JAM: April/May 2002 Issue: First Take

by Mike Metheny

No Guarantees
It's always with ambivalence that I submit a letter, quotes, or as was the case in late January, a short editorial to The Star. Once something actually makes print, the question then becomes: will it make a difference? (A friend suggested at the time that such activity can be analogous to "spitting into the river.")

Decisions earlier this year regarding the 2002 Blues & Jazz Festival -- decisions that inspired printed quotes in The Star and a followup "As I See It" -- told of the move to a shorter festival (by one day) and the elimination of the Jazz Stage. Now comes the bombshell, reported just as we were going to press, that the entire festival is history.

To say that this revelation is a drag would be an understatement. And while my instinctive reaction to the first set of decisions was to blame inadequate attendance, news of the festival's complete demise seems to indicate problems of a far greater magnitude. But, more on that later as the facts emerge.

No matter what the cause of this latest music community setback, it's not that much of a stretch to see it as symbolic of larger concerns for area jazz fans. No doubt, this news should be read as "another wake up call."

Think about what the local jazz scene has lost in recent years: KCMW-FM, evening jazz on KCUR, The Drum Room, Club 427, the 18th & Vine Heritage Jazz Festival, the Kansas City International Jazz Festival. And now the centerpiece of the summer festival season.

Even this magazine, as you may have noticed, has had to move to a more cost-effective format.

It all boils down to a familiar theme: When it comes to the things we tend to take for granted, without adequate jazz community support, there are no guarantees. And now more than ever, anyone and everyone with an interest in Kansas City jazz needs to rally, participate and get involved.

Offer your support to local jazz venues, festivals and concert series!

Make pledges and donations to area radio stations that play jazz!

Bring your enthusiasm, ideas and curiosity to the Jazz Ambassadors' monthly meetings, and then: join the KCJA!

And perhaps most important of all, share your interest in, knowledge of, and passion for jazz with the next generation.

There are still many proactive ways to keep jazz alive and strong in KC. And in 2002 each need to be fully utilized by those who care about this great music.

Otherwise, the Kansas City jazz scene will continue to be short of breath, and tomorrow's old-timers will someday sit around, trade lively tales, and reminisce about "the good old '90s."

In This Issue...
Squarely under the heading of "no guarantees" is jazz radio in the Midwest. Much has changed since our last "Jazz: On the Air" edition in April of '97, and area broadcasters Jeff Charney, Mark Edwards, Bob McWilliams and Robert Moore are onboard this time with their thoughts. Leading the way, however, is Robert Barrientos, the sometimes embattled captain of station KKFI. In a lively "Q&A" interview, Barrientos is refreshingly candid, informative and sometimes brutally honest. It's no wonder he has been in the news a lot lately.

It is often stated that jazz and blues have much in common. (Just ask any KC jazz or blues vet and you'll most likely get an informative oral history about mutual roots.) Therefore, beginning with this issue, we will be swapping columns with our friends at the Kansas City Blues Society. The first edition of "Blues News" can be found here, and look for our first "Jazz Notes" column in the April issue of the Kansas City Blues News.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"I'm worried that the person who thought up Muzak may be thinking up something else." -- Rita Rudner

RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 2002 MAIN INDEX

© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2002. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Mike Metheny No Guarantees It's always with ambivalence that I submit a letter, quotes, or as was the case in late January, a short editorial to The Star. Once something actually makes print, the question then becomes: will it make a difference? (A friend suggested at the time that such activity can be analogous to "spitting into the river.") Decisions earlier this year regarding the 2002 Blues & Jazz Festival -- decisions that inspired printed quotes in The Star and a followup "As I See It" -- told of the move to a shorter festival (by one day) and the elimination of the Jazz Stage. Now comes the bombshell, reported just as we were going to press, that the entire festival is history. To say that this revelation is a drag would be an understatement. And while my instinctive reaction to the first set of decisions was to blame inadequate attendance, news of the festival's complete demise seems to indicate problems of a far greater magnitude. But, more on that later as the facts emerge. No matter what the cause of this latest music community setback, it's not that much of a stretch to see it as symbolic of larger concerns for area jazz fans. No doubt, this news should be read as "another wake up call." Think about what the local jazz scene has lost in recent years: KCMW-FM, evening jazz on KCUR, The Drum Room, Club 427, the 18th & Vine Heritage Jazz Festival, the Kansas City International Jazz Festival. And now the centerpiece of the summer festival season. Even this magazine, as you may have noticed, has had to move to a more cost-effective format. It all boils down to a familiar theme: When it comes to the things we tend to take for granted, without adequate jazz community support, there are no guarantees. And now more than ever, anyone and everyone with an interest in Kansas City jazz needs to rally, participate and get involved. Offer your support to local jazz venues, festivals and concert series! Make pledges and donations to area radio stations that play jazz! Bring your enthusiasm, ideas and curiosity to the Jazz Ambassadors' monthly meetings, and then: join the KCJA! And perhaps most important of all, share your interest in, knowledge of, and passion for jazz with the next generation. There are still many proactive ways to keep jazz alive and strong in KC. And in 2002 each need to be fully utilized by those who care about this great music. Otherwise, the Kansas City jazz scene will continue to be short of breath, and tomorrow's old-timers will someday sit around, trade lively tales, and reminisce about "the good old '90s." In This Issue... Squarely under the heading of "no guarantees" is jazz radio in the Midwest. Much has changed since our last "Jazz: On the Air" edition in April of '97, and area broadcasters Jeff Charney, Mark Edwards, Bob McWilliams and Robert Moore are onboard this time with their thoughts. Leading the way, however, is Robert Barrientos, the sometimes embattled captain of station KKFI. In a lively "Q&A" interview, Barrientos is refreshingly candid, informative and sometimes brutally honest. It's no wonder he has been in the news a lot lately. It is often stated that jazz and blues have much in common. (Just ask any KC jazz or blues vet and you'll most likely get an informative oral history about mutual roots.) Therefore, beginning with this issue, we will be swapping columns with our friends at the Kansas City Blues Society. The first edition of "Blues News" can be found here, and look for our first "Jazz Notes" column in the April issue of the Kansas City Blues News. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY "I'm worried that the person who thought up Muzak may be thinking up something else." -- Rita Rudner RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 2002 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2002. All rights reserved.