JAZZ CONCERT BONANZA: A BIG 2006-07

By Charlton Price

Summer jazz is winding down, but don't dismay. Prospects are prodigious for the upcoming jazz concert season hereabouts. Here are details as of now. For more information—tickets, venues, times—look in on the Web site for each organization as listed. Or, you can look at future issues of JAM for details as the concerts get closer on the calendars.

THE KANSAS CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Again at Unity Temple on the Plaza, with an expanded series of three concerts, all on Friday evenings, with new themes and guests. Take advantage of reduced rates for the three-concert series, and guarantee the seat(s) of your choice now for all concerts. Details can be found at www.kcjazzorchestra.org . The lineup:

September 22: “Stan Ken ton Returns.” Features Kenton alumnus altoist Kim Park and vocalist Stephanie Nakasian, who will bring some of the Pete Rugolo arrangements done originally for June Christy.

December 8: “Home for the Holidays.” Vocalist Michelle Miller; the Billy Strayhorn arrangement (for the Ellington band) of Tschaikowsky's Nutcracker Suite ; Bob Florence's arrangement of Auld Lang Syne ; and a seasonal surprise.

April 27: “Sing, Sing, Swing” (Benny Goodman). Clarinetist Ken Peplowski and vocalist Kim Liggett are featured.

Also, on September 26: a special concert at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; all proceeds to benefit the music programs there, thanks to sponsorship of the event by Community America Credit Union; band members will provide music clinics at the school.

JAMMIN' AT THE GEM, 18 th and Vine
As of now, six concerts, all on Saturdays. For more information: www.ajm@kcjazz.org .

October 21: McCoy Tyner and the NEA Jazz Masters.

December 16: Tribute to Josephine Baker (her 100 th birthday!); guests to be announced.

March 18: The San Francisco Jazz Collective, featuring the music of Herbie Hancock, as well as their own compositions. This is an all-star group, including Joshua Redman, Bobby Hutcherson, and Nicholas Payton.

April 14: Dianne Reeves.

FOLLY JAZZ SERIES
Seven concerts, all but one on Saturdays. For further details, see Doug Tatum 's column in this issue of JAM, and www.follytheater.org . But note the series opener on October 7, another in a long line of masters appearing on the Folly stage, guitarist Jim Hall appearing with Geoff Keezer on piano.

KANSAS CITY AND TOPEKA JAZZ WORKSHOPS
As has long been a welcome custom—thanks to both the late Jim Monroe in Topeka and the KC Jazz Ambassadors—many of the same groups play both venues. In Kansas City , it's the 12 th Street Room at the Downtown Marriott, 12 th and Wyandotte ; for Topeka , it's the Ramada Inn at 420 SE 6 th . For further information, including individual and special series ticket prices, see www.jazzkc.org for the Kansas City sessions, and www.topekajazz.com for Topeka events.

KC Jazz Ambassador Concert Series
September 11: Jeff Hamilton Trio (with Cristof Luty, bass; Tamir Hale, piano.)

October 23: Carol Weisman, piano and vocals (with Danny Embrey, guitar, Bob Bowman, bass, Tommy Ruskin, drums).

December 11: Byron Stripling, trumpet (with Harry Allen, tenor sax, Gerald Spaits, bass, Paul Smith , piano, Tommy Ruskin, drums).

February 12: Derek Smith, piano (with Rod Fleeman, guitar, Spaits, Ruskin).

March 13: Peter Appleyard, vibes (with Joe Cartwright, piano, Bowman, Ruskin).

April, date to be announced bonus concert, in the Count Basie Ballroom at the Marriott, the KCK Community College Blue Devils Big Band, Combo, and Jazz Choir.

Topeka Jazz Workshop Concert Series
Nine—count ‘em—9 concerts!

August 27: TJW Big Band directed by Craig Treinen, with Ron Gutierrez, vocals.

September 10: Jeff Hamilton Trio.

October 22: Carol Wiesman, piano and vocals (with Embrey, Bowman, Ruskin).

November 26: the Pete Eye Trio

December 10: Byron Stripling, trumpet, Harry Allen, tenor sax (with Smith, Spaits, Ruskin).

January 14: Singer Angela Hagenbach (with Roger Wilder, piano, Steve Rigazzi, bass,; Doug Auwarter, drums).

February 11: Derek Smith, piano (with Ruskin, Spaits, Fleeman).

March 11: Peter Appleyard, vibes (with Cartwright, Bowman, Ruskin).

April 15: Bob Bowman and the Bow Dogs (with Wayne Hawkins, piano, Jake Blanton, guitar, Tim Cambron, drums).






	Search our site:		JAZZ CONCERT BONANZA: A BIG 2006-07 By Charlton Price Summer jazz is winding down, but don't dismay. Prospects are prodigious for the upcoming jazz concert season hereabouts. Here are details as of now. For more information—tickets, venues, times—look in on the Web site for each organization as listed. Or, you can look at future issues of JAM for details as the concerts get closer on the calendars. THE KANSAS CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA Again at Unity Temple on the Plaza, with an expanded series of three concerts, all on Friday evenings, with new themes and guests. Take advantage of reduced rates for the three-concert series, and guarantee the seat(s) of your choice now for all concerts. Details can be found at www.kcjazzorchestra.org . The lineup: September 22: “Stan Ken ton Returns.” Features Kenton alumnus altoist Kim Park and vocalist Stephanie Nakasian, who will bring some of the Pete Rugolo arrangements done originally for June Christy. December 8: “Home for the Holidays.” Vocalist Michelle Miller; the Billy Strayhorn arrangement (for the Ellington band) of Tschaikowsky's Nutcracker Suite ; Bob Florence's arrangement of Auld Lang Syne ; and a seasonal surprise. April 27: “Sing, Sing, Swing” (Benny Goodman). Clarinetist Ken Peplowski and vocalist Kim Liggett are featured. Also, on September 26: a special concert at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School; all proceeds to benefit the music programs there, thanks to sponsorship of the event by Community America Credit Union; band members will provide music clinics at the school. JAMMIN' AT THE GEM, 18 th and Vine As of now, six concerts, all on Saturdays. For more information: www.ajm@kcjazz.org . October 21: McCoy Tyner and the NEA Jazz Masters. December 16: Tribute to Josephine Baker (her 100 th birthday!); guests to be announced. March 18: The San Francisco Jazz Collective, featuring the music of Herbie Hancock, as well as their own compositions. This is an all-star group, including Joshua Redman, Bobby Hutcherson, and Nicholas Payton. April 14: Dianne Reeves. FOLLY JAZZ SERIES Seven concerts, all but one on Saturdays. For further details, see Doug Tatum 's column in this issue of JAM, and www.follytheater.org . But note the series opener on October 7, another in a long line of masters appearing on the Folly stage, guitarist Jim Hall appearing with Geoff Keezer on piano. KANSAS CITY AND TOPEKA JAZZ WORKSHOPS As has long been a welcome custom—thanks to both the late Jim Monroe in Topeka and the KC Jazz Ambassadors—many of the same groups play both venues. In Kansas City , it's the 12 th Street Room at the Downtown Marriott, 12 th and Wyandotte ; for Topeka , it's the Ramada Inn at 420 SE 6 th . For further information, including individual and special series ticket prices, see www.jazzkc.org for the Kansas City sessions, and www.topekajazz.com for Topeka events. KC Jazz Ambassador Concert Series September 11: Jeff Hamilton Trio (with Cristof Luty, bass; Tamir Hale, piano.) October 23: Carol Weisman, piano and vocals (with Danny Embrey, guitar, Bob Bowman, bass, Tommy Ruskin, drums). December 11: Byron Stripling, trumpet (with Harry Allen, tenor sax, Gerald Spaits, bass, Paul Smith , piano, Tommy Ruskin, drums). February 12: Derek Smith, piano (with Rod Fleeman, guitar, Spaits, Ruskin). March 13: Peter Appleyard, vibes (with Joe Cartwright, piano, Bowman, Ruskin). April, date to be announced bonus concert, in the Count Basie Ballroom at the Marriott, the KCK Community College Blue Devils Big Band, Combo, and Jazz Choir. Topeka Jazz Workshop Concert Series Nine—count ‘em—9 concerts! August 27: TJW Big Band directed by Craig Treinen, with Ron Gutierrez, vocals. September 10: Jeff Hamilton Trio. October 22: Carol Wiesman, piano and vocals (with Embrey, Bowman, Ruskin). November 26: the Pete Eye Trio December 10: Byron Stripling, trumpet, Harry Allen, tenor sax (with Smith, Spaits, Ruskin). January 14: Singer Angela Hagenbach (with Roger Wilder, piano, Steve Rigazzi, bass,; Doug Auwarter, drums). February 11: Derek Smith, piano (with Ruskin, Spaits, Fleeman). March 11: Peter Appleyard, vibes (with Cartwright, Bowman, Ruskin). April 15: Bob Bowman and the Bow Dogs (with Wayne Hawkins, piano, Jake Blanton, guitar, Tim Cambron, drums). RETURN TO AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2006. All rights reserved.