JAM Magazine: April/May 1998 Issue: Correspondence

A Note of Thanks from the Mayor...
I wanted to send a note of thanks for your rebuttal to the New York Times article which focused so unfortunately on the long history of "squabbling" about the 18th & Vine project.

To bring this project honoring Kansas City's jazz heritage took years, millions of dollars, great energy, and an expenditure of a great deal of political capital. The editor of Down Beat was certainly not alone in his lack of faith that anything would ever happen at 18th & Vine. Believe me, I know that firsthand.

I also appreciate your comments likening the new Jazz Museum to a "jet taking off." As you noted, the museum is still building its collection and its exhibits. Getting the doors open was no small accomplishment; the challenge now is to nourish it through infancy and beyond.

With the museums, Visitors Center and Gem Theater now in operation, we have our catalyst for the economic revitalization of 18th & Vine, and 125 businesses have applied to participate in the revitalization of Kansas City's historic Jazz District.

Great things are happening at 18th & Vine... and I thank you for that recognition.

Sincerely,
Emanuel Cleaver II
Mayor
Kansas City, MO

...Another from BEU
As you can imagine, there are all kinds of exciting and positive developments taking place within the Historic 18th & Vine District. We are writing to inform you of one important change within the District that affects our past relationship with you. As of November 1997, after thoughtful and meticulous review, the Black Economic Union Board of Directors voted that BEU will no longer present the 18th & Vine Heritage Jazz Festival.

It is our understanding that the new Kansas City Jazz Museum will present an annual event similar to the (second-day) activities of the Museum's grand opening which operated in a "festival" format. BEU's discontinuation of the 18th & Vine Heritage Jazz Festival is in support of Museum programming plans for the District. We recognize that the number of Kansas City festivals is growing while funds to produce them remain limited. The BEU Board and staff felt that asking the Kansas City funding and volunteer communities to support two outdoor, summertime jazz events within the same area and time frame would be an unfair and unreasonable expectation. They considered also, that if funding two jazz festivals at 18th & Vine were somehow supported by the funding community, it could also have a negative effect on our festival colleagues' ability to attract the funds they need to produce quality tourism-enhancing events throughout Kansas City's summer months.

Now, with five arts and culture-promoting organizations focused on programming within the Historic District, BEU will concentrate staff and Board efforts on compatible residential and commercial development for the area.

We want you to know that it has been our great pleasure working with you, and we thank you sincerely for your past involvement. You can certainly take responsibility with us and our other supporters and volunteers for the development of a quality tourism destination for Kansas City, and we hope you feel proud of our collective past work.

Through the 18th & Vine Heritage Jazz Festival, we all participated in keeping the vision of 18th & Vine's potential alive; and now just look at the fabulous contribution to Kansas City's tourism industry and its future that we all, in our own unique way, had a hand in creating!

We will never be able to express our appreciation for our relationship with the Jazz Ambassadors. The Festival's success had everything to do with the level of local involvement it received.

On behalf of the BEU Board of Directors, and with sincere appreciation -- thank you!

Pat Jacobs-McDonald
Director of Cultural Development
BEU
Kansas City, MO

...Another from KCJI
I guess we can all learn a lesson from Doug Tatum who produces a wonderful jazz series at the Folly Theater. His thank you letter to the Jazz Ambassadors in the February/March JAM made me realize that we had not taken the time to properly thank the Jazz Ambassadors for their $1,500 contribution to help us produce the 2nd Annual Kansas City International Jazz Festival last September at Starlight Theater.

On behalf of Kansas City Jazz International, I would like to thank, most humbly, the Jazz Ambassadors not only for their economic support, but for the many volunteers who gave their time and effort to help us in so many ways during the physical production of the festival.

And thanks to Mr. Doug Tatum for reminding me that one should never get too busy to take a moment to say: "thanks!"

Warmest regards.
Steve Irwin
President
Kansas City Jazz International

p.s. I'd like to finally put a lid on the raging Kenny G conundrum that has so inundated all our lives. There is nothing wrong with Kenny G that a "Kim Park transplant" wouldn't solve!

(For a preview of this year's Kansas City International Jazz Festival, see "News & Notes." -- Ed.)

...Another from M-AAA
I'm writing to say a heartfelt "thank you" to the Jazz Ambassadors, not only for the generous financial contribution to the Mid-America Jazz Conference, March 13-14, but also for the wonderful volunteers. What a great group of people!

It has meant a lot to us that the Jazz Ambassadors lent their support to this event, as we believe that your participation and endorsement help to demonstrate to the Kansas City jazz community that the jazz conference has real value.

You may know that a steering committee is being formed to plan the development of a six-state jazz network to increase communication, block-booking and sharing of resources. We hope that the Jazz Ambassadors will want to be actively involved in this network.

In the meantime, if we start thinking about a 1999 jazz conference, we'll know who to call for volunteers!

Many thanks,
Gail Milton
Director of Special Projects
Mid-America Arts Alliance
Kansas City, MO

...Another from a Jazz Conference Attendee
Dear Fellow Jazzers,
I want to thank the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors for all you do for the music. It's because of joining as a member by mail that I knew about the (M-AAA) conference in March. I am so glad to have met all of you!

Jazz Ambassadors correspondence has been a wonderful tool for me to learn about the scene in KC. Keep it up!

Karen Angela Moore
Nashville, TN

...Another from a Grateful Drummer
Dear JAM,
I wish to publicly express my gratitude to a friend. In early March, I had a family emergency and had to cancel a four week tour with Kevin Mahogany that had been scheduled for months. The tour was in Europe, covering several countries, and we were to leave in seven days. I called Kevin with the news knowing he would be "cool" about it, but expecting something along the lines of, "Well, what am I going to do now?!" His first comment was, "Take care of your family, don't worry about the gig -- family first. We'll find someone." He did just that and then called about other dates for later in the year.

What can I say from here?

Kevin's heart is as big as his voice.

Todd Strait
Prairie Village, KS

...And Another from a Great Singer
JAM was so thoughtful to include the article about my March concerts in your February/March issue. I do appreciate your generosity and your help in making people aware.

I'm sure your effort was instrumental in helping both concerts sell out. I was thrilled!

Thank you!
Marilyn Maye

Welcome, Arch!
Enclosed is my application to become an Active Contributor.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors for their continuing support, and efforts to perpetuate jazz in Kansas City. Jazz is alive and well in Kansas City, largely due to your efforts.

Now that I have retired from my traveling day job, I am looking forward to becoming a more active part of the Kansas City jazz community.

Thanks again. Keep up the good work and keep swingin'!

Appreciative,
Arch Martin
Overland Park, KS

(A highly respected veteran of the KC jazz scene, trombonist Arch Martin has appeared with Woody Herman, Clark Terry and Warren Durrett. His JAM cover story from Oct./Nov. '94 can be found on the JAM website. -- Ed.)

KC's Russian Jazz Ambassador & Friend
Dear folks of the Kansas City jazz community,
It's time for me to say "goodbye" for now. In February I returned to the vast and chilly Russian heartland that bears the ancient Tartar name, Sibir (or, in English, Siberia). Almost six months I spent in Kansas City, my longest stay in the territory of the United States of America. And I wish to tell my very special thanks to the people who helped me not to feel alone, so remote from my family, and from the nature of my homeland.

First, it was Lee Kavanaugh (who combines the talents of a professional musician and jazz journalist) who, having no doubts at all, exposed me to the readers of The Kansas City Star ("The Sound of K.C.: He's Really Diggin' it;" Nov. 29, 1997). Then there was Dean Hampton of the Jazz Ambassadors. Without his help, I would possibly have never met the beautiful family of Mary Ellen and Nelson Farney. Each took care of me with all their souls and hearts. (I hope someday they will meet my "jazz family" of Mezdrikov!)

Vanessa Barnard, Marlin Cooper, Chuck Haddix, Kevin Heaton, Mike Metheny, Robert Moore, Doug Tatum and Andre' Tyler -- you all have given me a lot of examples of how to do professionally the multi-faceted business of jazz. I love you madly, and will miss you sadly!

There was also Ida McBeth (with outstanding ability to sing blues and open-hearted soul), Gerald Dunn (I remember him saying to me at the Blue Room, "We need people like you!"), Tim Perryman (and his expressive "New Orleans syringe"), Dwight Foster (he's great on tenor axe!), piano masters Joe Cartwright, Wayne Hawkins, Everette Freeman, Jo Ann Daugherty and Tim Whitmer, drummers Mike Warren and Todd Strait, bassists Gerald Spaits (his solos are "something else") and Bob Bowman (who "wails" on everything!), and horn players Stan Kessler (I especially fell in love with his flugelhorn) and the young reedman, Chris Collier (guys, keep on eye on him!).

So, peace, love, and jazz to all; pray to see you again soon.

Alexander Mezdrikov
Novosibirsk, Russia

Another Gig To Remember
Chuck Saults' overview of movies about the Titanic disaster ("A Gig To Remember," JAM, Feb./Mar. '98) puts me in mind of a tale I once heard involving both maritime disaster and music.

There was this bass player, very competent, highly regarded by his fellow musicians, a reliable guy; but he had a terrible time getting gigs. People would lose his phone number, or the nightclub would go belly up the night before the engagement began. Once, somebody stole his bass. It was just one tough break after another. But this bassist persisted. He practiced several hours daily, went to sessions, and never deviated from his dream of being a first-rate, successful musician.

At last, good news came his way. A brand new luxury cruise ship had been launched and was ready to begin sailing operations. And a top-flight band was being formed to play for dances and concerts. The bassist auditioned and got the job with its excellent salary and benefits. Long-term, steady work at last!

And so on a beautiful, balmy, moonlit night, the ship began its maiden voyage. The band was out on an open deck playing great music, the bassist was providing a great pulse to the band, the leader was smiling, and the bassist was reveling in the moment.

But deep inside the bowels of the ship, something was going wrong. Because of a design malfunction, heat and pressure were building inside the huge fuel tanks. And eventually, without warning, there was a terrible explosion. In an instant, the entire ship was shredded into millions of tiny pieces, and within a minute, everything was gone -- no lifeboats, no emergency signals, nothing. Navy and Coast Guard rescue vessels and aircraft were on the scene in just a few hours, but the news was grim. It appeared, after days of combing the waters, that nobody had survived this worst disaster in maritime history.

The last helicopter was winding up its search, however, when an alert crewman noticed something on the surface below. They went in closer and couldn't believe their eyes. Here was a man, our man, floating in the water, lying atop his bass. Being up on deck and clutching his bass when the blast happened, he had been tossed into the water with the only means of survival. He was fished out of the water and rushed to the hospital ashore, where he lay on the brink of death from his ordeal for several days. His survival was extremely important to the authorities, for he was the only possible witness to the disaster, so when word came from the hospital that he was showing signs of regaining consciousness, officials from government, the cruise line, the military, as well as lawyers and physicians hurried over and quickly crowded around the bassist's bed.

In time, they became aware that he was trying to say something, but his voice was too weak. Everybody edged a little closer, and somebody put a microphone up to his mouth. At last he spoke: "...damned music business."

Bill Fogarty
Leawood, KS

BET on Jazz
(Regarding) BET on Jazz, and the (February 9) event at the Blue Room, perhaps your members would be interested to know American Cablevision's stance on adding this channel.

A great deal of research goes into network selection. Since cable rates are based on the cost of the networks, we need to know what our customers want. We still have some channel capacity (after adding about 67 new video and audio networks), and recently did a customer survey to see how people would rank 12 other networks for possible later additions. There were over 42,000 surveys returned, and BET on Jazz ranked 11th, with less than 10% of customers interested.

However, because of the importance of jazz to Kansas City's cultural history we feel the network does deserve greater consideration. It's on a list of services we might consider adding in a digital package once that technology is available to us -- perhaps within the next couple of years.

By the way, our Music Choice service includes commercial-free channels of Blues, Jazz, Lite Jazz, Singers & Standards, and Big Band formats. Music Choice is included in the AXS package available to upgraded cable customers. (At this moment, the Jazz channel is playing Jimmy Smith's "Messy Bessie" on the Blue Note label. Great office background music!)

Hope this information is helpful to you.

Carol Rothwell
Vice President, Public Affairs
American Cablevision
carol.rothwell@twcable.com

A Cyber-Showcase
I have started a web site at http://www.awaretek.com dedicated to the arts and music. I am looking for original works of art in many fields, including original jazz and blues recordings by up-and-coming bands and individual musicians who cannot get enough exposure. The plan is to stock the site with good original works and then to heavily promote the site to gain exposure for the artists. There is no money involved at all, but I will ensure that all artists' work is duly copyright-protected.

If you know of any deserving but underexposed musicians in KC (or elsewhere), have them e-mail me at: rdsteph@ibm.net.

Ron Stephens
Kansas City, MO

An L.A./K.C. Connection
Greetings,
How does a native Kansas Citian/L.A. transplant/new KCJA member get "linked?" You folks have such an impressive web site; is there room for this bass player?

I have a new CD out, Covering the Basses, on my UFO-BASS label. I'm new in the cyberworld, and am just looking for some broader exposure (except at the waistline, which is ever-expanding...).

Would you e-mail me (UFOBASS@aol.com) and let me know how I can get listed with you? Also, visit my work-in-progress website (ufo-bass.com) for an "audition."

Thanks,
Richard Simon
Los Angeles, CA

A Good Tip...
Dear KC Jazz Ambassadors,
A friend in Japan tipped me off to Jazz Ambassador Magazine, which I'd never heard of.

How do I subscribe?

Jack Bowers
Charlotte, NC
bigbandman@earthlink.net
reviewer for:
Cadence Magazine
Jazz Now
Jazz News
Jazz Report
L.A. Jazz Scene
Rapport Magazine

(It's as easy as sending $15 U.S. to: KC Jazz Ambassadors, P.O. Box 36181, Westport Annex, Kansas City, MO 64171. Welcome aboard! -- Ed.)

A Good Resource...
I think you have an interesting, well-structured site. The links you provide are very useful for me! I'd like your attention for my own site, "The Jazz Resource Center." It offers theoretical information such as a unique piano voicing system, chord theory and much more.

Maybe you'd like to add our site to your link list, as it will most certainly be very useful for your page viewers. The site is at http://jrc.mypage.org

Thank you in advance, and greetings from

Leon Kerkstra
Jazz Resource Center
The Hague, The Netherlands

...And Two More Good Links From Abroad
I would like to ask to link to our two sites: SDR Jazz Homepage (SDR German TV) http://www.sdr.de/tv/jazz and Jazz-Network http://www.jazz-network.com (a jazz server in Germany)

Thank you!

Best regards,
Uwe Leiber
Jazz Editor
SDR German TV
e-mail: jazz@sdr.de

(Consider yourself linked. -- Ed.)

RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 1998 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		A Note of Thanks from the Mayor... I wanted to send a note of thanks for your rebuttal to the New York Times article which focused so unfortunately on the long history of "squabbling" about the 18th & Vine project. To bring this project honoring Kansas City's jazz heritage took years, millions of dollars, great energy, and an expenditure of a great deal of political capital. The editor of Down Beat was certainly not alone in his lack of faith that anything would ever happen at 18th & Vine. Believe me, I know that firsthand. I also appreciate your comments likening the new Jazz Museum to a "jet taking off." As you noted, the museum is still building its collection and its exhibits. Getting the doors open was no small accomplishment; the challenge now is to nourish it through infancy and beyond. With the museums, Visitors Center and Gem Theater now in operation, we have our catalyst for the economic revitalization of 18th & Vine, and 125 businesses have applied to participate in the revitalization of Kansas City's historic Jazz District. Great things are happening at 18th & Vine... and I thank you for that recognition. Sincerely, Emanuel Cleaver II Mayor Kansas City, MO ...Another from BEU As you can imagine, there are all kinds of exciting and positive developments taking place within the Historic 18th & Vine District. We are writing to inform you of one important change within the District that affects our past relationship with you. As of November 1997, after thoughtful and meticulous review, the Black Economic Union Board of Directors voted that BEU will no longer present the 18th & Vine Heritage Jazz Festival. It is our understanding that the new Kansas City Jazz Museum will present an annual event similar to the (second-day) activities of the Museum's grand opening which operated in a "festival" format. BEU's discontinuation of the 18th & Vine Heritage Jazz Festival is in support of Museum programming plans for the District. We recognize that the number of Kansas City festivals is growing while funds to produce them remain limited. The BEU Board and staff felt that asking the Kansas City funding and volunteer communities to support two outdoor, summertime jazz events within the same area and time frame would be an unfair and unreasonable expectation. They considered also, that if funding two jazz festivals at 18th & Vine were somehow supported by the funding community, it could also have a negative effect on our festival colleagues' ability to attract the funds they need to produce quality tourism-enhancing events throughout Kansas City's summer months. Now, with five arts and culture-promoting organizations focused on programming within the Historic District, BEU will concentrate staff and Board efforts on compatible residential and commercial development for the area. We want you to know that it has been our great pleasure working with you, and we thank you sincerely for your past involvement. You can certainly take responsibility with us and our other supporters and volunteers for the development of a quality tourism destination for Kansas City, and we hope you feel proud of our collective past work. Through the 18th & Vine Heritage Jazz Festival, we all participated in keeping the vision of 18th & Vine's potential alive; and now just look at the fabulous contribution to Kansas City's tourism industry and its future that we all, in our own unique way, had a hand in creating! We will never be able to express our appreciation for our relationship with the Jazz Ambassadors. The Festival's success had everything to do with the level of local involvement it received. On behalf of the BEU Board of Directors, and with sincere appreciation -- thank you! Pat Jacobs-McDonald Director of Cultural Development BEU Kansas City, MO ...Another from KCJI I guess we can all learn a lesson from Doug Tatum who produces a wonderful jazz series at the Folly Theater. His thank you letter to the Jazz Ambassadors in the February/March JAM made me realize that we had not taken the time to properly thank the Jazz Ambassadors for their $1,500 contribution to help us produce the 2nd Annual Kansas City International Jazz Festival last September at Starlight Theater. On behalf of Kansas City Jazz International, I would like to thank, most humbly, the Jazz Ambassadors not only for their economic support, but for the many volunteers who gave their time and effort to help us in so many ways during the physical production of the festival. And thanks to Mr. Doug Tatum for reminding me that one should never get too busy to take a moment to say: "thanks!" Warmest regards. Steve Irwin President Kansas City Jazz International p.s. I'd like to finally put a lid on the raging Kenny G conundrum that has so inundated all our lives. There is nothing wrong with Kenny G that a "Kim Park transplant" wouldn't solve! (For a preview of this year's Kansas City International Jazz Festival, see "News & Notes." -- Ed.) ...Another from M-AAA I'm writing to say a heartfelt "thank you" to the Jazz Ambassadors, not only for the generous financial contribution to the Mid-America Jazz Conference, March 13-14, but also for the wonderful volunteers. What a great group of people! It has meant a lot to us that the Jazz Ambassadors lent their support to this event, as we believe that your participation and endorsement help to demonstrate to the Kansas City jazz community that the jazz conference has real value. You may know that a steering committee is being formed to plan the development of a six-state jazz network to increase communication, block-booking and sharing of resources. We hope that the Jazz Ambassadors will want to be actively involved in this network. In the meantime, if we start thinking about a 1999 jazz conference, we'll know who to call for volunteers! Many thanks, Gail Milton Director of Special Projects Mid-America Arts Alliance Kansas City, MO ...Another from a Jazz Conference Attendee Dear Fellow Jazzers, I want to thank the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors for all you do for the music. It's because of joining as a member by mail that I knew about the (M-AAA) conference in March. I am so glad to have met all of you! Jazz Ambassadors correspondence has been a wonderful tool for me to learn about the scene in KC. Keep it up! Karen Angela Moore Nashville, TN ...Another from a Grateful Drummer Dear JAM, I wish to publicly express my gratitude to a friend. In early March, I had a family emergency and had to cancel a four week tour with Kevin Mahogany that had been scheduled for months. The tour was in Europe, covering several countries, and we were to leave in seven days. I called Kevin with the news knowing he would be "cool" about it, but expecting something along the lines of, "Well, what am I going to do now?!" His first comment was, "Take care of your family, don't worry about the gig -- family first. We'll find someone." He did just that and then called about other dates for later in the year. What can I say from here? Kevin's heart is as big as his voice. Todd Strait Prairie Village, KS ...And Another from a Great Singer JAM was so thoughtful to include the article about my March concerts in your February/March issue. I do appreciate your generosity and your help in making people aware. I'm sure your effort was instrumental in helping both concerts sell out. I was thrilled! Thank you! Marilyn Maye Welcome, Arch! Enclosed is my application to become an Active Contributor. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors for their continuing support, and efforts to perpetuate jazz in Kansas City. Jazz is alive and well in Kansas City, largely due to your efforts. Now that I have retired from my traveling day job, I am looking forward to becoming a more active part of the Kansas City jazz community. Thanks again. Keep up the good work and keep swingin'! Appreciative, Arch Martin Overland Park, KS (A highly respected veteran of the KC jazz scene, trombonist Arch Martin has appeared with Woody Herman, Clark Terry and Warren Durrett. His JAM cover story from Oct./Nov. '94 can be found on the JAM website. -- Ed.) KC's Russian Jazz Ambassador & Friend Dear folks of the Kansas City jazz community, It's time for me to say "goodbye" for now. In February I returned to the vast and chilly Russian heartland that bears the ancient Tartar name, Sibir (or, in English, Siberia). Almost six months I spent in Kansas City, my longest stay in the territory of the United States of America. And I wish to tell my very special thanks to the people who helped me not to feel alone, so remote from my family, and from the nature of my homeland. First, it was Lee Kavanaugh (who combines the talents of a professional musician and jazz journalist) who, having no doubts at all, exposed me to the readers of The Kansas City Star ("The Sound of K.C.: He's Really Diggin' it;" Nov. 29, 1997). Then there was Dean Hampton of the Jazz Ambassadors. Without his help, I would possibly have never met the beautiful family of Mary Ellen and Nelson Farney. Each took care of me with all their souls and hearts. (I hope someday they will meet my "jazz family" of Mezdrikov!) Vanessa Barnard, Marlin Cooper, Chuck Haddix, Kevin Heaton, Mike Metheny, Robert Moore, Doug Tatum and Andre' Tyler -- you all have given me a lot of examples of how to do professionally the multi-faceted business of jazz. I love you madly, and will miss you sadly! There was also Ida McBeth (with outstanding ability to sing blues and open-hearted soul), Gerald Dunn (I remember him saying to me at the Blue Room, "We need people like you!"), Tim Perryman (and his expressive "New Orleans syringe"), Dwight Foster (he's great on tenor axe!), piano masters Joe Cartwright, Wayne Hawkins, Everette Freeman, Jo Ann Daugherty and Tim Whitmer, drummers Mike Warren and Todd Strait, bassists Gerald Spaits (his solos are "something else") and Bob Bowman (who "wails" on everything!), and horn players Stan Kessler (I especially fell in love with his flugelhorn) and the young reedman, Chris Collier (guys, keep on eye on him!). So, peace, love, and jazz to all; pray to see you again soon. Alexander Mezdrikov Novosibirsk, Russia Another Gig To Remember Chuck Saults' overview of movies about the Titanic disaster ("A Gig To Remember," JAM, Feb./Mar. '98) puts me in mind of a tale I once heard involving both maritime disaster and music. There was this bass player, very competent, highly regarded by his fellow musicians, a reliable guy; but he had a terrible time getting gigs. People would lose his phone number, or the nightclub would go belly up the night before the engagement began. Once, somebody stole his bass. It was just one tough break after another. But this bassist persisted. He practiced several hours daily, went to sessions, and never deviated from his dream of being a first-rate, successful musician. At last, good news came his way. A brand new luxury cruise ship had been launched and was ready to begin sailing operations. And a top-flight band was being formed to play for dances and concerts. The bassist auditioned and got the job with its excellent salary and benefits. Long-term, steady work at last! And so on a beautiful, balmy, moonlit night, the ship began its maiden voyage. The band was out on an open deck playing great music, the bassist was providing a great pulse to the band, the leader was smiling, and the bassist was reveling in the moment. But deep inside the bowels of the ship, something was going wrong. Because of a design malfunction, heat and pressure were building inside the huge fuel tanks. And eventually, without warning, there was a terrible explosion. In an instant, the entire ship was shredded into millions of tiny pieces, and within a minute, everything was gone -- no lifeboats, no emergency signals, nothing. Navy and Coast Guard rescue vessels and aircraft were on the scene in just a few hours, but the news was grim. It appeared, after days of combing the waters, that nobody had survived this worst disaster in maritime history. The last helicopter was winding up its search, however, when an alert crewman noticed something on the surface below. They went in closer and couldn't believe their eyes. Here was a man, our man, floating in the water, lying atop his bass. Being up on deck and clutching his bass when the blast happened, he had been tossed into the water with the only means of survival. He was fished out of the water and rushed to the hospital ashore, where he lay on the brink of death from his ordeal for several days. His survival was extremely important to the authorities, for he was the only possible witness to the disaster, so when word came from the hospital that he was showing signs of regaining consciousness, officials from government, the cruise line, the military, as well as lawyers and physicians hurried over and quickly crowded around the bassist's bed. In time, they became aware that he was trying to say something, but his voice was too weak. Everybody edged a little closer, and somebody put a microphone up to his mouth. At last he spoke: "...damned music business." Bill Fogarty Leawood, KS BET on Jazz (Regarding) BET on Jazz, and the (February 9) event at the Blue Room, perhaps your members would be interested to know American Cablevision's stance on adding this channel. A great deal of research goes into network selection. Since cable rates are based on the cost of the networks, we need to know what our customers want. We still have some channel capacity (after adding about 67 new video and audio networks), and recently did a customer survey to see how people would rank 12 other networks for possible later additions. There were over 42,000 surveys returned, and BET on Jazz ranked 11th, with less than 10% of customers interested. However, because of the importance of jazz to Kansas City's cultural history we feel the network does deserve greater consideration. It's on a list of services we might consider adding in a digital package once that technology is available to us -- perhaps within the next couple of years. By the way, our Music Choice service includes commercial-free channels of Blues, Jazz, Lite Jazz, Singers & Standards, and Big Band formats. Music Choice is included in the AXS package available to upgraded cable customers. (At this moment, the Jazz channel is playing Jimmy Smith's "Messy Bessie" on the Blue Note label. Great office background music!) Hope this information is helpful to you. Carol Rothwell Vice President, Public Affairs American Cablevision carol.rothwell@twcable.com A Cyber-Showcase I have started a web site at http://www.awaretek.com dedicated to the arts and music. I am looking for original works of art in many fields, including original jazz and blues recordings by up-and-coming bands and individual musicians who cannot get enough exposure. The plan is to stock the site with good original works and then to heavily promote the site to gain exposure for the artists. There is no money involved at all, but I will ensure that all artists' work is duly copyright-protected. If you know of any deserving but underexposed musicians in KC (or elsewhere), have them e-mail me at: rdsteph@ibm.net. Ron Stephens Kansas City, MO An L.A./K.C. Connection Greetings, How does a native Kansas Citian/L.A. transplant/new KCJA member get "linked?" You folks have such an impressive web site; is there room for this bass player? I have a new CD out, Covering the Basses, on my UFO-BASS label. I'm new in the cyberworld, and am just looking for some broader exposure (except at the waistline, which is ever-expanding...). Would you e-mail me (UFOBASS@aol.com) and let me know how I can get listed with you? Also, visit my work-in-progress website (ufo-bass.com) for an "audition." Thanks, Richard Simon Los Angeles, CA A Good Tip... Dear KC Jazz Ambassadors, A friend in Japan tipped me off to Jazz Ambassador Magazine, which I'd never heard of. How do I subscribe? Jack Bowers Charlotte, NC bigbandman@earthlink.net reviewer for: Cadence Magazine Jazz Now Jazz News Jazz Report L.A. Jazz Scene Rapport Magazine (It's as easy as sending $15 U.S. to: KC Jazz Ambassadors, P.O. Box 36181, Westport Annex, Kansas City, MO 64171. Welcome aboard! -- Ed.) A Good Resource... I think you have an interesting, well-structured site. The links you provide are very useful for me! I'd like your attention for my own site, "The Jazz Resource Center." It offers theoretical information such as a unique piano voicing system, chord theory and much more. Maybe you'd like to add our site to your link list, as it will most certainly be very useful for your page viewers. The site is at http://jrc.mypage.org Thank you in advance, and greetings from Leon Kerkstra Jazz Resource Center The Hague, The Netherlands ...And Two More Good Links From Abroad I would like to ask to link to our two sites: SDR Jazz Homepage (SDR German TV) http://www.sdr.de/tv/jazz and Jazz-Network http://www.jazz-network.com (a jazz server in Germany) Thank you! Best regards, Uwe Leiber Jazz Editor SDR German TV e-mail: jazz@sdr.de (Consider yourself linked. -- Ed.) RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 1998 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.