News Notes

Berman Recovering
Butch Berman is one of the best friends jazz has in the Midwest . He had a scary seizure in October, spent six days in coma, and after coming out of the coma there were some other scary episodes. He is thankfully recovering, and based on his account of the recent events, sounds rejuvenated. Check out his latest newsletter to read about his story. It's at www.bermanmusicfoundation.org . The newsletter is full of upcoming happenings in the Omaha/Lincoln area, including a May 23 Russ Long Tribute concert with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra and featuring Gerald Spaits, Charles Perkins, Roger Wilder, and Ray DeMarchi.

KCJA Series to Feature John Proulx
The Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors will present renowned jazz performer, composer and recording artist John Proulx in concert Monday evening, February 18, 2008 . The concert, beginning at 7 p.m. , is open to the public and will also feature local jazz musicians Tommy Ruskin on drums and Gerald Spaits on bass.

The concert is part of the KCJA concert series and will be presented in the Twelfth Street Rag Room, just off the lobby in The Downtown Marriott Hotel on 12 th Street, west of Baltimore . Admission is $25; $20 for KCJA members and $10 for students with ID. Tickets will be available at the door. Food and beverages will be available, with free parking in the hotel garage.

Proulx is a featured pianist, vocalist, recording artist and composer. He credits his grandfather, a noted jazz guitarist, as the person who introduced him to the world of jazz. He has performed with jazz greats including Anita O'Day, Mark Murphy, Rickie-Lee Jones and others and plays in a number of West Coast big bands.

The final concert of the KCJA 2007-2008 six-concert series will be March 3, at 7 p.m. at the Marriott Downtown and will feature Tiger Okoshi and Steve Wilkerson, backed by Kansas Citians Tommy Ruskin, Bob Bowman and Joe Cartwright. The concert is a tribute to Charlie Parker.

Wijnands Joining Sandomirsky at JCCC Recital
Pianist Bram Wijnands will join classical violinist Gregory Sandomirsky for a recital at noon on Monday, February 18 in Yardley Hall, Carlsen Center , at Johnson County Community College .

Part of the Ruel Joyce Recital Series, the performance will explore the connections between Baroque and jazz improvisation. Using works such as Vivaldi's The Four Seasons , the musicians will demonstrate the similarities to jazz standards like Night in Tunisia and Moscow Nights .

Both men bring an international dimension to the Kansas City music scene. A native of the Netherlands , Wijnands graduated with a degree in jazz education from the Hilversum Conservatory, Europe 's largest jazz school. He has performed here and abroad with various groups and has been featured at both Carnegie Hall and Jazz At Lincoln Center. Sandomirsky comes to Kansas City from Russia where he earned a master of music degree from the Odessa Conservatory. In addition to solo appearances in Europe and the U.S. , Sandomirsky has collaborated with musicians playing a variety of styles, including recent work with guitarist Beau Bledsoe. Recently he served on a jury for an international music competition in Italy . He is associate concertmaster of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and is on the faculty of the International Center for Music at Park University .

The recital is free and open to the public. The Ruel Joyce and Jazz Series are co-sponsored by the Music and Community Services departments of the college and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts. For more information call 913-469-3605.

Pat Metheny Trio Benefit For Metheny Music Foundation
The Pat Metheny Trio will perform in a benefit for the Metheny Music Foundation on March 7. The concert will be held in Lee's Summit at the Unity Village Activities Center . Appearing with Pat will be Antonio Sanchez and Christian McBride. Tickets are available by calling 877-837-6616, or on the Web site www.methenymusicfoundation.org/donations.htm . You can also get tickets at Cameron's, 26 East Third Street in downtown Lee's Summit .

The Ray Alburn Memorial Scholarship Fundraising Concert and Dance
Ray Alburn passed on June 1, 2007 . As a tribute to Ray, a scholarship fund is being developed in his name. People may contribute as much as they like at the event, which will be held on February 3 at 2 p.m. in St. Joseph . All contributions will be tax deductible. The Ray Alburn Big Band will be playing and many musicians will perform in a jam session as well. Appetizers and drinks will be available for purchase. The concert will be held at United (Store) Ballroom, 602 Felix, St. Joseph , Missouri ; call 816-364-4681 for more event information. There is no admission cost. (Thanks to Kathleen Holeman for this notice.)

Candace Evans Coming to Kansas City
Since Candace Evans moved to the Lake of the Ozarks , her visits “back home” have been rare, but she'll be around for two shows in February. She'll be appearing at Tim Whitmer's concert series, “Spirituality And All That Jazz”, at Unity Temple on Wednesday February 6 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. She'll also appear at Jardines, on Wednesday April 2 with her quartet. The time is 7:30 - 11:30 . Candace will be back at the Lodge of Four Seasons at “the lake”, beginning May 1 till the end of the year, performing on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in the Lobby Lounge.

Also at Jardine's…
You know, Angela Hagenbach has had quite a run at Jardine's, and her Valentine's Day show has become an annual “event”. She'll do two dinner shows on February 14, in addition to her normal Friday gigs. Shay Estes will be doing an “after party” show, too. I also see that Nebraska native Susie Thorne will be coming to town; she'll be at Jardine's on February 6.

Also, you probably know that Todd Wilkinson is back in town, and with a brand new band, The Goombahles. Todd plays sax, and is joined by Matt Leifer on drums, his brother Ben on bass, along with guitarist Matt Hopper and keyboardist Jon Brewer. They'll be at Jardines on February 3 and continue there the first Sunday of every month.

New Vintage Big Band Continues at BB's
It's really yet another long run… The New Vintage Big Band cranks up its 2008 season at BB's Lawnside Bar-B-Q on 85 th Street in southern Kansas City on Wednesday, February 6, and continuing on the first Wednesday of the month for the rest of 2008. It's great to hear a big band roar in a smaller room.

Michael Wolfe

And How About the Blue Room?
The schedule is in the front cover, and it's a good one: Will Matthews on February 1, Bobby Watson with his Live and Learn band on February 9, a Valentine's Day show with Charles Williams, Luqman Hamza, Ron Gutierrez, and Watson. The fine pianist Michael Wolfe brings in a trio on February 22. In March there are a couple of rare two night gigs: Tia Fuller 's Quartet on March 14 and 15, and Deborah Brown with guitarist Joe Beck on March 22 and 24.

UMKC Salisbury Concert To Feature Randy Brecker
With a history as varied as it is distinguished, Randy Brecker has been shaping the sound of Jazz, R&B, and Rock for more than three decades. The legendary jazz artist's trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists. Join Brecker for the concluding event of the UMKC George Salisbury Jazz Festival - an unforgettable evening as the UMKC Conservatory's Concert Jazz Band, under the direction of Michael Pagan, teams up with Mr. Brecker. The concert is at 7:30 on Saturday, February 2, at the Pierson Auditorium in the UMKC University Center . Tickets are $15, $12 for students & seniors and $50 for VIP seating - call the Central Ticket Office at 816-235-6222. For information about the two day Jazz Festival call 816-235-2742.

Annetta “Cotton Candy” Washington , 1931-2007
Kansas City has lost legendary Annetta “Cotton Candy” Washington , a Blues and Jazz icon. She passed away December 25 from complications from a stroke suffered December 15 while performing on stage at a benefit for breast cancer research. She was 76. Her signature tune was “They Call Me Cotton Candy”.

Bev Mann, President of the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, said: “Cotton Candy was a true ‘Kansas City Blues and Jazz Legend', she will be missed.”

Cotton Candy was a founding member and helped organize the Kansas City Blues Society in 1981; she also served as the original Secretary. She was the first female to be named an Elder Statesmen of Jazz in Kansas City . She appeared in many Jazz and Blues clubs, in concerts, on television, at many KC Blues and Jazz Festivals and with other jazz and blues artists across the county with her band “So Many Men”. She was a featured and respected entertainer for several decades.

Former Mayor Emanuel Cleaver and the Kansas City , Missouri City Council honored Cotton Candy and her achievements in the world of blues and jazz several years ago with an official City Resolution, a permanent record for Kansas City and Kansas City jazz and blues musical history.

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.