JAM: December 2006 / January 2007 Issue: Feature Story

JAZZ @ KCKCC

By Charlton Price

At Kansas City Kansas Community College, jazz education and performance are highly visible and varied. Founder-director Marlin Cooper built a strong program there through the 1990s ripening the talents of such notables in the KC jazz tradition as Bobby Watson, Wayne Hawkins, Lisa Henry, and Mike Warren. Jim Mair,originally from Canada, has headed the program since 1999. He’s long been a working musician locally (on reeds), and also band leader, teacher, and musical mentor — here and,
increasingly, beyond the Heartland.

Of the over 100 students at KCKCC in music and music technology, about a quarter participate in a variety a variety of jazz/pop groups. These include two big bands: the Blue Devils, with includes leading local amateur players and the best KCKCC students, and the all-student Ten O’Clock Band. Add on two jazz combos and a Latin jazz group. The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra (of which Mair is musical director) and KCKCC co-sponsor an annual a week-long jazz day camp — in 2007,
to be held June 4 through 9. KCKCC musicians appeared this year at the New York Jazz Festival, the national Jazz Educators Convention. There was even an invitation to jazz festival in Morocco.

Underwriting for jazz at KCKCC comes not only from the Music Department budget but also from an endowment fund and successful grantsmanship. Says Jim Mair: “I’ve always been optimistic, but it’s a struggle and a challenge. The world has a lot
of talented people. But you have to be willing to make the extra effort it takes to be a successful as a working jazz musician. It’s important to find and work with fellow musicians you like and respect.”






	Search our site:		JAZZ @ KCKCC By Charlton Price At Kansas City Kansas Community College, jazz education and performance are highly visible and varied. Founder-director Marlin Cooper built a strong program there through the 1990s ripening the talents of such notables in the KC jazz tradition as Bobby Watson, Wayne Hawkins, Lisa Henry, and Mike Warren. Jim Mair,originally from Canada, has headed the program since 1999. He’s long been a working musician locally (on reeds), and also band leader, teacher, and musical mentor — here and, increasingly, beyond the Heartland. Of the over 100 students at KCKCC in music and music technology, about a quarter participate in a variety a variety of jazz/pop groups. These include two big bands: the Blue Devils, with includes leading local amateur players and the best KCKCC students, and the all-student Ten O’Clock Band. Add on two jazz combos and a Latin jazz group. The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra (of which Mair is musical director) and KCKCC co-sponsor an annual a week-long jazz day camp — in 2007, to be held June 4 through 9. KCKCC musicians appeared this year at the New York Jazz Festival, the national Jazz Educators Convention. There was even an invitation to jazz festival in Morocco. Underwriting for jazz at KCKCC comes not only from the Music Department budget but also from an endowment fund and successful grantsmanship. Says Jim Mair: “I’ve always been optimistic, but it’s a struggle and a challenge. The world has a lot of talented people. But you have to be willing to make the extra effort it takes to be a successful as a working jazz musician. It’s important to find and work with fellow musicians you like and respect.” RETURN TO DECEMBER 2006/JANUARY 2007 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2006. All rights reserved.