Off The Vine...

Greetings Music Lovers

Fall is here and jazz is swingin’ at 18th & Vine. We’re very excited about this year’s Jammin’ at the Gem series – thanks to those of you who joined us for the season kickoff on September 20 with Kirk Whalum – what a show! Don’t forget – season ticket holders are invited to the pre-concert receptions and Jazz Conversations.

Are you Jammin’ at the Gem?

This month, the Museum will present a two-day salute to the legendary drummer Art Blakey through dynamic performances, meaningful education programs and other events, including a recognition ceremony for this year’s recipients of the American Jazz Museum Lifetime Achievement Award – NEA Jazz Master Curtis Fuller and Kansas City icon Luqman Hamza. Join us October 10-11 on the Vine as we recognize those artists whose contributions to jazz, in the words of Duke Ellington, are “beyond category.”

Also, we’re equally pleased to announce our new Jazz House Party initiative. The Museum will be hosting renowned local and national jazz artists for an intimate performance in the homes of some of our great contributors, sponsors – and staff – and community members are invited. Your participation will help support the operation of our many education programs, Changing Gallery exhibits and performance initiatives at the Museum. Special thanks to those of you who joined us for the first House Party on September 19 with Ida McBeth – and thanks to Laura & Lantz Welch for welcoming so many jazz lovers into their home.

Stay tuned to our website, www.americanjazzmuseum. org, for more details on upcoming events & programs at 18th & Vine. Thanks again to all of you who have contributed in one way or another, whether it’s attending performances, opening receptions, education programs and other special events, visiting our exhibits (and bringing new visitors along), becoming a member, spreading the good word of the American Jazz Museum to others in your own network or making a donation to our organization. Your constant support is vital to taking Kansas City jazz to the next level!

Jammin’ at the Gem

The 2008-2009 series continues this October with a Tribute to Art Blakey, a two-day event providing meaningful education opportunities and outstanding entertainment. For over 40 years Art Blakey led one of the most celebrated groups in history, and his model of “education” on the bandstand has inspired countless musicians across the world.

An All-Star alumni band will feature musicians representing several generations of the Blakey Jazz Messengers, including renowned trombonist & NEA Jazz Master Curtis Fuller, saxophonists Bobby Watson & Javon Jackson, drummer Carl Allen, bassist Essiet Essiet, and pianist Joanne Brackeen, the first female member of the Jazz Messengers.

The two-day celebration and artist-in-residency will also include a day-long educational symposium featuring a Jazz Messenger performance/master class for middle school, high school and collegiate level students and a panel session examining the relationship between traditional jazz education and jazz institution training on the bandstand. NEA Jazz Master David Baker will also participate in the activities. In conjunction with the Coda Fund Committee, the American Jazz Museum is pleased to host the Health and Financial Fitness Fair featuring a host of local health & financial institutions. The event will be held on October 11 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the American Jazz Museum. Activities/ sessions include:

• Free screenings for bloodwork, cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, and more
• Several sessions on financial wellness, including budgeting, managing credit cards, investing, mortgages and more
• “Ask the Doctor”

The Tribute to Art Blakey begins at 8:00pm in the Gem Theater on Saturday, October 11. Tickets range $30 - $50. To purchase tickets to the concert or for more information on Jammin’ at the Gem, call 816- 474-6262 or visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org.

Also performing in the 2008-2009 series lineup (schedule subject to change):

• February 20, 2009 – Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary All-Star Group
• March 21, 2009 – New York Voices
• April 18, 2009 – Mingus Big Band
• May 9, 2009 – Poncho Sanchez

Blue Room

The Blue Room calendar is jam-packed with a variety of local and national acts across a spectrum of styles within jazz. There are many other great acts lined up which we can’t fit in here. For more dates, see our ad on the inside front cover of JAM. Some highlights include:

• Friday, October 10 – Logan Richardson Quartet
• Friday, October 17 – Little Willie Littlefield – the legendary jazz & blues pianist/vocalist who recorded the original version of “Kansas City” on the Federal record label in 1952
• Saturday, October 18 – Master drummer Michael Carvin with special guest Bobby Watson
• Thursday, November 6 – Joey DeFrancesco
• Saturday, November 29 – Sons of Brasil CD Release Party

Changing Gallery

Thanks to everyone who supported “381 Days: The Montgomery Bus Boycott Story.” After presenting three free public programs and experiencing a solid response from the community, we’re proud to have been a stop on this incredible exhibit’s tour throughout the United States. Kansas City should also be proud to have been a host of an important piece of history, circulated by our wonderful associates at the Smithsonian. Special thanks are also given to AARP for their generous support of “381 Days.”

Our 18th & Vine neighbors, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, will host the Ailey Camp 20 Year Photo Essay Project from November through mid-January 2009. We’ll return in February with Jazz Diaspora: The Collography of Anthony High. Look for more details in the future at www.americanjazzmuseum.org.

Education Join us for two more exciting sessions in which we explore the dynamic relationship between jazz and the spoken word in our Jazz Poetry Jams series. Upcoming guest poets include Karen Muhammad on October 21. Another poet (see the Web site calendar) will join us on November 18. Both performances begin at 7:00pm in the Blue Room – admission is $5.00.

Jazz Storytelling continues to promote jazz awareness & education with local children through one-of-akind performances. In an effort to elevate the program’s accessibility, we’re pleased to announce that sessions will be held on 2nd and 4th Fridays – and now on 1st Saturdays of each month, October through Spring 2009. Each Friday performance is held in the American Jazz Museum Atrium at 10:00am (Saturdays at 11:00am) and admission is free.

For more information on any of our upcoming events & programs, please contact the American Jazz Museum at 816-474-8463 or visit www.americanjazzmuseum. org. Thank you all for your wonderful support. We’ll see you at 18th & Vine!

Best wishes and deepest thanks.

Greg Carroll is the Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum.