JAM: June/July 2004 Issue: Editor's Corner

by Kathy Feist-Vescovi

Winds of Change

The winds of change are hard at it. In fact, I'd say it's an outright tornado.

When Claude “Fiddler” Williams left us last month, the Kansas City jazz landscape changed considerably. Claude was our touchstone to the past, the last surviving musician to come out of Kansas City 's swinging heydey of the 20s and 30s. Recently, when his career skyrocketed, he was a source of local pride. I thank Russ Dantzler, Fiddler's manager, for writing a tribute to his friend.

As a Jazz Ambassador, I am also sad to see our president Hal Melia leave. Hal and his family moved here six years ago when he took over the Jazz Studies department at UMKC. Since then, he has been a dynamo in the jazz community, working nonstop to make a difference, which he did. I wish him the best of luck.

I also tip my hat to Roger Naber of the Grand Emporium. By the time this issue hits the streets, the lights will be out at the blues institution on Main St. Thank you Roger for putting Kansas City back on the map.

Back to whirlwinds. While some of our landscape remains flattened, a new crop of exciting activity at 18 th & Vine is pushing upward, thanks in part to Gerald Dunn's tireless labor. Tom Frederick writes a wonderful portrait of a young man at work and in demand.






	Search our site:		by Kathy Feist-Vescovi Winds of Change The winds of change are hard at it. In fact, I'd say it's an outright tornado. When Claude “Fiddler” Williams left us last month, the Kansas City jazz landscape changed considerably. Claude was our touchstone to the past, the last surviving musician to come out of Kansas City 's swinging heydey of the 20s and 30s. Recently, when his career skyrocketed, he was a source of local pride. I thank Russ Dantzler, Fiddler's manager, for writing a tribute to his friend. As a Jazz Ambassador, I am also sad to see our president Hal Melia leave. Hal and his family moved here six years ago when he took over the Jazz Studies department at UMKC. Since then, he has been a dynamo in the jazz community, working nonstop to make a difference, which he did. I wish him the best of luck. I also tip my hat to Roger Naber of the Grand Emporium. By the time this issue hits the streets, the lights will be out at the blues institution on Main St. Thank you Roger for putting Kansas City back on the map. Back to whirlwinds. While some of our landscape remains flattened, a new crop of exciting activity at 18 th & Vine is pushing upward, thanks in part to Gerald Dunn's tireless labor. Tom Frederick writes a wonderful portrait of a young man at work and in demand. RETURN TO JUNE/JULY 2004 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2004. All rights reserved