JAM Magazine: December/January 1998 Issue: Hampton's Hot Licks

by Dean Hampton

An Upbeat 18th & Vine
Slowly but surely the new 18th & Vine District is attracting a following. On the way to help KCUR's "Just Jazz" show with their recent fall fund drive, I decided to go through "The Vine" to see if anything was happening there on a Sunday afternoon. At 1:00 p.m. the streets were nearly flush with pedestrian traffic between attractions. On my return trip a couple of hours later, the activity had increased. Car tags in the spacious lots were from Missouri, Kansas and all neighboring states.

Two general observations: one positive, the other negative.

First, Pat Jordan is to be commended for helping to make the GEM Theater what it is and for promoting jazz activities that involve the entire jazz community. Pat: you, too, are a "gem."

On the down side, I've heard far too many people questioning the safety of "that area." Most of this comes from those who haven't even bothered to drive through the new 18th & Vine District. To the skeptics, I will say this: an investment of almost $27 million has been made. And the area is absolutely gorgeous. There is plenty of well-lighted parking, and the crowds are getting larger and larger. To the fearful, I would suggest that you give it a try. Your unfounded fears will vanish in an instant. Personally, I'm damned proud of this city for the 18th & Vine project. When I drive through that area now, I feel like a kid in a candy store. If you love jazz, you'll feel that way, too.

The Blue Room...
"Blue Mondays" at the Blue Room at 18th & Vine will surely be added to my next Jazz Vacation article (see this issue's "Club Profile"). The lineup is different each week and features KC's finest. The music starts early (6:00 p.m.) and will keep you glued to your chair until the end. Be sure to add this to your Monday jazz calendar.

...And The Blue Note
If you have Internet access with RealAudio, you can listen to $40-per-set gigs from the Blue Note in New York City -- right in your own home. The drinks are cheap, and you can even eat your own BBQ while you listen to worldclass jazz. RealAudio's latest beta software can now be downloaded to provide you with near-CD quality music. During the past few weeks, I've "attended" the several good nights at the Blue Note, including: the Bob James Trio, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars (with guests like Roy Hargrove, Kenny Burrell and Clark Terry), McCoy Tyner with Strings, Tania Maria, James Moody and Nancy Wilson. Yet to come are Max Roach and Herbie Hancock. Check out the Audionet/Blue Note web site at http://www.audionet.com/concerts/bluenote/

A Successful Release...
While many musicians have CD release parties, Wayne Hawkins chose to have a CD release concert on October 27. It was a grand evening of listening that officially introduced his latest, Trio: Volume 1, reviewed in the August/September JAM. Held at the Westport Coffee House, there was a full house of listeners and a unique environment for three super musicians: Wayne on piano, Bob Bowman on bass and Todd Strait on drums. Trio is a treat-filled CD. And Wayne and crew have already recorded several new tunes for "Volume 2." When it's finished, look for another release "concert" -- where everyone comes to listen to great Kansas City jazz.

...And A Good Cause
The third annual Episcopal Social Services Jazz Concert was held on Sunday, October 26th to a packed house at the Folly Theater. This near sell-out concert attracted both jazz fans and supporters of the ESS "Meals On Wheels" project, many of whom weren't sure if they even liked jazz. Based on the audience reaction I witnessed, jazz fan or not, everybody enjoyed what they heard. The headliners -- Karrin Allyson and Milt Abel -- were in exceptional form. Milt's "Summertime" -- with some added scatting by Karrin -- was a crowd favorite. As was Milt's traditional "Big Noise" with Todd Strait making the trip to Milt's bass for a good sticks-on-strings workout.

JAM: "Spotlight Site of the Week"
"All About Jazz," a popular web-zine on the Internet recently honored JAM as its "Spotlight Site of the Week." Their link to the KC Jazz Ambassadors' web site was accompanied by the following message:

"Kansas City is known throughout the world for its rich jazz heritage. The city has produced some of the greatest names in jazz (folks like Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Count Basie, Bennie Moten, Mary Lou Williams and Jay McShann). Now, thanks to the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, you can immerse yourself in the past, present, and find out what makes this town such a special place for jazzers."

Thanks to all of the JAM staff for the hard work it takes to continually win such honors. And special thanks to Brad Lucht for keeping us online, on the cyberjazz world's hot list, and for being an excellent webmaster.

See "All About Jazz" at: http://allaboutjazz.com/

Musician With a Beef?
Let Us Know!
The Fall addition of Midwest Jazz Magazine honored the KCJA with an article entitled "Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors -- Patrons and Saints." The story by Lee Hill Kavanaugh (now the jazz writer for The Kansas City Star) basically praises the KCJA using quotes from active members and a few die-hard friends of the Ambassadors. Also mentioned are some of the key events and projects the KCJA contributes to the jazz community every year. There is also the expressed attitude by a few musicians who anonymously claim that the Ambassadors are 'a lonely hearts club' whose members chatter and laugh during gigs, rather than listen."

I liked the article and was honored that we were worthy of such coverage. But, I must also ask those anonymous musicians how they are able to recognize many of the more than 400 "noisy" members of the KCJA. I certainly don't know each of them, nor could I pick them out in a crowd.

I frequently hear musicians say things like, "Why don't the Ambassadors come out and support us?" I challenge them to identify the Ambassadors in the crowd. Are we the ones who always wear a little white badge to every gig? What does our "costume" look like? Do you have a copy of our roster and use it as a check list? Do you really know all of our members? I think not!

If you are a jazz musician and you have a beef with the Jazz Ambassadors, please identify yourself. Come to our meetings and discuss the problem with us directly. You can even point fingers and name dates if you chose to do so. Maybe your participation will be part of the solution to your problem. But while doing this, remember that even if you are right, if we were not paying at least part of the bar and dinner tab, maybe you wouldn't have a job! And, when your child needs a jazz scholarship, or you personally need financial aid (i.e. the Musicians Emergency Assistance Fund), it may just be the KCJA who will pay at least part of the bill.
The comments of anonymous musicians aside, the KCJA is, without a doubt, a major economic force in creating today's Kansas City jazz audience. Without the Jazz Ambassadors, the jazz scene in KC would be disorganized and without a pulse.

They Make Great Gifts
There's still time to stuff stockings with CDs of KC jazz. Or, maybe it's time to give yourself the gift of jazz.

Here is a list of CDs reviewed in JAM in 1997.

East of the Sun -- Everette DeVan
Maxed Out -- Max Groove
Feel the Magic -- Angela Hagenbach
Body and Soul -- Jim Widner Big Band
Table for Three -- Phil DeGreg
Time Through the Ages -- Ahmad Alaadeen
Daydream -- Karrin Allyson
Trio: Volume One -- Wayne Hawkins
Thanks a Million -- Steve Million
Jam! Kansas City Style -- Diane "Mama" Ray/Rich VanSant Band
King of Kansas City -- Claude "Fiddler" Williams
Odahoda -- Interstring
Another Time Another Place -- Kevin Mahogany
Coming From Kansas City -- Richard Ross
I Thought About You -- Pat Wilson

Out With '97; In With '98
Kansas City jazz has enjoyed another banner year. It has been a year marked by success and progress. There was also a little controversy here and there; but that can be chalked up to growing pains, time constraints, great intentions and those pressures to succeed at things that have never been done before.

I believe we are on track for another great year of jazz in 1998. Here's my wish to you and yours for a terrific holiday season, and the jazziest New Year you've ever had!

On The Road with Karrin & Company
In late October, Karrin Allyson spent the better part of a week in Ontario's capitol city of Toronto. In the first of two engagements, Allyson opened for Ray Charles at the Roy Thomson Hall in the heart of the city's theater district. Although stage time was limited at this concert (a part of the Fujitsu/Concord Jazz Festival series), Karrin and KC's "A-Team" of Paul Smith, Bob Bowman and Todd Strait wasted little time in a set that ranged from the upbeat, "How High the Moon/Ornithology" to a tender reading of "Everything Must Change." The crowd and critics reacted with approval.

Next was an engagement at Toronto's first jazz club (dating to 1929), The Top O' the Senator. While surveying the terrain prior to the Sunday evening gig, Karrin and Paul had the opportunity to sit in with saxophonist Scott Hamilton and guitarist Ed Bickert. Karrin's two sets on November 2 were well received by a crowd populated with family and friends who had managed to find their way to one of Canada's nicer cities.

-- William Buchanan III

RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1998 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		by Dean Hampton An Upbeat 18th & Vine Slowly but surely the new 18th & Vine District is attracting a following. On the way to help KCUR's "Just Jazz" show with their recent fall fund drive, I decided to go through "The Vine" to see if anything was happening there on a Sunday afternoon. At 1:00 p.m. the streets were nearly flush with pedestrian traffic between attractions. On my return trip a couple of hours later, the activity had increased. Car tags in the spacious lots were from Missouri, Kansas and all neighboring states. Two general observations: one positive, the other negative. First, Pat Jordan is to be commended for helping to make the GEM Theater what it is and for promoting jazz activities that involve the entire jazz community. Pat: you, too, are a "gem." On the down side, I've heard far too many people questioning the safety of "that area." Most of this comes from those who haven't even bothered to drive through the new 18th & Vine District. To the skeptics, I will say this: an investment of almost $27 million has been made. And the area is absolutely gorgeous. There is plenty of well-lighted parking, and the crowds are getting larger and larger. To the fearful, I would suggest that you give it a try. Your unfounded fears will vanish in an instant. Personally, I'm damned proud of this city for the 18th & Vine project. When I drive through that area now, I feel like a kid in a candy store. If you love jazz, you'll feel that way, too. The Blue Room... "Blue Mondays" at the Blue Room at 18th & Vine will surely be added to my next Jazz Vacation article (see this issue's "Club Profile"). The lineup is different each week and features KC's finest. The music starts early (6:00 p.m.) and will keep you glued to your chair until the end. Be sure to add this to your Monday jazz calendar. ...And The Blue Note If you have Internet access with RealAudio, you can listen to $40-per-set gigs from the Blue Note in New York City -- right in your own home. The drinks are cheap, and you can even eat your own BBQ while you listen to worldclass jazz. RealAudio's latest beta software can now be downloaded to provide you with near-CD quality music. During the past few weeks, I've "attended" the several good nights at the Blue Note, including: the Bob James Trio, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars (with guests like Roy Hargrove, Kenny Burrell and Clark Terry), McCoy Tyner with Strings, Tania Maria, James Moody and Nancy Wilson. Yet to come are Max Roach and Herbie Hancock. Check out the Audionet/Blue Note web site at http://www.audionet.com/concerts/bluenote/ A Successful Release... While many musicians have CD release parties, Wayne Hawkins chose to have a CD release concert on October 27. It was a grand evening of listening that officially introduced his latest, Trio: Volume 1, reviewed in the August/September JAM. Held at the Westport Coffee House, there was a full house of listeners and a unique environment for three super musicians: Wayne on piano, Bob Bowman on bass and Todd Strait on drums. Trio is a treat-filled CD. And Wayne and crew have already recorded several new tunes for "Volume 2." When it's finished, look for another release "concert" -- where everyone comes to listen to great Kansas City jazz. ...And A Good Cause The third annual Episcopal Social Services Jazz Concert was held on Sunday, October 26th to a packed house at the Folly Theater. This near sell-out concert attracted both jazz fans and supporters of the ESS "Meals On Wheels" project, many of whom weren't sure if they even liked jazz. Based on the audience reaction I witnessed, jazz fan or not, everybody enjoyed what they heard. The headliners -- Karrin Allyson and Milt Abel -- were in exceptional form. Milt's "Summertime" -- with some added scatting by Karrin -- was a crowd favorite. As was Milt's traditional "Big Noise" with Todd Strait making the trip to Milt's bass for a good sticks-on-strings workout. JAM: "Spotlight Site of the Week" "All About Jazz," a popular web-zine on the Internet recently honored JAM as its "Spotlight Site of the Week." Their link to the KC Jazz Ambassadors' web site was accompanied by the following message: "Kansas City is known throughout the world for its rich jazz heritage. The city has produced some of the greatest names in jazz (folks like Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Count Basie, Bennie Moten, Mary Lou Williams and Jay McShann). Now, thanks to the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, you can immerse yourself in the past, present, and find out what makes this town such a special place for jazzers." Thanks to all of the JAM staff for the hard work it takes to continually win such honors. And special thanks to Brad Lucht for keeping us online, on the cyberjazz world's hot list, and for being an excellent webmaster. See "All About Jazz" at: http://allaboutjazz.com/ Musician With a Beef? Let Us Know! The Fall addition of Midwest Jazz Magazine honored the KCJA with an article entitled "Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors -- Patrons and Saints." The story by Lee Hill Kavanaugh (now the jazz writer for The Kansas City Star) basically praises the KCJA using quotes from active members and a few die-hard friends of the Ambassadors. Also mentioned are some of the key events and projects the KCJA contributes to the jazz community every year. There is also the expressed attitude by a few musicians who anonymously claim that the Ambassadors are 'a lonely hearts club' whose members chatter and laugh during gigs, rather than listen." I liked the article and was honored that we were worthy of such coverage. But, I must also ask those anonymous musicians how they are able to recognize many of the more than 400 "noisy" members of the KCJA. I certainly don't know each of them, nor could I pick them out in a crowd. I frequently hear musicians say things like, "Why don't the Ambassadors come out and support us?" I challenge them to identify the Ambassadors in the crowd. Are we the ones who always wear a little white badge to every gig? What does our "costume" look like? Do you have a copy of our roster and use it as a check list? Do you really know all of our members? I think not! If you are a jazz musician and you have a beef with the Jazz Ambassadors, please identify yourself. Come to our meetings and discuss the problem with us directly. You can even point fingers and name dates if you chose to do so. Maybe your participation will be part of the solution to your problem. But while doing this, remember that even if you are right, if we were not paying at least part of the bar and dinner tab, maybe you wouldn't have a job! And, when your child needs a jazz scholarship, or you personally need financial aid (i.e. the Musicians Emergency Assistance Fund), it may just be the KCJA who will pay at least part of the bill. The comments of anonymous musicians aside, the KCJA is, without a doubt, a major economic force in creating today's Kansas City jazz audience. Without the Jazz Ambassadors, the jazz scene in KC would be disorganized and without a pulse. They Make Great Gifts There's still time to stuff stockings with CDs of KC jazz. Or, maybe it's time to give yourself the gift of jazz. Here is a list of CDs reviewed in JAM in 1997. East of the Sun -- Everette DeVan Maxed Out -- Max Groove Feel the Magic -- Angela Hagenbach Body and Soul -- Jim Widner Big Band Table for Three -- Phil DeGreg Time Through the Ages -- Ahmad Alaadeen Daydream -- Karrin Allyson Trio: Volume One -- Wayne Hawkins Thanks a Million -- Steve Million Jam! Kansas City Style -- Diane "Mama" Ray/Rich VanSant Band King of Kansas City -- Claude "Fiddler" Williams Odahoda -- Interstring Another Time Another Place -- Kevin Mahogany Coming From Kansas City -- Richard Ross I Thought About You -- Pat Wilson Out With '97; In With '98 Kansas City jazz has enjoyed another banner year. It has been a year marked by success and progress. There was also a little controversy here and there; but that can be chalked up to growing pains, time constraints, great intentions and those pressures to succeed at things that have never been done before. I believe we are on track for another great year of jazz in 1998. Here's my wish to you and yours for a terrific holiday season, and the jazziest New Year you've ever had! On The Road with Karrin & Company In late October, Karrin Allyson spent the better part of a week in Ontario's capitol city of Toronto. In the first of two engagements, Allyson opened for Ray Charles at the Roy Thomson Hall in the heart of the city's theater district. Although stage time was limited at this concert (a part of the Fujitsu/Concord Jazz Festival series), Karrin and KC's "A-Team" of Paul Smith, Bob Bowman and Todd Strait wasted little time in a set that ranged from the upbeat, "How High the Moon/Ornithology" to a tender reading of "Everything Must Change." The crowd and critics reacted with approval. Next was an engagement at Toronto's first jazz club (dating to 1929), The Top O' the Senator. While surveying the terrain prior to the Sunday evening gig, Karrin and Paul had the opportunity to sit in with saxophonist Scott Hamilton and guitarist Ed Bickert. Karrin's two sets on November 2 were well received by a crowd populated with family and friends who had managed to find their way to one of Canada's nicer cities. -- William Buchanan III RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.