KCJA Series Features Carol Weisman
The Jazz Ambassador Concert Series continues on Monday, October 23, with Canadian pianist/vocalist Carol Weisman. She has been named the Canadian Jazz Vocalist of the Year in 2002, and in 2003 was named the Distinguished Alumni of Berklee College of Music. Completing the quartet will be Danny Embrey (guitar), Bob Bowman (bass), and Tommy Ruskin (drums).
The concert will be held at the Downtown Marriott Hotel's 12 th Street Rag Room. Tickets are available at the door.
KKFI Block Party
Radio station KKFI will be having a block party on Sunday, October 8, from 1 to 6 p.m. The party will be adjacent to their studio on Westport Road . There promised to be some jazz there. This is a great way to support jazz radio and thank KKFI for their continued jazz programming.
Pickford to be Touring
Legendary alto saxophonist Loren Pickford will be going on tour with his quartet at the end of October. The tour will feature stops in St. Louis , Memphis , New Orleans , Lafayette , LA , and Little Rock . The quartet is comprised of two converted Kansas City native sons, John Brewer (piano) and Micah Herman (Upright Bass). Brewer and Herman, who spent a considerable portion of the last ten years in the Crescent City , developed their musical styles and began their collaboration in New Orleans . They are joined by Brandon Draper (Drums), a recent addition to the Kansas City scene via New Mexico . The group primarily performs music written by Loren and pianist John Brewer, although recent sets have been known to include everything from Professor Longhair to Charlie Parker, and even some Tom Waits - soulfully sung by Loren.
Jazz Series at JCCC
Johnson County Community College has announced their “Jazz Series”. These are free 50 minute concerts featuring Kansas City artists and are held in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center at JCCC. They start at noon and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For information call 913-469-8500 X3605. The schedule is as follows:
- October 3 – Roger Wilder Trio
- October 10 – Tim Whitmer Trio
- October 17 – Tyrone Clark Trio
- October 24 – The Hot Club of Kansas City
- October 31 – Bill Crain Quartet
More Jazz Streams on the Web
We received a couple of comments regarding jazz programming available on the Web.
From Dee Swindler:
“KWJZ - smooth jazz in Seattle , WA and you can listen live. It is www.kwjz.com , and it is very similar to the station we used to have here in KC.”
From Albert V. De Leon :
“… please rush to check out my local jazz station, and New York City 's only full-time jazz station - WBGO in Newark , NJ ( www.wbgo.org ). BGO broadcasts online, which will allow your readership to experience the best in jazz listening right on their computer - and view on-screen playlists, too. Your fans won't be disappointed.”
Thanks, folks.
Wine and Jazz Festival in Excelsior Springs
The 6 th Annual Wine and Jazz Festival will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2006 from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Elms Resort in Excelsior Springs.
The jazz is from local artists, including Candace Evans , Bram Wijnands with Laura Glaeser , Heat Index and the UMKC Jazz Trio.
For more information or to purchase tickets for just $10 each, please call Daphne Bowman, Willow Spring Mercantile at 816-630-7467 or The Elms Resort and Spa at 816-630-5500, or visit any downtown Excelsior Springs merchant where tickets are available. The Elms Resort and Spa is located at 420 Regent St. , Excelsior Springs , Missouri .
O'Neal and Dulin Shine in Monk Competition
Two pianists from Kansas City have made the semifinal competition in this year's Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. Pianists Harold O'Neal of Kansas City and George Dulin, now living in New York, are among 12 players who competed in Washington in September
Dulin is a graduate of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. He later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and recently finished a master's degree at New York University .
O'Neal, a graduate of Paseo High School , also went to Berklee and the Manhattan College of Music in New York . He works in both Kansas City and New York in addition to tours.
Congratulations, Harold and George!
“Servin' Up Jazz” in October to feature Watson
“Servin' Up Jazz” is set for 4 p.m. , Saturday, October 7 at Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral. The jazz concert is a benefit for the Kansas City Community Kitchen and other programs of the Episcopal Anti-Hunger Network. Headliners for this year's “Servin' Up Jazz” are saxophone legend, composer and educator Bobby Watson and Pamela Baskin-Watson. Pamela is a pianist, vocalist, composer-arranger and teacher. Tickets to “Servin' Up Jazz” are $40 and include a special tasting of Missouri wines following the concert. Sponsorships are available at a variety of levels. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please call Episcopal Community Services at 816-561-8920.
Gregory Hickman Williams 1957-2006
Vocalist Gregory Hickman-Williams passed away August 26after having suffered a heart attack last March. He had been in St. Lukes' cardiac unit since then. Jardine's hosted a CD Release Party for his Passages was held without him being present the week he had his heart attack. Ed Fenner wrote, “Gregory had a resounding full baritone voice that could blow you out of the room. He was a marvelous singer and a member of Jazz Ambassadors. Gregory, and his voice, will be sorely missed”.
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Notes? Please send to: Editor/JAM, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas City, MO 64171-6181.
Deadline for all submissions is the 15th of each odd numbered month.
