Crawl." The KCJA will meet your group of 20 to 200 people at a designated location and take you to several clubs to hear the hottest live jazz in town that night. Cover charges are waved (except for national acts which are avoided on Mini Pub Crawls), and you are responsible for your own drinks (no clubs in Kansas City have drink minimums at this time). One popular stop is the Mutual Musicians Foundation. While you are there, if you would like to be served some authentic KC Bar-B-Que, we can arrange that for you, too.

There is a per-head charge for these "Jazzin' Up The Town" mini-crawls. And since we tailor the evening to suit your group, the cost depends on just how much of a party you want to enjoy. (We may even have live music on the bus.) If you know of a group coming to Kansas City for a convention, business meeting, family reunion, football/baseball game, gambling junket or wedding, we'd like to jazz up their Kansas City experience. There are commercial entities that do the same thing, but not in the style of the Jazz Ambassadors. For more information, call Mary Ellen Farney at 816-478-8378.

New Slate of Officers
KCJA officers for 1997 are: Vanessa Barnard, president; Mike Rollf, vice president; Gayle Lopes, secretary; Don and Jane McClain, treasurer. For a complete list of the new officers for 1997, see the masthead on page 2.

KCJA and KCJW Join Forces
In late December, the Jazz Ambassadors and the Kansas City Jazz Workshop tentatively agreed to pool their resources. Although the details of uniting these two corporations are not complete, the process is on track with the hopes of guaranteeing the continued success of the KCJW Concert Series. The format of the concerts is expected to remain unchanged; and the KCJA will continue to work with the Topeka and St. Joseph Jazz Workshops. Watch for expanded coverage of the KCJW activities in futures issues of JAM.

Support Our Advertisers
The single most expensive item in the KCJA budget is the cost of putting out JAM every two months. We have subscriptions in every continent (except Antarctica), but without our advertisers, over 300 power-packed pages a year of jazz info would not exist. When you are planning your next jazz outing, look over the ads in JAM and plan to spend at least part of your evening with one of our advertisers. And make sure they know that you are a Jazz Ambassador, and that you came to support them because they support us.

The Departing FFA... and KC Jazz
When I heard that the FFA (Future Farmers of America) was leaving Kansas City in 1999, I didn't share the doom and gloom voiced by so many others. Although it will be a loss to the region, it's by far not the end of the world. What does this have to do with KC jazz? Maybe a lot. Maybe the city's cowtown image can be finally be modified into a new look that includes "Kansas City: Jazz Mecca." (Even the American Royal was quoted in the Star as suggesting that jazz be part of their new theme.)

The First Annual KC International Jazz Festival last September was probably the single best day of jazz I have heard in Kansas City. Bravo to those who had anything to do with producing this event. (And shame on any jazz fan who did not attend.) To the promoters of this wonderful festival, the American Royal staff, and the 18th & Vine Authority, let's consider doing these events together next year. Such a caliber of jazz festival combined with one of the world's best BBQ contests could be a hit!

Farewell Len
Len Nunnick has been our advertising representative and printing coordinator since 1993. On a number of occasions, he's come through at the drop of a hat, going above and beyond the call to find the best deals for us. Now his profession is taking him to Dallas full time. Thanks Len for a job well done. Our best to you!

RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 1997 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Dean Hampton The New York Times & KC Jazz JAM and Kansas City jazz had a good year in 1996. And 1997 promises to be even better. Last year, JAM broke a record by offering its readers over 300 pages of jazz happenings, a sure sign of a healthy jazz scene. In a recent article for the New York Times ("On a Riff in Kansas City," 12/29/96), former Times writer and current Kansas City resident Shirley Christian wrote, "Though Kansas City is no longer in the upper ranks of jazz towns, it does offer a wide variety of styles and performers in a friendly and accessible setting." I liked Ms. Christian's article very much and, because of it, would add KC to my list of jazz vacation spots were I not a resident. But, regarding her comment that we are no longer in the upper ranks of jazz towns... Last year, Ib Skovgaard from Radio Denmark took me up on my standing offer to embark on a one week Kansas City jazz vacation. We were both worn to a frazzle when it was all over; and it was a relatively slow week for KC jazz! Who's Hot! Everette DeVan -- If you are missing the Friday night jam at Club Mardi Gras, you are missing hot. On a recent trip to this gig, I heard the Everette DeVan Quartet featuring DeVan on B-3, Gerald Dunn on tenor, Ervin Brown on guitar, and Donivan Daily on drums. The group sizzled. Make it a point to drop by. And check out the new jazz mural by Alexander Austin (JAM, December/January). Rosetta Robinson -- After November's monthly Jazz Ambassador meeting at Club 427, several of us stayed to listen to singer Rosetta Robinson. What a performer she is. Her voice and presentation were both equally captivating. A few weeks later, Sue and I returned for dinner -- and for more of Rosetta -- and enjoyed a variety of music that ranged from Broadway show tunes to down 'n dirty blues. (Can you imagine Sarah Vaughn singing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline?) On the first trip, Don Warner turned in a super job on piano. On the second, Steve Miller was just as good. These duos, and Club 427's wonderful cuisine, are always worth an evening out. Willie Matthews -- After dinner at Club 427, we made a stop at the downtown Phoenix and were fortunate to hear master guitarist, Willie Matthews (along with Dwight Foster and Rusty Tucker). Willie, on hiatus from touring with the Basie band, exhibited all the talents that landed him that prestigious gig in the first place. (When we spoke, he was next off to take part in the January 20 Clinton inauguration.) Karrin Allyson -- The Phoenix at 8th & Central is not generally thought of as a concert setting. It's more of a festive gathering spot where Tim Whitmer and/or The Scamps regularly turn the crowd into a foot stompin', hand clappin' congregation of jazz fans. On Saturday, January 4, however, it was a different story altogether. Singer Karrin Allyson, joined by pianist Laura Caviani for this Saturday afternoon standing room only gig, was suffering from some post-holiday sniffles. And her pipes were a little raw. In the middle of the second set, she excused the rest of the group from the stage and took a seat at the piano. Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" and "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from "Evita" were the next two tunes. All eyes moved to centerstage. The bartender stopped the blender. The servers who could find a chair, sat down. The Phoenix is rarely so quiet, even in the wee hours of the morning, let alone on a Saturday afternoon. It was a special, and unique moment. Lisa Henry -- Lisa Henry tells me that her new CD has finally hit the stores. After it was reviewed in the October/November '96 JAM, Murphy's Law went into effect: everything that could go wrong did. But, at long last, the CD is now available. And it's hot. Find your back issue of JAM and re-read the review. Then hurry out and pick up a copy of Lisa's Jam Session. Pete Eye -- The Phoenix at Station Casino? It's a class act. On opening night, January 16, this second and newest Phoenix won big with a full house. When I arrived at 9:30 p.m., Max Groove had everyone in the palm of his hand. I was expecting a double dose of the normal rowdy downtown crowd, but surprisingly (and pleasantly), the audience was very attentive. I also expected to see the first-night fumbling I've experienced all too often in other restaurants and clubs on opening night. Leave it to Ron Schoonover and his crew to pull everything off like they'd been at it for years. The following Saturday afternoon was also a real treat. Pianist Pete Eye played for an appreciative audience, and he was clearly enjoying the superb sound system and the new Yamaha baby grand piano he had tuned just a couple weeks before. Be sure to catch his trio, including Tyrone Clark on bass and Allen Wiley on drums, every Saturday from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. KC Invades '97 IAJE Convention Every January, the IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators) holds one of the largest gatherings of jazz aficionados and educators in the world. This year's event in Chicago featured several Kansas Citians, one of whom was drummer Todd Strait. "IAJE was a ball this year," says Todd. "I was there with Dan Gailey performing his work commissioned by the IAJE. Dan won the Gil Evans composition award last year and this was one of the responsibilities that came with the honor. Our guest soloist was John Fedchock, and the band was made up of players from Texas, Wisconsin, Chicago, Lawrence, Kansas City... all over. We played Dan's piece right after they presented Rufus Reid with a Humanitarian Award. "Later that evening," Todd reports, "Kevin Mahogany performed with his group -- Tyrone Clarke, Dave Stryker, James Wideman and myself. We were sandwiched between the Yellow Jackets and Bob James, a hot seat for me! Both concerts were in the Grand Ballroom, and I don't know the actual audience numbers, but the place was huge, and it was very well attended and received. Karrin Allyson was there the next day with Laura Caviani and Bob Bowman -- I had to miss that, though, so I could get back to Kansas City. Doug Tally gave a clinic that Saturday on how to drum up interest in high school jazz programs, and Bob (Bowman) did a gig Friday evening with Steve Million, Ron Vincent and Randy Brecker at The Green Mill." The IAJE Convention is normally attended by several thousand people from all over the world. With this many KC musicians performing, maybe it's time to help them save some money. Let's host the event in Kansas City some day! Mini Pub Crawls Don't get excited yet... The Jazz Ambassadors have one major pub crawl each year and that's not until in June. The Blues Society, however, has its Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras Club Crawl every February. Go ahead and get excited about that. (See "News & Notes" for more.) There is a third kind of pub crawl you may not be aware of: the "Mini Pub Crawl." The KCJA will meet your group of 20 to 200 people at a designated location and take you to several clubs to hear the hottest live jazz in town that night. Cover charges are waved (except for national acts which are avoided on Mini Pub Crawls), and you are responsible for your own drinks (no clubs in Kansas City have drink minimums at this time). One popular stop is the Mutual Musicians Foundation. While you are there, if you would like to be served some authentic KC Bar-B-Que, we can arrange that for you, too. There is a per-head charge for these "Jazzin' Up The Town" mini-crawls. And since we tailor the evening to suit your group, the cost depends on just how much of a party you want to enjoy. (We may even have live music on the bus.) If you know of a group coming to Kansas City for a convention, business meeting, family reunion, football/baseball game, gambling junket or wedding, we'd like to jazz up their Kansas City experience. There are commercial entities that do the same thing, but not in the style of the Jazz Ambassadors. For more information, call Mary Ellen Farney at 816-478-8378. New Slate of Officers KCJA officers for 1997 are: Vanessa Barnard, president; Mike Rollf, vice president; Gayle Lopes, secretary; Don and Jane McClain, treasurer. For a complete list of the new officers for 1997, see the masthead on page 2. KCJA and KCJW Join Forces In late December, the Jazz Ambassadors and the Kansas City Jazz Workshop tentatively agreed to pool their resources. Although the details of uniting these two corporations are not complete, the process is on track with the hopes of guaranteeing the continued success of the KCJW Concert Series. The format of the concerts is expected to remain unchanged; and the KCJA will continue to work with the Topeka and St. Joseph Jazz Workshops. Watch for expanded coverage of the KCJW activities in futures issues of JAM. Support Our Advertisers The single most expensive item in the KCJA budget is the cost of putting out JAM every two months. We have subscriptions in every continent (except Antarctica), but without our advertisers, over 300 power-packed pages a year of jazz info would not exist. When you are planning your next jazz outing, look over the ads in JAM and plan to spend at least part of your evening with one of our advertisers. And make sure they know that you are a Jazz Ambassador, and that you came to support them because they support us. The Departing FFA... and KC Jazz When I heard that the FFA (Future Farmers of America) was leaving Kansas City in 1999, I didn't share the doom and gloom voiced by so many others. Although it will be a loss to the region, it's by far not the end of the world. What does this have to do with KC jazz? Maybe a lot. Maybe the city's cowtown image can be finally be modified into a new look that includes "Kansas City: Jazz Mecca." (Even the American Royal was quoted in the Star as suggesting that jazz be part of their new theme.) The First Annual KC International Jazz Festival last September was probably the single best day of jazz I have heard in Kansas City. Bravo to those who had anything to do with producing this event. (And shame on any jazz fan who did not attend.) To the promoters of this wonderful festival, the American Royal staff, and the 18th & Vine Authority, let's consider doing these events together next year. Such a caliber of jazz festival combined with one of the world's best BBQ contests could be a hit! Farewell Len Len Nunnick has been our advertising representative and printing coordinator since 1993. On a number of occasions, he's come through at the drop of a hat, going above and beyond the call to find the best deals for us. Now his profession is taking him to Dallas full time. Thanks Len for a job well done. Our best to you! RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 1997 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.