JAM: June/July 2007 Issue: Feature Story

Summer Jazz 2007

By Ed Fenner

The days have turned warm. The rains and floods have subsided. The birds are swarming around the feeders. It must be spring and that means that it's time to plan our annual trek to find out what's cookin' with jazz and blues festivals, concerts, and other musical offerings around Kansas City this summer. So get out the blankets, folding chairs, and coolers, and get ready to go. Don't forget some kind of personal cooling device if it's a hot day.

First, unfortunately, I need to tell you about some things that ain't going to be happening this year. The KCK Street Blues Festival that moved from 3rd Street to Kaw Valley Riverpoint Park last year has been cancelled. Also, the Kansas City Blues Society concert series at City Market is gone. Plus the Kansas City Jazz & Blues Concert at the Woodlands is adios.

There are various reasons for the loss of these great entertainment opportunities — some bureaucratic, some lack of artistic understanding, and some lack of attendance. The one best thing that you can do is to get out, attend and support these wonderful outdoor music entertainment opportunities that we have available to us. A recent study found that Kansas City is a leader in music festivals in the United States . Let's all participate and uphold that tradition.

First out of the box is the 12th Coleman Hawkins Legacy Jazz Festival at Harley Davidson's Harley Town at 21st and Topeka Blvd. in Topeka , KS . It kicks off on Friday, June 1st, at 5:00 p.m. Friday's headliner is the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band at 9:00 p.m. On Saturday the Washburn University Jazz Combo gets things rolling at 10:15 a.m. There's jazz all day, finishing up with Marcia Ball at 9:00 p.m. The Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Combo starts on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The Javon Jackson Band will finish the festivities at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. On Friday and Saturday there's an After Hours Jazz Party from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at Uncle Bo's in the Ramada Inn. It's a FREE family affair with no alcohol sales and lots of food vendors. Also, there's covered seating in case of rain. Contact: www.hawkinsjazzfest.com

Friday, June 1st, it's the annual JAZZOO at the Kansas City Zoo in Swope Park near the Starlight Theater. This is a “creative” black tie event. The tickets run from $175 to $25,000 (if you get this one, please put me on your guest list). There is a gala preview at 6:30 p.m. with admittance at 7:30 . Food from eighty area restaurants and libations from fourteen bars will satiate your insides while you stroll and listen to the music on five stages. There is also a silent auction from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Contact: www.jazzookc.org.

The 11th Summertime Bluesfest at Oak Grove Park in Gladstone will be on Friday, June 8th and Saturday, June 9th. Levee Town starts the weekend off on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and guitarist Bernard Allison ends the night starting around 9:00 . The music gets going at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday with John Paul Drum and Bill Dye. There are two headliners that night with guitarist/vocalist EG Kight at around 7:30 and guitarist Jimmy Thackery at about 9:00 . It's FREE with $5 for parking. Contact : www.gladstonechamber.com/events .

Father's Day Weekend is loaded with three events from 18th & Vine to Parkville English Landing Park to St. Joe.

“Rhythm & Ribs 18th & Vine Jazz Fest” has two stages behind the American Jazz Museum at 18th& Vine. It all starts at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 15th, with the John Brewer Group. The Friday headliner is our own Pat Metheny Trio from 8:30 to 11:00 p.m. On Saturday, Everette DeVan works those keys at 11:30 a.m. With music all day on both stages, George Benson and Al Jarreau headline from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the Sprint Main Stage. It wraps up with Sons Venezuela on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Stage and the Bobby Blue Band on the Sprint Stage from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. Tickets range from $18 to $100 depending upon times and category. Contact: www.kcrhythmandribs.com ; 816-474-6262; Ticketmaster.com.

Up Route 9 to English Landing Park on the banks of the Mighty Missouri it's the Parkville Jazz & Blues & Fine Arts River Jam. A highlight of this event is the forty fine artists who are there to show and sell their work. From paintings to pottery, landscapes to wildlife, and acrylics to watercolors, you will surely find something to your liking. It's FREE and, of course, there are food and beverage vendors. Bring your “sit on the grass” paraphernalia and hear Mama Ray start it all at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Parkville's own internationally acclaimed vocalist Angela Hagenbach comes on at 8:00 followed by trumpeter Saskia Laroo from the Netherlands from 9:45 to 11:00 . It's the Parkville Community Band at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, starting a day of music that ends with the headliner Sonny Landreth at 9:45 . Contact: www.kcblues.info/parkville.

Further up the road in St. Joseph is the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival at Coleman Hawkins Park , Felix Street Square, 7th and Felix, starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 15th, with the Missouri West State University Jazz Band. Later you'll hear saxman Kim Park and pianist Max Groove. Saturday the High School All Stars starts it off at noon . Later it's St. Jo's own vocalist Kathleen Holeman, Kimberly Ford from LA, and our own alto man Bobby Watson. At 8:30 it's the Jazz Mafia with Richard Bruton and Neal Finch. Contact: 816-271-8570; www.stjomo.com .

The next weekend, Friday, June 22nd and Saturday, June 23rd, it's the annual Jazz in the Woods at Corporate Woods in Overland Park , KS . This outstanding event, hosted by the Overland Park South Rotary Club, raises over $100,000 each year for local charities. This is a FREE “sit on the grass” event — but no coolers or pets. Several food and beverage vendors will satisfy your culinary requirements. There are three acts each night on the single stage. Smooth jazz saxophonist Joseph Vincelli begins on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Guitarist Steve Oliver comes on at 6:45 . Friday's headliner is smooth jazz saxman Euge Groove starting at 9:00 . Guitarist Nils opens it up on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Jazz pianist Eldar takes the stage at 6:45 . The great trumpeter Arturo Sandoval finishes the festival starting at 9:00 . Contact: www.jazzinthewoods.com .

The Topeka Jazz Workshop and the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors are bringing in renowned vibraphonist Peter Appleyard on Sunday, August 5, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Downtown Ramada Inn in Topeka , KS . Contact: 785-379-5169; mgrimes14@cox.net . And for Monday, August 6, at 7:00 p.m. at the Marriott Downtown 12th Street Rag Room, contact: 816-587-1894; 816-453-5464.

Start putting away some shekels for a trip to Paola , KS , for the Paola Roots Fest on the weekend of Friday, August 24th, and Saturday, August 25th, at Park Square for some great blues. Blue 88 kicks off the weekend at 5:15 p.m. on Friday. The Groove Hogs finish the night from 10:00 to 11:30 . Saturday starts at 10:30 a.m. with a TBA, and Ken ny Wayne Shepherd comes on at 10:00 to top off the weekend. Also, there's the East Central Kansas State BBQ Championship. A maximum of seventy teams will compete for a Grand Champion Prize of $1,250 — check it out at www.bbqcookoff@rootsfestival.org. This is a “sit on the grass” with arts and crafts, food and beverage vendors, and a rootin' tootin' good time. It's only $8 per day per person with kids ten and under free. Contact: www.rootsfestival.org .

The Grandview Area Chamber of Commerce is having their FREE Jazz Blast 2007 on Saturday, September 8, at 1220 Main Street . There are food and beverage vendors, but if you want to do it right, pony up $25 and sit in the VIP Tent, having already had VIP parking, and light your fire with a Cajun Buffet. It all starts at 4:30 p.m. with the Grandview High School Jazz Band that recently returned from a performance at Lincoln Center in NYC. They are followed by Stan Kessler's Sons of Brasil, the Barclay Martin Ensemble, the Joe Cartwright Quartet, and topping it off with Wailea starting at 9:30 . Contact : 816-761-6505; abrincefield@grandview.org .

UMKC Jazz Friends, a voluntary support group for the Jazz Studies Program at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance is holding its 6th Jazz & BBQ at Pierson Auditorium in the UMKC University Center on Monday, September 24th. It starts at 6:00 p.m. with a BBQ Buffet and silent auction. The concert starts at 7:30 . This year's concert is going to be very special. It will not only feature the UMKC Concert Jazz Band, directed by Bobby Watson, but also various jazz ensembles composed of the Jazz Adjunct Professors. There will also be a voice auction of the Concert Jazz Band and a couple of the Jazz Combos. Tickets are $45 and $25 ($10 for students) for the concert only. Contact: 816-235-6173; Lutman@umkc.edu .

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, directed by Jim Mair, presents “Eldar Returns” at Unity on the Plaza at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 28, and Saturday, September 29. Eldar is the child prodigy jazz pianist originally from Russia , who at one time called Kansas City his home. He has been thrilling international audiences for some years now with his astounding keyboard virtuosity. Contact: 913-780-5250; www.kcjazzorchestra.org .

In addition to the specific events that we have talked about, there are many music series around the Kansas City Metro Area at city parks, shopping centers, and other venues. They offer all genres of music from jazz to blues to rock to folk to reggae to pop and more. Here are the ones that I know about at this time.

Zona Rosa's Summer Concert Series from June 1 – September 30: www.zonarosa.com ; click Events, scroll down, and click Summer Concert Series.

Country Club Plaza 's Courtyard Concert Series from May 3 – June 30: www.countryclubplaza.com ; click Events.

The Legends' Summer Concert Series from May 28 – September 3: www.legendsshopping.com ; click Promotions and scroll down to “Live at the Legends.

Overland Park 's Under the Clock music series: 913-642-2222.

Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery's (Basehor, KS) Summertime Music Series starting May 20 to July 27: www.holyfieldwinery.com ; click Events, then click Jazz Music Series.

Leawood's Jazz Concert Series in August and September : www.leawood.org ; click Links of Interest, then click Leawood Arts Council, and scroll down to Jazz Concert Series.

Fairway's Concerts in the Park in June and September: www.fairwaykansas.org ; put your cursor on Parks and Recreation for a drop-down menu to Special Events, then another drop-down menu and click Concerts in the Park.

Lee's Summit 's Music Series on Fridays from Memorial Day through Labor Day: www.downtownls.org ; click Events.

Blue Springs ' Concerts in the Park on Sundays in June : www.bluespringsgov.com ; click Parks and Recreation, then click Events and Activity Calendar and scroll down and click on Concert in the Park.

North Kansas City's Northtown Jazz Jam on Saturdays through June: www.nkc.org ; put cursor on Departments for a drop down menu and click Parks and Recreation, then scroll down and click on 26 Jazz Jam.

Well folks, that's it for this year. I hope that I haven't missed anything and that this will be helpful in planning your summer music listening opportunities in 2007. We are indeed fortunate to have so much available to us. So, get out and enjoy. If I have missed anything, please let me know at kcjazzvoice@kc-jazz.com . Thanks — have fun!