JAM: June/July 2005 Issue: President's Corner

by Bill Paprota

The gavel passed to me last July when Hal Melia, our immediate past president, returned home to Ohio. On Hal's watch, the Jazz Ambassadors began to more fully appreciate the organization's responsibility to jazz education. Hal's position as Professor of Jazz Studies at UMKC no doubt had a carry-over effect. We thank you, Hal.

By way of brief introduction, I am a lawyer by trade and training. More importantly, I am a jazz lover. My love affair with jazz began over 30 years ago when I listened to Hank Crawford's sax ballads as I struggled to learn the basics of contract and torts while attending Washburn University Law School in Topeka, and that passion continues to this day. Jazz helps me think, it relaxes me, it soothes my pain and makes my fun times with family and friends all the more meaningful. Jazz is a part of me, and I bring that passion to the Jazz Ambassadors. I hope I serve the music well.

Another June is upon us. That means only one thing to a Kansas City jazz fan: it's Pub Crawl Time! I mean the 2005 Kansas City Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl®. Please pay attention to our JAM cover page this issue! Pictured is the winning entry in our first Jazz Art Poster Contest. The winning artist is Mike Savage, a local Kansas City artist, who brings his passion for the city and jazz into sharp focus for all of us to enjoy. There will be a poster of this art available to purchase at the Pub Crawl. I urge you all to support Kansas City, support jazz, and support the Jazz Ambassadors by buying a poster and proudly displaying the living legacy that is Kansas City jazz.

Join us for the fun and festivities on Thursday, June 16th, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting until midnight. This year's event will be in the downtown, River Market, and 18th & Vine areas and will be topped by an "after-event" concert at the American Jazz Museum's Pavilion featuring The Scamps. The return to our downtown roots is to demonstrably show that the Jazz Ambassadors support the downtown redevelopment promised by the coming arena and adjacent entertainment district. I urge you to show your support as well. You can get your tickets early, for only $10, at any participating club, or through Ticketmaster. Details regarding the participating clubs and the music each club will host can be found elsewhere in this issue.

Please remember that the Pub Crawl is the Jazz Ambassador's main fundraiser each and every year. The money raised helps publish JAM, fund our Musician's Emergency Assistance Fund, fund our new Jazz Ambassador Heritage Scholarship at the UMKC Conservatory of Music's Jazz Studies Program, the Leon Brady Troup, and education programs focused on jazz by Kansas City Young Audiences.

As your organization continues to embrace the music we all love, and live up to its charter purpose of being dedicated to the "development and promotion of Kansas City Jazz," I ask each and every jazz fan in Kansas City to embrace us, support us, and help us become bigger, better, and more focused on our task.

As John Leisenring, one of our former presidents, was fond of saying, with a smile from ear to ear, "Remember--it's all about the music!"

And so it is. Enjoy the 2005 Kansas City Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl®.






	Search our site:		by Bill Paprota The gavel passed to me last July when Hal Melia, our immediate past president, returned home to Ohio. On Hal's watch, the Jazz Ambassadors began to more fully appreciate the organization's responsibility to jazz education. Hal's position as Professor of Jazz Studies at UMKC no doubt had a carry-over effect. We thank you, Hal. By way of brief introduction, I am a lawyer by trade and training. More importantly, I am a jazz lover. My love affair with jazz began over 30 years ago when I listened to Hank Crawford's sax ballads as I struggled to learn the basics of contract and torts while attending Washburn University Law School in Topeka, and that passion continues to this day. Jazz helps me think, it relaxes me, it soothes my pain and makes my fun times with family and friends all the more meaningful. Jazz is a part of me, and I bring that passion to the Jazz Ambassadors. I hope I serve the music well. Another June is upon us. That means only one thing to a Kansas City jazz fan: it's Pub Crawl Time! I mean the 2005 Kansas City Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl®. Please pay attention to our JAM cover page this issue! Pictured is the winning entry in our first Jazz Art Poster Contest. The winning artist is Mike Savage, a local Kansas City artist, who brings his passion for the city and jazz into sharp focus for all of us to enjoy. There will be a poster of this art available to purchase at the Pub Crawl. I urge you all to support Kansas City, support jazz, and support the Jazz Ambassadors by buying a poster and proudly displaying the living legacy that is Kansas City jazz. Join us for the fun and festivities on Thursday, June 16th, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting until midnight. This year's event will be in the downtown, River Market, and 18th & Vine areas and will be topped by an "after-event" concert at the American Jazz Museum's Pavilion featuring The Scamps. The return to our downtown roots is to demonstrably show that the Jazz Ambassadors support the downtown redevelopment promised by the coming arena and adjacent entertainment district. I urge you to show your support as well. You can get your tickets early, for only $10, at any participating club, or through Ticketmaster. Details regarding the participating clubs and the music each club will host can be found elsewhere in this issue. Please remember that the Pub Crawl is the Jazz Ambassador's main fundraiser each and every year. The money raised helps publish JAM, fund our Musician's Emergency Assistance Fund, fund our new Jazz Ambassador Heritage Scholarship at the UMKC Conservatory of Music's Jazz Studies Program, the Leon Brady Troup, and education programs focused on jazz by Kansas City Young Audiences. As your organization continues to embrace the music we all love, and live up to its charter purpose of being dedicated to the "development and promotion of Kansas City Jazz," I ask each and every jazz fan in Kansas City to embrace us, support us, and help us become bigger, better, and more focused on our task. As John Leisenring, one of our former presidents, was fond of saying, with a smile from ear to ear, "Remember--it's all about the music!" And so it is. Enjoy the 2005 Kansas City Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl®. RETURN TO JUNE/JULY 2005 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2005. All rights reserved.