JAM: August/September 2006 Issue: Feature Story

KCKCC'S JAZZ FESTIVAL TRIP EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS

It was a learning experience one could never get in a classroom.

The skyscrapers of New York City provided a dramatic backdrop for KCKCC Jazz Combo members (from left) Michael Stephenson, Chris Hazelton, Justin Davidson, Jeff Davidson and Sean Phelps, one of just three educational groups selected to perform at the 2006 JVC Jazz Festival as Saint Peter's Church in mid-town Manhattan (KCKCC Photo)

One of only three educational institutions chosen to perform in the 2006 JVC Jazz Festival in New York City, members of Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Jazz Combo found it to be a once-in-a-lifetime, career-impacting experience.

“It put fresh new musical ideas in my head and gave me more of an idea of what I want to do,” said Michael Stephenson, a guitarist from Tonganoxie.

“Seeing the greats of jazz made me want to strive to be something better than what I am now,” said Chris Hazelton, pianist from Olathe East. “Very inspiring,” agreed Justin Davidson, an alto saxophone player from Tonganoxie.“I’m going into music education and plan on teaching but I’d like to have
a jazz career before I start teaching.”

“It exceeded all my expectations, an experience of a lifetime,” said KCKCC Jazz Band Director Jim Mair. “It was the first trip to New York City for all the students and they experienced so
much as far as culture and visiting some of the legendary places of jazz.”

Sean Phelps, a bass player who graduated from Sumner Academy, and drummer Jeff Davidson of Blue Valley, rounded out the five-member combo. Mair and jazz pianist and accompanist Mike Ning also accompanied the students.

Sponsored by Downbeat Magazine, the combo performed in an afternoon concert June 15 on an outdoor stage at Citigroup Plaza at Saint Peter’s Church, commonly referred to as the “Jazz Church” in mid-town Manhattan.

A graduate jazz combo from New Jersey City University and two quartets from the Milwaukee Youth Symphony also performed and along with the KCKCC combo were the only non-professionals to perform in the 13-day festival that featured such
legends as Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock, Smokey Robinson and countless others.

Broadway and some of New York City's most famout jazz clubs provided (from left) KCKCC adjunct instructor Mike Ning and students Jeff Davidson, Michael Stephensson, Justin Davidson, Christ Hazelton and Sean Phelps with one once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the 2006 JVC Jazz Festival in New Yorik. (KCKCC Photo)

“Just to be in the same program was huge,” said Mair. “We layed a 50-minute set to an audience of 400-500 people who were sitting in wrought iron chairs and on stairs. I was real proud of the way our students performed and handled all the pressure
but I wasn’t surprised.”

Not ones to waste an opportunity of a lifetime, the students not only visited New York’s most famous jazz clubs but performed in one. “We went to a jazz club called Smoke and they invited our guys to set in; they were very generous,” said Mair.

“I got to meet and jam with one of my guitarplaying idols, Peter Bernstein, and really enjoyed seeing a Broadway show,” said Hazelton.

“It was really awesome, one of the best times of my life,” said Stephenson. “Getting to hear my hero, Peter Bernstein, was an honor beyond honors. Hearing all the jazz greats made everything a little more sense.”

The biggest surprise of the trip came at the Iridium Club. “One of our students from last spring, Tim Perryman, was playing with the Charles Mingus Big Band,” said Mair. “We were really surprised to walk in and see Tim playing trombone.”

“We played together in a couple of groups my first year so it was a real surprise to see Tim,” said Justin Davidson. “He had quite a reaction, really surprised and excited to see us.” Both Davidson and Stephenson got their starts in jazz under the tutelage of Charles Van Middlesworth at Tonganoxie High School, “He was very encouraging and kept the excitement up,” said Stephenson.

Other stops were made at Birdland, named after Kansas City jazz legend Charlie Parker where Mair had performed in the past; the Village Vanguard Jazz Club; and Dizzy’s Coca-Cola Jazz Club at Lincoln Center overlooking Central Park, where the students enjoyed dinner in a listening only, non-talking environment.

“The Village Vanguard Jazz Club has been in existence 60 years and is the most famous and prestigious jazz club to
perform in,” said Mair. “It was so packed that Mike Ning and I stood outside while the students went in.”

Quartered in a hotel just across the street from Carnegie Hall where Mair has also performed, the group also visited some of New York’s landmarks, the Statute of Liberty, Empire State Building and Ellis Island and got two tickets to the David Letterman Show. “I know one of the members of the Letterman band so he had us come up on stage after the show and take some pictures,” said Mair.

The group also got to see one Broadway show, “The Producers.” “It was incredible, a fabulous show,” said Mair.

“All in all, it was just a great trip and we didn’t miss a minute. I arranged for an early check-in and we were on the go non-stop all four days. We got to eat at different restaurants and have different foods, rode the subway all over, got to hear some of the best musicians in the world, went to a play and even got to sit-in at a club. I’m sure it was an experience our students not only will never forget but learned so much.”

(Alan Hoskins is Public Information Supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College)