JAM: December 2004/January 2005 Issue: Hampton's Hot Licks

Every December I take a close look at how well the jazz community has done over the past year. In January, I make my guesses about the new year. Our 2005 seems to be headed for a slightly better year than 2004. More venues are presenting live jazz, even if only a few nights a week, and most of those clubs that were presenting a lot of jazz last year are doing at least as well now.

Last January the New York Times wrote about the Kansas City jazz scene: “Kansas City still has more than two dozen clubs where jazz is played regularly, making it one of the country's leading jazz centers.” Many locals don't realize our scene is still alive and doing well. Here is a quick list of ways to check it out and enjoy the vibrant scene.

If you are not a member of the KC Jazz Ambassadors, sign up NOW! In addition to JAM, you will be receiving our members-only Wholenotes Newsletter in months when JAM is not published (January, March, May, July, September, November). You will also receive special mailings and opportunities.
Call the Jazz Hotline (816-753-5277) and listen to about eight minutes of jazz events going on this week. It is updated every Saturday and includes events for the next eight days.
Preview and/or buy the great KC-produced jazz CDs on the shelves at B orders , Barnes & Noble, Streetside, The Music Exchange, and other dealers.
Visit UMKC's course catalog and look at the classes now available at one of the finest jazz studies programs in the nation.
Take in some of the junior college and high school jazz concerts that are building future musicians and fans.

Cascone's North - Masters & McFadden

It has been many years since the original Cascone's (3733 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO) featured live jazz in their lounge area. I remember hearing some of KC's best there. The dry spell is over, and on my trip there one cold January night the music warned my soul. Andy Masters (guitar) and Lonnie McFadden (trumpet and vocals) played to a mostly packed room. While many in the room were waiting to be seated in the dining room, there seemed to be as many eating in this area so they could continue to enjoy the music. Catch Andy and Lonnie there every Friday and Saturday night from 6:30 to 9:30.

Danny Embrey and Just Jazz Guitar Magazine . . .

The February issue of Just Jazz Guitar Magazine features KC guitarist Danny Embrey. This quarterly magazine is not available in stores but may be ordered via their Web site at www.justjazzguitar.com. Danny plans to stick around KC more this year for your listening pleasure. Check out his gig list on his Web site at www.dannyembrey.com.

Stan Kenton - What a guy . . .

I have always been a huge Stan Kenton fan because of what he produced as musician and band leader—then, for what he contributed to jazz education. Seems that I didn't know half of the story. My friend, the Jazz Doc, Norman Vickers from Pensacola, recently sent me a copy of the Stan Kenton eulogy written and read by Shelley Mann at Kenton's funeral. It is worthy of a little of our ink.

He was a friend to all musicians.
He was like a father.
He was like a psychiatrist.
He was the guy next to you on the bus.
He ate the same lousy food you did at a rest stop.
He waited with you for the room to be made up at the hotel after 300 miles of road.
He was the guy that taught you to make the job at any cost.
He taught you responsibility.
He was the guy who braved the elements in shirtsleeves.
He was the guy who was first to fix a flat tire in the rain.
He was the guy in KC who held a busted water pipe with his hands, to keep clothes and music from getting ruined until help came.
He was understanding to wives on the road.
He was a dedicated musician, composer, arranger.
He was a developer of talent.
He wrote to show off the ability of all his men.
He treated all equal.
He remembered everyone's name, fan and musician alike.
He could go without sleep for days.
He was loyal.
He was dynamic.
He was vital.
He would lift his arms and make you want to play.
He would laugh at himself.
He could reach a whole audience with a smile.
He could enter a room, and you would know he was there without looking.
He invented charisma.
He was an innovator.
He was a gambler with music.
He was an explorer.
He was a living monument to music.
He was a great educator.
He was a great leader.
He was loved by all.
He loved all.
He was a friend to all.
He was indestructible.
Stan Kenton is dead.
He will never be forgotten, and we will miss him.

--Dean Hampton






	Search our site:		Every December I take a close look at how well the jazz community has done over the past year. In January, I make my guesses about the new year. Our 2005 seems to be headed for a slightly better year than 2004. More venues are presenting live jazz, even if only a few nights a week, and most of those clubs that were presenting a lot of jazz last year are doing at least as well now. Last January the New York Times wrote about the Kansas City jazz scene: “Kansas City still has more than two dozen clubs where jazz is played regularly, making it one of the country's leading jazz centers.” Many locals don't realize our scene is still alive and doing well. Here is a quick list of ways to check it out and enjoy the vibrant scene. If you are not a member of the KC Jazz Ambassadors, sign up NOW! In addition to JAM, you will be receiving our members-only Wholenotes Newsletter in months when JAM is not published (January, March, May, July, September, November). You will also receive special mailings and opportunities. Call the Jazz Hotline (816-753-5277) and listen to about eight minutes of jazz events going on this week. It is updated every Saturday and includes events for the next eight days. Preview and/or buy the great KC-produced jazz CDs on the shelves at B orders , Barnes & Noble, Streetside, The Music Exchange, and other dealers. Visit UMKC's course catalog and look at the classes now available at one of the finest jazz studies programs in the nation. Take in some of the junior college and high school jazz concerts that are building future musicians and fans. Cascone's North - Masters & McFadden It has been many years since the original Cascone's (3733 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO) featured live jazz in their lounge area. I remember hearing some of KC's best there. The dry spell is over, and on my trip there one cold January night the music warned my soul. Andy Masters (guitar) and Lonnie McFadden (trumpet and vocals) played to a mostly packed room. While many in the room were waiting to be seated in the dining room, there seemed to be as many eating in this area so they could continue to enjoy the music. Catch Andy and Lonnie there every Friday and Saturday night from 6:30 to 9:30. Danny Embrey and Just Jazz Guitar Magazine . . . The February issue of Just Jazz Guitar Magazine features KC guitarist Danny Embrey. This quarterly magazine is not available in stores but may be ordered via their Web site at www.justjazzguitar.com. Danny plans to stick around KC more this year for your listening pleasure. Check out his gig list on his Web site at www.dannyembrey.com. Stan Kenton - What a guy . . . I have always been a huge Stan Kenton fan because of what he produced as musician and band leader—then, for what he contributed to jazz education. Seems that I didn't know half of the story. My friend, the Jazz Doc, Norman Vickers from Pensacola, recently sent me a copy of the Stan Kenton eulogy written and read by Shelley Mann at Kenton's funeral. It is worthy of a little of our ink. He was a friend to all musicians. He was like a father. He was like a psychiatrist. He was the guy next to you on the bus. He ate the same lousy food you did at a rest stop. He waited with you for the room to be made up at the hotel after 300 miles of road. He was the guy that taught you to make the job at any cost. He taught you responsibility. He was the guy who braved the elements in shirtsleeves. He was the guy who was first to fix a flat tire in the rain. He was the guy in KC who held a busted water pipe with his hands, to keep clothes and music from getting ruined until help came. He was understanding to wives on the road. He was a dedicated musician, composer, arranger. He was a developer of talent. He wrote to show off the ability of all his men. He treated all equal. He remembered everyone's name, fan and musician alike. He could go without sleep for days. He was loyal. He was dynamic. He was vital. He would lift his arms and make you want to play. He would laugh at himself. He could reach a whole audience with a smile. He could enter a room, and you would know he was there without looking. He invented charisma. He was an innovator. He was a gambler with music. He was an explorer. He was a living monument to music. He was a great educator. He was a great leader. He was loved by all. He loved all. He was a friend to all. He was indestructible. Stan Kenton is dead. He will never be forgotten, and we will miss him. --Dean Hampton RETURN TO FEBRUARY/MARCH 2005 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2004. All rights reserved.