JAM: June/July 2004 Issue: Hampton's Hot Licks

Dean Hampton

Visitor Enjoys A Kansas City Jazz Marathon

If you are a long-time reader of Jam , you will recall some of my past KC Jazz Vacation articles in which I designed a full week of non-stop jazz for anyone who would be willing to attempt this Olympic quality jazz marathon. These articles always included an invitation to join me in such a “jazz tour.” In 1996, the first person to attempt this was Ib Scavgaard from Danish Public Radio in Copenhagen , Denmark . In our week together, we covered just about everything listed in the article and added a few special events such as interviews with other jazz radio programmers and several musicians. A highlight this week was a gala celebration featuring a midnight Count Basie concert at the intersection of 18th & Vine. The reward to the KC jazz community was a four-hour show on Danish Public Radio (which reaches many European countries) featuring KC jazz.

Next to do the KC Jazz Vacation (1999) was Yoko Takemura from Tokyo , Japan , accompanied by her friends Mel and Carolyn Wanzo of Detroit , MI. Mel was a trombonist with Count Basie for over 25 years. Yoko's attraction to jazz started in her teenage years. Being a “super fan” of the Count Basie Orchestra created a KC connection and friendship with the Wanzos. For the past five years, coming to KC has been an annual vacation for Yoko. After this year, they plan to be make it semi-annual.

It has again been a pleasure to host Yoko, my good friend and fellow KC Jazz Ambassador for about 10 days of non-stop jazz related activities. Heading into the warm weather, KC jazz season is always exciting. If one is not finding good jazz here during the spring and summer months, they just aren't looking for it. Yoko picked a premier weekend to arrive.

May 14 and 15 set a great benchmark for the rest of the season. The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's (KCJO) May 14th concert at Unity on the Plaza was our first time to hear this orchestra. Featured in this tribute to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald called “Louis & Ella Again,” were Byron Stripling (trumpet and vocals) and Kansas City native Deborah Brown (vocals). One could not have asked for two people to do a better job of revisiting the music of two of the greatest names in the jazz history books! They were fantastic. The most common comment I heard from those who attended was, “If you were not looking at Stripling or Brown, you would swear that it was Louie or Ella. “What a Wonderful World” it was that night at Unity. And KCJO, directed by Jim Mair, is the real deal and should not be missed in their future outings. The next concert will be November 12 with Clark Terry.

The Coda Jazz Fund concert on Saturday, May 15, was another wonderful night to be spoiled on Kansas City Jazz. From The Wild Women of Kansas City to Jon Hendricks, Curtis Fuller and Red Holloway--it was the hot spot in KC jazz. A very special part of the evening was the presentation of the Coda Jazz Awards to Jay McShann and Claude “Fiddler” Williams (accepted by his widow, Blanche Williams). For the evening finale, all musicians were invited to the stage to jam it up on Goin' to Kansas City . A special guest from the audience was also invited and what a pleasure to get to hear more of her, Deborah Brown. A real kick was the 4's by Deborah and Jon Hendricks. But, Myra Taylor stole the jam show by singing special sweet words to none other than Buck O'Neil.

The jazz vacation trip for Yoko included too many other stops to list. Some of the highlights were multiple visits to the Majestic, the Phoenix , the Blue Room, Soundtrek Studios, Bird's grave, Club @ Plaza III, Jardines, Red Vine, Union Station Swing Nite, libraries for KC jazz research, and much more. Yoko will leave having seen and heard more live KC jazz in 11 days than most Jazz Ambassadors do in a year. She will take a lot of it back to Tokyo and share it with her jazz friends and contacts, thus, continuing to be a true KC Jazz Ambassador. A special thanks goes to Fanny Dunfee, Steve Irwin, Jo Boehr, Kyoko Peters and Betty Crow and the Coda Jazz Fund committee for their assistance with Jazz Vacation 2004, Part 1.

In a final word about jazz ambassadorship, few have ever done it better than Claude “Fiddler” Williams. His work will continue through his spirit and his recording. Thank you Claude!! (Man, can that guy play!)

-- Dean Hampton






	Search our site:		Dean Hampton Visitor Enjoys A Kansas City Jazz Marathon If you are a long-time reader of Jam , you will recall some of my past KC Jazz Vacation articles in which I designed a full week of non-stop jazz for anyone who would be willing to attempt this Olympic quality jazz marathon. These articles always included an invitation to join me in such a “jazz tour.” In 1996, the first person to attempt this was Ib Scavgaard from Danish Public Radio in Copenhagen , Denmark . In our week together, we covered just about everything listed in the article and added a few special events such as interviews with other jazz radio programmers and several musicians. A highlight this week was a gala celebration featuring a midnight Count Basie concert at the intersection of 18th & Vine. The reward to the KC jazz community was a four-hour show on Danish Public Radio (which reaches many European countries) featuring KC jazz. Next to do the KC Jazz Vacation (1999) was Yoko Takemura from Tokyo , Japan , accompanied by her friends Mel and Carolyn Wanzo of Detroit , MI. Mel was a trombonist with Count Basie for over 25 years. Yoko's attraction to jazz started in her teenage years. Being a “super fan” of the Count Basie Orchestra created a KC connection and friendship with the Wanzos. For the past five years, coming to KC has been an annual vacation for Yoko. After this year, they plan to be make it semi-annual. It has again been a pleasure to host Yoko, my good friend and fellow KC Jazz Ambassador for about 10 days of non-stop jazz related activities. Heading into the warm weather, KC jazz season is always exciting. If one is not finding good jazz here during the spring and summer months, they just aren't looking for it. Yoko picked a premier weekend to arrive. May 14 and 15 set a great benchmark for the rest of the season. The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra's (KCJO) May 14th concert at Unity on the Plaza was our first time to hear this orchestra. Featured in this tribute to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald called “Louis & Ella Again,” were Byron Stripling (trumpet and vocals) and Kansas City native Deborah Brown (vocals). One could not have asked for two people to do a better job of revisiting the music of two of the greatest names in the jazz history books! They were fantastic. The most common comment I heard from those who attended was, “If you were not looking at Stripling or Brown, you would swear that it was Louie or Ella. “What a Wonderful World” it was that night at Unity. And KCJO, directed by Jim Mair, is the real deal and should not be missed in their future outings. The next concert will be November 12 with Clark Terry. The Coda Jazz Fund concert on Saturday, May 15, was another wonderful night to be spoiled on Kansas City Jazz. From The Wild Women of Kansas City to Jon Hendricks, Curtis Fuller and Red Holloway--it was the hot spot in KC jazz. A very special part of the evening was the presentation of the Coda Jazz Awards to Jay McShann and Claude “Fiddler” Williams (accepted by his widow, Blanche Williams). For the evening finale, all musicians were invited to the stage to jam it up on Goin' to Kansas City . A special guest from the audience was also invited and what a pleasure to get to hear more of her, Deborah Brown. A real kick was the 4's by Deborah and Jon Hendricks. But, Myra Taylor stole the jam show by singing special sweet words to none other than Buck O'Neil. The jazz vacation trip for Yoko included too many other stops to list. Some of the highlights were multiple visits to the Majestic, the Phoenix , the Blue Room, Soundtrek Studios, Bird's grave, Club @ Plaza III, Jardines, Red Vine, Union Station Swing Nite, libraries for KC jazz research, and much more. Yoko will leave having seen and heard more live KC jazz in 11 days than most Jazz Ambassadors do in a year. She will take a lot of it back to Tokyo and share it with her jazz friends and contacts, thus, continuing to be a true KC Jazz Ambassador. A special thanks goes to Fanny Dunfee, Steve Irwin, Jo Boehr, Kyoko Peters and Betty Crow and the Coda Jazz Fund committee for their assistance with Jazz Vacation 2004, Part 1. In a final word about jazz ambassadorship, few have ever done it better than Claude “Fiddler” Williams. His work will continue through his spirit and his recording. Thank you Claude!! (Man, can that guy play!) -- Dean Hampton RETURN TO JUNE/JULY 2004 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2004. All rights reserved.