JAM: April/May 2004 Issue: Hampton's Hot Licks

Dean Hampton

Pat Metheny Breaks Grammy Record

Out of 30 released albums, Pat Metheny has won 29 Grammy nominations. Of those, he has been the Grammy winner 16 times as of the January 2004 awards presentations. That puts him in a unique group of artists who are tied for most Grammy Awards ever by a single artist.

The new record set by winning this year's award is for most Grammys in different categories with a total of nine are as follows:

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo Performance
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by Individual or Group
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Best Instrumental Composition
Best Jazz Fusion Performance
Best Jazz Performance
Best New Age Performance

When we think of all the greats in Kansas City jazz history, we tend not to include those who are still out there making that history every day. Congratulations Pat! Here is our wish for you to break the “most ever” record with your upcoming release (later this year) and to have many more.

Karrin & Oleta, Diane & Sara on Tour ...

I've always wanted to do a “Ladies Sing the Blues” with some national headliners. It seems that Concord Records, Stiletto Entertainment, and William Morris Agency had the same idea and put it into action. The roving Concord Jazz Festival, sponsored by Jet Blue Airlines, includes Karrin Allyson, Oleta Adams, Diane Schuur, and Sara Gararek. Currently nine cities are booked in Florida , Pennsylvania , New Jersey , Washington , and California , and there are probably many more to come, maybe even Kansas City . Allyson serves as host for the evening in each of the performances. See the Concord Jazz Festival web site at: www.concordjazzfestival.com.

“Wild For You” says Karrin Allyson
Karrin Allyson has been back in the studio and is nearing the release of her Concord album #9, Wild for You . Allyson spoke about the album to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in February. "The new record is called Wild for You and it features singer-songwriter tunes by folks like Joni Mitchell, Melissa Manchester, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Carol King, Roberta Flack, James Taylor, Elton John, and Cat Stevens. These are some of the tunes that made me want to start singing in the first place.” Release is expected in early June.

Beginning 15 years of The Phoenix and Going Strong
In April, the Phoenix Piano Bar and Grill begins year 15 of celebrating live KC jazz. The Phoenix will be featuring plenty of their KC jazz and a new menu with many new and reduced- price “eat anytime” items. Look for more burgers, sandwiches and appetizer items.

The winter hours are gone so you can go to The Phoenix, Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays) for jazz and enjoy dinner items. Lunch starts at 11 am , Monday through Friday only. Added to the mix, is an attraction for the sports fans: a new big screen TV for those Royals games (no sound while live music is playing) and a free drink for your Royals ticket stub. And on game days (home or away), enjoy $2 domestics and $2 munchies from 2 - 6 pm. Be sure to visit The Phoenix's web site for menus, entertainment schedules and specials www.phoenixjazz.net .

Bird's Grave - Tenor and All
I recently visited Bird's grave and saw that head stone with the tenor sax is still there, embarrassing our city and the memory of the all-time leader of alto saxophone, Charlie “Bird” Parker. It was five years ago this month that the Robert Graham sculpture honoring Bird was dedicated at 18th & Vine. Being part of that event from the very early planning stages, our original goal was just to replace the disgraceful head stone with one of true beauty and honor. It is unfortunate that the tenor is still there and that people from all over the world visit and see this “goof.” It's really time to do something about this. We just passed the 49th anniversary of Bird's death (March 12th) and KC still hasn't done the right thing, in my opinion. Let's get with it and do something. If you would like to be part of a committee to see that this is accomplished, please email me at dean@webjazz.net .

Maria Schneider's Unique Web Site
I went to Maria Schneider's newly launched web site when I received the announcement of the site's grand opening. “What a pleasure that was!” Schneider said, “I am writing to tell you about my new and entirely unique website powered by artistShare. It allows me just about any possibility for sharing the totality of my work with you, including my creative process.” That it does. This site is not necessarily for the average jazz fan but more for the musician in you. Whether a musician or a music fan, the site is worth a visit.

Schneider made another dramatic announcement that is a sign of the times and things to come in obtaining music. It's the end of the record stores for her. She explained, “I also wish to announce that all of my CDs (past and present) are being sold exclusively through my website. They will no longer be found in stores. For the new CD I'll be doing a limited pressing of mail order CDs using an innovative new tool called artistTrack. After these CDs are spoken for, it will be available solely as a download. If you wish to reserve one, do so now.” Visit Maria online at www.mariaschneider.com.

-- Dean Hampton






	Search our site:		Dean Hampton Pat Metheny Breaks Grammy Record Out of 30 released albums, Pat Metheny has won 29 Grammy nominations. Of those, he has been the Grammy winner 16 times as of the January 2004 awards presentations. That puts him in a unique group of artists who are tied for most Grammy Awards ever by a single artist. The new record set by winning this year's award is for most Grammys in different categories with a total of nine are as follows: Best Contemporary Jazz Album Best Pop Instrumental Performance Best Jazz Instrumental Solo Performance Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by Individual or Group Best Rock Instrumental Performance Best Instrumental Composition Best Jazz Fusion Performance Best Jazz Performance Best New Age Performance When we think of all the greats in Kansas City jazz history, we tend not to include those who are still out there making that history every day. Congratulations Pat! Here is our wish for you to break the “most ever” record with your upcoming release (later this year) and to have many more. Karrin & Oleta, Diane & Sara on Tour ... I've always wanted to do a “Ladies Sing the Blues” with some national headliners. It seems that Concord Records, Stiletto Entertainment, and William Morris Agency had the same idea and put it into action. The roving Concord Jazz Festival, sponsored by Jet Blue Airlines, includes Karrin Allyson, Oleta Adams, Diane Schuur, and Sara Gararek. Currently nine cities are booked in Florida , Pennsylvania , New Jersey , Washington , and California , and there are probably many more to come, maybe even Kansas City . Allyson serves as host for the evening in each of the performances. See the Concord Jazz Festival web site at: www.concordjazzfestival.com. “Wild For You” says Karrin Allyson Karrin Allyson has been back in the studio and is nearing the release of her Concord album #9, Wild for You . Allyson spoke about the album to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in February. "The new record is called Wild for You and it features singer-songwriter tunes by folks like Joni Mitchell, Melissa Manchester, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Carol King, Roberta Flack, James Taylor, Elton John, and Cat Stevens. These are some of the tunes that made me want to start singing in the first place.” Release is expected in early June. Beginning 15 years of The Phoenix and Going Strong In April, the Phoenix Piano Bar and Grill begins year 15 of celebrating live KC jazz. The Phoenix will be featuring plenty of their KC jazz and a new menu with many new and reduced- price “eat anytime” items. Look for more burgers, sandwiches and appetizer items. The winter hours are gone so you can go to The Phoenix, Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays) for jazz and enjoy dinner items. Lunch starts at 11 am , Monday through Friday only. Added to the mix, is an attraction for the sports fans: a new big screen TV for those Royals games (no sound while live music is playing) and a free drink for your Royals ticket stub. And on game days (home or away), enjoy $2 domestics and $2 munchies from 2 - 6 pm. Be sure to visit The Phoenix's web site for menus, entertainment schedules and specials www.phoenixjazz.net . Bird's Grave - Tenor and All I recently visited Bird's grave and saw that head stone with the tenor sax is still there, embarrassing our city and the memory of the all-time leader of alto saxophone, Charlie “Bird” Parker. It was five years ago this month that the Robert Graham sculpture honoring Bird was dedicated at 18th & Vine. Being part of that event from the very early planning stages, our original goal was just to replace the disgraceful head stone with one of true beauty and honor. It is unfortunate that the tenor is still there and that people from all over the world visit and see this “goof.” It's really time to do something about this. We just passed the 49th anniversary of Bird's death (March 12th) and KC still hasn't done the right thing, in my opinion. Let's get with it and do something. If you would like to be part of a committee to see that this is accomplished, please email me at dean@webjazz.net . Maria Schneider's Unique Web Site I went to Maria Schneider's newly launched web site when I received the announcement of the site's grand opening. “What a pleasure that was!” Schneider said, “I am writing to tell you about my new and entirely unique website powered by artistShare. It allows me just about any possibility for sharing the totality of my work with you, including my creative process.” That it does. This site is not necessarily for the average jazz fan but more for the musician in you. Whether a musician or a music fan, the site is worth a visit. Schneider made another dramatic announcement that is a sign of the times and things to come in obtaining music. It's the end of the record stores for her. She explained, “I also wish to announce that all of my CDs (past and present) are being sold exclusively through my website. They will no longer be found in stores. For the new CD I'll be doing a limited pressing of mail order CDs using an innovative new tool called artistTrack. After these CDs are spoken for, it will be available solely as a download. If you wish to reserve one, do so now.” Visit Maria online at www.mariaschneider.com. -- Dean Hampton RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 2004 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2004. All rights reserved.