JAM: DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008 Issue: Off The Vine

Greetings Music Lovers—

I'm truly amazed at all of the activities during the last 12 months as 18th & Vine has played host to innumerable talented musicians both local and national, students, educators, jazz fans and enthusiasts and so many people from our community. We've been proud to have so many incredible acts grace our stages – and to host hundreds of students here to participate in master classes with both local and national performers. June saw the third coming of the Rhythm & Ribs festival – and in September, the American Jazz Museum celebrated its 10th Anniversary.

As we close out the year, I'd like to invite all of you to visit our wonderful facility down in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Whether you're a first-timer or one of our finest repeat visitors, I'd like to re-emphasize that the American Jazz Museum offers many things to many people. From exceptional educational programming, world class concerts and award-winning performance venues to striking jazz art exhibitions, stunning film collections and one-of-a-kind exhibit spaces, the American Jazz Museum is all about the music.

As we continue to strive for excellence in presenting and celebrating jazz, we are also working to expand the influence and awareness of jazz not only in our own community, but on the national and global scale. In the coming months, we'll continue to envision the future of the American Jazz Museum and begin to unveil bodacious new programs, performance initiatives, and a host of other activities on the Vine. And as we plan our future, we're pleased to continue to present all of our programming that has been so faithfully supported for a decade now in Kansas City .

Storyteller Brother John, vocalist Lisa Henry, bassist Tyrone Clark and drummer Mike Warren continue to promote jazz awareness and education with local children through their one-of-a-kind performances at our Jazz Storytelling sessions. Join us on December 7th as we learn about “ The Wind in the Reeds & the Hoots in the Horns ” and on December 21 for a jam session with Santa!

Held on Fridays at 10am in the American Jazz Museum Atrium, Jazz Storytelling is free and open to the public.

Jazz Poetry Jams continues to explore the dynamic relationship between jazz and the spoken word. Several talented poets have graced the Blue Room stage so far in this series, and we look forward to hosting Kansas City 's own Black Poets Collective on December 18th and Kemit Coleman on January 15th.

Each session begins at 7pm in the Blue Room. Admission is $5.00. For more information, contact Glenn North at 816-474-8463, x221 or gnorth@kcjazz.org.

And while you're getting into the holiday mood, don't forget that you can give the gift of jazz to your friends, colleagues and loved ones. Stop by our Swing Shop this season for some superb special sales on a variety of jazz-themed gifts, including toys, apparel, posters, music and other unique items. Look to www.americanjazzmuseum.org for information on the Swing Shop.

I'm pleased to announce that Kansas City 's own Bobby and Pam Watson will be in the Blue Room on December 31 as our guest performers for our annual New Year's Eve Celebration on the Vine. In fact, this performance will be the first appearance that Bobby and Pam have made together at a major event – so it will be extremely special to “swing in the New Year” with some of our city's finest musicians. More information about New Year's Eve in the Blue Room is available at www.americanjazzmuseum.org .

The 11th annual Jammin' at the Gem season continues on January 19 with the captivating piano work of NEA Jazz Master Ahmad Jamal, who will be leading a trio. A superb musician who was a major influence on Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Ahmad Jamal plays with a chamber-like sensibility and classical formality, but still swings like a jazzman without fail.

Also performing this in this year's series:

Najee – February 9, 2008
Honoring Women in Jazz: 18th & Vine Big Band featuring Mary Stallings & Karrin Allyson – March 22, 2008
Tribute to Ray Brown featuring Christian McBride, Benny Green & Greg Hutchinson – April 18, 2008

Tickets range from $25 to $40. Incentive packages available. Call 816-474-6262 for ticket information or visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org for more details

We're also planning a great partnership with Penn Valley Community College to coincide with our final Jammin' at the Gem concert on April 18. During that spring weekend (April 18-19), we'll be hosting a high-school jazz festival at 18th & Vine where students will not only have an opportunity to perform, but also interact with our nationally renowned adjudicators and performers in the Ray Brown Tribute Band – Christian McBride, Benny Green, and Greg Hutchinson. Look for more details on this event in the coming months!

A full schedule of events for our programs is available at www.americanjazzmuseum.org . And as always, the current Blue Room performance schedule is available online as well as the inside front cover ad of JAM.

I'd like to recall one additional event from 2007 – and leave you with a final thought.

Renowned vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater kicked off our Jammin' at the Gem series back in October with a stellar performance featuring her incredible band blending traditional African music & instruments with American jazz for a truly unique and engaging performance.

In a glowing review from the Kansas City Star , the concert was described as “ monumentally transcendent, riveting & engaging …like witnessing the inception of an extraordinary new art form ,” displaying “ an entirely original, innovative sound…conceiving uncharted musical paths.”

Needless to say, Dee Dee's performance not only reinforced her esteemed place among many great jazz vocalists, but it also set a new standard for what jazz music can be.

On that note – I'd like to encourage all of you to think about what jazz is to you. The music speaks differently to many people, from expert enthusiasts to novices and everyone in between. One of the most beautiful things about jazz is that it is ever-changing – and it still finds a way to be relevant. Reflect on what the music means to you – and how you can share that awareness and love for the music with others in 2008.

Thank you all for your wonderful support. We'll see you at 18th & Vine!

Best wishes and deepest thanks,

Greg Carroll

Greg Carroll is the executive director of the American Jazz Museum.