JAM: August/September 2005 Issue: Feature Story

KANSAS CITY JAZZ WORKSHOP CONTINUES AS THE KANSAS CITY JAZZ AMBASSADORS CONCERT SERIES

History of the Kansas City Jazz Workshop
The Kansas City Jazz Workshop (KCJW) had its inception in 1993. A number of people from the Greater Kansas City area who had attended the Topeka Jazz Workshop concert series for many years developed an idea that the same type of series should be held in Kansas City.

Mike and Sherry (Jones) Ning and Ginney Coleman approached Jim Monroe with the idea of using the same artists scheduled for Topeka to perform in a subsequent concert series in the Kansas City area.

Early in 1993, Jim Monroe came to an informational meeting, attended by 15–20 interested people. Jim was receptive to the idea of joining the Topeka series and sharing expenses. At a later organizational meeting, attended by approximately 20 local people, officers were elected with Mike Ning named as President. Plans were made for a first concert on Oct. 10, 1993.

The first concert, featuring Nancy Manaro and Eddie Monteiro, was held at the Sunset Grill Restaurant. The concert tickets were sold out in four days and the KCJW was off to a very satisfactory start. A second concert on February 20, 1994, was equally successful.

The first full series of five concerts in late 1994 and early 1995 was the beginning of the present schedule. The Sunset Restaurant was quickly outgrown, and the 1995–1996 concert series was moved to UMKC's Pierson Hall. The first concert on September 11, 1995, featured Scott Hamilton and Rob McConnell, and was attended by approximately 200 enthusiastic jazz fans. The 1996–1997 kickoff concert featured Marilyn Maye, and was the most successful concert until the Four Freshmen concert in 2000. In the fall of 1998, the KCJW concerts moved to the Kansas City Downtown Marriott, responding to the many requests to change back to a venue that served food and beverages.

The visiting artists usually use our local musicians for their rhythm section. This is a real plus for the concert attendees to see familiar faces on the stage, and a plus for the local musicians who get to perform with other great talent.

In 2001, the KCJW became a part of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, taking advantage of their not-for-profit tax status, avoiding the expense of paying for the fees to independently attain that status. The partnership has become closer each year, and at the end of the 2004–2005 season, the Workshop was dissolved to become the KCJA Concert Series. The previous KCJW Board of Directors are now the Concert Committee of the Jazz Ambassadors, and is currently co-chaired by Bob Rodina and Richard Johnson.

Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors Concert Series 2005 – 2006: The Four Freshmen Return
The 2005–2006 season kicks off September 19 with the Four Freshman. This concert will be held in the Basie Ballroom at the Downtown Marriott.

Celebrating 57 years, The Four Freshmen is the longest lasting vocal harmony group since their inception in 1948. The original group was comprised of Bob Flanigan, Don Barbour, Ross Barbour, and Hal Kratzsch, and is most well known for their first hit “It's a Blue World.” Ross Barbour and Bob Flanigan are still involved with The Four Freshmen. There have been 23 variations of the group up to this point, but they are still The Four Freshmen and carry on the original cutting-edge sounds. The new group not only preserves the Freshmen sound, they enhance it with their youth, vitality, and talent, giving a new treatment to the Great American Songbook.

Two out of the last three years The Four Freshmen were voted Downbeat magazine's vocal group of the year! In 2004, Jazz Times readers voted them Vocal Group of the year above Take Six and Manhattan Transfer.

The Four Freshmen have bragging rights to 41 albums, over 70 top selling singles, 6 Grammy Nominations, and numerous television appearances.

Their most recent album was released April of 2004, Live in Holland.

The Full Series Lineup

September 19 – The Four Freshmen (held in the Basie Ballroom)
October 17 – Jay Leonhart (bass) and Ken Peplowski (clarinet), with Rod Fleeman (guitar)
November 21 – Judy Roberts (piano/vocals), Greg Fishman (tenor)
February 27 – Harry Pickens (piano), with Gerald Spaits (bass) and Tommy Ruskin (drums)
March 27 – Steve Wilkerson (tenor) and Andrea Baker (vocals), with Joe Cartwright (piano), Gerald Spaits (bass), and Tommy Ruskin (drums)
April 24 – Stacy Rowles (trumpet/vocals) and Phil Wilson (trombone), with Joe Cartwright (piano), Gerald Spaits (bass), and Tommy Ruskin (drums)

Concerts are held at the Downtown Marriott Hotel, 12th St. Lounge, unless otherwise noted. Concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. Season tickets are $85. Single walk-in tickets are at the door subject to availability. Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors members receive a $5 walk-in ticket discount. New KCJA applicants can receive a substantial discount on a KCJA membership, when combined with a concert season ticket purchase; details available at 816-587-1894 or 816-741-8089.






	Search our site:		KANSAS CITY JAZZ WORKSHOP CONTINUES AS THE KANSAS CITY JAZZ AMBASSADORS CONCERT SERIES History of the Kansas City Jazz Workshop The Kansas City Jazz Workshop (KCJW) had its inception in 1993. A number of people from the Greater Kansas City area who had attended the Topeka Jazz Workshop concert series for many years developed an idea that the same type of series should be held in Kansas City. Mike and Sherry (Jones) Ning and Ginney Coleman approached Jim Monroe with the idea of using the same artists scheduled for Topeka to perform in a subsequent concert series in the Kansas City area. Early in 1993, Jim Monroe came to an informational meeting, attended by 15–20 interested people. Jim was receptive to the idea of joining the Topeka series and sharing expenses. At a later organizational meeting, attended by approximately 20 local people, officers were elected with Mike Ning named as President. Plans were made for a first concert on Oct. 10, 1993. The first concert, featuring Nancy Manaro and Eddie Monteiro, was held at the Sunset Grill Restaurant. The concert tickets were sold out in four days and the KCJW was off to a very satisfactory start. A second concert on February 20, 1994, was equally successful. The first full series of five concerts in late 1994 and early 1995 was the beginning of the present schedule. The Sunset Restaurant was quickly outgrown, and the 1995–1996 concert series was moved to UMKC's Pierson Hall. The first concert on September 11, 1995, featured Scott Hamilton and Rob McConnell, and was attended by approximately 200 enthusiastic jazz fans. The 1996–1997 kickoff concert featured Marilyn Maye, and was the most successful concert until the Four Freshmen concert in 2000. In the fall of 1998, the KCJW concerts moved to the Kansas City Downtown Marriott, responding to the many requests to change back to a venue that served food and beverages. The visiting artists usually use our local musicians for their rhythm section. This is a real plus for the concert attendees to see familiar faces on the stage, and a plus for the local musicians who get to perform with other great talent. In 2001, the KCJW became a part of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, taking advantage of their not-for-profit tax status, avoiding the expense of paying for the fees to independently attain that status. The partnership has become closer each year, and at the end of the 2004–2005 season, the Workshop was dissolved to become the KCJA Concert Series. The previous KCJW Board of Directors are now the Concert Committee of the Jazz Ambassadors, and is currently co-chaired by Bob Rodina and Richard Johnson. Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors Concert Series 2005 – 2006: The Four Freshmen Return The 2005–2006 season kicks off September 19 with the Four Freshman. This concert will be held in the Basie Ballroom at the Downtown Marriott. Celebrating 57 years, The Four Freshmen is the longest lasting vocal harmony group since their inception in 1948. The original group was comprised of Bob Flanigan, Don Barbour, Ross Barbour, and Hal Kratzsch, and is most well known for their first hit “It's a Blue World.” Ross Barbour and Bob Flanigan are still involved with The Four Freshmen. There have been 23 variations of the group up to this point, but they are still The Four Freshmen and carry on the original cutting-edge sounds. The new group not only preserves the Freshmen sound, they enhance it with their youth, vitality, and talent, giving a new treatment to the Great American Songbook. Two out of the last three years The Four Freshmen were voted Downbeat magazine's vocal group of the year! In 2004, Jazz Times readers voted them Vocal Group of the year above Take Six and Manhattan Transfer. The Four Freshmen have bragging rights to 41 albums, over 70 top selling singles, 6 Grammy Nominations, and numerous television appearances. Their most recent album was released April of 2004, Live in Holland. The Full Series Lineup September 19 – The Four Freshmen (held in the Basie Ballroom) October 17 – Jay Leonhart (bass) and Ken Peplowski (clarinet), with Rod Fleeman (guitar) November 21 – Judy Roberts (piano/vocals), Greg Fishman (tenor) February 27 – Harry Pickens (piano), with Gerald Spaits (bass) and Tommy Ruskin (drums) March 27 – Steve Wilkerson (tenor) and Andrea Baker (vocals), with Joe Cartwright (piano), Gerald Spaits (bass), and Tommy Ruskin (drums) April 24 – Stacy Rowles (trumpet/vocals) and Phil Wilson (trombone), with Joe Cartwright (piano), Gerald Spaits (bass), and Tommy Ruskin (drums) Concerts are held at the Downtown Marriott Hotel, 12th St. Lounge, unless otherwise noted. Concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. Season tickets are $85. Single walk-in tickets are at the door subject to availability. Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors members receive a $5 walk-in ticket discount. New KCJA applicants can receive a substantial discount on a KCJA membership, when combined with a concert season ticket purchase; details available at 816-587-1894 or 816-741-8089. RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2005 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2005. All rights reserved.