JAM: October/November 2001 Issue: First Take

Mike Metheny

Perspective 2001
A confession: In the wake of the horror of September 11, assembling this issue of JAM was especially difficult. How could any talk of jazz possibly matter in the context of such sobering world events? To be honest, the whole process soon began to feel like an exercise in giving relevance to the relatively trivial.

There was also the tough call of how a local jazz magazine such as ours should refer to what happened on that terrible day. Should we omit it altogether at the risk of looking like we'd plunged our heads into the sand? Or should we acknowledge that we, like so many others, have been profoundly affected?

When Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors president John Leisenring delivered his "President's Corner" column, written on September 12, all of those questions became irrelevant. It is a particularly inspired piece of writing and one that is quite apropos for the trying, unpredictable and challenging times in which we now live. No doubt, many who pick up this magazine will do so to escape the brutal realties of Autumn 2001. But let us all take Dr. Leisenring's message to heart, as we try to make some sense out of what has transpired. And as we attempt to muster the courage to face what lies ahead.

In This Issue...
OK, onward to more pleasant thoughts about the music we celebrate and love.

Like previous cover "celebs" for our annual Jazz Education JAM (Nicolas in October of '99, Aubrey in '00), young Austin comes from good jazz stock. And like his predecessors, he has received effective coaching from nearby "elder statesmen" who understand the importance of passing along the grand heritage of jazz.

Of course, this is the kind of cycle that remains essential to the preservation of a still-evolving art form. And in this issue we are spotlighting several more people who have contributed to and/or have benefited from jazz education in its many forms.

Dr. Ronald McCurdy, formerly an instructor at KU and now the president of the IAJE, is candid and thought-provoking in a new "Q&A;" two promising young musicians from the KC area tell us about themselves in "Jazz Futures;" a flock of former students speak highly of the renowned jazz theory teacher, John Elliott; and in case you missed the original in the Jazz Educators Journal or reprints on the web, former Kansas Citian Pat Metheny's well-received keynote address at the annual IAJE convention earlier this year can be found in this issue.

We are also remembering two departed KC jazz legends, Herman Bell and Oliver Todd, who, just by example, passed along a lot of rich history and great music to a new generation of jazz musicians. What they had to say, play and share went far beyond what is found in most classrooms, and the heritage of Kansas City jazz is much the better for each of their respective contributions.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"I want to stop for a minute and thank all the teachers who are here for what they do. Your work is very, very important!" -- Al Jarreau at Starlight Theater, August 17, 2001

RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2001 MAIN INDEX

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






	Search our site:		Mike Metheny Perspective 2001 A confession: In the wake of the horror of September 11, assembling this issue of JAM was especially difficult. How could any talk of jazz possibly matter in the context of such sobering world events? To be honest, the whole process soon began to feel like an exercise in giving relevance to the relatively trivial. There was also the tough call of how a local jazz magazine such as ours should refer to what happened on that terrible day. Should we omit it altogether at the risk of looking like we'd plunged our heads into the sand? Or should we acknowledge that we, like so many others, have been profoundly affected? When Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors president John Leisenring delivered his "President's Corner" column, written on September 12, all of those questions became irrelevant. It is a particularly inspired piece of writing and one that is quite apropos for the trying, unpredictable and challenging times in which we now live. No doubt, many who pick up this magazine will do so to escape the brutal realties of Autumn 2001. But let us all take Dr. Leisenring's message to heart, as we try to make some sense out of what has transpired. And as we attempt to muster the courage to face what lies ahead. In This Issue... OK, onward to more pleasant thoughts about the music we celebrate and love. Like previous cover "celebs" for our annual Jazz Education JAM (Nicolas in October of '99, Aubrey in '00), young Austin comes from good jazz stock. And like his predecessors, he has received effective coaching from nearby "elder statesmen" who understand the importance of passing along the grand heritage of jazz. Of course, this is the kind of cycle that remains essential to the preservation of a still-evolving art form. And in this issue we are spotlighting several more people who have contributed to and/or have benefited from jazz education in its many forms. Dr. Ronald McCurdy, formerly an instructor at KU and now the president of the IAJE, is candid and thought-provoking in a new "Q&A;" two promising young musicians from the KC area tell us about themselves in "Jazz Futures;" a flock of former students speak highly of the renowned jazz theory teacher, John Elliott; and in case you missed the original in the Jazz Educators Journal or reprints on the web, former Kansas Citian Pat Metheny's well-received keynote address at the annual IAJE convention earlier this year can be found in this issue. We are also remembering two departed KC jazz legends, Herman Bell and Oliver Todd, who, just by example, passed along a lot of rich history and great music to a new generation of jazz musicians. What they had to say, play and share went far beyond what is found in most classrooms, and the heritage of Kansas City jazz is much the better for each of their respective contributions. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "I want to stop for a minute and thank all the teachers who are here for what they do. Your work is very, very important!" -- Al Jarreau at Starlight Theater, August 17, 2001 RETURN TO OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2001 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.