Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors Announces Call for Nominations for Board of Directors

The KCJazz Ambassadors announces a call for nominations for 2008 — 2009 Board of Directors for the following positions:

Director of Volunteers

Director of Merchandizing

Director of Communications

Director of Programs

Each Board of Director position is for a one year term. Descriptions are listed below.

Director of Volunteers — Develop and establish a list of members, including yourself, who are interested in volunteering for specific events such as selling merchandise, assisting with mini crawls, and working events, etc.

Director of Merchandizing — Maintain a merchandise inventory and replenish as needed. Coordinate the setup of a merchandise booth at various venues. Work with the Director of Volunteers to develop a list of volunteers.

Director of Communications — Develop the content of Wholenotes for distribution the opposite months of JAM distribution. Contact radio stations and newspapers to give them information about events. Respond to questions and comments from membership and others.

Director of Programs — Plan and coordinate the monthly general membership meetings. Assist with developing, planning, and coordinating of events.

Please submit your nominations to Candy Tretter, Chair of Nominating Committee at candyt123@aol.com no later than December 1, 2007 . Please include name of nominee, contact information for the nominee, director position, a brief paragraph explaining why you believe the candidate qualifies for the board position, and your name and contact information.

Once all nominations are submitted, a slate of nominees will be communicated to all KCJazz Ambassadors for voting at the December 13, 2007 annual meeting at Californos.  

KC Accolades, Part One

The Downbeat Readers Poll are always fun to look at, and the current poll had Kansas City all over them. Pat Metheny won the poll in the Guitarist category, and Metheny-Mehldau (with pianist Brad Mehldau) was the top jazz album. The Metheny-Mehldau Quartet was the number three Jazz Group, too. NEA Jazz Master Bob Brookmeyer won in the Trombone category (and was fifth in the Composer category), and the Count Basie Orchestra (with deep KC roots and our own Will Matthews in the key guitar chair) was voted the top big band. Metheny also wrote a moving tribute to his great friend, the late Michael Brecker. Others with KC roots who made the lists were Karrin Allyson and Kevin Mahogany. Congratulations, all!

KC Accolades, Part Two

Two recent recordings by Kansas City saxophonists have recently received strong reviews in the national jazz press. Alaadeen's The Beauty of it All is “just right for unwinding after a hard day”, according to reviewer Forrest Dylan Bryant in the November Jazz Times . Logan Richardson's Cerebral Flow received an “A minus” from Tom Hull in the October 23 issue of the Village Voice, and in the October 19 issue of All About Jazz, reviewer Ian Patterson writes: “Overall this is a very accomplished debut from an exciting young talent, whose wealth of ideas, originality and sheer daring, should mean that Logan Richardson is a name we will hear a lot more of in the future.”

Pat Metheny Trio to Play At Metheny Music Foundation Fundraiser

In June 2007 the newly formed Metheny Music Foundation enabled two area high school students to attend the annual University of Missouri/Kansas City Jazz Improv Camp. "Awarding these scholarships is an important first step," said guitarist, 17-time Grammy winner, and Lee's Summit native Pat Metheny. And about the Foundation itself, Pat added, "This is an exciting endeavor with many promising possibilities."

On Friday, March 7, 2008, the Metheny Music Foundation will hold its first major fundraiser at Unity Village (near Lee's Summit) featuring the Pat Metheny Trio (Metheny, guitar; Christian McBride, bass; Antonio Sanchez, drums) along with special guests. The concert begins at 8:00 p.m. at the Unity Activities Center , and there will be pre-concert food and drinks from 6:00 until 7:30 , which is included in the $40 ticket price. Concert seating will be first come, first seated. And for those traveling from out of town, the Unity Village Hotel is directly across the street from the Activities Center . Call 816-251-3540 or (toll free) 866-34-UNITY for reservations. Tickets go on sale December 1 at Cameron's in downtown Lee's Summit , 26 SE Third Street , or online by mail order or PayPal at the Foundation's website, www.methenymusicfoundation.org.

Jazz & Beyond for Christmas…

The Brad Cox Ensemble presents “A Christmas Story” – on Sunday, December 9th at 4:00 PM , at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church , 4501 Walnut .   With 11 of the best jazz and classical musicians in KC, featuring Valery Price, Beau Bledsoe, and Jake Blanton – the BCE offers a whimsical 500-year musical travelogue through songs both sacred and secular, and perhaps even a bit irreverent!  Don't miss this beloved annual tradition.  Tickets only $10 at the door (see below).

…And Jazz & Beyond again in January!

Join Stan Kessler 's wildly exciting new band The Uncertainty Principle on Saturday, January 26th at 7:30 PM – also at All Souls “UU” Church .  With Kessler on trumpet, Roger Wilder on keys, Jeff Harshbarger on bass, and Brandon Dr aper on drums, this is one serious musical roller coaster that is not to be missed.  Tickets only $10 at the door.  All Souls is located at 4501 Walnut Street , one block east of 45th and Main in Kansas City .  Contact Tom Buck at 816-931-6415 for more info.

Kansas City Youth Jazz Winter Concert

Leon Brady will be leading the Kansas City Youth Jazz bands in their annual holiday concert on Sunday, December 9 at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City . The concert starts at 4:00 p.m. Contact Leon at 913.371.4157 for more information.

KCKCC Saxophonist Nick Rowland No. 1 in North America

Making the Community College All-Star Jazz Ensemble is one thing. Playing lead chair takes it to a new level.

“The No. 1 community college saxophone in North America ,” said Kansas City Community College Jazz Band Director Jim Mair of the latest in a long run of KCKCC All-Stars, Nick Rowland.

“I was just blown away. It's a thrill and a great honor, everything you could ever hope for,” said Rowland when he learned he will be playing lead tenor saxophone in the All-Star Jazz Ensemble's performance at the International Association of Jazz Educators annual convention in Toronto , Canada , Jan. 9-13, 2008 .

It will be a repeat performance for Rowland, who was also selected to the All-Star Ensemble last year but not as lead saxophone. A 2003 graduate of Olathe East, Rowland spent two years at Washburn University but transferred to KCKCC a year ago to work with Mair.

In his third semester at KCKCC, he'll finish up in May and then plans to transfer to UMKC where he'll be under the tutelage of yet another KCKCC product, UMKC Director of Jazz Bobby Watson. His ultimate dream is to play for a touring band. (Alan Hoskins)

18th and Vine Happenings

Our correspondents from the American Jazz Museum should have talked up their musical offerings more than they did in “Off the Vine”. The Blue Room has two loaded months, starting with Bob Bowman and Bowdog on 12/1. There is also the excellent Charles Perkins / Gerald Spaits Quartet on 12/20, and the return of Logan Richardson and his quartet on 12/27. The Al Pearson / David Schnitter Quintet was a ball last December, and they return on 12/28 during David's annual visit to Kansas City . Bobby Bryant has been living in town for a while but his gigs are too few, so catch him on January 3. There is more saxophone in January, too: Dennis Winslett, on 1/5 and Alaadeen and Group 21 on 1/5. Pianist Kevin Hays leads a trio on 1/19, and Roger Wilder's Quartet plays 1/24. Then there are the Blue Monday jams: Kevin Cerovich (12/3), Everette DeVan (12/10 and 1/21), the Jazz Disciples (12/17 and 1/14), and Jim Eriksen (1/7). Oh, I forgot the “big deals”: Bobby and Pamela Watson bring on the New Year at the Blue Room, and Ahmad Jamal “jams at the Gem” on January 19.

Elder Statesmen Classes of 2006 and 2007 Honored

Celebrating 23-years of service to the community and recognizing numerous accomplishments musically and civically made by its members individually and collectively, the Elder Statesmen of Kansas City Jazz takes this time to honor 16-senior musicians and industry supporters, for their contributions by performing and supporting Kansas City's jazz community. On Tuesday November 20, 2007 , the 2006-2007 induction ceremony was held at United Missouri Bank in downtown Kansas City .

The 2006-2007 Elder Statesmen are: Earl Baker, Bob Brookmeyer, Dorothy Diebel, Lewis W. Garrett, Dianne Gregg, Dean Hampton, Sylvester Heath, Professor Daniel “Dan” Jaffe, Billie N. Jones, Allen Monroe, Robert “Bob” Palmer, Mozella Parker, Ron Ubel, Horace Washington, William “Bill” Winbigler, and Ralph Woods. 2007 ushers in another group of individuals receiving the title of Elder Statesmen to include special recognition for the performing group the Scamps; in memory of Orestie “Rusty” Tucker and Arthur “Art” Jackson, and Kansas City Jazz Ambassador and Web site creator Dean Hampton as Honorary Chairman.

Ken Lovern to Lecture on Jazz Organ

Ken Lovern's OJT (Organ Jazz Trio) is hosting a concert/lecture regarding the history of organ jazz, specifically organ jazz in Kansas City . The presentation is at the West Wyandotte Branch of the Kansas City , Kansas Public Library on Thursday, December 6 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm . They will perform and talk about the history of the music in Kansas City and other towns and generally share their passion for organ jazz.

"Mama" Ray Jazz/Blues Jam — End Of An Era (and the beginning of a new one)

After more than 20 years at Harlings, the Saturday afternoon JAM with "Mama" Ray has moved — downstairs, two or three doors to the South. The new home for the Jam is the Embassy Bistro and Bar at 3945 Main Street .  The time will still remain 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Grand Marquis CD Release Party

Kansas City based funk band Grand Marquis will be having a CD release party on December 2 at the Mission Theatre, 5909 Johnson Drive in Mission . The show begins at 7:00 p.m. There will also be a showing of the jazz film Be It Ever So Humble… There's No Place, by Kansas City filmmaker Anthony Ladesich, and flamenco music and dance by Esencias Flamencas. For more information, check the Grand Marquis Web site www.grandmarquis.com.

Got News? Got 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.