JAM: February/March 2006 Issue: Off The Vine

Keep Spring in Your Step and Music in Your Heart

On the corner of 18th & Vine, the jazz is hot even on the coldest days of winter.

In the midst of our ninth year, the American Jazz Museum is honored to continue its celebration of our community's unique jazz heritage. We're dedicated to bringing this special music to an ever-expanding audience.

Last year the 18th & Vine District shared Kansas City's jazz tradition with more than 300,000 visitors and hosted more than 1,000 musicians, with appearances by jazz masters Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Heath, Ellis Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Barry Harris, Chuck Mangione, Wayne Shorter and Randy Weston.

As the heart of Kansas City 's jazz community, your continued support and participation is deeply appreciated.

The legendary Billie Holiday once said, “Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on.”

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we'll be doing our part to help the love flow Friday evenings in February at the Blue Room.

During Indigo Hour from 5 to 7:30 p.m., local band Vibe will be joined by guest vocalists as we celebrate the music of love, playing your favorite tunes by singers Baby Face (February 3rd), Anita Baker (February 10th), Luther Vandross (February 17th), and great love song duets (February 24th).

Beginning March 4th, the American Jazz Museum is pleased to feature the work of Kansas City photographer Dan White in our Changing Gallery. For many years, Dan has documented the local jazz scene and many of our musicians, including Milt Abel, Art Jackson, and Queen Bey. His work was a hit in New York last September when we featured him as part of our exhibit during Jazz at Lincoln Center 's tribute to Kansas City Swing.

This free show is a must see for any true jazz aficionado. It's a beautiful tribute to musicians who inspired the creation of the American Jazz Museum , and who keep the legacy alive today.

Along with the best local sights and sounds of jazz, we're pleased to bring stellar national and international acts to 18th & Vine.

That includes the featured artists in our Jammin' at the Gem concert series, which continues February 18th with Wayne Henderson and the Jazz Crusaders. For more than three decades, Henderson, Wilton Felder, Joe Sample and Nesbert “Stix” Hopper have been breaking new ground and establishing new rules for traditional jazz music with their signature horn sound. It's sure to be a great show with flavors of funk, R&B, and the rhythms of Africa in the mix.

NEA Jazz Master Dave Brubeck wraps up this year's national concert series in style April 2nd. We'll host a special presentation of “The Gates of Justice.” Brubeck wrote this full-length jazz oratorio — one of the first — in an attempt to heal the rift between the Jewish people and African Americans that emerged after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968.

For all of our hard-core jazz fans, Brubeck also promises to perform some of their favorites as well.

Call our box office at (816) 474-6262 or visit Ticketmaster on the Web for more information and tickets to Jammin' at the Gem .

We'll heat things up in the Blue Room with trombonists Paul McKee and John Fedchock February 6th ($10 admission). Ida McBeth returns February 10th and the 24th, and the McFadden Brothers bring their popular combination of song, dance, and a touch of vaudeville to the Blue Room February 18th ($15 admission). And “laissez les bon temps rouler” … We will be open Tuesday, Feb. 28th for a special Mardi Gras celebration and jam session with the Necessity Brass Band.

This March Blue Room performers include the James Ward Band March 4th; the Wild Women of Kansas City March 10th; the Everette DeVan Quartet March 11th; and Michael O'Shiver joins High Vibe for a special pre-St. Patrick's Day celebration March 16th. The McFadden Brothers return March 18th ($15 admission), and Blue Note recording artist Joey DeFancesco comes to the stage March 27th ($15 admission).

Jazz Poetry Jams continue every third Tuesday through May, with featured poets and live music. Author Lewis Moten will be featured February 21st, and Ed Rollins (a.k.a. Spokan Vizion) will appear March 21st. Local poets have a chance to win $100 and free studio time, donated by Chapman Recording, for each night's best performance.

Finally, we're excited to announce saxophonist and BluJazz recording artist Dennis Winslett is returning to his hometown as the American Jazz Museum 's newest staff member in the Education Department. Dennis has been living in Chicago the last few years, and has made several appearances in the Blue Room during that stint. In Chicago Dennis spent several years working for Urban Gateways Center for the Arts and the Sherwood Conservatory of Music. He has a degree in K-12 music education from Vandercook College of Music and has performed with many notable jazz musicians, including Malachi Thompson's Africa Brass, Bob Brookmeyer, the 911 Mambo Orchestra, and Orbert Davis. He has toured with Ramsey Lewis, Gary Bartz, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.

Be sure to visit our Web site, www.americanjazzmuseum.org , for a complete calendar of performances and programs. And watch for news and announcements regarding the Second Annual Rhythm & Ribs 18th and Vine Jazz Festival, to be held this Father's Day weekend (June 16th, 17th, and 18th).

By Juanita Moore is Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum.






	Search our site:		Keep Spring in Your Step and Music in Your Heart On the corner of 18th & Vine, the jazz is hot even on the coldest days of winter. In the midst of our ninth year, the American Jazz Museum is honored to continue its celebration of our community's unique jazz heritage. We're dedicated to bringing this special music to an ever-expanding audience. Last year the 18th & Vine District shared Kansas City's jazz tradition with more than 300,000 visitors and hosted more than 1,000 musicians, with appearances by jazz masters Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Heath, Ellis Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Barry Harris, Chuck Mangione, Wayne Shorter and Randy Weston. As the heart of Kansas City 's jazz community, your continued support and participation is deeply appreciated. The legendary Billie Holiday once said, “Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on.” With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we'll be doing our part to help the love flow Friday evenings in February at the Blue Room. During Indigo Hour from 5 to 7:30 p.m., local band Vibe will be joined by guest vocalists as we celebrate the music of love, playing your favorite tunes by singers Baby Face (February 3rd), Anita Baker (February 10th), Luther Vandross (February 17th), and great love song duets (February 24th). Beginning March 4th, the American Jazz Museum is pleased to feature the work of Kansas City photographer Dan White in our Changing Gallery. For many years, Dan has documented the local jazz scene and many of our musicians, including Milt Abel, Art Jackson, and Queen Bey. His work was a hit in New York last September when we featured him as part of our exhibit during Jazz at Lincoln Center 's tribute to Kansas City Swing. This free show is a must see for any true jazz aficionado. It's a beautiful tribute to musicians who inspired the creation of the American Jazz Museum , and who keep the legacy alive today. Along with the best local sights and sounds of jazz, we're pleased to bring stellar national and international acts to 18th & Vine. That includes the featured artists in our Jammin' at the Gem concert series, which continues February 18th with Wayne Henderson and the Jazz Crusaders. For more than three decades, Henderson, Wilton Felder, Joe Sample and Nesbert “Stix” Hopper have been breaking new ground and establishing new rules for traditional jazz music with their signature horn sound. It's sure to be a great show with flavors of funk, R&B, and the rhythms of Africa in the mix. NEA Jazz Master Dave Brubeck wraps up this year's national concert series in style April 2nd. We'll host a special presentation of “The Gates of Justice.” Brubeck wrote this full-length jazz oratorio — one of the first — in an attempt to heal the rift between the Jewish people and African Americans that emerged after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. For all of our hard-core jazz fans, Brubeck also promises to perform some of their favorites as well. Call our box office at (816) 474-6262 or visit Ticketmaster on the Web for more information and tickets to Jammin' at the Gem . We'll heat things up in the Blue Room with trombonists Paul McKee and John Fedchock February 6th ($10 admission). Ida McBeth returns February 10th and the 24th, and the McFadden Brothers bring their popular combination of song, dance, and a touch of vaudeville to the Blue Room February 18th ($15 admission). And “laissez les bon temps rouler” … We will be open Tuesday, Feb. 28th for a special Mardi Gras celebration and jam session with the Necessity Brass Band. This March Blue Room performers include the James Ward Band March 4th; the Wild Women of Kansas City March 10th; the Everette DeVan Quartet March 11th; and Michael O'Shiver joins High Vibe for a special pre-St. Patrick's Day celebration March 16th. The McFadden Brothers return March 18th ($15 admission), and Blue Note recording artist Joey DeFancesco comes to the stage March 27th ($15 admission). Jazz Poetry Jams continue every third Tuesday through May, with featured poets and live music. Author Lewis Moten will be featured February 21st, and Ed Rollins (a.k.a. Spokan Vizion) will appear March 21st. Local poets have a chance to win $100 and free studio time, donated by Chapman Recording, for each night's best performance. Finally, we're excited to announce saxophonist and BluJazz recording artist Dennis Winslett is returning to his hometown as the American Jazz Museum 's newest staff member in the Education Department. Dennis has been living in Chicago the last few years, and has made several appearances in the Blue Room during that stint. In Chicago Dennis spent several years working for Urban Gateways Center for the Arts and the Sherwood Conservatory of Music. He has a degree in K-12 music education from Vandercook College of Music and has performed with many notable jazz musicians, including Malachi Thompson's Africa Brass, Bob Brookmeyer, the 911 Mambo Orchestra, and Orbert Davis. He has toured with Ramsey Lewis, Gary Bartz, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. Be sure to visit our Web site, www.americanjazzmuseum.org , for a complete calendar of performances and programs. And watch for news and announcements regarding the Second Annual Rhythm & Ribs 18th and Vine Jazz Festival, to be held this Father's Day weekend (June 16th, 17th, and 18th). By Juanita Moore is Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum. 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