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 A Classy AJM Tribute From 1945 to 1986 Warren Durrett led one of the most popular -- and most jazz-oriented -- big bands in the Midwest. The list of alumni is lengthy and includes a "who's who" of KC jazz, among them: Bob Brookmeyer, Marilyn Maye, Arch Martin, Frank Patterson, Sherman "Jack" Gibson and literally hundreds of other musicians, all of whom shared the unique and memorable experience of working with a man who has done so much for jazz in Kansas City. On Saturday, November 17 at 18th & Vine's American Jazz Museum, the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz joined with the Jazz Museum staff to present a Warren Durrett Tribute and Exhibit, complete with reception, remarks by Elder Statesmen President, Sam Johnson, Jr., AJM Executive Director Dr. Rowena Stewart, AJM Collections Department Chair Sarah Wood-Clark, and testimonials from friends and past associates. There were some especially poignant remarks by Arch Martin, who played trombone with the Durrett band from 1954 until Durrett's retirement in 1986. In the printed program, the great valve trombonist, bandleader and composer Bob Brookmeyer ('45 to '52) summed things up nicely: "Warren had the best band I had ever played in, ran it in a thorough and musical manner, and, in retrospect, showed me how to be a bandleader myself. He has been a great influence in Kansas City... and we are lucky to have him." Ida McBeth: State Department Jazz Ambassador When it comes to sending fine musicians abroad to spread the good word about jazz, the US State Department must know it can always count on Kansas City. Singer Ida McBeth became the latest to be so honored (others have included fellow vocalists Lisa Henry and Angela Hagenbach) when her trio was one of seven chosen (out of nearly 90) to travel abroad next May as part of the 2002 Kennedy Center/Department of State Jazz Ambassadors Program. The itinerary isn't known yet, but we'll keep you posted in these pages as the tour draws near. Says the popular KC bandleader, "I can't tell you how blessed I feel." "Playing In a Real Jazz Club 101" This just in from Tim Whitmer, co-owner/house pianist at the Phoenix Piano Bar & Grill, 8th & Central. Beginning in December, the Phoenix will host various student ensembles the first Saturday of each month from noon until 4:00 p.m. To kick off the series that is slated to run through the spring of '02, Jazz Studies Director Bobby Watson will bring in two of UMKC's top jazz groups to the popular downtown bistro (a full food menu will be available) on Saturday, December 1. All ages will be admitted. Stay tuned to the Jazz Hotline (816-753-JASS) for an update on who will be appearing on Saturday, January 5, or give the Phoenix a call during regular business hours at 816-472-0001. A Charlie Brown Christmas "A Charlie Brown Christmas" has aired on CBS every holiday season for 36 years, and the companion soundtrack by the Vince Guaraldi Trio has become a holiday classic since its release in 1965. Last year, for the 35th anniversary of the special (and the 50th anniversary of Charles Schultz's "Peanuts" characters), acclaimed jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut released an updated version of A Charlie Brown Chirstmas from which selections will be performed Friday-Saturday, December 7-8 at the Carlsen Center's Yardley Hall, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Boulevard. The songs will sound familiar, but with Chestnut's own personal touch. For more infomation call 913-469-4445, or visit the Carlsen Center's web site at www.jccc.net/carlsencenter KC Homecomings, Part I Of the many Kansas Citians who have gone on to make a mark on the national scene, Norman Brown continues to do his hometown proud. You can catch the guitarist in concert Saturday, December 8, when he shares the bill with fellow c-jazz artists Alex Bugnon (keyboards) and Chris Botti (trumpet) at a "Smooth Jazz Holiday Concert." Showtime at the Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway, is at 8:00 p.m. For reserved seating, call Ticketmaster at 816-931-3330. The Steve Harvey Story Since last summer we've been following the progress of a new installment of A&E's "City Confidential" that delves into the life (and tragic death) of KC saxophonist, Steve Harvey (see Dean Hampton's columns in the June/July and August/September issues of JAM). Much footage was captured here by A&E's "City Confidential" crew, and quite a few local artists and venues of note were filmed in action. There will be a premiere of A&E's "City Confidential: The Steve Harvey Story" on Wednesday, December 12 at the Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway. Proceeds will benefit The Kansas City Hospice Foundation, scheduled emcees are Fox 4 TV personalities John Holt and Carrie Coogan, and live music will be furnished by David Basse, Angela Hagenbach, Ida McBeth and Dave Stephens. The festivities (including drinks, hors d'oeuvres and music) begin at 5:30 p.m. Call 816-523-9186 (ext. 550) or Ticketmaster at 816-931-3330 to reserve your tickets for this special event. KC Homecomings, Part II Even though she now lives in the Big Apple, singer/bandleader Karrin Allyson isn't forgetting important Kansas City ties forged from a nearly-ten year stay. KC will have several opportunities to catch up with Allyson in December when she returns for three gigs of note. First up is a two-night stand, Thursday-Friday, December 13-14 at the Blue Room, 18th & Vine with longtime bandmates Paul Smith (piano), Danny Embrey or Rod Fleeman (guitar), Bob Bowman (bass) and Todd Strait (drums). Then on Sunday December 16 a string section will augment the ensemble at the Liberty Performing Arts Theater, 1600 S. Withers Road in Liberty for a 7:30 p.m. concert titled "Jazz With Strings Attached." Also onboard that night will be special guest William McGlaughlin, former Music Director of the Kansas City Symphony, who will conduct as well as moderate a discussion with this star-studded lineup. For tickets call 816-792-6130. And for info about happenings at the Blue Room, call either 816-474-8463 or 816-474-2929.
Is it possible that 20 years have ticked off the clock since The Flat Five last lit up a local jazz club? From 1978 to '81 trumpeter Stan Kessler led a group of KC all-stars in settings ranging from area festivals to KC's most popular jazz venues, including King Henry's Feast, the old Signboard Bar (at Crown Center), and Harry Starker's (where they appeared weekly). Now, a special night is in the works for Friday, December 21 at the Blue Room, 18th & Vine, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. when "Stan Kessler and the Flat Five 20 Year Reunion" will feature the leader on trumpet, Dave Brandom on saxes, Steve Cardenas on guitar, Gerald Spaits on bass, and Tim Davis on drums. (For KC jazz history buffs, other Flat Five alumni include Paul Smith, piano; Bob Bowman, bass; Greg Whitfield, bass; and Ron Vincent, drums.) It's sure to be just like old times. Call 816-474-2929 for additional details. A Plaza III Special It's quite common to hear solid KC jazz at the Club at Plaza III, 4749 Pennsyvania, but here's an all-star group you won't want to miss. On Saturday, December 29, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., pianist/bandleader Dr. Ronnell Bright (who has backed Sarah, Carmen and a lot of other heavies in between) will be joined by guitarist Will Matthews (currently with the Count Basie Orchestra) and top-call area sidemen Tyrone Clark (bass) and Todd Strait (drums). It should be an evening of swinging sounds. Call 816-753-0000 for information and reservations. Eldar In Concert He may just be a freshman in high school, but young Eldar Djangirov continues to defy his years (and boggle the minds of listeners) when he takes a seat at the piano. Fortunately for KC jazz fans, Eldar makes an occasional concert appearance in the area, the next of which will be on Saturday, January 12, at the Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf in Overland Park. Rounding out the trio for this 7:00 p.m. show will be Craig Akin on bass, and Todd Strait on drums. Call 913-897-6874 for additional information. Swing In the New Year! What better way to kick off 2002 than with the timeless sounds of the Big Band Era. From Friday, January 25 through Sunday February 24, the Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 West 10th, will jump with the music of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Manhattan Transfer and others when the intimate revue "Cabaret Swings" spotlights the talents of Alison Sneegas Borberg, Karen Errington, Melinda MacDonald and James Wright. J. Kent Barnhart will serve as pianist and emcee. Like to know more? Call 816-421-1700 or visit the web site at www.QualityHillPlayhouse.com A Grand Centennial Celebration 2002 marks the centennial of the birth of the acclaimed poet and playwright Langston Hughes (1902-1967), whose early years were spent right down the pike in Lawrence, Kansas. To commemorate this important milestone, the University of Kansas will present "Let America Be America Again: An International Symposium on the Art, Life & Legacy of Langston Hughes," Thursday-Sunday, February 7-10, 2002. Included on the long list of scholars, poets, performance artists and other dignitaries for this event are such noteables as novelist Alice Walker, actor Danny Glover, and Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum, Dr. Rowena Stewart. As matter of fact, KC's AJM will be the site of "Rhapsody in Hughes" -- "...reflecting the life and legacy of Langston Hughes through jazz and poetry..." -- on Sunday, February 10, at 3:00 p.m. Scheduled to appear are the actor Val Gray, writer Ishmael Reed, and the legendary Lionel Hampton Orchestra. There are also additional community events scheduled in conjunction with this centennial, including a performace at the Lied Center by award-winning vocalist Nnenna Freelon on February 14, and "Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz" on February 16 (also at the Lied Center) hosted by Ronald McCurdy and John S. Wright. For additional information about this symposium and its related concerts and performances, call 785-864-ARTS (2787), or visit the web site at www.kuce.org/hughes Ann Hoy 1923-2001 Just as important as the musicians everyone knows are the behind-the-scenes jazz boosters who make things happen. Such a guiding force was Ann Hoy, the very first president of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors and the visionary who also came up with the idea of starting this magazine. An offshoot of the Kansas City Jazz Commission of the early 1980s, the Jazz Ambassadors were first comprised of jazz enthusiasts like Ms. Hoy, Ken Poston, Bob and Shirley Drange, Pam and Jack Wade, Zella Mae Moten (Benny's daughter), Evelyn Morris, Zef Brown and Carole Heizman. As Heizman recently recalled, "Ann proposed publishing a pamphlet listing venues and musicians that would be placed in hotels, clubs and music stores. We literally had to pass the hat at Ambassadors' meetings to pay for it, along with some mini-pub crawls and ad sales. Ann led us through all of that, served two terms as president, and then became secretary and later historian. More recently she was the official photographer of the Kansas City Jazz Workshop. Ann was a very talented lady, and she will be missed by the jazz community." Ann Hoy passed away on September 21, 2001. She was 77. Got News? Got Notes? Please send to: Editor/JAM, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171-6181. Deadline for all submissions is the 15th of each odd numbered month. RETURN TO DECEMBER 2001/JANUARY 2002 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved. |
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