JAM: February/March 2007 Issue: Off The Vine

Hello Kansas City Jazz Lovers!

I'm excited to share with you that 2006 went out with a bang! The McFadden Brothers' New Year's Eve show was fabulous! It was great celebrating the old and welcoming the new. That's our philosophy here at 18th and Vine; we celebrate the past, for it gives us life and vision for the future. We were moved bsy the community participation for the Jay McShann Memorial.

We celebrated the 25th Annual City-Wide Kwanzaa at the Gem Theater and the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. We embrace community and partnerships.

Most notably, we were incredibly fortunate to serve as the host site for NPR's “Toast of the Nation” New Year's Eve Broadcast and Web cast. It was truly a wonderful opportunity to not only showcase the best in Kansas City jazz, but to show that 18th & Vine is “where it lives.” On behalf of the American Jazz Museum , I'd like to express our most sincere gratitude to our partners in the jazz community who helped make the NPR broadcast a success.

Just as 2007 came swingin' in, we were honored to receive another wonderful distinction. DownBeat magazine listed the Blue Room in its February 2007 issue as one of the Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the world, taking its place among establishments like the Village Vanguard in New York City , Preservation Hall in New Orleans , and the Velvet Lounge in Chicago . As the only club in Kansas City to be highlighted, we are incredibly proud of continuing the wonderful tradition of musical excellence that was established decades ago in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District.

As we head further into what will be a great year for Kansas City jazz, we're very excited to announce several tremendous upcoming jazz performances scheduled in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Please join us as we honor the past, enjoy the present, and celebrate the future of this uniquely American art form.

Smooth jazz sensations Pieces of a Dream will bring their original blend of jazz, R&B, and funk to the Gem Theater for an electrifying live show on Saturday, February 10. Under the direction of sax legend and the father of smooth jazz, Grover Washington, Jr., Pieces of a Dream burst from the 1970s music scene in Philadelphia and defined the sounds of the smooth jazz and R&B radio explosion. Now celebrating thirty years of making music, Pieces of a Dream have toured the world and topped the charts—and are now coming to Kansas City for the fourth performance of our Jammin' at the Gem concert series.

This season will also include the SFJAZZ Collective on Sunday, March 18, led by renowned saxophonist and artistic director Joshua Redman. Other members include trumpeter Dave Douglas, Miguel Zenón on alto sax and flute, trombonist Andre Hayward, pianist Renee Rosnes, Matt Penman on bass, and Eric Harland on drums. Elder statesman and jazz legend Bobby Hutcherson will also lend his talent to the group on the vibes and marimba. Each year, the ensemble performs an entirely new list of works, drawing from the catalogue of a modern jazz master and one new original composition by each of its members. This year, the SFJAZZ Collective will be focusing their performance on the brilliant Herbie Hancock, featuring provocative interpretations of his classic compositions, arranged by “ninth member” Gil Goldstein.

And last, but certainly not least, we're delighted to host the astonishing jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves at the Gem Theater on Saturday, April 14, who will round out the 2006–2007 Jammin' at the Gem series. One of the preeminent jazz vocalists in the world today, Reeves was awarded the Grammy® for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings—a Grammy first in any vocal category. The New York Times has called her “a jazz singer of frequently astonishing skill.” Her virtuosity and unique R&B and jazz stylings have placed her in high demand among fans and professionals alike, including Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.

Tickets for Jammin' at the Gem are available by calling the American Jazz Museum Box Office at 816-474-6262 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. All three shows are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

The Blue Room will host several notable performances in the coming months, including a Jazz Balladeers night on Saturday, February 10, featuring Luqman Hamza and Ron Gutierrez. Grammy award-winning composer and trumpeter Wallace Roney will bring his sextet to 18th & Vine on Saturday, February 17.

In addition to our live performances, we continue to strive for excellence in our educational programs, collections, and community events.

Our Changing Gallery currently features works by members of The Light in the Other Room, a collaborative of Kansas City-based African American artists. The exhibition, which will remain open through March 25, showcases the broad range of creative visions and artistic voices within Kansas City 's visual arts community, including several engaging portrayals of jazz musicians. In support of the exhibit, we're also hosting artist talks in the Changing Gallery two weekends in February and March.

The Jazz Storytelling series keeps on swingin' with two Friday sessions scheduled in February. On February 2, t he Jazz Storytelling crew will introduce children to the swinging sounds of pianist Mary Lou Williams and show that girls can be “jazz cats” too in a program titled “ The Lady that Swings with the Band.” The February 23 session, “ The Tradition Jams On,” will explore how legendary Kansas City jam sessions and the Musician's Local 627 contributed to the evolution of jazz. Jazz Storytelling is open to the public at no charge.

As part of this season's Jazz Poetry Jams program, we're hosting a special “Young Gifted and Black” Teen Poetry Night on Tuesday, February 20, in the Blue Room. The event begins at 7 p.m. and will feature talented teen wordsmiths sharing the stage with noted local spoken word artists for a poetic celebration of African-American history and culture ($5 admission).

And please check our Web page for details on the upcoming “Dime on the Vine” Black film celebration series at the Gem Theater—it's sure to be another great event down on the Vine.

Jazz is one of our nation's greatest treasures, and Kansas City made it swing. The tradition of musical excellence that was established decades ago right here in Kansas City lives on today. And as always, we appreciate everyone's continued support of Kansas City jazz. It's a great time to be at 18th & Vine!

Best wishes.

Carol Rhodes-Dyson is the Interim Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum .