Off The Vine

Greetings Music Lovers
As many of you are aware, the Museum experienced on Friday, December 21 st what I happily refer to as a Great Day on the Vine . Some highlights of that exceptional day include a press conference in the Blue Room, where Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II presented the Museum with one of former President Bill Clinton's saxophones as well as a landmark $312,000 in federal appropriations funding.

We're extremely pleased and appreciative for this generous donation. Jazz music has shaped many sociological, political, economical, intellectual, and artistic paradigms, and this saxophone will serve as an excellent means for the Museum to further explore how jazz influenced the career of an American president through meaningful educational programming.

Moreover, these new funds will allow us to continue the work in bringing our John Baker Film Collection to fruition, create visual changes to our exhibit space – and most importantly – develop new educational programming to continue to generate awareness, foster appreciation and build new audiences for jazz.

Aside from our new horn and this excellent new source of funding, December 21 st also saw the delivery of two additional sources of educational funding – one to help establish our newly planned American Jazz Museum All Star High School band program. And on top of all of this, it was wonderful to see over 50 little youngsters, dancing to the sounds of jazz during our annual holiday-themed Jazz Storytelling event.

To that end, I'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of our members, donors, sponsors and program participants – and any other visitors & community members who have given of their time, talents, funding, support and passion. Through your past, present, and future support, we're able to preserve, celebrate and advance this institution and the excellent musical traditions that were established decades ago in this very neighborhood.

And as all of the local jazz entities continue to strive for excellence in presenting & celebrating jazz through rich, meaningful performances & educational programming, I'd also like to emphasize how important it is for everyone in the Kansas City jazz community to bond together and support each other's efforts. Only by working together can we expand the influence, awareness & appreciation for jazz not only in our own community, but within the national and global landscapes.

Below is a rundown of upcoming performances & education programs at the American Jazz Museum . I'd like to encourage you to help us work towards our initiatives in furthering this incredible form of music by participating in any of these events & activities:

Jammin' at the Gem
A true pioneer and consistent favorite in contemporary jazz, mixing up his trademark soulful soprano with dynamic touches of flute and alto to create high energy performances, Najee will hit the Gem Theater stage on February 9 to continue the 11th annual Jammin' at the Gem series. The Grammy-nominated versatile saxophonist has produced multiple chart-topping records and earned many accolades working with a variety of musicians over the last two decades. Najee's latest release, Rising Sun , showcases him as a serious jazz player with tastes for pop, world music and R&B, attracting straight-ahead jazz and old-school soul fans alike.

March 22 marks a special performance at the Gem Theater as a tribute to Women in Jazz. Under the direction of world renowned saxophonist (and Kansas City's own) Bobby Watson, the 18 th & Vine Big Band will be accompanied by two of today's finest female vocalists, Mary Stallings and Karrin Allyson.

Referred to by the New York Times as “the best jazz singer alive today that everybody seems to have missed,” Mary Stallings wowed the jazz world with her triumphant 2001 release, Live at the Village Vanguard and her 2005 collaboration with Geri Allen, Remember Love . Joining the set is Karrin Allyson, a Kansas City transplant to New York City – and now a popular and critically acclaimed fixture on the jazz landscape. Drawing from a vast well of styles and influences, her mastery of lyrical interpretation has earned her multiple Grammy nominations, including two for Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane in 2001 and Footprints in 2006.

Tickets for both Jammin' at the Gem concerts range from $25 to $40. Call 816-474-6262 for ticket information or visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org for more details.

Jazz Poetry Jams
Our Jazz Poetry Jams series continues to explore the dynamic relationship between jazz & the spoken word through stellar performances by talented poets and the accompanying jazz outfits. Upcoming sessions include the Teen Poetry Night on February 19 and Jillian Hishaw on March 18. For more information, contact education coordinator Glenn North at 816-474-8463, x221 or gnorth@kcjazz.org .

Jazz Storytelling
Storyteller Brother John, vocalist Lisa Henry , bassist Tyrone Clark and drummer Mike Warren continue to promote jazz awareness & education with local children through their one-of-a-kind performances at our free Jazz Storytelling program. Upcoming sessions will be held on February 8 th & 22 nd as well as March 7 th & 21 st at 10:00am in the American Jazz Museum Atrium. For more information, contact education coordinator Dennis Winslett at 816-474-8463, x241 or dwinslett@kcjazz.org .

Blue Room
The February/March Blue Room schedule is packed with a variety of local and national acts across a spectrum of styles within jazz – a performance lineup that we're always pleased to present. On Saturday, February 9, Bobby Watson will bring his new “Live & Learn” band to the Blue Room – it's a Blakey-esque group in which Bobby is providing a platform for some younger musicians to get their “schooling” onstage.

On Thursday, February 14, the spirit of Valentine's Day will be swingin' with the sounds of the Charles Williams Quartet and some very special guests: Luqman Hamza, Bobby Watson & Ron Gutierrez. In addition to the aforementioned Women in Jazz concert on March 22 featuring the 18 th & Vine Big Band with guest performers Mary Stallings & Karrin Allyson, we will also be paying tribute to Women in Jazz in the Blue Room on Monday, March 3, featuring the Women in Jazz Jam Session , led by Kansas City's own Millie Edwards.

There are a few other surprises lined up which we can't fit in here – but as always, the current Blue Room performance schedule is available online as well as the inside front cover ad of JAM. A full schedule of events for our programs is also available at www.americanjazzmuseum.org .

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

Best wishes and deepest thanks,

Greg Carroll

Greg Carroll is the Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum