2014v2Online

®
NewVenues
APRIL/MAY2014
KansasCity
Scene!
EliotZigmund
Vine,Foly,News,ReviewsandMore!

ConCert
SerieSJammin’ Jammin’
american
jazz 2013
museum 2014
816-474-6262
Lifetime Achievement Concert!
Dr. NAthAN DAVIS brings
an ensemble featuring NEA Jazz
Master Curtis Fuller, Abe Laboriel,
George Cables and Winard harper
to Kansas City.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Purchase your\ tickets today!
at the Gem
For the full season line-up visit
americanjazzmuseum.org
Saturday, May 17, 2014
MASSEy hALL
50th ANNIVErSAry
BILL ChArLAP
and his trio of Kenny
Washington and
Peter Washington
performing with
special guests Jon
Faddis and Jesse
Davis in celebration
of the historic Massey
hall Concert.
$10 Admission Fridays & Saturdays (unless otherwise noted)
Blue Room Hours
Monday & Thursday: 5pm – 11pm
(music starts at 7pm)
Friday: 5pm – 1am (music starts at 8:30pm)
Indigo Hour (music starts at 5:30pm)
Saturday: 7pm – 1am (music starts at 8:30pm)
April 2014
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
5
Bennie Moten Celebration!
Elderstatesmen of KC Jazz
Ernie Krivda Quartet, $15
Darryl White Quintet
featuring Jeff Jenkins
Indigo Hour – Charlotte Embry & Soigne’
In partnership with Harvesters &
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Louis Neal Big Band, $13 ($3* off admission with your
donation of (2) Canned Goods *Applied per person.)
May 2014
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Monday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
5
8
9
10
Lester “Duck” Warner Project with Becky Berry
Dan Thomas & Voyage
Indigo Hour – Charlotte Embry & Soigne’
Tyrone Clark Quartet
Cinco de Mayo! – Chris Clarke
Eboni & The Ivories
CD Release Party! – Diverse
Indigo Hour – BMW
Charles Williams Quintet
Celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month
The
Blue Room
RSVP to takefive@kcjazz.org or 816-474-8463 Ext. 238
Sunday
Monday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Monday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Monday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
6
7
10
11
12
14
17
18
19
21
24
25
26
Monday 28 Plus Minus
Neo-Soul Lounge
Jazz Disciples
Old School Party! Lester Duck Warner
Doug Talley Qunintet with Millie Edwards
Indigo Hour – BMW
Concord Recording Artist – Helen Sung trio, $15
TJ Martley
Happy Birthday! Bob Bowman
James Ward Band
Indigo Hour – Lady D
Rob Scheps/Eliot Zigmund Quintet, $15
Shades of Jade
Mambo DeLeon & Carte Blanc
Book of Gaia
Indigo Hour – Gray Matter
Jazz Disciples with Luqman Hamza
A percentage of every purchase of Blue Room Pale Ale is donated by North
Coast Brewing to support programming at the American Jazz Museum.
Sunday
Monday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Monday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Monday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
11
12
15
16
17
19
22
23
24
26
29
30
31
Neo-Soul Lounge
Jazz Disciples
Joe Cartwright and Musa Nova
Matt Otto Quintet
Indigo Hour – Lady D
James Ward Band
Matt Hopper
Dominique Sanders featuring Tivon Pennicott
Eddie Moore and The Outer Circle
Indigo Hour – Gray Matter
Jazz Disciples
Celebrating Memorial Day! – Marcus Hampton Sextet
Groupo Aztlan
Wild Men of KC
Indigo Hour – James “Fuzzy” West
Frank Potenza
Schedule subject to change
The Blue Room received
toP JAzz CluB
RECogNItIoN
—DownBeat and Ingram’s magazines
Indigo Hour In the Blue Room! No Cover Charge!
Blue Room Martinis • Drink Specials: Beer, Wine & Wells • Live Music • Appetizer Buffet
EduCAtIoN PRogRAMs
Jazz Poetry Jams
Jazz storytelling
stories from the Vine
Visit www.americanjazzmuseum.org
for a complete listing of the
Education Programs happening
in April and May.
Join us for one hour and see how we are
keeping Jazz alive on the Vine…
Upcoming Tours:
April 3 & 15, and May 1 & 20,
6 pm, Atrium, American Jazz
1600 E. 18th Street • In Kansas City’s Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District • americanjazzmuseum.org
BluE RooM

LIVE JAZZ BY KC'S TOP TALENT
FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK!
Full Dinner Menu • Signature Cocktails • Secured Parking
3601 Broadway • Kansas City, MO 64111 • 816-298-6316
Reservations, Menu, & Calendar:
www.thebroadwayjazzclub.com
12th Street Jump Live Recordings
Alternate Wednesdays • 7:30 pm • $5 cover
MONDAY SPOKEN WORD POETRY 7pm-12am
WEDNESDAY DJ OLD SCHOOL
THURSDAY OPEN JAM SESSION 7:30pm-11:30pm
FRIDAY LIVE BAND 6pm-10pm
1700 E 18th St. • Kansas City, Missouri
(816) 472-0013
SATURDAY LIVE BAND 5pm-9pm
WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY LUNCH 11am-3pm

EDITOR’S CORNER
ROGER ATKINSON
When we lived in Baltimore, one of our favorite
musicians was pianist Reuben Brown, who lived in
Washington. Reuben was a “first call” pianist who would
play with the musicians who came through Baltimore
and Washington. He was also the “house pianist” at the
One Step Down in Washington, and he was in tenor
legend Buck Hill’s Quartet. Reuben had a bad stroke in
1995 which left him unable to play. I recently found that
he recorded a couple of CDs a year before his stroke for
SteepleChase, and hearing them brought back some great
memories. The CDs are Ice Scape, a trio date with bassist
Rufus Reid and drummer Billy Hart, and the solo Blue
and Brown. I highly recommend both.
Buck and Reuben were just a couple of the great
“local” musicians that made the scene in the Baltimore/
Washington special.
In Kansas City we have an abundance of riches with
the musicians who have chosen to live and work here.
And after a period when the jazz clubs slowly declined in
number, we are now excited to have a renaissance, with
several great venues opening and providing a welcome
outlet for our own local legends, while enabling a future
generation of legends to grow. We are back to a scene where
fans of live jazz have choices – often difficult choices – of
who to go hear. That’s what makes the scene here arguably
as good as any in the USA outside of New York and
Chicago. And when I make that point to folks, I rarely
get an argument.
For these clubs to thrive, we have to show the owners
of the clubs that their faith in us, the fans, is appreciated.
I urge all of our readers to get out and check out the new
venues and to visit the other clubs and restaurants who
present live jazz. And take a friend, too. They may discover
what we all know, that we have some of the best musicians
in the world here, and a night at a jazz club is a great night
of listening and often results in repeat visits. Help spread
the word!
2
Jazzin’ Up the Town!
Take a “PRIVATE JAZZ CRAWL” or “AN EVENING OF JAZZ” customized just for you!
Starting @ $65 per person for groups of 30 or more.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Call (913) 402-8151 or (913) 967-6767 or Email: privatejazzcrawls@kcjazzambassadors.com
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE

CONTENTS
April + May 2014 | Volume 28, No. 2
©2014 Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, Inc.
JAM is published bi-monthly by the Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors, a non-profit 501(c)
(3) organization dedicated to the development and promotion of Kansas City jazz.
All rights are reserved. Reproduction of any material is prohibited without consent of
the publisher.
To contact the KC Jazz Ambassadors, call (913) 967-6767.
For advertising information, call (816) 591-3378 or email advt@kcjazzambassadors.com.
Letters should be addressed to: JAM, P.O. Box 36181, Kansas
City, MO 64171-6181. To contact the editor: Email jameditor@kcjazzambassadors.com
“JAM” and “Jazz Lover’s Pub Crawl” are Registered Trademarks of The Kansas City Jazz
Ambassadors, Inc. JAM/Jazz Ambassador Magazine (Online) ISSN: 1533-0745
E D I T O R
Roger Atkinson
P R O O F R E A D E R S
Dee Cerningeiss
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S
Carolyn Glenn Brewer
Chris Burnett
Carol Comer
Greg Carroll
Wayne Goins
Connie Humiston
Hermon Mehari
Charlton Price
Kevin Rabas
Michael Ragan
Michael Shults
Sharon Valleau
A D V E R T I S I N G
Connie ‘Crash’ Humiston (816) 591-3378
T Y P O G R A P H Y & G R A P H I C D E S I G N
Rodric McBride, Midwest Rock Lobster
C O V E R L A Y O U T & D E S I G N
Keith Kavanaugh, BauWau Design
C O V E R P H O T O
Take Five and Broadway Jazz Club by Jan Atkinson;
Green Lady Lounge by Brian Paulette
P R I N T I N G
Single Source Printing
D I S T R I B U T I O N ( P R I N T )
K.C. Jazz Ambassadors
D I S T R I B U T I O N ( E L E C T R O N I C )
www.kcjazzambassadors.com
I N T E R N E T W E B M A S T E R
www.Wild-WestWebs.com
2 0 1 4 B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E
PRESIDENT Steve Hargrave
TREASURER Penny Oathout
D I R E C T O R S
DIRECTOR, PRIVATE PUB CRAWLS Sharon Rabius
Editor's Corner ............. 2
News & Notes. ............. 4
Off the Vine. ............... 6
Folly Jazz News. ............ 8
Eliot Zigmund Joining Rob
Scheps for KC Tour ...........10
New Venues Jazz Up the
Kansas City Scene .......... 11
Storyville. ................ 19
For the Record .............22
Club Scene ...............24
On the Air. ............... 25
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Bev Mann | Bob Clark | Gary Becker
Sharon Rabius | Bill Paprota
The Board of Directors gratefully thanks Darrell Hoffman
for his untiring contributions to the KCJA.
JOIN TODAY!
KCJA Membership Application . 16
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 3

NEWS+NOTES
4
Record Store Day 2014
The annual Record Store Day is an annual event that
most independent record stores participate in, including
area stores Vinyl Renaissance and Zebedee’s. There will be
promotions, and some stores will have their own unique
special events. This year it is on April 19. More information,
including all participating retailers, is on the event
Web site www.recordstoreday.com.
Everette DeVan Fundraisers
Many of you have
heard that Everette De-
Van had a stroke recently.
There were two fundraisers
held in March, at
the Broadway Jazz Club
and at the Phoenix; the
event at the Broadway
raised $5,800 from the
jazz community. Dionne
Jeroue has set up an on line
fundraiser so additional
donations can be made to
help Everette with his bills while he is recuperating. The
Everetre DeVan Fund can be found at www.gofundme.com;
type Everette DeVan in the search box. Over $3,000 has
been donated to the fund from this site.
Educational Jazz Series
The UMKC Friends
of Jazz have initiated a Jazz
Educational series. During
the events, the Speaker/
Performer will talk about
books, composers, music,
etc. and try to educate
the audience in regards
to what the artist thought
and was experiencing during
a certain time period.
Everette DeVan
Millie Edwards
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
The goal is to establish a closer connection to what the
audience is hearing and seeing. Local musicians and educators
will be making the presentations. The first event
is scheduled at the Broadway Jazz Club on April 27, from
4 to 6 p.m and will feature Chuck Haddix and Millie
Edwards. The plan is for quarterly events.
New Home for 12 Street Jump!
12th Street Jump, public radio’s weekly jazz, blues
and comedy jam, has taken its hour long variety show to
the Broadway Jazz Club, 3601 Broadway in Kansas City,
starting in March. The performances will be from 7:30
to 9:00. The Joe Cartwright Trio will play after the show.
The upcoming show calendar:
April 2: Celebrating the music of
Freddie Hubbard with special
guest Stan Kessler
April 16: Celebrating the music of
Charles Mingus with special
guest Steve Lambert
April 30: Celebrating the music of Mary Lou
Williams with Joe Cartwright
May 15: Celebrating the music of Bob James
with special guest Bob James
Hawkfest Returns in June
The Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival will be held June
13 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and June 14 from 1 p.m. to 10
p.m. The event will held in downtown St. Joseph, Missouri
at 6th and Felix. As always, admission is free and there
will be food and beverages available for purchase. There
will also be artists on site showing and selling their work.
Jazz and music lovers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair
and enjoy excellent entertainment. More information is
available at www.colemanhawkins.org.

Spirituality and All That
Jazz Series Continues
The monthly Spirituality and All That Jazz Series is
held at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 West 47th Street in
Kansas City. Performances begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7
and are available at the door; children under 16 are admitted
free. For more information, go to www.unitytemple.
com/culture/allthatjazz.asp. The upcoming concerts are:
Wednesday, April 2: Kansas City Kansas Community
College Jazz Ensembles – Latin Band, Vocal Jazz I and
Bebop Combo, under the direction of Jim Mair and Jurgen
Welge.
Wednesday, May 7: The Stride Stylings of Bram
Wijnands, with Tim Whitmer & The Consort Band
KCKCC Number 1 for 15th
Consecutive Year at Pitt
State Jazz Festival
Congratulations to Jim Mair and the ensembles from
KCKCC for their success at the recent Pittsburg State Jazz
Festival, where the KCKCC Jazz Band and combos 1 and
2 received Number 1 ratings for the 15th consecutive year.
Ten of the KCKCC musicians were cited for outstanding
musicianship and soloist recognition. They were Karriem
Sayles of Wyandotte, piano; Richard Tucker, Sumner
Academy, alto; Cole Mertz, Basehor-Linwood, trombone;
Nelson Hanson, Lansing, vibes and drums; P.J. Churn,
Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz
Band members cited by outstanding musicianship
and soloist recognition included (from left Jon
Tobaben, Charles Glover, Rayvon Haggerty, Karriem
Sayles, Levi Holgersen and Director Jim Mair.
PHOTO BY ALAN HOSKINS
SM West, flute; Jon Tobaben, SM South, trumpet and
voice; Levi Holgersen, McPherson, bass; Kenneth Watson,
Knob Knoster, drums and voice; and Charles Glover of
Olathe North and Rayvon Haggerty of Topeka High,
both tenor saxophones.
JCCC Jazz Series Concludes
Spring Program
The Johnson County Community College Jazz Series
concludes their spring concert series on April 1 with a
performance by the Ron Carlson Group. The recital takes
place at noon at the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center. All
performances are free and open to the public; seating is
available on a first come, first served basis. The Jazz Series
is sponsored by the JCCC Music and Theater department.
A Gravestone for Bennie Moten
Sometime last year, it came to the CODA board’s
attention that the grave site of Kansas City’s jazz master,
Bennie Moten, in Highland Cemetery was without a
marker. CODA has since made arrangements for a gravestone
to be made, and a remembrance and stone setting
ceremony will be held Wednesday, April 2 at the Highland
Cemetery site, beginning at 3:00 p.m. (April 2 is the 79th
anniversary of Bennie Moten’s death). There will also be an
event that evening at the Blue Room featuring the music
of Bennie Moten performed by the Elder Statesmen of
KC Jazz.
Virginia “Ginny” Coleman, 91
Ginny Coleman, a great friend and active supporter
of jazz in Kansas City, died on March 6. Ginny is best
known for being co-host with Ruth Rhoden of the KCUR
radio show “Just Jazz”, which was broadcast for twenty
three years every Sunday afternoon until 2005. This show
was an important showcase for Kansas City musicians.
She also started the excellent Kansas City Jazz Workshop
concert series with Mike Ning, Sherry Jones, and Jim
Monroe. Ginny’s voice could be heard on the Kansas
City jazz hotline, which gave a complete listing of local
performances. The date for a celebration of life service has
not been set.
Charles Gray, 74
Charles Gray, a drummer who played in Kansas City,
died on January 11 in Oaxaca, Mexico. Among the musicians
who played with Charles were Paul Smith, Mike
Ning, Bill Hargrave, Arny Young, Bryan Hicks, Ed Pharr
and Ray Riepen.
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 5

OFF THE VINE
CHRIS BURNETT
As we celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month in April
and continue swinging at 18th & Vine in May, we at the
American Jazz Museum are very pleased to offer a variety
of excellent programming choices as Spring arrives in full
bloom. From our world class performances, award-winning
venues and exceptional educational programming;
to, striking jazz art exhibitions, stunning film collections
and one-of-a-kind exhibit spaces, your American Jazz
Museum is the destination for all things jazz.
6
Performance
Named after the famed 1930s Street Hotel club in
the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, the Blue Room
simultaneously honors the past and showcases the present
names in jazz. April and May highlights feature:
April 2 Bennie Moten Celebration! -
Elderstatesmen of KC Jazz
April 3 Ernie Krivda Quartet ($15 Cover)
April 12 Concord Recording Artist
Helen Sung Trio ($15 Cover)
April 19 Rob Scheps/Eliot Zigmund
Quintet ($15 Cover)
May 9 CD Release Party! - Diverse
May 15 Joe Cartwright and Musa Nova
May 31 Frank Potenza
A multifaceted exhibit highlighting the countless
musicians who crafted “Kansas City jazz,” a sound known
all over the world. Recognized by DownBeat and Ingram’s
magazines, the Blue Room is a perennial KC Visitors’
Choice winning venue that provides a high quality jazz
“listening room” experience for patrons and a platform
to present dynamic performances from the best local and
national jazz talent in an intimate setting.
Jammin’ at the Gem continues during Jazz Appreciation
Month with the Lifetime Achievement Award
Concert featuring Dr. Nathan Davis and the band of
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Dr. Nathan Davis
jazz all-stars he’s assembled to perform on Saturday, April
19. Dr. Davis will be joined by NEA Jazz Master Curtis
Fuller; the masterful pianist, George Cables; Abe Laboriel
on bass; and, Winard Harper on drums. Dr. Davis, also
a native of Kansas City, Kansas, recently retired from his
tenured post as the esteemed head of the jazz department
at the University of Pittsburgh.
The Jammin’ at the Gem series season concludes on
Saturday, May 17 with a performance that celebrates the
60th anniversary of what is commonly referred to after
Stewart Hoffman’s book, as “The Greatest Jazz Concert
Ever” - Jazz at Massey Hall. The original 1953 concert

Grafton Plastic Saxophone played by
Charlie Parker at Massey Hall in 1953
featured Charlie Parker on alto saxophone; Dizzy Gillespie
on trumpet; Bud Powell on piano; Charles Mingus on
bass; and, Max Roach on drums. Parker played the very
Grafton saxophone that is now part of the American Jazz
Museum collection during this concert. The concert was
recorded and there are many written anecdotes available
that provide more details about certain circumstances surrounding
key aspects of the event. This Massey Hall 60th
Anniversary ensemble features pianist Bill Charlap and
his trio of Kenny Washington and Peter Washington with
special guests Jon Faddis on trumpet and Jesse Davis on
alto saxophone performing the music from this celebrated
and historic concert.
Exhibition
“Convergence: Jazz, Films, Dance and the Visual
Arts” is a collaboration between the American Jazz Museum
and the David C. Driskell Center at the University
of Maryland, Convergence shines a light on more than
60 significant works of African American art that have
a strong connection to the jazz aesthetic in combination
with rare jazz film footage capturing the art as it evolved
in the early part of the 20th century.
Stories from the Vine: “One-On-One” with Dr. David
C. Driskell on February 27 was a resounding success with
capacity attendance in the Atrium of the American Jazz
Museum. Dr. Driskell, a renowned painter and collector
of art, is one of the leading authorities on the subject of
African American art and the Black artist in American
COURTESY OF AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM COLLECTION
PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS BURNETT
society. The American Jazz Museum featured Dr. Driskell
in an intimate discussion reflecting upon his journey to
success in the arts collection world, his role as a respected
artist and educator, and the significance of the artists and
their works featured in the Convergence exhibition. Dr.
Driskell shared personal insights on the converging influences
that visual, performing, and film artists draw upon
in the creation of their works.
The exhibition opened November 8, 2013 and will
close on April 27, 2014. In addition to viewing the works
Trey Runnion, AJM Chairman of the Board, Jess
Rezac, AJM Development Manager; Dr. David C.
Driskell, Honored Guest; Greg Carroll, AJM CEO;
Licia Clifton-James, Exhibition Event Chair
of art in the Changing Gallery, following are the two
remaining supplemental public programs that highlight
this free and open to the public exhibition offering.
Jazz Under the Lens with Greg Carroll is April 1, 6:00
p.m.
“C5”…..Convergence Concert & Collective Creative
Conversation is April 10, 6:00 p.m.
Education
Take Five Tours are free. Upcoming tours are April
3 and 15, and May 1 and 20, starting at 6 p.m. in the
Atrium. Join us for one hour and see how we are “keeping
Jazz alive on the Vine”.
Jazz Poetry Jams, Jazz Storytelling, and Stories from
the Vine offerings are also integrated into the schedule
each month. Visit www.AmericanJazzMuseum.org for a
complete listings and descriptions.
Take us with you: Download the American Jazz Museum
Mobile App for both, iOS and Android. It’s free!
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 7

FOLLY JAZZ NEWS
CONNIE HUMISTON
8
Brad Mehldau Trio
Saturday, April 19 – 8 p.m.
no jazz talk for this show
One of the most lyrical and intimate voices of
contemporary jazz piano, Brad Mehldau has forged a
unique path that embodies the essence of jazz exploration,
classical romanticism and pop allure.
“Mr. Mehldau’s obsessions make his music tense.
…where jazz musicians traditionally are adept
at doubling or halving tempos, Mr. Mehldau and
the band were working every angle of time.”
— Peter Watrous, New York Times
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
Recording and performing extensively since the early
1990s, Mehldau alternates trio performances with a synthesizer-oriented
duo project, Mehliana, with drummer
Mark Guiliana (who performed with Gretchen Parloto at
the Folly in October). In February the duo released their
debut album, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, and graced
the cover of Jazz Magazine Jazzman in France. In 2013
Mehldau produced and performed on Walking Shadows,
the acclaimed release from Joshua Redman, with whom
he played as a sideman for two years. Recent collaborative
tours include a duo tour with mandolin virtuoso Chris
Thile, and piano duets with Kevin Hays.
The Sidemen: A member of the Brad Mehldau Trio
since its 1994 inception, Larry Grenadier also tours with
John Scofield and is a longtime bassist with Pat Metheny’s
band. He has recorded with a broad array of artists,
released three albums with his own acclaimed trio FLY,
and recorded five more with his wife Rebecca Martin.
FLY co-leader and drummer Jeff Ballard has toured with
Ray Charles, Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Buddy
Montgomery, Lou Donaldson, Mike Stern and Danilo
Perez. Currently, he tours with Scofield, Chick Corea and
Joshua Redman’s Elastic Band.
John Scofield Organic Trio
Saturday, May 10— 8 p.m.
Joel Nichols will interview John Scofield at
our pre-concert Jazz Talk feature at 7 p.m.
Possessor of a very distinctive sound, John Scofield is
considered one of the “big three” of current jazz guitarists
— along with Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell. A masterful
improviser with fan bases in many camps, he has expressed
himself in the vernacular of bebop, blues, R&B, jazz-funk,
organ jazz, acoustic chamber jazz, electronically-tinged
groove music and orchestral ensembles with ease, enthusiasm
and an open mind.
His guitar work has influenced jazz since the late
‘70s. After leaving Berklee to perform with Chet Baker
and Gerry Mulligan, his versatility and technical mastery
won him sideman gigs with Miles Davis, Charles Mingus,

Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and Cobham/Duke among
many.
Since then, Scofield has prominently led his own
groups in the international jazz scene and recorded more
than 30 albums as a leader, most recently Überjam Deux
released in July 2013. His discography includes collaborations
with Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris,
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
“Anyone who plays guitar knows who John Scofield is.
Otherwise, you don’t play guitar — you just own a guitar.”
— DVD Verdict
Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau,
Mavis Staples, Government Mule, Jack DeJohnette, Joe
Lovano and Phil Lesh. He’s played and recorded with
Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock,
Joe Henderson, Dave Holland and Terumasa Hino. An
Adjunct Professor of Music at New York University,
Scofield tours the world approximately 200 days per year
with his own groups.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
2013-2014 Folly Jazz Series
Saturday, April 19
BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO*
Saturday, May 10
JOHN SCOFIELD ORGANIC TRIO
JazzTalk at 7pm unless otherwise noted
*No JazzTalk prior to Brad Mehldau
All concerts 8pm
12th & Central • Kansas City, MO
FOR TICKETS 816-474-4444
www.follytheater.org
The Richard J. Stern
Foundation for the Arts –
Commerce Bank Trustee
Neighborhood Tourist
Development Fund
City of Kansas City, Missouri
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 9

Eliot Zigmund
Joining Rob Scheps for KC Tour
Drummer Eliot Zigmund is mostly known from his
four years in the Bill Evans Trio in the 1970s, but this is
just one of the many greats who he has worked with, a list
that includes Lee Konitz, Michel Petrucciani, Jim Hall,
Eddie Henderson, and Benny Golson.
Eliot came into jazz at a great time. “I am rooted in
the great bebop drummers such as Max Roach, Art Blakey,
Philly Joe Jones, Paul Motian and even some of the earlier
drummers,” he shared in our recent phone conversation. “I
knew these guys, and was able to hear and see all of them.
Seeing them is really important. Playing drums is very
physical and visual. I’m basically an old-school drummer
of that style.
“When I was coming up, jazz was still this sliver of
show business. It was still a viable way to make a living.
There were a lot of working bands, and a good circuit of
jazz clubs across the country. The bands played a lot, a
luxury that few know today. When I was with Bill, that
era had already declined quite a bit, but Bill still had long
tours, usually with week-long stays at a club. So we played
a lot, and so the music was consistently at a high level.
Plus, the recordings would be done over three or four days.
There was no rush. We could be choosy of tracks to use.”
Zigmund taught at NYU and William Paterson
University for a decade after this. He enjoyed it, but after
a day in the classroom he did not feel like playing gigs at
night. “I didn’t want to look at drums at the end of the
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
10
by Roger Atkinson
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE

New Venues
Jazz Up the
Kansas City Scene
A claim that Kansas City is the
top jazz tourist destination would
be an exaggeration. However, it is a
place that the jazz-seeking traveler
should have on the list.
I am among many in Kansas
City that have believed this for a
long time. Kansas City boasts a
deep list of wonderful musicians
who live in the area, several classy
concert series, a strong educational
foundation, the American Jazz
by Roger Atkinson
Photographs by Jan Atkinson

VENUES CONTINUED
Museum, the Marr Sound Archives, the Mutual
Musicians Foundation, and fine jazz clubs and
restaurants. On most nights a fan has tough
choices of who to hear.
But this municipal asset is hardly recognized locally.
What does not help is the lack of national recognition
that we receive. I tell friends in New York City about
the Kansas City scene and they seem surprised, even as
they acknowledge the nationally-recognized musicians
who came out of the area are making an impact, from
Pat Metheny and Steve Cardenas to Karrin Allyson and
Kevin Mahogany to Logan Richardson.
DownBeat has a single Kansas City jazz club in its
annual Best Jazz Clubs listing, the Blue Room. It is a
well-earned distinction. But does this leave the impression
that this is all there is to the Kansas City club scene
DownBeat readers need to know is that there should be
more of Kansas City on this list.
Three venues that have opened within the past few
years that should cause the jazz traveler to include Kansas
City in future plans. These venues are in addition to fine
venues such as the Majestic Restaurant and Jazz Club
(jazz seven nights a week), the Phoenix (jazz and blues
six nights a week), the Gaslight Grill (jazz five nights a
week), and many more with regular weekend schedules.
The Broadway Jazz Club
The Broadway is the latest entry to the local scene,
and it is among the best places to relax and listen to music
that I have been in anywhere.
Before opening in December, they sought the
advice of renowned sound engineer John Story. “John
recommended three systems to us, from simple to best,
depending on what we could invest,” owner Neil Pollock
is right there, too; these are among the best bar seats of
any club I have been to. And unless this large club gets
overstuffed, the views are just unobstructed.
On a recent trip to the club, my son said the room felt
much like the Kitano in New York, one of my favorites.
It is intimate and relaxed, and conducive to listening
with minimal distraction. It is appreciated that the club
The Broadway Jazz Club
3601 Broadway, Kansas City, phone 816-298-6316
Open Tuesday to Thursday, 4 to midnight, Friday 4 to 1 a.m., and Saturday 6 to 1 a.m.
Web site: www.thebroadwayjazzclub.com
told us. “We took the best, I wanted the sound to be the
best it could be.” The sound is indeed excellent. “There
are really no dead spots, the sound is good throughout
the room,” adds general manager Pat Hanrahan. Many
will remember Pat from his time at Jardine’s. I agree; the
club has a great sound.
The club boasts many seats close to the bandstand
that is in the front window, including some next to the
bandstand, the tables directly in front of the bandstand,
and those lining the south wall. The large U-shaped bar
has placed cards on each table to request respect for the
musicians and fellow customers by keeping conversations
low. On my visits, this request has generally been
obeyed. “Yes, it generally works,” Pat told us. “We have
had a couple of larger parties that have been talkative.
The good news is that the room seems to handle it well,
you can still hear the music.” They also have a small cover,
usually five dollars but it could be a few dollars higher
for some acts, like Ida McBeth. More on that later.
12
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE

Of the new venues, this is the
only supper club. They have a full
menu, with a large selection of appetizers
and salads, seafood and
steaks, and classic comfort food. The
customer favorites so far “This has
surprised me, but the chicken fried
chicken has been the steadiest seller,”
says Pollock. “And the eggplant
Parmesan is a favorite of our vegetarian
customers. The Mississippi
Mud Cake has its fans, too.” We’ve
had the wings, a shrimp appetizer,
the fish and chips, and hand-carved
smoked turkey, too. There is a nice
range of pricing, too.
But, back to the music. The
Broadway has music Tuesday
through Saturday; the club is closed
Sunday and Monday. Hanrahan’s
original vision of the musical
agenda has held true: they’ll generally
feature trios on Tuesday and
Wednesday, with a taping of 12th
Street Jump! occurring every other
Wednesday, followed by the Joe
Cartwright Trio. The Tuesday has
become a personal favorite; one week we saw Mark
Lowrey’s trio with Bob Bowman and Arny Young, and
the Gerald Spaits Trio with Charles Perkins and Rod
Fleeman were there for another. I’ve enjoyed arriving a
bit early, before the seven o’clock first set, to just enjoy the
bar and recorded music and no television. They open at
four, and are planning some reduced price drink specials
for the happy hour soon. As I told Neil, I’ve been looking
for a quiet bar with jazz on my New York trips for years.
The Thursday live music starts at five with pianist
Charles D. Williams. At eight they go Brazilian, with
Arara Azul alternating weeks with the Sons of Brasil.
The weekends also have two bands each evening, and
you’ll see a lot of vocalists on the calendar. The Saturday
early set should be especially popular, with Ida McBeth
returning to the stage and alternating weeks with Angela
Hagenbach. It’s great that two of KC’s best will have a
regular room again. These shows start at six and end at
Neil Pollock, Armida Orozco, and Pat
Hanrahan, of the Broadway Jazz Club
nine. The Friday “matinee” has been featuring the Dave
Creighton Organization from five thirty until eight
thirty. The evening sets start at nine Friday and nine
thirty Saturday, and vocalists are again featured, often
with a horn supplementing the trio. This past weekend I
caught Megan Birdsall, with Steve Lambert joining the
trio with Ben and Matt Leifert and Andrew Ouellette.
I’ve seen Eboni Fondren, Molly Hammer, Dionne Jeroue,
and Shay Estes on the schedule as well. The intimacy and
sound make this a great room for vocalists.
Hanrahan is still learning the history of this location,
which was a sports bar before the Broadway made
it a jazz room. “Marilyn Maye sang here in the 1960s,”
Pat said, “and Tony Bennett was would come over and
listen to her when he was in town. At some point maybe
she can be here again!”
Parking can be difficult in the neighborhood, but
that should not be a problem at the Broadway, as the
continued
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 13

VENUES CONTINUED
lot directly behind the club has plenty of spaces. It is
guarded, too.
It’s great to have Pat Hanrahan back in the business;
he made a lot of friends among fans and musicians
while he was at Jardine’s. “I really missed it,” he told us.
We missed you, too. Great to see you back. The club is
wonderful.
The Green Lady Lounge
My immediate reaction on my first visit to the Green
Lady last summer was that it was the coolest room I had
ever been in.
It is unlike any jazz club I have ever seen. Most jazz
clubs adorn the walls with paintings or photographs of
Clint Ashlock’s jazz listening class students at JCCC
thank him for suggesting the place.
John is an enthusiastic jazz evangelist. He works
hard to develop a following not only for his club but
for the musicians in town. “I want bands to play here,
The Green Lady Lounge
1809 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, phone 816-215-2954
Open Sunday to Wednesday 7 to 1:30 a.m., and Thursday to Saturday 5 to 3 a.m.
Web site: www.greenladylounge.com
musicians, or vintage event posters, or even instruments.
They surround you with everything “jazz.”
Owner John Scott had a different idea. “I was going
for age, an older look, as a theme.” His walls are covered
with old mirrors and paintings of European towns,
landscapes, portraits, and a great bird painting. That’s
bird, not Bird. There are old candle holders, and small
pictures on frames on the flat surfaces. Large cylindrical
fabric light fixtures hang over the bar. The walls are a
dark red. It’s a long, narrow room, with a few cafe tables
in the front, then the musician area with a piano, with
more cafe tables on the other side. Behind this is a long
bar on the south wall, going nearly to the back wall.
It’s one of the longest bars I’ve seen. The north wall has
banquettes, all the way back. The restrooms are in the
rear, and walking all the way from the front tables can
nearly count as exercise. It’s a large room, like 150 people
large.
I’m not the only person who has this reaction. Musicians
like Bob Bowman, Ken Lovern, and Brian Baggett
just love it. “It’s my favorite place to play,” Brian told me.
musicians who play together and develop original music.
These musicians need exposure. I would love to have bios
on all of the musicians, readily available for all to see, to
help get the word out.”
As we have noted, the room itself is attractive. The
club is a very social place, and John has been successful
in accomplish what is very difficult: attract a younger
audience. “We have to do this to grow the jazz audience,”
Scott told us. The music starts a bit later (a civilized nine
o’clock on most weeknights, except Monday when it is
even later) than most places, too, which bucks a trend
in jazz clubs around the country, and this may add to
the appeal to the younger crowd who enjoy a late night
hang. Or even the older fan like myself who misses the
later hours.
John is also quick to point out how important it is
for the club staff and the musicians to be professional.
“Dress appropriately, appearance is important,” he says.
I’ve never seen John without a a suit on, and most musicians
are getting the message, also.
14
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE

The Green Lady
does not charge a cover.
“I don’t believe in it,
especially in a large club
like this. The music
brings the customers
in, and when they like
it they’ll show their appreciation
by buying a
drink at the bar. And
that is what we are, a
bar. In a room of this
size, the music pays for
itself.”
You’ll see some
changes at the club, and
they are exciting. John
is getting a Hammond
B-3 organ. A house B-3.
I’ve never seen a club
with a house B-3. So
you’ll be able to hear
the many fine organist
in the area regularly.
Ken Lovern’s OJT has
PHOTO BY BRIAN PAULETTE
been a Wednesday regular, and John rattled off seven
organists around town very quickly. This is another
instrument where the talent in town is very deep.
The organ will be on the main floor, and John plans
to move the piano to the basement room. “It has a more
intimate feel there, will be more conducive to listening, a
better environment for the piano,” John says. This room
is also large, with the same 150 person capacity as the
street level floor.
The Foundation Big Band is moving to Sunday
nights, which we welcome. The Monday jam session
From left to right: John Scott, Dominique
Sanders, Ryan Lee, and Paul Shinn.
led by Roger Wilder and Bob Bowman – a recent addition
– is continuing. “We start this at ten o’clock, so we
don’t really compete with the Blue Monday Jam at the
Blue Room,” John says. “This should attract some of the
people who go to the Blue Room. As it is later, we hope
to attract the working musicians around town, a place
where they can get together and play.”
Jazz is such a wonderful, broad music. It’s a music
that has always absorbed pop culture, and it continues
to do this, and has to in order to stay relevant.”
Take Five Coffee + Bar
I was not sure what to think when Take Five started
having live weekend jazz a few years back. Jazz in a coffee
shop way south in Leawood Really
Doug and Lori Chandler, owners of Take Five, both
love jazz, and jazz has played over their sound system
since they opened. They also had pictures of jazz artists
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 15

VENUES CONTINUED
ATTENTION
MUSICIANS!
Create or update your
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decorating the walls. This immediately
gave their shop a unique,
relaxing jazz setting.
“Hermon Mehari suggested
that we have live music here for a
fundraiser,” Doug told us. Then
came the surprises. Live music
sounds great here. Musicians love
the intimacy, and the audience
came.
“It’s almost like listening to
music in your living room,” Lori
told us. “There is real communication
between the musicians and the
audience.”
On a typical evening you’ll find
an extraordinary mixture, from
families with entranced children,
high school students, and singles
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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Marilyn York

VENUES CONTINUED
and couples of all ages. Some just listen, others enjoy the
drinks and snacks from the service counter. They have
a small but well-varied wine list and a good selection of
cent evening with Clint Ashlock’s new quintet Forward
playing all original music. Take Five thrives on music
that demands attentive listening. It works here, and works
better than just about anyplace I can think of, anywhere.
Take Five Coffee + Bar
5336 West 151st Street, Leawood, phone 913-948-5550
Open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. To 11 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.
To 11 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. To 10 p.m.
Music Friday and Saturday 8 to 10 p.m.
Web site: www.takefivecoffeebar.com
18
craft beers to supplement their coffee creations. Listeners
pay a modest cover charge. It’s a small room, only seating
about forty, so the intimacy is pretty much a given.
Lori and Doug Chandler, owners of Take Five
The scene here has really taken off. “The musicians
really call us, and we have developed a great trust with
each other.” This trust has resulted in one of the most
interesting calendars in town, month after month. I’ve
seen Stan Kessler’s Parallax, for example, as well as a re-
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
The big news, of course, is that Take Five is moving
to Corbin Park (135th and Metcalf), tentatively scheduled
for August. “Corbin Park came after us,” Lori told
us, “they thought we would be
a great fit for them.” The new
location will be larger, and they
are building with the music in
mind. “We are trying to maintain
the intimacy that we have
here. There will be a stage, but
only a seven inch rise, so we
should not lose the connection
that we have with the audience.
We’ll have a piano, too. John
Story is working with us so
we can have a great sounding
space. The room will be larger,
about double the capacity that
we have here. The kitchen will
be larger, too, so we’ll be able
to expand our menu some.”
Take Five has music on Friday
and Saturday evenings, from
eight to ten. “We also plan to
add a Sunday jazz brunch one
we are in the new location,”
Doug adds. And, they’ll continue the occasional special
event, like the recent Thursday with saxophonist Jaleel
Shaw while he was in the area for the festival at KU, an
event suggested by Jeff Harshbarger.

STORYVILLE
Duke: A Life of
Duke Ellington
By Terry Teachout
published in 2103. Gotham Books, New York.
Terry Teachout’s recent
biography, Duke, an in-depth
and comprehensive scope
of the life and times of one
Edward Kennedy Ellington,
is, admittedly, less an original
work of scholarship as much
as it is “an act of synthesis.”
Indeed, Teachout successfully
collects and compresses the
sweet juices from several primary
sources of Ellingtonia.
Among dozens of items, the
ones that emerged more prominently to me (because they
exist in my own personal Ellington collection) were wellchosen
materials culled from the following sources: the
Duke Ellington Music Society (DEMS); Barry Ulanov’s
seminal 1946 biography, Duke Ellington; Stanley Dance’s
1970 The World of Duke Ellington; Duke’s own 1973
autobiography, Music Is My Mistress; Duke’s son Mercer
Ellington’s 1978 Duke Ellington In Person; Edward Hasse’s
1993 Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington;
and David Hadju’s intimate, insightful and revealing
1996 biography of Billy Strayhorn, Lush Life.
But don’t get it twisted—Teachout’s book is a fantastic
reading, one that belongs on the shelf right alongside the
greatest of those publications I just mentioned. Terry’s
style is thoughtful, engaging, and extremely pleasant on
the ears—just like Duke’s music. Right from the beginning,
his book describes Ellington with fascinating detail
and accuracy, in a voice that almost makes the reader feel
that he knew Duke personally.
Terry delivers the goods from start to finish, with nary
a lull to be found, as the reader travels along and experiences
all of Ellington’s adventures. Here with my best
thumbnail sketch, you get an armchair view of: Duke’s
birth in April of 1899; his first wife and child; his first
significant musical partnership with childhood buddies
trumpeter Arthur Whetsol, saxophonist Toby Hardwick
and drummer Sonny Greer; the major influence of James
P. Johnson’s piano rolls on Duke’s emerging style; the
fatherly influence of Willie “The Lion” Smith; Ellington’s
Washingtonians band of 1924 (featuring James “Bubber”
Miley’s innovative “plunger” technique); Duke’s moving
to Harlem during the birth of the Renaissance; meeting
his long-time manager and personal image-maker, Irving
Mills in 1926; Ellington’s legendary stand at the Cotton
Club in Harlem in 1927; Duke’s earliest forays onto the
movie screen, including both Black and Tan in ’29, Check
And Double-Check in 1930; his first national tour of 1932;
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 19

STORYVILLE CONTINUED
20
Duke’s protégé Billy Strayhorn’s arrival and immeasurable
influence from 1938 for the next three decades; the classic
Blanton-Webster band of 1939-1940; Duke’s crowning
rebirth at the legendary Newport Jazz Festival of ’56; the
Sacred Music concerts in ’65; Strayhorn’s death in May
of 1967, and Duke’s own passing in May of 1974.
Teachout does a great job of investigating and portraying
detailed accounts of Duke’s writing technique, philosophical
views, previously unreleased personal declarations
from band members, and behind-the scenes- revelations
previously untold, and a few other juicy tidbits that pull
the curtain back on Ellington’s private life. Best of all,
though, are Teachout’s historical accounts and corrective
details about the evolution of several of Duke’s most
popular tunes. No spoiler alert here—read it for yourself!
Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway), I love Duke
Ellington. This book reminded me of exactly why I do.
Terry Teachout’s book rises to the occasion and refreshes
our senses about why it is that, in the words of jazz guitar
great Kenny Burrell (eminent scholar of all things Dukish),
Ellington is forever.
—Wayne Goins
Chet Baker: The
Missing Years
by Artt Frank
Los Angeles: Books Endependent, 2013, 201 pages,
paperback: $19.95.
Artt Frank’s memoir is a kind
of narrative prayer, a heartfelt
reflection upon his years as Chet
Baker’s drummer and confidant.
A true friend according to the
memoir, Frank helped buoy
Baker’s spirits and arranged a
comeback for the dispirited trumpeter.
Frank booked the Melody
Room for Baker, played the gig on
drums, and helped spread the word
that Baker was ready to play again, after a spiraling slump
following a drug deal gone wrong and a bad beating that
left Baker with knocked out teeth, a wobbling bridge and
dentures. Hard times for a horn man and his embouchure.
The memoir recounts how Frank drove through
the rain to pick up Baker for the famed Melody Room
comeback gig, and found Baker slumped on bags of
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
flour, passed out. Frank does all he can to revitalize
Baker and get him to the gig. Baker wows the crowd
after a few tunes, but doubts linger. When Baker
goes to fix his bridge and dentures, crowd members
speculate that Baker’s gone to the restroom to shoot
heroin. But Baker has left all of that behind, is on the
mend, and Frank helps facilitate Baker’s unlikely rise.
Throughout the memoir, Frank’s and Baker’s family
and private lives are documented. At one point, Baker
drives through the rain with his boys on the back of a
motorcycle to keep an appointment with Frank. Another
time, Baker empties his pockets of bills and change for a
man digging in the trash, this during a time when Baker’s
own friends don’t seem to want to waste time or change
on him as he struggles to rise. It’s a memoir about heart
and generosity, and one of struggle. Without many means
or live connections, Frank and Baker struggle their way
to the top.
Frank was a mainstay and mentor of sorts in KC in the
late 1990s and early 2000s, orchestrating a few memorable
recording sessions, including Souvenir (with trumpeter
Pat Morrissey), along with an album with pianist Chris
Clarke. Frank now lives in Green Valley, Arizona, and is
an Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee.
—Kevin Rabas
Alaadeen: The
Complete Song Book
Edited by Victoria “Fanny”
Alaadeen, with foreword
by Tony Romano
Fandeen Publishing Company. 92 Pages.
In his foreword to Alaadeen:
The Complete Song Book guitarist
Tony Romano, who developed
the lead sheets for these Alaadeen
compositions, tells us that a factor
“that drew me into the project
was the fact that the history of
Jazz is well documented and fairly
complete except for musicians
like Ahmad Alaadeen,” musicians
“not as distinguished outside of
their community and surrounding areas.” He saw and
heard the music, and felt it deserved wider recognition.

It was drummer Matt Kane who developed the concept
for the book, and it was Matt who got Tony to do the
transcriptions. Tony worked with the original recordings
and Alaadeen’s hand-written scores and notes (which are
included in addition to the transcriptions). The transcriptions
were then proofed by musicians who played with
Alaadeen.
The result is 31 Alaadeen compositions, transcriptions
and original scores plus pictures and biographical information.
Some have commentary by Alaadeen himself, and
testimonials to Alaadeen from Donivan Bailey, Harold
O’Neal, Matt Kane, Tyrone Clark, Charles Perkins, Sean
Conly, Chris Clarke, and Bobby Watson.
The Song Book should indeed result in wider recognition
for Alaadeen’s work, as well as expose more musicians
to his compositions. Fans of Alaadeen will treasure this
as another fine memoir of his music and life. We should
thank Tony Romano for his transcriptions, and to Matt
and all of the musicians whose contributions made this
book a reality.
The book is available from the Alaadeen Web site,
www.alaadeen.com. Individual transcriptions are also
available for download from the site.
—Roger Atkinson
FOOD • ART • MUSIC
DINNER & A SHOW
www.thebrickkcmo.com
for band listings
1727 McGee • The Crossroads
816.421.1634
thebrickkcmo.com
CDs
Package Design
Replication
Duplication
Postcards
Posters
Printing
WEB
Website Design
Hosting
PayPal
CDbaby
YouTube
iTunes
THE BAREFOOT MOVEMENT
CABARET
Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m.
CONCERT
Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m.
BROWNVILLE CONCERT SERIES
brownvilleconcertseries.com
402/825-3331
Two men and two women bring bluegrass music
to our stage from their native Eastern Tennessee.
Keith Kavanaugh
816.506.3397 • 888.8BAUWAU
keith@bauwau.com • www.bauwau.com
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 21

FOR THE RECORD
22
Mark Lowrey
Tangos for 18th Street
Personnel: Mark Lowrey, solo piano
Tracks: Interludio al Oblivion, Buildings and Mountains,133w,
Chiquilin de Bachin, Milonga for YJ’s, Danzarin, La Belle
Epoque, When Things Came Easier, El Choclo, Que Nadia
Sepa Mi Sufrir, A Question, Taconeando, Adentro del Piano,
Oullessebougou Morning, Steal Your Mind
Recording and mixing: John Story, 5th Story Studios. Mastering:
Ian Corbett. 2012.
Full of rousing tangos, Lowrey’s
new album is passionate,
and half of the tunes are his,
originals. Lowrey’s first tune
“Interludio al Oblivion,” a
characteristic original, is worth
the price of the album, an
homage to the tango, a tour
of classical and contemporary
approaches. At times, witty
and upbeat, at others brooding and racked with dolorous
angst, this introduction is an emotional roller-coaster for
adults—mature, contemplative, worldly, and full of loops.
A characteristic solo piano album, Lowrey doesn’t
appear to need a band to bring the dance to the keys.
Tango aficionados will recognize Lowrey’s covers, by Astor
Piazolla, Angel Villoldo, and Aldo Cabral. Lowrey’s covers
honor the known composers, but also speak with Lowrey’s
own voice, with personality and style, his thoughtful approach
and easy touch.
Being a tangos album, Tangos for 18th Street, doesn’t
have the scope and variety of Live at Jardine’s, an album
that borrows from both jazz standards and pop influences
for fuel, but this new tangos album still bears Lowrey’s
stamp; it’s eclectic, lively, and virtuosic.
Heavily influenced by KC’s Tango Lorca, Lowrey
notes this influence in his liner notes. Tango Lorca brought
Argentinean tango to the eyes and ears of many Kansas
Citians, and in this case inspired a slew of originals and
covers—a new passion, new genre for Lowrey, the selfstyled
pianist.
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
As with many of Lowrey’s CD covers, this one is very
professional, catchy, and romantic. On the cover, Lowrey
watches a dancing pair tango on 18th street outside YJ’s.
It’s late. Lowrey’s alone, his tie undone, and from his expression,
it appears he’d like to be one of the ones dancing.
A kind of lively, intimate, regional communication,
in his liner notes, Lowrey says “These songs are love letters
to you (Kansas City).”
—Kevin Rabas
University of Missouri
Concert Jazz Band
Home: The Columbia,
MO Sessions Vol. 1
Personnel: Arthur White, director and saxophone; Byron Stripling,
trumpet; Bob Sheppard, tenor and soprano saxophone;
Nassim Benchaabane, Dylan Roebuck, alto saxophone; Chad
Tucker, Michael Neu, tenor saxophone; Dillon Dains, baritone
saxophone; Lexie Signor, Jason Mathews, Meredith Hammer,
Craig Ingram, trumpet; David Witter, Andrew Brown, Andrew
Meyer, trombone; Sam Reed, bass trombone; Lily Tan, piano;
Paulo Oliveira, Michael Strausbaugh, guitar; Sam Copeland,
bass; Nathan Smith, vibes and auxiliary percussion; Ryan
Freeman, drums.
Tracks: Jump and Grind, At Dawn of Day, Groob, Cats and
Kittens, Orange County, Away from Home, 6th Street Swing,
Never Saw, Close Hummingbird Friend, Happily Ever After,
Sabor a Mi, Signing, Frisco Follies.
Recorded May 19-21, 2013, at PS Music Studio, Columbia,
Missouri. Engineered by Pete Szkolka, Mixed by Arthur White
and Pete Szkolka. Mastered by Steve Gardner, The Music
House, Columbia.
Home is the latest from
Arthur White’s University of
Missouri Concert Jazz Band,
this time a two disc set. This
time Dr. White includes two
“ringers” in trumpeter Byron
Stripling and saxophonist Bob
Sheppard.

Of the twelve tracks, seven are written by MU students.
Lexie Signor’s contributions are highlights. Her “At
Dawn of Day” builds from a ballad, and Signor has written
some fine swirling melodies behind Meredith Hammer’s
trumpet solo. The changing rhythms are very nice. This
is very modern writing in the Maria Schneider style.
Lexie’s other composition is a ballad feature for Stripling,
and the band writing here is again outstanding. “Groob”
is by Hammer, and is full of surprising twists. Michael
Strausbaugh’s “Orange County” is a swinger that sounds
like an old standard, and I enjoyed the melodic trumpet
solo from Signor and Stripling’s excellent solo to close.
Lily Tan composed “Away From Home” - she is from
Malaysia so she certainly is. This has an almost spacey feel
early, and Tan uses this well to build tension, especially
during Sheppard’s soprano sax solo. “6th Street Swing” by
Ben Colagiovanni indeed swings like mad. “Never Saw,
Close Hummingbird Friend” has a lot of full band “free”
passages, and the simultaneous solos by Signor and tenor
saxophonist Michael Neu over the band chaos is damn
exciting. This David Witter chart is a fun listen.
The remaining charts are by White as composer or arranger;
“Bump and Grind” and “Sabor a Mi” are his, and
he arranged Joe Locke’s “Signing” (with Nathan Smith on
vibes), Peter Erskine’s romp “Cats and Kittens” (drummer
Ryan Franklin drives this one), and James Carter’s “Frisco
Follies” where the band sounds especially spirited.
I believe I am repeating a comment from my review
a prior CD from this band in saying that some of the best
modern big bands, and big band writing, is now coming
from university programs. The charts from Dr. White and
his students are strong. Their recordings seem to be an
annual event, and I am already looking forward to their
next release.
—Roger Atkinson
Available for Bookings, Clinics,
Music Theory and Guitar Lessons
913.515.0316
ronaldwcarlson@att.net
www.roncarlson.info
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
APRIL
4 Parallax
5 Shay Estes
6 Drum Clinic with Eliot
Zigmund 2pm to 4:30pm
($10 to attend/$20 to
participate)
11 Project H
12 Sequel
18 Rob Scheps w/Eliot Zigmund
19 Eboni & The Ivories
25 Peter Schlamb Quartet
26 Chris Hazelton Trio
MAY
2 Crossroads Quintet
10 Josh Quinlan Quartet
16 Matt Carrillo
17 Society Red
23 Dominique Sanders Trio
feat. Tivon Pennicott ($10)
24 Mark Lowrey Trio
30 Peter Schlamb Quartet
31 Sam Wisman Trio feat.
Dave Rizer
All times 8pm unless otherwise stated,
cover charge $5 for all shows.
Beer, Wine, Cocktails + Coffee!
Old Blue Note recordings playing daily & Jazz Greats adorning the walls!
5336 W. 151st, Leawood • 913.948.5550
www.takefivecoffeebar.com
Sun.-Thurs.: 7am to 10pm, Fri.-Sat.: 7am to 11pm
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 23

CLUB SCENE
LOCAL LIVE MUSIC
18TH & VINE
The Blue Room
18th & Vine......................... 816-474-2929
Mon. — Blue Monday Jam
Thur. - Sat. — Live Jazz
Danny’s Big Easy
1601 E. 18th St.................. 816.421.1200
Tues. — El Barrio Band, 7 to 11
Thurs. — Millage Gilbert’s Big Blues Band
Fri. - Sat. — Bands
Kansas City Blues & Jazz Juke House
1700 E. 18th Street............. 816-472-0013
Thurs. - Open Jam session 7:30-11:30 p.m.
Fri. - Live band 6-10 p.m.
Sat.- Live Band 5-9 p.m.
Mutual Musicians Foundation
1823 Highland.................... 816-471-5212
Fri.-Sat. — Late Night Jazz
DOWNTOWN
American Restaurant
25th & Grand...................... 816-426-1133
Fri. - Music
The Brick
1727 McGee...................... 816-421-1634
Live Jazz & Eclectic
The Chesterfield
14th & Main....................... 816-474-4545
Wed. — Western Swing
Fri. — Swing
Sat. — Salso
Green Lady Lounge
1809 Grand....................... 816-215-2954
Tues.-Sun. — Live Jazz
Hotel Phillips Mezzanine
106 W. 12th St................... 816-221-7000
Fri.-Sat. 5-8
The Kill Devil Club
14th & Main....................... 816-588-1132
Wed.-Sat. — Live Music
Majestic Restaurant
931 Broadway.................... 816-221-1888
Live Jazz Nightly
The Phoenix
302 W. 8th Street..................816-221-jazz
Live Jazz Mon. - Sat., plus 2nd Sun.
Yj’s Snack Bar
128 W. 18th Street.............. 816-472-5533
Sun. - Live Jazz
MIDTOWN/WESTPORT
Broadway Jazz Club
3601 Broadway.................. 816-298-6316
Live Jazz Tues. - Sat.
Californos
4124 Pennsylvania.............. 816-531-1097
Live Jazz
Harlings Upstairs
3941 Main Street............... 816-531-0303
Tues 9-12 New Jazz Order Big Band
Jazz - A Louisiana Kitchen
39th & State Line................. 816-531-5556
Tues. - Sun. — Live Music
Westport Coffee House
4010 Pennsylvania............. .816-756-3222
PLAZA
Accurso’s Restaurant
4980 Main Street................ 816-753-0810
Tues. 6-9 — Tim Whitmer
Café Trio
4558 Main Street................ 816-756-3227
Tues. 6-9 p.m. — Michael Pagan
Wed. 6-9 p.m. — Mark Lowrey
Thurs. 6:30-9:30 p.m. — Tim Whitmer
Fri. & Sat. 6:30-9:30 p.m. — Alice Jenkins
Capital Grille
4740 Jefferson.................... 816-531-8345
Sundays 5-9 p.m. – Dan Doran Trio
InterContinental Oak Bar & Lounge
121 Ward Parkway............. 816-756-1500
Live Jazz Thurs. - Sun. Sets start at 8 p.m.
Plaza III
4749 Pennsylvania.............. 816-753-0000
Sat. 7-11 p.m. Lonnie McFadden
Raphael Hotel, Chaz Restaurant
325 Ward Parkway............ .816-756-3800
Mon. - Sat. — Live Jazz
Sun. — Jazz Brunch 10-1
NORTH
Cascone’s North
3737 North Oak Trfy.......... 816-454-7977
Sat. — Live Jazz
Piropos Restaurant/Briarcliff
4141 N. Mulberry St........... 816-741-3600
Fri. 5-11, Sat. 2-5 — Live Jazz
SOUTH & WEST
B.B’s Lawnside BBQ
1205 E. 85th Street............. 816-822-7427
Tues. - Sun. — Live Blues
Sat. 2-5:30 — Jazz & Blues Jam w/ Mama Ray
Bristol Seafood Grill
5400 W. 119th St............... 913-663-5777
Sun. 5-8 — Live Music
Cascone’s
6863 W.91st. Street............ 913-381-6837
Fri.-Sat. — Jim Mair
EBT Restaurant
I-435 & State Line Road........ 816-942-8870
Live Jazz Thurs-Sat
Gaslight Grill and Back Room
5020 W. 137th Street.......... 913-897-3540
Wed. - Sun. - 6:30 Lynn Zimmer Jazz Band
La Bodega Tapas & Lounge
4311 West 119th St............ 913-428-8272
Sun. 6-8 p.m. Jazz w/Mistura Fina, Flamenco
w/Al Andaluz (alt. weeks)
Louie’s Wine Dive
7100 Wornall Rd................. 816-569-5097
Live Jazz Fri. – Sat.
Lucky Brewgrille
5401 Johnson Drive............. 913-403-8571
Fri 6-9 Ron Carlson and friends
The Piano Room
8410 Wornall Rd................ 816-363-8722
Mon. 7-10 — Waldo Jazz Collective
Fri. - Sat. 8-12 — Dave McCubbin
Take Five Coffee + Bar
5336 West 151st................ 913-948-5550
Live Jazz Thurs-Sun
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
4501 W. 119th St............... 913-345-0800
Every Night — Live Jazz
24
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE

ON THE AIR
KPR-FM 91.5 (1-888-577-5268)
National Public Radio-University of Kansas
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
“Jazz In The Night” with Bob McWilliams....... 9:00 pm - Midnight
Wednesday
“Piano Jazz” with Marian McPartland................9:00 - 10:00 pm
“Jazz In The Night” with Bob McWilliams.............9:00 - 1:00 am
Saturday
“The Jazz Scene” with David Basse......................1:00 - 4:00 pm
Sunday
“Music From the Hearts of Space”....................10:00 - 11:00 pm
Seven Nights a Week
“Jazz Overnight”
KCFX-FM 101.1 (816-576-7739)
Sunday
“The Blues Show” with Lindsay Shannon........................ 8:00 pm
KKFI-FM 90.1 (816-931-5534)
Monday-Friday
“Morning Buzz”.................................................6:00 - 8:00 am
Monday
“Beautician Blues” w / Luscious Lynn.......................10am - Noon
“Jazz, Blues & Latin Tracks”
w/ The Jazz Insider............................................1:00 - 3:00 pm
“Mother’s Mix” w/Lady D...................................3:00 - 6:00 pm
Tuesday
“Tuesday Midday Medley” w/ Barry Jackson.....10:00 am - Noon
“Lunch & Brunch” w/The Jazz Disciple.................1:00 - 3:00 pm
“Road Trippin’ Blues” w/ The Voodoo Kittens........3:00 - 6:00 pm
Wednesday
“Afternoon Jazz” w/ Jeff Harshbarger..................1:00 - 3:00 pm
Old G’s Hangout with Groovy Grant....................3:00 - 6:00 pm
Thursday
“My Place” w/Larry J ....................................10:00 am – Noon
“Afternoon Jazz” w/KC......................................1:00 - 3:00 pm
Main Street Mojo w/ Various DJs.........................3:00 - 6:00 pm
Friday
“Lunch & Brunch” w/The Jazz Geek.....................1:00 - 3:00 pm
“Edged in Blue” w/ Wendy.................................3:00 - 5:00 pm
Saturday
Larry’s Freak Out...............................................5:00 - 6:00 am
Beale Street Blues...............................................6:00 - 8:00 am
“The Blues Kitchen” w/Junebug
& Chuck Pisano...............................................8:00 - 11:00 am
KCUR-FM 89.3 (816-235-5775)
National Public Radio-University of Missouri/Kansas City
Friday
“Friday Night Fish Fry” w/Chuck Haddix....... 8:00 pm - Midnight
Saturday
“Saturday Night Fish Fry” w/Chuck Haddix.... 8:00 pm - Midnight
Sunday
12th Street Jump...........................................midnight - 1:00 am
“Music from the Hearts of Space”........................7:00 - 8:00 pm
“Night Tides” with Renee Blanche.................. 8:00 pm - Midnight
KJHK-FM 90.7 (785-864-4747)
Daily
“Jazz In The Morning”........................................6:00 - 9:00 am
KUDL-FM 98.1 (913-677-8998)
Sunday
Smooth Sunday Brunch w/Taylor Scott................7:00 - 11:00 pm
KMBZ BUSINESS CHANNEL 1660 AM
Saturday
Dick Hawk’s Gaslight Jazz,
featuring Lynn Zimmer..............................11:00 pm — Midnight
Sunday
Dick Hawk’s Gaslight Jazz,
featuring Lynn Zimmer.....................................11:00 am - Noon
KCXL 1140 AM/102.9 FM
Saturday
Neon Jazz with Joe Dimino.......................................... 8:00 am
“One of the 10 jazz sites worth visiting”
-New York Times
Online
kcjazzambassadors.com
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 25

FOR THE RECORD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
J. E. Chapman
364 Days
Personnel: Allie Burik and Michael Shults, alto and soprano
saxophones; Michael Herrera, alto saxophone and clarinet;
Christopher Burnett, alto saxophone; Steve Lambert, tenor
saxophone and clarinet; Erik Blume, tenor saxophone, clarinet
and flute; Matt Baldwin, Hunter Long and Kody Kauhl, tenor
saxophone; Brett Jackson, Chris Robinson and Gerald Turner,
baritone saxophone; Russell Thorpe, baritone saxophone and
bass clarinet; Sharra Wagner, Teri Quin, Michael Abrams and
Melissa Champ, clarinet; Ryan Thielman, Aaron Linscheid, Clint
Ashlock, Hermon Mehari, Nate Nall, Nick Howell, Ben Forshee
and John Merlitz, trumpet and flugelhorn; Ryan Heinlein, Ben
Saylor, Mitch Kauffman, Ashley Hirt and John Chittum, trombone;
John Jenkins, trombone and bass trombone; Erik Augereau, bass
trombone; Joseph Felton, tuba; Tyler Ross and Adam Schlozman,
guitar; Paul Roberts, Alyssa Murray, Andrew Ouellette and Matt
Williams, piano; Ben Leifer, Andrew Stinson, Brian Padavic and
Joel Stratton, bass; Matt Leifer and Brian Steever, drums
Tracks: 364 Days (Suite for Jazz Orchestra): ...And I Think of
You, Cgoodnight, What Ifs, 364 Days, The Dreamer and the
Realist; Looking Over A. Hill; Ancient Faces (Made of Stone);
Lucky 13; Say What You Want To
Recorded November 2012 to March 2013 at BRC Audio
Productions, Kansas City, Kansas. Engineered by Bill Crain.
Mixed and Mastered at BRC Audio Productions by Bill Crain.
J.E. Chapman is a native
of the St. Louis area, and has
been around Kansas City
since attending the UMKC
Conservatory. He has played
trombone in Clint Ashlock’s
New Jazz Order Big Band
the past six years. He is also
a fine composer for large jazz
ensembles. All of the music on 364 Days was written by
Chapman and superbly recorded over several months by
Bill Crain and BRC Audio. Given the lengthy musician
list above, it is apparent that there was varied personnel
in the band over the course of the recordings.
It seems that the in the wake of Thad Jones, Gil Evans
and Bob Brookmeyer there is a continuing growth in
writing for big bands. Jim McNeely and especially Maria
Schneider have joined them in aspiring yet another
generation of composers. That one may hear influences
from all of these writers in 364 Days is no surprise.
I enjoyed all of the tracks here, and the “Suite”
deserves special mention. Chapman shows his skill
at melodic development and in using these melodies
to support the soloists. The opening section, “And I
Think of You,” has examples of this. The melody is
rather simple, and the way he weaves this behind the
solos by guitarist Tyler Ross and trumpeter Hermon
Mehari adds a soaring dramatic quality to the work.
These background melodies come from nice voicings
from the reeds and occasional short solo statements from
another horn. Subsequent sections also shine, from the
ballad “Goodnight” with memorable solos from Allie
Burik on soprano sax and Ben Leifer on bass, to the
fast “What Ifs” and a fine sax section only solo after
statements from Clint Ashlock and Michael Shults, the
ballad “364 Days” and its held bass tone after which
guitar, piano, clarinet and muted trumpet expand the
sound for an excellent Ryan Thielman solo, and finally
“The Dreamer and the Realist” with a hip-hop rhythm
and solos by Shults (wonderful) and Ryan Heinlein.
Other favorites include the funky “Lucky 13,” with
more great voicings from the reeds, and the Latin-ish
“Way What You Want To,” a feature for trumpeter Aaron
Linscheid. (I note that there are solos from six different
trumpeters and seven reed players on 364 Days, and all
were enjoyable.)
This is fine writing by J.E. Chapman played well by
all. If you enjoy modern big band music, you will want
to check this one out.
364 Days is available from CDBaby.com.
—Roger Atkinson
Ben Van Gelder
Reprise
Pirouet Records
Personnel: Ben Van Gelder, alto saxophone and bass clarinet;
Peter Schlamb, vibraphone; Sam Harris, piano; Rick Rosato,
bass; Craig Weinrib, drums; Mark Turner, tenor saxophone on
tracks 5 and 8; Ben Street, bass, tracks 5 and 9
Tracks: Introduction, All Rise, Crystalline,Tribute, Into Air It
Disappears, R.E.L., Yarnin’, Reprise, Evocation, August, Without
Haste
Netherlands-born and
New York-based saxophonist
Ben Van Gelder had been
making waves in the international
jazz scene long before
earning a spot in the finals
of the prestigious Thelonious
Monk International Saxophone
Competition in the
26
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE

summer of 2013. His 2011 debut release, Frame of Reference,
featured superstars like Aaron Parks and Ambrose
Akinmusire and served notice to the jazz world that Van
Gelder is an important new voice in contemporary jazz.
With a cold-air approach sometimes reminiscent of Lee
Konitz, a compositional style favoring unpredictable intervallic
relationships and a premium placed on texture,
and nearly unparallelled command of the altissimo (high)
register, Van Gelder is immediately recognizable. His
most recent release Reprise, on the rising German label
Pirouet Records, suggests that jazz fans may be in for a
steady stream of memorable albums from the Dutchman
in the coming years. Kansas City’s own Peter Schlamb
holds down the vibraphone chair in Van Gelder’s regular
quintet, and his contributions on the CD are stellar.
“All Rise”, with its straightforward harmonic rhythm
and mesmerizing flashes of sunlight at the top of each
chorus, serves as an indefectible vehicle for pianist Sam
Harris’s rhythmically inventive solo lines and affinity for
upper neighbor tones. Van Gelder drops in late with a
concise solo statement, making deft use of the full range of
the alto. The relentless bass drone of “Crystalline” provides
a simple rhythmic underpinning beneath a rubato-ish
melody and gives drummer Craig Weinrib ample space
to shine in an accompanying role during solos. Tenor
saxophone titan Mark Turner makes a guest appearance
on the title track, which possesses an infectious, simmering
groove and alternating sections in 4 and 3. Turner is in
fine form here, striking coolly and with detached precision.
Schlamb excels in several spots, most notably on his
original composition “R.E.L.”, which will sound familiar
to any who have attended his local outings. Peter unleashes
a characteristically fluid torrent of notes to launch into a
stunning second chorus, making expert use of both his
deeply personal rhythmic feel, and a dazzling confluence
of logic and the element of surprise. Bassist Rick Rosato
is particularly excellent on this track, providing rhythmic
interest and variety. Throughout the album, his sound and
intonation are sublime. On “Tribute”, Schlamb creatively
darts in and out of the harmony and shows off a devastating
arsenal of rhythmic groupings.
Reprise is an important document of one of the top
young working jazz groups in the world and one of the
seminal modern jazz releases of 2013.
—Michael Shults
Jazz
at The Hotel Phillips
Friday and Saturday – 5 to 8 p.m.
Victoria Barbee
Joe Cartwright
Stan Kessler
Millie Edwards
This spring, come in and enjoy an
evening of jazz in 12 Baltimore at the
Hotel Phillips. Savor specialty jazz
themed cocktails, a full bar and
tempting menu from executive chef
Justin Voldan. So come to the Hotel
Phillips, order a libation and then sit
back and hear some wonderful jazz.
Cynthia Van Roden
Lacey Wolff Candace Evans Molly Hammer
Complimentary Parking for Jazz at Hotel Phillips
Hotel Phillips | 106 West 12th Street | Kansas City, MO 64105 | (816) 221-7000 | www.HotelPhillips.com
JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE • APRIL + MAY 2014 27

FOLLY JAZZ NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
Joining the Organic Trio will be Grammy-nominated
pianist, keyboardist, composer and arranger Larry Goldings
who has recorded 18 albums as a leader, hundreds
more as a sideman and has long-term collaborations
with James Taylor, Maceo Parker, Jim Hall and Michael
Brecker. Keeping the back beat will Greg Hutchinson,
a veteran with Betty Carter, Dianne Reeves, Wynton
Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Charles Lloyd, Diana Krall,
Harry Connick, Jr., Joshua Redman, Christian McBride,
Joe Henderson, Ray Brown and Maria Schneider.
Folly Jazz Series tickets are $35, $27 and $18 (group
discounts for 10 or more, and additional dicounts for KCJA
members). (816) 474-4444 or www.follytheater.org.
2014-2015 Season
Sneak Preview
October 4 Fred Hersch Trio
December 19 Karrin Allyson Holiday Concert
February 21 Hot Sardines
March 14 Christian Howes Band
And more to be announced soon!
Tickets, Facility Rentals and More
Join us for a beautiful and fun-filled day of golf at
Oakwood Country Club for the Fifth Annual Folly Golf
Classic on Monday, May 19. This year’s classic features
lunch, silent auction, martini and cigar holes and a special
hosted 19th hole hosted bar. Register today at www.follytheater.org.
Proceeds benefit the historic Folly Theater.
Your donations make Folly programming possible
and help to maintain the 114-year-old theater. To make
tax-deductible gifts, please contact Development Director
Martha Atlas: martha@follytheater.org or (816) 842-5500.
We are truly grateful for your support.
When planning your next event, whether it be a performance,
a reception or a business meeting, consider our
elegance, first-class service and colorful history; we are
your ticket to a successful event! Please contact Stephanie
Spatz-Ornburn at 816-842-5500 x 106.
Compiled by Connie “Crash” Humiston, Crash in Communications,
conniecrash@kc.rr.com.
28
ELIOT ZIGMUND CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
day. I was also thinking that we were over-educating the
students. Apprenticing in a band is much more powerful.
And I knew the employment opportunities weren’t what
they had been when I came up. It seemed dishonest, in a
way.”
He has continued to play, and in recent years he has
frequently worked in Europe and Japan. “There is a real
appreciation for jazz in Europe. The audiences are very
culturally aware, even if they aren’t diehard jazz fans.
There is a respect for jazz there. And there are a lot of great
musicians, too. Places like Italy have a good scene.”
He has also continued recording, and has a new CD,
Triad, that will be released soon. He is also on singer
Abigail Riccards’ new CD, Every Little Star. “That’s a very
nice recording. I’ve been giving copies to my friends and
family.”
He has not known Rob Scheps for long. They met at
an informal session at guitarist John Abercrombie’s house.
Rob loves his playing, the way he adds to the sound of a
band. Rob thinks Eliot’s approach will remind many in
Kansas City of Todd Strait.
Eliot is looking forward to visiting to Kansas City;
he cannot recall his last visit, which was either with Evans
or Petrucciani. “This will be a rare trip for me, a chance
to play in one area for over two weeks. That just does not
APRIL + MAY 2014 • JAZZ AMBASSADOR MAGAZINE
happen anymore. Even on my trips to Europe, we are
always traveling.”
Rob and Eliot will be busy. The current schedule:
• Friday, April 4, 6 to 9 p.m. – Lucky Brewgrille with
Ron Carlson (also April 11)
• Friday, April 4, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Broadway Jazz
Club with Mark Lowrey
• Sunday, April 6, 2 to 4:30 p.m. – Clinic with quartet
(with Roger Wilder and Bob Bowman) , Take
Five
• Wednesday, April 9 – University of Nebraska,
Lincoln
• Sunday, April 13 – Majestic Restaurant, with Mark
Lowrey
• Tuesday, April 15 – Washburn University, Topeka
• Friday, April 18, 8 to 10 p.m. - Take Five
• Saturday, April 19, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. - Blue
Room
• Wednesday, April 23 – Ottawa University, Ottawa
(clinic and faculty concert)

tooting our horn
JAZZIN’ UP THE TOWN!
Take a “PRIVATE JAZZ CRAWL”
or “AN EVENING OF JAZZ”
customized just for you!
Celebrate Birthdays, Anniversaries, Reunions, Corporate
Meetings and “more” with KC Jazz Ambassadors’
“ORIGINAL” crawls, or an evening of jazz.
TOUR INCLUDES:
• Coach transportation
• Live jazz in historic
settings
• Informative, fun
hosts with
a stash of
stories to tell!
• Tantalizing,
renowned
KC BBQ
Starting @ $65 per person
for groups of 30 or more.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Call (913) 402-8151 or (913) 967-6767
Email: p.crawls2012@gmail.com
MAGAZINE ADVERTISING
“Everybody I know reads it ...” - Karrin Allyson, Recording Artist
• Estimated readership exceeds 40,000 diverse individuals and
arts patrons who support our advertisers — added exposure
to our online readers at no extra charge.
• Distribution: 10,000 copies are distributed to retail
locations, 70 restaurants and clubs, 30 hotels, high schools,
colleges, libraries, museums, visitor centers, casinos and
other tourist attractions — plus handed out at festivals,
events and international conferences.
• A large tourist element — some hotels put JAMs in each
room, and tourists frequent our advertisers and take copies
home.
• Your events listed on www.kcjazzambassadors.com — and
often on Facebook.
“JAM has been a great vehicle for publicity and advertising
for the Folly Theater ... absolutely in touch with what’s
going on ...” - Doug Tatum, [ former] Folly Executive Director
“…The ad was really effective. We appreciate the quality coverage
of the arts that you bring to Kansas City. JAM has a tremendous
national reputation and continues to be a voice in the jazz
community.” — Patrice and Jay Sollenberger
www.kcjazzambassadors.com
Profits used to promote Jazz education plus aid the
Musicians Emergency Assistance Fund.
RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED!
Closing date for the June/July 2014 issue is May 16, 2014.
Contact Ad Manager Connie “Crash” Humiston: ads@kcjazzambassadors.com or (816) 591-3378
“JAM is a registered trademark of the KC Jazz Ambassadors, Inc.”

Dick Hawk’s
GASLIGHT GRILL
& BACK ROOM
Enjoy scintillating New Orleans jazz and mellow traditional
favorites by Lynn Zimmer and the Jazz Band featuring some of
K.C.’s finest jazz musicians Wednesday through Sunday every week.
Lynn Zimmer is joined by the New Red Onion Jazz Babies on the first Monday of each month.
Please join us for Easter and Mother’s Day.
New Orleans Jazz Special Menus every Sunday evening 5 pm – 9 pm
No Cover Charge • Kansas Dry Aged Steaks • Seafood • Chef Specialties • Dance Floor
5020 W. 137 th St. ( Just south of 135 th on Briar Drive) Leawood, KS 66224
913.897.3540 • GaslightGrill.com